TheMule
Enthusiast
Hi all - I'm a newbie to the audiophile world and am trying to find some new Front RL speakers and Center speaker for my surround sound system... maybe even upgrade the rest of my speakers (5.1) as well, but hoping to find front RLC first.
After auditioning several brands over the last month (B&W, Paradigm, Focal, Definitive, Martin-Logan, Magnepan, and BG radia to name a few), I've come to the conclusion that my ears definitely prefer the sound emanating from eletro-stats (Martin Logan) and/or planar ribbon technology (BG Radia & Magnepan). To MY ears, the mids to high end sound that comes from these types of speakers are on a whole 'nother level. Yes they don't have the low end that some of the traditional speakers provide, but that's what subwoofers are for!
Thus I'd like to find a pair of new fronts with one of these types of technology. The PROBLEM is that I need the front LR speakers to be approximately 42" in height or less... there's many reasons for this (I have three tv's already mounted on the wall and the speakers need to fit below them and the Wife does NOT want tall/huge speakers to dominate the room & take away visitors' eyes from her interior decorating). The only speaker I've found so far that sits less than 42" (with either of these technologies) are QUAD's. However, there's no dealer anywhere close and I haven't been able to audition a pair. I am extremely hesitant of laying down several thousand dollars for speakers I have not heard. I have a brand new Yamaha RX-A3010 receiver (150W per Channel, 8 ohms, 20 Hz-20 kHz, 0.06 % THD, 2 ch driven) which will need to drive whatever speakers I buy. I'm hoping to NOT have to purchase a new amplifier too. These speakers will be used for music listening 66% of the time (mostly Sonos) and home theater for TV/Blu-ray movies 33% of the time - a lot of concerts/paladia channel. I'm hoping to spend no more than $6000 for the front pair of speakers and no more than $10,000 - $11,000 for a total upgrade of all surround sound speakers (5.1).
To my ears, the best sound I've heard so far was #1) a pair of Martin-Logan Theos (59-3/8" tall) with Martin-Logan Motif Center at Best Buy... and all other speakers I auditioned were at local audiophile shops in the Tampa/St. Petersburg area, including on my list #2) Magepan 1.7's and #3) BG Radia Z-92 speakers. All of these speakers however, are taller than 42". I'm trying to figure out a way to audition some QUADS, as their ESL-2805's stand exactly 42" with the feet they sit on.
Do any of you know where to purchase speakers with either of these types of technology that stand <42 inches tall and can be used as Front LR's for 2.1 music listening, as well as for 5.1 home theater surround sound?
Thanks very much for taking the time to read my post and I hope you're all having a great holiday season.
After auditioning several brands over the last month (B&W, Paradigm, Focal, Definitive, Martin-Logan, Magnepan, and BG radia to name a few), I've come to the conclusion that my ears definitely prefer the sound emanating from eletro-stats (Martin Logan) and/or planar ribbon technology (BG Radia & Magnepan). To MY ears, the mids to high end sound that comes from these types of speakers are on a whole 'nother level. Yes they don't have the low end that some of the traditional speakers provide, but that's what subwoofers are for!
Thus I'd like to find a pair of new fronts with one of these types of technology. The PROBLEM is that I need the front LR speakers to be approximately 42" in height or less... there's many reasons for this (I have three tv's already mounted on the wall and the speakers need to fit below them and the Wife does NOT want tall/huge speakers to dominate the room & take away visitors' eyes from her interior decorating). The only speaker I've found so far that sits less than 42" (with either of these technologies) are QUAD's. However, there's no dealer anywhere close and I haven't been able to audition a pair. I am extremely hesitant of laying down several thousand dollars for speakers I have not heard. I have a brand new Yamaha RX-A3010 receiver (150W per Channel, 8 ohms, 20 Hz-20 kHz, 0.06 % THD, 2 ch driven) which will need to drive whatever speakers I buy. I'm hoping to NOT have to purchase a new amplifier too. These speakers will be used for music listening 66% of the time (mostly Sonos) and home theater for TV/Blu-ray movies 33% of the time - a lot of concerts/paladia channel. I'm hoping to spend no more than $6000 for the front pair of speakers and no more than $10,000 - $11,000 for a total upgrade of all surround sound speakers (5.1). To my ears, the best sound I've heard so far was #1) a pair of Martin-Logan Theos (59-3/8" tall) with Martin-Logan Motif Center at Best Buy... and all other speakers I auditioned were at local audiophile shops in the Tampa/St. Petersburg area, including on my list #2) Magepan 1.7's and #3) BG Radia Z-92 speakers. All of these speakers however, are taller than 42". I'm trying to figure out a way to audition some QUADS, as their ESL-2805's stand exactly 42" with the feet they sit on.
Do any of you know where to purchase speakers with either of these types of technology that stand <42 inches tall and can be used as Front LR's for 2.1 music listening, as well as for 5.1 home theater surround sound?
Thanks very much for taking the time to read my post and I hope you're all having a great holiday season.
