Speaker advice for a newbie

[zulumika]

Hi there, 'just registered but I have been going around on this forum for many weeks now… Great place BTW!

I just bought a house with a bigger basement (I'll be moving in a few weeks) and I'm thinking of using it (partly) as an audio room. I intend to invest on equipment because I don't have anything decent at this time (a laptop full of flac's hooked to a technics system with dollar-store wires ). I need opinions on speakers.

Room size: 15'x30', wooden floor, 8' ceiling.
Music/movies: just music, maybe a little hockey on tv but not often.
Music type: These days, I'm a big fan of bach's organ works, I have pretty much every piece he wrote. I like also classical music (symphonies, concertos (some on Telarc label)), a little jazz and some progressive rock/metal.
Budget: 'was hoping to stay around 1000$, but willing to chip-in a few 100$ more if needed. (with some serious begging to my wife, I guess I could go up to 2000$ but I woulnd't count on it)
Spkr config: 2 bookshelfs and 1 sub OR 2 floorstanding – I don’t know; you tell me.
DIY: please don't make me assemble anything or it'll end-up in a museum looking like a neo-contemporary post-modern sculpture…
Experience: I went to a sound show once, big hotel, lots of speakers from many companies, I cound't make the difference between a MBL Radialsomething and a 400$ Bose. (ok-ok, slightly exagerating here… but still… I don't know much abut this stuff.)

I have litteraly hundreds of questions but for now, I'll stick to this one: with the info mentioned above, what speakers should I try/hear/seek/aim at/request an audition in a store?

Any suggestions is appreciated. Thanks for you help.

Cheers!

 

[j_garcia]

For $1K, what are we talking about? What about a rack.stand to put things in? Basement is finished (wood floors)? With concrete walls and wood floors, reflections will be a problem for serious listening, so some form of sound control will likely be needed also.

If you intend to stay 2ch only and mainly music, then I might opt for a good pair of floorstanders over a 2.1 setup personally. A 2.1 setup would work well also, but basements can be problematic for the sub. A 2 to 1 ratio room is also going to work against you / your sub too, though that isn't as bad as a square footprint room. You can get a good integrated amp or even stereo receiver cheap used and put most of the money into the speakers, since the speakers make the largest difference in your sound. Stands sort of need to be factored into bookshelf speakers, though you can do that on the cheap in various ways.

Auditioning to see where your taste in speakers lies is going to be important, since you said you couldn't hear differences previously. See what's out there in and out of your budget and after some comparing, you should be able to at least pick out what you don't like (Bose).

 

[Mike19]

Hi zulumika.

For Bach organ concertos, symphonic music and metal, you will need a subwoofer. Depending upon what else you need and staying on budget, you could get floorstanders or standmount/bookshelves. Floorstanders are not necessarily more expensive than bookshelves.

First, we need some more info:

> If you are going to use your current receiver, whst is the make, model and power (watts into 8ohms)?

> If you are going to buy a new receiver, do you need an AM/FM radio tuner in it? [a receiver w/o radio is called an intergated amplifier]. If you are buying a new receiver, is the cost of the receiver part of the $1000 budget or is that just for speakers and sub?

Mike

 

[zulumika]

About my basement, a picture seems to be worth a thousand words; here's what it looks like. Keep in mind that I don't live there yet, there pictures are from the re/max website and all the furniture and stuff is not mine...

smg.photobucket.com/albums/v180/zulumika/Nouvelle%20Maison%20116/?action=view&current=m8082254-s-s01-05.jpg

smg.photobucket.com/albums/v180/zulumika/Nouvelle%20Maison%20116/?action=view&current=m8082254-s-s02-05.jpg

smg.photobucket.com/albums/v180/zulumika/Nouvelle%20Maison%20116/?action=view&current=m8082254-s-s03-05.jpg

(I need 5 posts to put images up, sorry for theses weird links)

I wanted to put the speakers around where there a little piano keyboard or maybe at the other end of the basement, I don't know yet.

Btw, thanks to "j_garcia" and "Mike19" for the answers. So let's be more precise. My budget for speakers and only speakers is around 1000$ (maybe more like I said). I'll start by plugging theses new speakers in my current technics-cheapo-but-seems-ok-to-me integrated HT amp 100w 8 ohms (I think...). After a few week/months, I'll probably change it for a better one or an amp and separate pre-amp; if my ear demands it. I guess I'll be paying around 800$ to 1200$ for a new amp, of maybe that's too much considering the quality of the speakers, don't know... Then, I'll figure out a way to play my FLAC's with maybe a usb DAC gizmo or something... After that, I'll probably buy a cd transport and a DAC to finish it (much later); until I start all over again! BUT but but for now, I want to concentrate on speakers.

Since I don't really know where to start, I'll keep in mind a few things that I've heard around (and hopefully, you'll be able to confirm this): I'll stay away from Cerwin Vega, staying away from Bose, won't consider tiny satellites speakers, won't be going to futureshop or best buy to listen to new speakers AND I will visit for the first time a true and specialized audio store.

BUT

Should I take the time to listen to some things like Klipsch (rf63), Axioms (m80v2) and Polk (tsi500)? Could this do the job for me or will I just waste my time? Of maybe KEF (iq50wa)? Any other brand I should know about in that price-rage?

Thanks again for all your advices.

CHeers!

 

[AVRat]

Since you’re North of the border, I’d consider PSB Image B25s or AXIOM M3s and you’ll definitely want a sub for the organ music.

SVS PB10-NSD: http://www.sonicboomaudio.com/pb10nsd-powered-box-subwoofer-10-nsd-series-woofer-black-p-5.html

 

[lsiberian]

You should hire a cabinet maker and build a Kappa Perfect for your sub. Or a pair of JL Audios.

Since your ears aren't great apparently. Just pick up a pair of Primus or KEF towers. Then put all your money in getting a sick sub. It will be worth it for the pipe organ. If size is a concern then I would be happy to give you a spec on a JL Audio ported box. That is nice and small but packs a nasty wallop.

 

[Kai]

Going to a sound show is not a good way to audition speakers, especially for someone perhaps short on experience.
My suggestion is to put together several favorite music cd' or put together a compilation cd, in the highest audio format you can, of a variety of music you are most familiar with and go to some local shops and give speakers a test drive.
Speakers that you fall in love with can last 10 years easily, when cared for, so take your time and don't be afraid to drive a bit. I recently drove 75 miles to listen to some speakers...not a big deal.

I would suggest floor standing speakers since you say music is primary. You can, or perhaps don't need to, add a sub but many floor models hit pretty low and perhaps will satisfy you quite nicely.

We all have our favorite speakers/brands and I am not different. For my ears I love Paradigm and recently bought a pair of Monitor 11 v.5 floor standing speakers. They are wonderful and I am thrilled to own them. Even my wife loves them which is amazing. Plus they are built in Canada so your money stays home lol.

Keep us informed on what you do as we all love to live vicariously through threads such as this.