Quality pair of 3way speakers for heavy music?

[Xytras88]

Hi to all! I am completely new to this so please be patient with me. I need a guidence in choosing a pair of quality 3way speakers mainly to fully enjoy my music experience which is mostly on a heavy side of a music spectrum. Sure, like most of us I like movies too but image quality is way more important to me than a movie sound so I don't even consider a surround sound system. Do I need a sub to go with 3way speakers?

As for a receiver I've already narrowed my decision to Denon AVR590 thanks to this excellent forum. It's simple enough, yet should satisfy my basic video needs which only comes to connecting my DVD and future Blue Ray to it. ( I am not too much into games and so on other than basic video viewing).

My room size is small (11'-13') and it's carpeted floor. I can afford to spend around 800$-1000$ for a pair and add another 200$-300$ on a sub if I really need one (?)

Will appreciate any advice and thanks in advance.

 

[alexsabree]

For $1000 you have more than enough money to get a quality surround sound system. If I were you I would spend around $500 on the sub and the rest on your speakers.

 

[bandphan]

Hi to all! I am completely new to this so please be patient with me. I need a guidence in choosing a pair of quality 3way speakers mainly to fully enjoy my music experience which is mostly on a heavy side of a music spectrum. Sure, like most of us I like movies too but image quality is way more important to me than a movie sound so I don't even consider a surround sound system. Do I need a sub to go with 3way speakers?

As for a receiver I've already narrowed my decision to Denon AVR590 thanks to this excellent forum. It's simple enough, yet should satisfy my basic video needs which only comes to connecting my DVD and future Blue Ray to it. ( I am not too much into games and so on other than basic video viewing).

My room size is small (11'-13') and it's carpeted floor. I can afford to spend around 800$-1000$ for a pair and add another 200$-300$ on a sub if I really need one (?)

Will appreciate any advice and thanks in advance.

Im not sure way your limited to 3 way speakers? ID companies like SVS, Axiom, Ascend Acoustics and The Audio Insider offer great value for speakers. I would choose the speakers first then the AVR to make sure they can drive the load even though your room is small. IMO a good pair of bookshleves(monitors) paired with a good sub can be more revealing than 3 ways in your price range. The AA 340s with a good sub sound great (subjectively speaking) with all kinds of music and would leave you with a nice budget for the sub. Also consider used from places like audiogon.com for the speakers.

 

[alexsabree]

Yeah I was wondering that too. Just because its 3-way doesn't mean its better.

Personally this is what I would do.
$600 ELT525 5.0 Speaker Set
$800 Elemental Design Subwoofer

 

[Seth=L]

The AA 340s

I'm oblivious to this particular speaker, and a quick good search revealed Alcoholics Anonymous, not home speakers.

I think the OP is mostly looking for a "loud" speaker, probably with lots of deep chest pounding bass. Probably not looking for our idea of "accurate". For example, for most people Cerwin Vega is a good speaker for loud clear sound, as in it can be heard clearly and it sounds awesome really loud. It's not my idea of an accurate speaker, but a lot of people like that kind of sound.

 

[bandphan]

I'm oblivious to this particular speaker, and a quick good search revealed nothing.

http://www.ascendacoustics.com/pages/products/speakers/cmt340m/cmt340m.html

 

[Seth=L]

http://www.ascendacoustics.com/pages/products/speakers/cmt340m/cmt340m.html

Ha ha, thanks. I guess I should have known that.

 

[bandphan]

I'm oblivious to this particular speaker, and a quick good search revealed Alcoholics Anonymous, not home speakers.

I think the OP is mostly looking for a "loud" speaker, probably with lots of deep chest pounding bass. Probably not looking for our idea of "accurate". For example, for most people Cerwin Vega is a good speaker for loud clear sound, as in it can be heard clearly and it sounds awesome really loud. It's not my idea of an accurate speaker, but a lot of people like that kind of sound.

I agree, thats why this speaker was the one I singled out. In room extension into the low 40s and a sensitivity of 92db or better.

or the extreme... JTR triple 8s and up the budget for the sub

 

[Xytras88]

Im not sure way your limited to 3 way speakers? ID companies like SVS, Axiom, Ascend Acoustics and The Audio Insider offer great value for speakers. I would choose the speakers first then the AVR to make sure they can drive the load even though your room is small. IMO a good pair of bookshleves(monitors) paired with a good sub can be more revealing than 3 ways in your price range. The AA 340s with a good sub sound great (subjectively speaking) with all kinds of music and would leave you with a nice budget for the sub. Also consider used from places like audiogon.com for the speakers.

Well, that's because the 3way speakers is the only kind that I know (did I mentioned I am new to this? LOL). If I have more options please throw in your opinions. The only thing I don't want to do is cluster my small room with 5-7 speakers.Also I thought that having so many speakers is best suited for video viewing rather than for pure music. Or am I wrong?

 

[bandphan]

Well, that's because the 3way speakers is the only kind that I know (did I mentioned I am new to this? LOL). If I have more options please throw in your opinions. The only thing I don't want to do is cluster my small room with 5-7 speakers.Also I thought that having so many speakers is best suited for video viewing rather than for pure music. Or am I wrong?

Two speakers and a sub will provide a nice experience for movies also. Speakers are very subjective, so sound is really up to you. If you want loud, like Seth was saying get a speaker that is very easy to drive. IMO as stated the bookshelve + sub combo is better than trying to find a 3 way with a good crossover that doesnt have breakup. The JTR triple 8s have a sensitivity of 98dbs 1w1m and play up to 128dbs (but 1200 a pair which means you would need to up the sub budget a couple of hundred) The 340s I mentioned are a great all around speaker with an exceptional crossover and good off axsis response @600 per pair.

 

[TLS Guy]

Hi to all! I am completely new to this so please be patient with me. I need a guidence in choosing a pair of quality 3way speakers mainly to fully enjoy my music experience which is mostly on a heavy side of a music spectrum. Sure, like most of us I like movies too but image quality is way more important to me than a movie sound so I don't even consider a surround sound system. Do I need a sub to go with 3way speakers?

As for a receiver I've already narrowed my decision to Denon AVR590 thanks to this excellent forum. It's simple enough, yet should satisfy my basic video needs which only comes to connecting my DVD and future Blue Ray to it. ( I am not too much into games and so on other than basic video viewing).

My room size is small (11'-13') and it's carpeted floor. I can afford to spend around 800$-1000$ for a pair and add another 200$-300$ on a sub if I really need one (?)

Will appreciate any advice and thanks in advance.

I strongly counsel you against a three way with that budget. Three ways are expensive to engineer, and execute properly. A poorly conceived three way will introduce more problems than it solves. I would recommend buying the best 2.5 way you can afford. Can you elaborate on "heavy music" please. That means nothing to me.

 

[KEW]

I strongly counsel you against a three way with that budget. Three ways are expensive to engineer, and execute properly.

What is the effective difference between an integrated three way and two way with sub? Both require 2 crossovers, but it seems (in my admittedly ignorant head) that since all of the details of the three drivers are known in a three way speaker, that would be less expensive to successfully engineer than a subwoofer crossover which needs to be adaptable to a wide array of match-ups.
Thanks!

 

[AVRat]

AA still has their moving sale, so the 340s can be had for $518 shipped. The stands add to the cost, $618.

Do you prefer bookshelfs or floorstanding?

PSB Image B25s: http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=PBIMB25

HSU STF-2: http://www.hsuresearch.com/products/stf-2.html
HSU VTF-1: http://www.hsuresearch.com/products/vtf-1.html

 

[Xytras88]

I Can you elaborate on "heavy music" please. That means nothing to me.

It means heavy metal music.

 

[highfigh]

Two speakers and a sub will provide a nice experience for movies also. Speakers are very subjective, so sound is really up to you. If you want loud, like Seth was saying get a speaker that is very easy to drive. IMO as stated the bookshelve + sub combo is better than trying to find a 3 way with a good crossover that doesnt have breakup. The JTR triple 8s have a sensitivity of 98dbs 1w1m and play up to 128dbs (but 1200 a pair which means you would need to up the sub budget a couple of hundred) The 340s I mentioned are a great all around speaker with an exceptional crossover and good off axsis response @600 per pair.

Don't forget that 128dB is with a whole lot of power unless the room is very reflective, small and the speakers are near corners.

 

[STRONGBADF1]

What is the effective difference between an integrated three way and two way with sub? Both require 2 crossovers, but it seems (in my admittedly ignorant head) that since all of the details of the three drivers are known in a three way speaker, that would be less expensive to successfully engineer than a subwoofer crossover which needs to be adaptable to a wide array of match-ups.
Thanks!

Subwoofers are just more efficient at making bass. They generally make more of it and you can optimize them with placement. (separate from your mains)

 

[Xytras88]

I strongly counsel you against a three way with that budget. Three ways are expensive to engineer, and execute properly. A poorly conceived three way will introduce more problems than it solves. I would recommend buying the best 2.5 way you can afford. Can you elaborate on "heavy music" please. That means nothing to me.

What is exactly 2.5 way? Can you name some brands?

AA still has their moving sale, so the 340s can be had for $518 shipped. The stands add to the cost, $618.

Do you prefer bookshelfs or floorstanding?

As clong as I am happy with a sound it does not matter but preferably floorstanding since it easier to find a place for them in my room.

l]

 

[Matt34]

Polk Audio SDA 2.3. You can find them for around $1000 nowadays.

 

[AVRat]

Hows about the PSB T45s: http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=PBIMT45 SBLK

 

[bandphan]

Don't forget that 128dB is with a whole lot of power unless the room is very reflective, small and the speakers are near corners.

In his room, not coner loaded, about six feet with 60w peak, the jtrs should hit about 118dbs. (coner loaded would bring it up a couple of dbs.