Please advise on speakers

[crazyman]

I have been told that the Bose speakers I have purchased are to expensive and that I can get better sounding speakers for less. What I have is a pair of Bose 301's and aBose center channel speaker I purchased from Circuit City this weekend for around 700.00 +/-. I took them home and hooked them up and I was not happy with the sound at all. If you wan to see my concerns visit the room acoustic system layout & setup forum. Can someone please tell me what speakers I need to replace these Bose speakers with? I am will ing to spend around 700.00 or of course alot less for crystal clear sound. I also use these speakers for home audio so I will need for them to handle more power when I crank up the volume a little without distorting. Any help is much appreciated and by the way the only place close to me that sell's home audio etc is circuit city and best buy.

 

[thecoolguy11]

Try the Infinity or the Polk

Of all the reviewes that I have read on the circuitcity website, the Infinitiy TSS-750 and the Polk 6700 seem to very good speakers, and are often refered to as the "Bose Killers". I would suggest that you read reviewes on the circuitcity website and that might help. Both these speakers fall into your budget

 

[fulanito_sf]

I'v heard that the Ventriloquist VT12's are good

I don't know if that is true or not but I have read some good reviews on them. The HSU Subs are kinda expensive, the speakers are made in China. Has anybody heard such speakers to recommend them?

 

[crazyman]

Now totally confused

Well now that I have some suggestions I (of course) have another question. If I am going to be using these front speakers for both home theatre and home audio, is there a reason that I should go with the "shelf speakers" compared to "floor speakers" ? I am looking at some JBL and Infinity floor speakers that someone has suggested from best buy or the infinity from Circuit City......any suggestions? Please, I am confused again. I want the best for the buck.

 

[Leprkon]

a $ 700 solution

go to Crutchfield.com

they are clearing out last year's middle line of Inifinity speakers (just type Inifinity in the search line).

you can pick up some Alpha 50 main towers for $ 600 or the smaller 40's for $ 500. They throw in a set of Entra 150's (smaller bookshelf speakers) for the surrounds for free. Then pick up the really good Alpha Center for $ 150, or the even better 37C for $ 250, but the 37c is a mother load at 33 pounds, so be careful where you put it. You'll be short a sub, but this will get you by till you can save up a little more cash.

If you insist on a sub, or want to match exactly all the way around, get some Alpha 20's for mains (medium sized book shelf speakers for $ 200) some Alpha 10's (slightly smaller) for the rear at $ 180, a PS8 sub for $ 180, and the Alpha Center for $ 150 (in black, the cherry's about $ 30 more).

They ship free over $ 300 in the continental states. All the speakers have the ceramic cones, and will give you great sound for years for the amount of money you spend.

Quick note on the sub, if you get the Alpha 50's, their main drivers are the same size as the sub, and each speaker has two of them. ANother quick note, if you get the 50's, free 150's, and either of the centers, you'll be saving nearly the same $ 700 you are willing to pay, based on last year's prices. All the stuff is under factory warranty and Crutchfield will pay to ship it back if you want to upgrade within 30 days.

Either set-up won't be scaring any of the true audiophiles on this site, but they will leave the Bose shaking in their shoes...

don't forget to go to Axiom Audio or Impact Acoustics and get some good 12 gauge wire to tie it all together at a fraction of the Moster cable prices.

 

[moverton]

Great low cost speakers

I have listened to and owned many high and middle tier speakers.
Thes best sound dollar-for-dollar I know out there is a pair of Energy C5's.
They can be found for $550. They sound better than anything I have heard in a circuit city (Polk, Bose, etc). They actually sound better to me than the higher models in Energy's own lineup (c-7).
They are a very full-range, high-quality speakers that don't color the music.
I would highly recomend that anyone looking at Bose or lower end Polk check these out.

 

[crazyman]

Thanks

I would like to thank all of you for your suggestions and help. Here is what I finally ended up buying after shopping at Best Buy and Circuit City. After listening to the JBL 80 and JBL 90 and then going back and listening to the Polk speakers in the so called sound room that circuit city had, I ended up without a doubt getting the JBL 80. They were much crisper for highs and I could here almost every instrument that was playing. I also listened to the JBL 90 and they were the same price but were more of a midbass speaker. Anyhow I have them setup and they sound good. I think if I spent about 1000.00 more they would sound great. The Onkyo reciever I purchased is only 75w per channel and I think this is lagging somewhat for these speakers. By the way I also ended up purchasing the Polk center that has 2 6 1/2's and 1 tweeter....I forget the model number. Is there any recommendations on an amp or is the reciever that I have good enough without dumping alot more money? Again thanks for your suggestions and expertise.

 

[Unregistered]

not a good choice for timbre matching !!!

 

[Unregistered]

No problem:

Ascend CBM170 - $328/pr
Ascend CBM170 center - $180
Ascend HTM200 rears - $280/pr

Add an HSu sub of choice from their website. If you buy the system you get a discount.

I haven't heard anything from BB or CC that competes at this price. The CBM's are often compared to the Paradigm Studio 20's.

 

[dreadstar]

Bose 301 are not even worthy as surround speakers. to small and with the mid/tweeter configuration at the top for bose direct/reflecting tactics bad choice for that.
mixing the jbl mains with the polk center is not the best choice for timbre. I have found that most polk center channel speakers leave alot to be desired.