Upgradeitis

[cevet]

Hello everyone. I am possibly looking to upgrade my current setup. My budget is $1500.00. At present I have a 7.1 system consisting of Axiom QS8 side surrounds, Axiom QS4 rear surrounds. and front stage of Paradigm Monitor 7 (original version), Paradigm CC350 and an SVS SB12-NSD. I will keep the surrounds and sub but would like to upgrade the L/C/R. I have had the Paradigms for about 12 years and they still sound ok. My biggest question to all is, can I do better than what I have now (Paradigms) with a budget of $1500? My listening habits are 70% movies and 30% music. My living room is 12X16X8 with open area in rear and side. If I cannot do better and get an increase in quality of sound I will keep what I have. Thanks and any help positive or negative is much appreciated. I live in Canada so am limited for the ID brands. My AVR is Onkyo TX-NR905.

 

[fuzz092888]

Philharmonic 1s

philharmonicaudio.com

Plus kef makes speakers you should be able to find in your price range

If you can, totem makes great speakers

You can get great towers from salk, but it might leave you without budget for a center.
http://www.salksound.com/
Aperion audio makes great speakers and ships to canada too.
http://www.aperionaudio.com/home.aspx

 

[cevet]

Thanks for the reply. I have looked into most of what you listed. I believe that Aperion might be economically the best bet. Any models that you can suggest that would be much better than the Monitor 7's that I now have?

 

[fuzz092888]

Either pair of towers from the versus line and same with center speaker. The grand versus are out of your price range, their probably your best bet for getting noticeable better sound. The versus forte towers may give you better sound, but the specs are pretty similar.

Problem is I haven't hear either of the speakers so I couldn't conclusively say other than specs and pro reviews. From that information I'm guessing the versus forte may sound a bit better, and the grand should be noticeably better. Plus you have the 30 day return policy to do an in home AB for yourself, so I don't see any way you can go wrong.

 

[zieglj01]

As far as increase in sound quality - the answer is subjective.
For me I can - the Monitor 7 to me, has a dark sounding mid-
range that lacks resolution - the highs lack extension, and the
overall sound is somewhat grainy - with a boomy bass.

With your size room, you can even get by with some nice book
shelf speakers - since you have a good subwoofer.

To me, speakers from Focal, KEF and Monitor Audio do perform
overall better. Also, look into PSB. In the states, NHT is a good
one - and they ship to Canada.

 

[fuzz092888]

As always, Jim makes great points.

 

[cevet]

As far as increase in sound quality - the answer is subjective.
For me I can - the Monitor 7 to me, has a dark sounding mid-
range that lacks resolution - the highs lack extension, and the
overall sound is somewhat grainy - with a boomy bass.

With your size room, you can even get by with some nice book
shelf speakers - since you have a good subwoofer.

To me, speakers from Focal, KEF and Monitor Audio do perform
overall better. Also, look into PSB. In the states, NHT is a good
one - and they ship to Canada.

Thank you for some direction and you are spot on about the Monitor 7's. KEF dealer is about 3 hours away from me. Monitor Audio not sure. PSB I have looked into (model Image T6) do not know about how they match up against the Paradigm's. Focal dealer near by so I will check that out. I will also look at the NHT line. I appreciate the help.

 

[cevet]

As far as increase in sound quality - the answer is subjective.
For me I can - the Monitor 7 to me, has a dark sounding mid-
range that lacks resolution - the highs lack extension, and the
overall sound is somewhat grainy - with a boomy bass.

With your size room, you can even get by with some nice book
shelf speakers - since you have a good subwoofer.

To me, speakers from Focal, KEF and Monitor Audio do perform
overall better. Also, look into PSB. In the states, NHT is a good
one - and they ship to Canada.

Interesting. I looked into NHT Absolute Towers. Price $998, good. Shipping to Canada $320.41 Yikes!!!!!!!!!

 

[zieglj01]

Interesting. I looked into NHT Absolute Towers. Price $998, good. Shipping to Canada $320.41 Yikes!!!!!!!!!

Strike 1

 

[zieglj01]

PSB I have looked into (model Image T6) do not know about how they match up against the Paradigm's.

I prefer the Image series, over the Monitor series - a more balanced
sound.

 

[billy p]

Yeah...shipping to certain parts of Canada quickly adds up...I know...first hand.... If your in the GTA I'd welcome you to come over and hear my set up...otherwise your very limited in Canada with that budget. The Psb Image would be up there having compared them to the monitor v4's and preferring them but decided on some Energies at the time. Another viable option...dare I say might be "Axioms"...but I'm moving away from Axiom myself...just thought, I'd mention that. I know the Sierra Towers would be a step up but exceed your budget by a wide margin.....

Good luck...

 

[zieglj01]

Another viable option...dare I say might be "Axioms"...but I'm moving away from Axiom myself...just thought, I'd mention that.

It was on the tip of your tongue.

 

[billy p]

It was on the tip of your tongue.

After the way some of those folks treated me on their forum and via PM....I'd have a hard time recommending their speakers again....

The OP already owns the Q's so it only figures.....

Btw..Jim you always give great advice....

 

[zieglj01]

As always, Jim makes great points.

Thank you for the compliment - however, I still tend to miss that
target, from time to time.

 

[fuzz092888]

From the little bit I've been around here you've been more hit than miss

 

[cevet]

Thanks for the tips guys. Going to try to audition some choices today. I will get back to the forum with some thoughts. I do think at this point that maybe used might be a viable option. I will look at that and get back here with prices to see if they seem fair. As far as the Axiom line I have heard so many different comments on them that I am a little skeptical. I started with the QS8 replacing some Paradigm ADP's. Just recently added the QS4 to replace some Energy's from the Take series. I do prefer the QS8 over the Paradigm ADP though.

 

[norml4721]

upgraditus

H :

Good luck in finding a new front stage. I am a huge Focal fan (A French speaker company). I have a focal 7.1 system. The other thing I would like to mention is Ebay. You can find some really graet speakers for about half the price. names like Vienna Acoustics , Quad , Focal , Totum etc etc being in Canada it may be a little bit harder. it,s worth the effort.

Happy Hunting do not let the process spoil the reward of finding what you want.

Best ,

Norm L

 

[billy p]

H :

Good luck in finding a new front stage. I am a huge Focal fan (A French speaker company). I have a focal 7.1 system. The other thing I would like to mention is Ebay. You can find some really graet speakers for about half the price. names like Vienna Acoustics , Quad , Focal , Totum etc etc being in Canada it may be a little bit harder. it,s worth the effort.

Happy Hunting do not let the process spoil the reward of finding what you want.

Best ,

Norm L

Totem, I believe are manufactured in Quebec so they're still techincally French.....

 

[wizot]

Billy,

i just registered on this forum because i wanted to write to you. i am in the process of putting together a home theater for a new house that i'm moving into in 6-8 weeks. i have been researching and listening to speakers incessantly and have definitely decided on the sierra towers and horizon center from ascend. i am trying to decide on surrounds that will complement my front stage and satisfy my WAF. I don't really have side wall mounting available and must mount surrounds on the back wall, directly behind the couch. i was pretty convinced that the qs4's would be perfect, but now am having second thoughts with some of the negative reviews about axiom that i have read. you have these 5 speakers and i would love a little more explanation from you. are you at least happy with the performance of the qs4? would you have any other alternate suggestions? (unfortunately, i can't mount big, black bookshelfs as surrounds unless i want to get a divorce.) any insight would be greatly appreciated! thank you in advance!

 

[cevet]

Billy,

i just registered on this forum because i wanted to write to you. i am in the process of putting together a home theater for a new house that i'm moving into in 6-8 weeks. i have been researching and listening to speakers incessantly and have definitely decided on the sierra towers and horizon center from ascend. i am trying to decide on surrounds that will complement my front stage and satisfy my WAF. I don't really have side wall mounting available and must mount surrounds on the back wall, directly behind the couch. i was pretty convinced that the qs4's would be perfect, but now am having second thoughts with some of the negative reviews about axiom that i have read. you have these 5 speakers and i would love a little more explanation from you. are you at least happy with the performance of the qs4? would you have any other alternate suggestions? (unfortunately, i can't mount big, black bookshelfs as surrounds unless i want to get a divorce.) any insight would be greatly appreciated! thank you in advance!

Well this is only my opinion of course but the QS4's are not bad by no means. I originally had Paradigm ADP's as my side surrounds. I switched them for a pair of QS8's. What an improvement. This was at my previous residence but have since downsized to a smaller home and had to place the QS8's on my rear wall (no other choice except for ceiling) and placed the QS4's over my rear archway. The 4's quite honestly are not near the sound quality(oomph if you will) of the 8's but IMHO the rear channels for me only come into play on Blu-Ray 7.1 and they do a fine job with that. I am looking at the aspect of rearranging the 8's while I search for a new front stage. So my opinion is, if you can swing it you would not be sorry with the 8's as opposed to the 4's as your rears. I might add that I picked up the 4's from the factory outlet at Axiom and could not find a blemish on them and they are sonically perfect. Good luck.