Speaker Recommendations - - - $2800 to $3500 budget

[20Glove]

Not auditioned any yet

What speakers have you auditioned? Its important that you do so you'll discover what sounds good or bad for you. Have you tried the PSB's yet?

Since I am going to best buy tonight I will audition the JBL's, Def Tech, and Martin Logan.

I will probably be going to another store this weekend and try out Klipsch Reference, mythos Def Techs, B&W, and Canton.

Anyone know much about Canton or B&W? I think that store has MK as well... anyone know anything about MK?

Warm sound? Bright sound? Good audiophile speakers?

Thanks!

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Since I am going to best buy tonight I will audition the JBL's, Def Tech, and Martin Logan.

I will probably be going to another store this weekend and try out Klipsch Reference, mythos Def Techs, B&W, and Canton.

Anyone know much about Canton or B&W? I think that store has MK as well... anyone know anything about MK?

Warm sound? Bright sound? Good audiophile speakers?

Thanks!

I think you will like the Mythos a lot because they are front-direct-radiating speakers. The Mythos ST is the best one, but Mythos One is also good.

 

[20Glove]

Mirage omnisat v2

I also will be looking at omnisat v2 by mirage at best buy tonight along with Vienna Acoustics.

I heard the mirage is just awesome for classical music and HT. I am bringing in some of my music, I will check that out and get back to you guys on how the mirage sound. I heard Vienna is just a warm hallow sound... I will see.

Anyone else heard anything about Mirage or Vienna?

Thanks!

 

[gus6464]

I also will be looking at omnisat v2 by mirage at best buy tonight along with Vienna Acoustics.

I heard the mirage is just awesome for classical music and HT. I am bringing in some of my music, I will check that out and get back to you guys on how the mirage sound. I heard Vienna is just a warm hallow sound... I will see.

Anyone else heard anything about Mirage or Vienna?

Thanks!

I've heard them both at Magnolia. I like the Omnisat v2 they just don't go down that low for a floorstander. The mid bass is a bit lacking as well because of their design. As far as Vienna goes I have never been impressed with any of their speakers. IMO the best speaker MHT carries is Martin Logan. Listen to the Source and Purity even though Purity is just a self powered Source.

 

[20Glove]

I've heard them both at Magnolia. I like the Omnisat v2 they just don't go down that low for a floorstander. The mid bass is a bit lacking as well because of their design. As far as Vienna goes I have never been impressed with any of their speakers. IMO the best speaker MHT carries is Martin Logan. Listen to the Source and Purity even though Purity is just a self powered Source.

So if I were to have a pretty tight external subwoofer, the mirage will sound GREAT?

Let me know.

 

[gus6464]

So if I were to have a pretty tight external subwoofer, the mirage will sound GREAT?

Let me know.

Yes it would. The beauty with Mirage is that they sound great on any room and are not as picky with placement. But I recommend you hear the ML Source as well as you might fall in love with them.

 

[20Glove]

auditioned some speakers yesterday

Auditioned speakers today... wow I listened too four speakers today....

What a difference in sound... the 2 closest were Def Techs and Martin Logan.

Klipsch Reference I listened too today.... yes they can be listened too loud... but at a very bright PIERCING sound!!! Did not like those at all... listening to music... was almost abuse to the ears... Movies sounded awesome on these speakers but music was just fatiguing!!

Also listened to the Mirage... not a full sound at all musically!! Very bright as well. But not ear piercing!! Again awesome movies wise but musically even with the sub... just plain stunk in my opinion. To my ear I could not hear any sound stage what so ever. I felt like the sound was all over the place no centering of vocals... did not even sound like stereo sounded more like 2 mono speakers working together.

Definitive Tech's both Mythos one and five sounder fantastic!! Musically not as good as the others I heard... but 7 out of 10... they would work... movies again sounded fantastic!! Powerful!! A lot of boom... clarity though in my mind was not there or my ear anyway. Vocals were centered and good soundstage... but vocals overcame the music at times.

My 3 favorite and very close to one another... were the Def Tech BP Towers... I wanna say BP7006... listened to BP7004's as well... 7006 would do as they filled the room... good base... pounded the room both with sub and without... very clear soundstage... Liked them a lot but again the dealer said you have to place these right to get them to sound good... if not they would sound muddy and unclear!! Loved em. On my list as of now!! GREAT for movies and music!!

The other 2 that are on my list.... Martin Logan Source... sounded Fantastic!! Expensive would be only detterent. You have to be sitting down to get the full affect of these speakers you stand up they sound good you sit down they are Perfect!! Kinda like DLP TV Fantastic picture in the sweetspot... pretty good not in the sweetspot. sounded GREAT musically and movie wise.

The ones that surprised me... and sounded REALLY good... just not sure if they could fill a big room... is the Martin Logan Montage.... If I could afford it... I would go with 2 pairs both front and back and then go with the Fresco for center and 2 surround backs!! These speakers were amazing.... I thought since they were the cheap martin logan's they would sound not as good as the high end Def Techs or mid range ML's but WOW... impressed... Full sound stage... deep, clear, amazing!! I mean you thought you were in the middle of the action movie wise and when listening to Evanascence CD her vocals were centered and his vocals were to the side... AMAZING!! Like that on the BP7006 and ML source.... but the Montage's were about $700 less than the source and $400 less than a pair of BP7006's. I loved the sound... in such a small package!! WOW

Ok will audition more and will let you know what I think.

Thanks again everyone ... keep the comments coming!

 

[Davemcc]

Klipsch Reference I listened too today.... yes they can be listened too loud... but at a very bright PIERCING sound!!! Did not like those at all... listening to music... was almost abuse to the ears... Movies sounded awesome on these speakers but music was just fatiguing!!

Welcome to the club! It's a very large club.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Auditioned speakers today... wow I listened too four speakers today....

What a difference in sound... the 2 closest were Def Techs and Martin Logan.

Klipsch Reference I listened too today.... yes they can be listened too loud... but at a very bright PIERCING sound!!! Did not like those at all... listening to music... was almost abuse to the ears... Movies sounded awesome on these speakers but music was just fatiguing!!

Also listened to the Mirage... not a full sound at all musically!! Very bright as well. But not ear piercing!! Again awesome movies wise but musically even with the sub... just plain stunk in my opinion. To my ear I could not hear any sound stage what so ever. I felt like the sound was all over the place no centering of vocals... did not even sound like stereo sounded more like 2 mono speakers working together.

Definitive Tech's both Mythos one and five sounder fantastic!! Musically not as good as the others I heard... but 7 out of 10... they would work... movies again sounded fantastic!! Powerful!! A lot of boom... clarity though in my mind was not there or my ear anyway. Vocals were centered and good soundstage... but vocals overcame the music at times.

My 3 favorite and very close to one another... were the Def Tech BP Towers... I wanna say BP7006... listened to BP7004's as well... 7006 would do as they filled the room... good base... pounded the room both with sub and without... very clear soundstage... Liked them a lot but again the dealer said you have to place these right to get them to sound good... if not they would sound muddy and unclear!! Loved em. On my list as of now!! GREAT for movies and music!!

The other 2 that are on my list.... Martin Logan Source... sounded Fantastic!! Expensive would be only detterent. You have to be sitting down to get the full affect of these speakers you stand up they sound good you sit down they are Perfect!! Kinda like DLP TV Fantastic picture in the sweetspot... pretty good not in the sweetspot. sounded GREAT musically and movie wise.

The ones that surprised me... and sounded REALLY good... just not sure if they could fill a big room... is the Martin Logan Montage.... If I could afford it... I would go with 2 pairs both front and back and then go with the Fresco for center and 2 surround backs!! These speakers were amazing.... I thought since they were the cheap martin logan's they would sound not as good as the high end Def Techs or mid range ML's but WOW... impressed... Full sound stage... deep, clear, amazing!! I mean you thought you were in the middle of the action movie wise and when listening to Evanascence CD her vocals were centered and his vocals were to the side... AMAZING!! Like that on the BP7006 and ML source.... but the Montage's were about $700 less than the source and $400 less than a pair of BP7006's. I loved the sound... in such a small package!! WOW

Ok will audition more and will let you know what I think.

Thanks again everyone ... keep the comments coming!

Also keep in mind that they may sound very DIFFERENTLY in your own HT room!

So as long as they allow you the 30-day return policy without charging you the RE-STOCKING FEES, you are good to go. There is always a possibility that any speaker may end up sounding NOT AS GOOD in your own room.

 

[DD66000]

While you're still auditioning speakers, see if you can find the JBL Performance Series, worth the effort in tracking them down. They are great for both movies and music, all kinds of music.
Very dynamic, and smooth, I have 5 of the PT800, with the mains mounted on a pair of subs (different subs), the center one below the HDTV and the surrounds wall mounted.
http://ultimateavmag.com/speakersystems/31/
Below is the PT800 and PC600 center, also the matching sub.

 

[Hwypirt]

If you like Def Tech.................

I just brought home a pair of mythos St's a mythos ten center two gem xl's and a super cube ll and I could not be more pleased. The Mythos st's in stereo sound so awesome. They sounded great in the store, but they sound so much better at home. I am listening to all my favorite music over again like I have never heard it before. As for movies, the system is blowing my mind. I watched Open Range over this morning and I think I got wounded in the gun fight. Just my 2 cents but if you like the St's (or any Def Tech's) and can wait a little while you can get a great price from David in the group buy in the deals section. Employee prices and no tax. Cheers, Scott

 

[3db]

You still need to look at PSB, Paradisgm, Monitor Audio.

 

[20Glove]

Canton GLE407 and GLE409

You still need to look at PSB, Paradisgm, Monitor Audio.

As far as 1 and 2 now goes... WOW to the Canton I listened too tonight!! I could go with 2 Front GLE409's $1100 2 Surround Back GLE407's for $800 and 2 book shelf I think GLE405's I think that is the model number... for $400... and the Center for $350... $2650... alittle less than the Axiom's.

1 now is the Canton's and 1.b or 2 is the Martin Logan's. I could not believe the sound of these speakers!! They were using my receiver in the rack, and we listened to Blue's Traveler, ACDC, Macy Gray, and Five for Fighting and my golly the sound was TREMENDOUS!! The clarity, the sound stage, the full range... WOW is all I can say!! I was truly impressed with these speakers!! I was so surprised since the price is so low. I was not expecting this from these... I was not even going to look at them but the salesman said the two best that they carry in his opinion, with music I listen too, was Canton and Snell... Def Tech too but I had listened to them and knew they were GREAT for rock music!!

The Snell was just too expansive. But I compared the Canton GLE409 to the Def Tech tower 7002 and bysides more bass produced from Def Tech... the Canton blew it away... same volumes and everything... with the Canton you can hear all instruments and crystal clear vocals.. with the def tech you could hear "almost" everything... during blues traveler for instance you could hear the harmonica very clear but not the cymbals on the drums, or the strumming of the guitar strings... you could hear that on the Canton... It was truly amazing... and like everyone said... audition audition audition!! I am not even going to just go in and listen to the high end stuff... I am going to listen to the salesman and audition what I want and what they suggest!!

I can afford more so I am going to see if they make one more model up... store said they can special order all products.

So Canton 1 and Martin Logan 1.b

Cool.

 

[20Glove]

Canton

Ok, my question is after my comments made above... did not want this to get lost...

To the question - - -

What have people here heard of Canton products... is it a company I can trust? Are these speakers that are quality? Do they really sound as good as I heard them... I mean does anyone have Canton and be able to describe the sound?

So let me hear your comments about Canton product line!! Please!

By the way... Def Tech is still in the running so they are number 3 now.

Thank you as always.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Ok, my question is after my comments made above... did not want this to get lost...

To the question - - -

What have people here heard of Canton products... is it a company I can trust? Are these speakers that are quality? Do they really sound as good as I heard them... I mean does anyone have Canton and be able to describe the sound?

So let me hear your comments about Canton product line!! Please!

By the way... Def Tech is still in the running so they are number 3 now.

Thank you as always.

I've never listened to Canton speakers, but I have heard a lot of good things about them. They are a very reputable company as far as I know.

Oh, by the way, how far did they place those Def Tech BP7002s from the walls and from other speakers?

 

[20Glove]

Placement

I've never listened to Canton speakers, but I have heard a lot of good things about them. They are a very reputable company as far as I know.

Oh, by the way, how far did they place those Def Tech BP7002s from the walls and from other speakers?

They placed them about 3 ft from the walls in back and about 2ft between speakers on the side and about 12 ft in front.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

They placed them about 3 ft from the walls in back and about 2ft between speakers on the side and about 12 ft in front.

That's pretty good placement- the best I've seen yet at any place.

 

[20Glove]

While you're still auditioning speakers, see if you can find the JBL Performance Series, worth the effort in tracking them down. They are great for both movies and music, all kinds of music.
Very dynamic, and smooth, I have 5 of the PT800, with the mains mounted on a pair of subs (different subs), the center one below the HDTV and the surrounds wall mounted.
QUOTE]

So let me ask you something. I went and listened to these speakers... they ran these on a Yamaha Rx1800 I think that was the model of the reciever. They sounded GREAT with the subwoofers attached but I am not looking for sub.. have you hear these without using the JBL subs? How would this sound with a little 10" sub?

Let me know your thoughts..

They told me at the dealer that these speakers are usually sold with the subs! They told me they would not suggest buying these speakers without the subs.. Told me to go to the Studio L series.

Let me know if I can buy the alone?

 

[AVRat]

Yes you can. Sounds like the dealer/salesperson is trying to up their sale.