Upgrading my speakers

[Hawkeye379]

Hello everyone, first post here.

I've asked the same questions on a couple other forums, but I wanted to see if I could get some more and or different opinions here.

Anyway, I am upgrading my speakers. My setup currently consists of all Polk Audio speakers:

Fronts: Monitor 60s
Center: CS1
Rears: Monitor 30s

I was looking at Paradigm and the following setup:

Fronts: Monitor 9 v6
Center: CC-290
Rears: Atom Monitors or Mini Monitors

I have searched all over and these seem to be my only option given what I have to spend, keeping in mind I live in Canada so prices are higher. The Monitor 9s are $800/pair, the CC-290 is $400, the Atom Monitors are $255/pair and the Mini Monitors are $370/pair.

What are your opinions on these speakers? I was hoping to audition them this week but that isn't possible now, next week I can though.

I also need a new subwoofer, but I should probably make a thread in the subwoofer forum for that.

 

[3db]

Hello everyone, first post here.

I've asked the same questions on a couple other forums, but I wanted to see if I could get some more and or different opinions here.

Anyway, I am upgrading my speakers. My setup currently consists of all Polk Audio speakers:

Fronts: Monitor 60s
Center: CS1
Rears: Monitor 30s

I was looking at Paradigm and the following setup:

Fronts: Monitor 9 v6
Center: CC-290
Rears: Atom Monitors or Mini Monitors

I have searched all over and these seem to be my only option given what I have to spend, keeping in mind I live in Canada so prices are higher. The Monitor 9s are $800/pair, the CC-290 is $400, the Atom Monitors are $255/pair and the Mini Monitors are $370/pair.

What are your opinions on these speakers? I was hoping to audition them this week but that isn't possible now, next week I can though.

I also need a new subwoofer, but I should probably make a thread in the subwoofer forum for that.

I'm not a fan of Paradigm's monitor line... their studio series....well that's a another story. If you want to stay in the price bracket of the monitor series, try and audition the Image series from PSB: their T5s as your towers and the Image B4 or B5 as surrounds, the C5 as a center channel.

http://www.psbspeakers.com/content/110707104017-PSB_Image_Series_English_Specifications.pdf

 

[zieglj01]

Check out the PSB

 

[Hawkeye379]

I'm not a fan of Paradigm's monitor line... their studio series....well that's a another story. If you want to stay in the price bracket of the monitor series, try and audition the Image series from PSB: their T5s as your towers and the Image B4 or B5 as surrounds, the C5 as a center channel.

Check out the PSB

Yeah Paradigm's studio series is nice. I have checked out PSB, however to buy all new PSB speakers, it would put me over $2000 and I still need a subwoofer, in other words, that can't happen unfortunately. I think the Paradigms are my best bet for what I can spend. If I like how they sound, then I'll get them. I'll let you guys know when/if I get them. I'll be able to audition them next week so if I like them I'll have them then.

By the way, I forgot to mention what receiver I have. It's a Yamaha HTR-6063 which is identical to the RX-V667 that I got just recently, I understand that this will be fine with the Paradigms.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Yeah Paradigm's studio series is nice. I have checked out PSB, however to buy all new PSB speakers, it would put me over $2000 and I still need a subwoofer, in other words, that can't happen unfortunately. I think the Paradigms are my best bet for what I can spend. If I like how they sound, then I'll get them. I'll let you guys know when/if I get them. I'll be able to audition them next week so if I like them I'll have them then.

By the way, I forgot to mention what receiver I have. It's a Yamaha HTR-6063 which is identical to the RX-V667 that I got just recently, I understand that this will be fine with the Paradigms.

What are all your speakers options in Canada?

And what are the prices?

 

[GranteedEV]

Yeah Paradigm's studio series is nice. I have checked out PSB, however to buy all new PSB speakers, it would put me over $2000 and I still need a subwoofer, in other words, that can't happen unfortunately. I think the Paradigms are my best bet for what I can spend. If I like how they sound, then I'll get them. I'll let you guys know when/if I get them. I'll be able to audition them next week so if I like them I'll have them then.

By the way, I forgot to mention what receiver I have. It's a Yamaha HTR-6063 which is identical to the RX-V667 that I got just recently, I understand that this will be fine with the Paradigms.

I would not get the Paradigm Monitor speakers. There are some options you could consider, though.

 

[Hawkeye379]

What are all your speakers options in Canada?

And what are the prices?

There's Polk Audio, Paradigm, PSB, Def Tech, KEF, Klipsch, Energy, Axiom, Boston Acoustics, Monitor Audio, JBL and probably more. Many of these are more than what I have to spend though. My local dealer only has Paradigm and Monitor Audio. However, there's another dealer a bit farther away that has a bigger selection. If you google (I can't post links yet) "Bay Bloor Radio" you will find their website and they have prices listed for everything, rather than me type everything out. They do have the PSB Image T6 however for $1449/pair, but that's a lot more than $800/pair for the Paradigms, plus I need a center speaker, rears, and a subwoofer.

 

[zieglj01]

I was going to look at Bay Bloor Radio - however, my computer security
has warned me about computer threats.

 

[Hawkeye379]

I was going to look at Bay Bloor Radio - however, my computer security
has warned me about computer threats.

Well that's weird, I have no problems with it. It's a legitimate business, I believe they are a very popular speaker dealer.

 

[zieglj01]

Well that's weird, I have no problems with it. It's a legitimate business, I believe they are a very popular speaker dealer.

I do not question their business - I just got a warning about computer security.
Why, I do not know?

 

[Hawkeye379]

I do not question their business - I just got a warning about computer security.
Why, I do not know?

Yeah that's really odd. Maybe try again later or something.

 

[GranteedEV]

However, there's another dealer a bit farther away that has a bigger selection.

Don't forget the internet ;o

If you google (I can't post links yet) "Bay Bloor Radio" you will find their website and they have prices listed for everything, rather than me type everything out.

Wait, you're in the GTA? I'm positive there's gotta be tons of places for you to find a dealer.

But looking at that dealer, I would get these:

http://baybloorradio.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=82_103&product_id=411

before I even took a glance at the Paradigms. Or at least, audition the KEFs, and then order them from AC4L http://www.accessories4less.com/index.php?page=search&search_query=KEF+Q500&x=0&y=0

 

[Hawkeye379]

Don't forget the internet ;o



Wait, you're in the GTA? I'm positive there's gotta be tons of places for you to find a dealer.

But looking at that dealer, I would get these:

http://baybloorradio.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=82_103&product_id=411

before I even took a glance at the Paradigms. Or at least, audition the KEFs, and then order them from AC4L http://www.accessories4less.com/index.php?page=search&search_query=KEF+Q500&x=0&y=0

More or less in the GTA, I'm sure there are many dealers, but not many are very close. I don't really want to buy online, because if there's a problem I have to pay to return them. However those prices are great. I emailed that site a couple times about other things and they said they couldn't ship what I was interested in to Canada, despite being able to calculate shipping to Canada. They might ship the speakers though.

Those speakers look pretty good though. So many choices.

 

[zieglj01]

Don't forget the internet

before I even took a glance at the Paradigms. Or at least, audition the KEFs, and then order them from AC4L http://www.accessories4less.com/index.php?page=search&search_query=KEF+Q500&x=0&y=0

That is a good idea - check it out.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Polk Audio, Paradigm, PSB, Def Tech, KEF, Klipsch, Energy, Axiom, Boston Acoustics, Monitor Audio, JBL

I would personally pick the KEF & JBL.

I like Def Tech also, but some people think they sound too "forward" like the Klipsch speakers.

The KEF Q900s (on Accessories4less for $1138/pr) have gotten rave reviews (Stereophile & Home Theater Magazine) and superb speaker measurements to back it up - speakers that "walk the walk".

John Atkinson of Stereophile said the Q900 had superb speaker measurements.

Kal Rubinson said the Q900s are arguably the best speakers in the $2K range.

Man, I think A4L just jacked up the prices on those Q900!

If you can't afford the Q900, then the Q700 should be an excellent alternative.

 

[Hawkeye379]

I would personally pick the KEF & JBL.

I like Def Tech also, but some people think they sound too "forward" like the Klipsch speakers.

The KEF Q900s (on Accessories4less for $1138/pr) have gotten rave reviews (Stereophile & Home Theater Magazine) and superb speaker measurements to back it up - speakers that "walk the walk".

John Atkinson of Stereophile said the Q900 had superb speaker measurements.

Kal Rubinson said the Q900s are arguably the best speakers in the $2K range.

Man, I think A4L just jacked up the prices on those Q900!

If you can't afford the Q900, then the Q700 should be an excellent alternative.

Yeah those seem to be great speakers. However as I mentioned buying online from an U.S. website isn't as easy because I live in Canada. I put a pair of the Q900, Q600 center and a pair of the Q300 bookshelfs in the cart and calculated the shipping. It comes to $2300, $373 of that is shipping. Ouch. I then tried a pair of the Q700, Q200 center and a pair of the Q100 bookshelfs. It comes to $1776, $286 of that is shipping. Then if there's a problem or something I have to pay to return them. I don't think this option is worth the potential risk/hassle.

 

[GranteedEV]

Then if there's a problem or something I have to pay to return them. I don't think this option is worth the potential risk/hassle.

If there's a problem IE defective, then a good online reseller will pay for return shipping.

 

[Hawkeye379]

If there's a problem IE defective, then a good online reseller will pay for return shipping.

Yeah AC4L says they will pay for return shipping if defective, but only for an exchange, otherwise the buyer has to. It's still too expensive though.

So many choices and many are too expensive.

 

[3db]

Yeah Paradigm's studio series is nice. I have checked out PSB, however to buy all new PSB speakers, it would put me over $2000 and I still need a subwoofer, in other words, that can't happen unfortunately. I think the Paradigms are my best bet for what I can spend. If I like how they sound, then I'll get them. I'll let you guys know when/if I get them. I'll be able to audition them next week so if I like them I'll have them then.

By the way, I forgot to mention what receiver I have. It's a Yamaha HTR-6063 which is identical to the RX-V667 that I got just recently, I understand that this will be fine with the Paradigms.

Where did you price the PSBs? Their plant is located just outside Pickering which I believe is still in the GTA. One option you may want to consider is to buy your speakers in stages.... Get a good pair of towers first...once the funds build back up, the srrounds, sub, and lastly the center channel. That's how I built my HT system. Took me a couple of years but pateince has its rewards. My friends are very impressed with the sound of my system.

Here are the measurements for the Image T6 which are very good at any price range. The Kefs measure better but are at least 3x times the cost.

http://www.hometheater.com/content/psb-image-t6-speaker-system-ht-labs-measures

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

The Image T6’s listening-window response (a five-point average of axial and +/–15-degree horizontal and vertical responses) measures +1.88/–1.74 decibels from 200 hertz to 10 kilohertz.

The Image C5’s listening-window response measures +1.67/–4.12 dB from 200 Hz to 10 kHz.

The Image B6’s listening-window response measures +0.83/–3.75 dB from 200 Hz to 10 kHz.
________________________________________________________________

The Q900’s listening-window response (a five-point average of axial and +/–15-degree horizontal and vertical responses) measures +2.25/–0.65 decibels from 200 hertz to 10 kilohertz.

The Q600c’s listening-window response measures +2.38/–3.00 dB from 200 Hz to 10 kHz.

The Q100’s listening-window response measures +1.90/–2.20 dB from 200 Hz to 10 kHz.
_______________________________________________________

The T6 had great measurements, but the C5 & B6 had kind of bad measurements.

All the Qs had great measurements. Notice the Q600 did not measure as great at the Q100. Another reason why I don't prefer to use the horizontal center speakers!

I would rather use the bookshelf speakers as both surround speakers and center speakers because they measure better.