Noob needing help with bookshelves

[Blackened]

Hey guys, this is my first post on this site, although I've read stuff off and on for a couple of years now.

Im looking for some advice on bookshelves. I already have a reciever and it's a Harmon kardon 254 from last year. So, where to begin...

I'm looking to start my home theatre, and it isn't in a very big room (approx 18' by 18'. I have read that there is not a huge advantage to having towers unless I have a massive room, and this is fine because I'd like to get some kind of kickass svs sub anyway so maybe bookshelves would work for me.

Because I'm not needing towers, I've narrowed it down to he following; keep in Mind that I'm from canada and everything is overpriced here. I'm trying to stay under 750 for the fronts, but hopefully this isn't too difficult since I'm going with bookshelves. My listening habits are 80% home theatre and maybe 20% music. Here's the speakers I'm considering so far:

emotive erm1: very cheap right now (I can get the entire 5 speaker system for around 750 USD. There's only a couple of pro reviews out there, but they both say that these were excellent value for he original msrp, and now they are half price.

Axiom m22: Canadian company, free shipping, can get 2 m22s for 500 bucks.

Polk lsi7: found hear for sale used in Canada. Can get the pair of them for a measly 330 bucks. I hear they are good, but I hear the lsi9s are much better. But those are still 1000, even on sale here.

Paradigm mini monitors: I know they aren't as good as the monitor series, but the monitor 20s go for 1200. How do these compare? I'm betting he lsi and axiom are better.

Svs towers: I know they are towers, but the price seems very good on these for what you get (750/pair). I've heard these are excellent bang for the buck.

I'm really leaning towards the emotiva and lsi because of he price
What do you guys think?

 

[DJ in TX]

Hey Blackened,

I'm pretty new to this site, and am a self-admitted noob as well, so take this with the necessary grain of salt.

I have never listened to the specific speakers you reference, but on Saturday I did have the pleasure of listening to the little brothers of the mini-monitors you are looking at (the Paradigm Atoms). Let me just say that the Atoms lived up to all the great reviews I have read. They sounded spectactular, and I have plans to grab a pair very soon to begin my home audio system.

In relation to your post, from my weekend listening I can conclude two things to share with you that may or may not help your decision...

1. With the Atoms sounding so good, and them both being from the same speaker family, then Mini monitors would have to be just as good, if not better, especially if you got a good deal on them. I of course cannot tell you how either of the Pradigm's stack up against the other models you mention, because I haven't heard the others. I'm sure others posters here can give guidance on this, although you should definitely expect at least one person to tell you to make sure you audition all of these so you can judge how they sound to your ears.

2. With the Atoms delivering such rich sound, and since you plan to have other speakers in your system including a Sub, the Atoms might be all you need. They really do a phenomenal job, and are worth a listen. If they were to provide what you need then you could save some money to get those instead of the mini monitors. And then you would have more $$$ to put toward other components.

Good Luck!

 

[fredk]

First off, thats a fair sized room. If you have an 8' ceiling, its 2,600 cu.ft.: not huge, but not small either.

The Axiom M22 with a sub gives you tower sound. I had a hard time telling the difference between that combo and their M60 tower (other than better bass from the sub).

The Axiom line is, IMO, a step up from the Monitor line and close to the Studio line in performance.

Can you get the SVS system through Sonic Boom in Canada? I would look into the costs of bringing the emotiva system into Canada (shipping and duties) as it can add a lot to the price.

 

[Blackened]

First off, thats a fair sized room. If you have an 8' ceiling, its 2,600 cu.ft.: not huge, but not small either.

The Axiom M22 with a sub gives you tower sound. I had a hard time telling the difference between that combo and their M60 tower (other than better bass from the sub).

The Axiom line is, IMO, a step up from the Monitor line and close to the Studio line in performance.

Can you get the SVS system through Sonic Boom in Canada? I would look into the costs of bringing the emotiva system into Canada (shipping and duties) as it can add a lot to the price.

yes i actually just talked to sonicboomaudio and it isn't a bad deal. Getting the emotiva 7 speaker setup is just over 1500 can. plus stands. I can get the SVS stuff for less (or 300 more if i get the floorstanding STS-01); i'm actually leaning towards the floorstanding speakers (sts-01). How do the SVS speakers hold up against polk lsi7/axioms/paradigm/Emotiva speakers (mainly the SBS-01 and STS-01)?

 

[lsiberian]

I like pairing the Axioms with some great subs, but also check out ascend acoustics.

 

[Blackened]

I ended up ordering the used LSI7s, hopefully they are in as good of shape as the buyer says they are. I also got the LSIC for a center on sale, so altogether, the price was about $800 (keep in mind, this is canadian pricing; the LSI retail for 900-1000 and the LSIC retails for $850... we get it bad for all things electronic)

Now i gotta save up for an SVS sub