Picking speakers without hearing them....where have all the audio stores gone?

C

c wiz

Enthusiast
Very few receivers are truly 4 ohm capable, especially if you are after high output levels. That doesn't mean it won't work, just be advised since the model wasn't listed.

At $1k a pair, the Polks are OK. You are correct, they'll be fine but maybe not stand out IMO. I'd probably opt for the SVS Primes or JBLs. Take a look at the SVS Outlet, there are quite a few Prime Towers in both ash and gloss finishes on discount.
The Polk's have dropped to $299 each, making them a bit more enticing....I am currently checking into the JBLs...I was originally going to go with a set of SVS Ultra bookshelf speakers and a good sub....maybe I should just go back to that idea......If there were only a place I could audition several choices.....we used to have home audio stores in my area, but they are long gone...
 
C

c wiz

Enthusiast
One speaker I like in that price range: Fluance Signature Towers. The measure well and they look nice too. Also I think they are very likely quite a bit more capable in bass frequencies than the other speakers you have mentioned, so if you are going without a sub, they are a great choice.

Something else you can do is just take a couple bookshelf speakers and a couple subwoofers and make some tower speakers by using the subs as bookshelf speaker stands. That will give you very powerful and highly controlled bass. One thing you can do for that is get a Hsu Hybrid 2.1 package and ask them to throw in another VTF-1 subwoofer. Another good and slightly less expensive solution is to use the Hsu VTF-1 subs and a couple Philharmonic AA speakers.
This is actually where I started my journey....first I had almost settled on Warfedale Dentons with a good sub.......then switched to the idea of SVS Ultra bookshelf and a sub....$1000 for bookshelf speakers is kinda hard to swallow....
 
P

pewternhrata

Audioholic Chief
Check out accessories4less, kef cabasse canton cambridge, reviews get tiresome to read through.
I've heard some cabasse and sure sounded good, reviews don't seem to rate them too high but they typically seem to go up against some more expensive speakers.
 
zieglj01

zieglj01

Audioholic Spartan
JBL Studio 590 would be my choice

2nd choice would be the Emotiva T2 over the T1 -- the T2 are $999 a pair
 
C

c wiz

Enthusiast
JBL Studio 590 would be my choice

2nd choice would be the Emotiva T2 over the T1 -- the T2 are $999 a pair
Cool! I did not realize they were coming out with a new product. I see they will be ready to ship near the end of October.
 
lovinthehd

lovinthehd

Audioholic Jedi
I just can't get into horn style tweeters for home audio....I prefer ribbon or soft dome.
Horn style? Is it the styling or the compression driver/horn combo? LOL, when I got the first pair I mixed them in with my very nice domes....and the JBLs eventually won out. Almost tried ribbons this round but that will have to wait a while.
 
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