The Time Has Come!! - (speaker recommendation)

[jostenmeat]

+1 to everything Greg Gable said, particularly about the fat guests.

 

[fandango]

Watching movies with fat guests is a big plus too.

That is really funny...

I will have to hosts a twinky and cream-pie movie night when i first get my system so that my chunky guests contribute to showing off my new system...

LOL

 

[fandango]

Update

I have now listened to Orb, B&W speakers.

I listened to the Orb first and was very impressed with how well they could fill the room. There is really no faulting them considering they are the size of a grapefruit.

Having said that, as soon as I left the Orb studio I went to a different store and plugged in the B&W 683 tower speakers... the difference was like night and day.

All of a sudden I could begin to understand all those words that reviewers use when testing products, staging, intimacy, warmth. I could have easily just closed my eyes and let the sound wash over me for for hours. it was simply beautiful.

I tested the B&W Cm7 tower and also the 705 bookshelf speaker. What I discovered was that it really matters what kind of music you are going to be listening to.

For classical, the 705 was hands down my favorite. the crispness, the detail of the highs, the intimacy, the cleanness. the best word to describe it is natural.

I then put in Miles Davis, *****es Brew. When a sax or trumpet would play, you could easily tell that the 705 was better at reproducing the detailed high notes, the piecing sound. Although the 705 didn't have the depth necessary for bass, which is so important for jazz. the 705 was very clean and crisp, but that is not what I want when I listen to jazz. I want to close my eyes and be in a small dingy jazz club, enveloped by the muddy sound; and that is exactly what the CM7 was able to do. I was in a Smalls club in NY all over again (sadly the club since closed..) little hole in the wall, bring your own bottle, live jazz club. The 705 was somehow too pure, too artistic, too accurate, all of which made it a little sole less when listening to jazz.

I still need to listen to many more speakers, and will probably listen to the B&W at least 2 more times as well. I can already see how it will be very difficult to finally make my mind up on one speakers vs another.

 

[pzaur]

I second the earlier recommendations about auditioning some of the internet brands out there. Some of them have a 30-day return period at no additional cost.

I have a set of Aperion 533-T speakers and like them very much. My only complaint is that they are bass light and have to paired with a subwoofer. But, since you're using a 5.1 setup, you've already got a sub there. I wasn't able to listen to the 633-T speakers because my wife killed that thought right away. Too large. They're noticeably larger than the 533-T.
I would almost compare them as a before and after photo of a teenage boy going through puberty over summer!

Some quick thoughts on my Aperions:
Pros:
Very good sound
Crisp
Able to be pushed
Great piano black finish
Excellent customer service
30 day trial period at no extra cost if not liked

Cons:
Have to order them to get 'em in the house
Bass light - need a sub pairing
extension only goes to around 65 hz
Can seem "bright" when really pushed.
Power hungry (at least for my p.o.s. Sony receiver )
could be considered "glorified bookshelf" speakers due to range

I really do like these and have been very happy with them. I'm currently only running a 2.1 setup. They won't kill you on the bass, but I love playing classical music, a lot, and that's my main use for them. I was going between the B&W 603S3 and these. Price was the end determining factor.

My great room has wood flooring and I'm sure that attributes to the perceived "brightness" of the speakers. My wife also won't allow any kind of treatments on the walls. Only the two couches and the area rug.

-pat

ps - there was another thread detailing some complaints on the finish of the 633T. I experienced nothing of the sort with my speakers from Aperion.

 

[pzaur]

Fandango,

Keep in mind that when you listen to speakers at the store, you're listening to the room that they're in also. I have yet to find a listening room that has wood floors or simulates a "typical" room that speakers are placed in (not your home-theater only rooms). See if the dealer will let you take a set home and hear them in your own environment.

-pat

 

[Soundman]

I second the earlier recommendations about auditioning some of the internet brands out there. Some of them have a 30-day return period at no additional cost.

I have a set of Aperion 533-T speakers and like them very much. My only complaint is that they are bass light and have to paired with a subwoofer. But, since you're using a 5.1 setup, you've already got a sub there. I wasn't able to listen to the 633-T speakers because my wife killed that thought right away. Too large. They're noticeably larger than the 533-T.
I would almost compare them as a before and after photo of a teenage boy going through puberty over summer!

Some quick thoughts on my Aperions:
Pros:
Very good sound
Crisp
Able to be pushed
Great piano black finish
Excellent customer service
30 day trial period at no extra cost if not liked

Cons:
Have to order them to get 'em in the house
Bass light - need a sub pairing
extension only goes to around 65 hz
Can seem "bright" when really pushed.
Power hungry (at least for my p.o.s. Sony receiver )
could be considered "glorified bookshelf" speakers due to range

I really do like these and have been very happy with them. I'm currently only running a 2.1 setup. They won't kill you on the bass, but I love playing classical music, a lot, and that's my main use for them. I was going between the B&W 603S3 and these. Price was the end determining factor.

My great room has wood flooring and I'm sure that attributes to the perceived "brightness" of the speakers. My wife also won't allow any kind of treatments on the walls. Only the two couches and the area rug.

-pat

ps - there was another thread detailing some complaints on the finish of the 633T. I experienced nothing of the sort with my speakers from Aperion.

Hey Pzaur,
Nice thoughts on the 533-T. I also looked at the Apeion 533-T, but have not heard it. How would you describe this speaker for HT use? I plan on getting an SVS sub with whichever system I go with.

 

[jostenmeat]

... the difference was like night and day.

All of a sudden I could begin to understand all those words that reviewers use when testing products, staging, intimacy, warmth. I could have easily just closed my eyes and let the sound wash over me for for hours. it was simply beautiful.

I tested the B&W Cm7 tower and also the 705 bookshelf speaker. What I discovered was that it really matters what kind of music you are going to be listening to.

For classical, the 705 was hands down my favorite. the crispness, the detail of the highs, the intimacy, the cleanness. the best word to describe it is natural.

..... I was in a Smalls club in NY all over again (sadly the club since closed..) little hole in the wall, bring your own bottle, live jazz club. The 705 was somehow too pure, too artistic, too accurate, all of which made it a little sole less when listening to jazz.

Hey! I remember that Small's club. On Greenwich St. (not ave.) and I wanna say 15th-ish. Well, about a decade ago, it was 10 bux for live jazz till the morning, free beer and free snacks! Bargain for NY jazz considering if you accidentally walk into the Blue Note, you're $60 poorer... hehe

Maybe you are looking for a warmer/darker speaker... I'd try some European brands ...... maybe ..... like VA, SF, Dynaudio....

Anyways, keep up the good work and thanks for the update...

 

[pzaur]

Hey Pzaur,
Nice thoughts on the 533-T. I also looked at the Apeion 533-T, but have not heard it. How would you describe this speaker for HT use? I plan on getting an SVS sub with whichever system I go with.

I've only got these two in a 2.1 setup. My current financial arrangements didn't allow for me to go with a center and two in-ceiling speakers (the only way it'll work). They are setup for use as the only way to listen to sound for TV/DVD/Stereo/CD. I've been very pleased in almost every aspect of the speakers. For the money, I think they're a great deal. No regrets here.
If I had to guess, I think they'd do very well in a Home Theater.

As I said earlier, it'll cost you absolutely nothing to audition and return them if you choose not to keep them (as long as you are in the 30 day window).

-pat