Best Floor Standing Speakers for under 1500

polkfarmboy

nooshinjohn wrote: »

I am going to toss my hat into the Magnepan camp as well. I would go so far as to say that the Maggie MMG's paired up with a musical sub could be the best two channel bang for the buck you can get, and still have 5oo.oo in your pocket. I would put such a setup in the 4k speaker catagory.

4K ? I say nay

heiney9

nooshinjohn wrote: »

I am going to toss my hat into the Magnepan camp as well. I would go so far as to say that the Maggie MMG's paired up with a musical sub could be the best two channel bang for the buck you can get, and still have 5oo.oo in your pocket. I would put such a setup in the 4k speaker catagory.

MMg's with Emotiva will not sound good, not to mention MMG's just simply don't sound that great until you mod the frames and stands, then you have something. I believe the OP is using this in a multi-channel set-up

H9

nooshinjohn

I have not heard the Emo/MMG combination to comment on it, but I have heard them on Mcintosh, Sunfire and Parasound, and they sounded accurate, detailed, and presented a soundstage that was deep and believable. I can only imagine how much better they can sound, but for the buck they cost in stock form when paired with a nice sub, I still cannot think of a better speaker out there for the money. Again, it is possible that the amp is a huge factor in that equation.

audiocr381ve

I know you didn't ask this specifically, but I'm going to throw it out there in hopes to save you from the heart ache of spending money on speakers and not finding the result you're looking for.

Here's my suggestion. Upgrade your electronics.

leroyjr1

heiney9 wrote: »

MMg's with Emotiva will not sound good, not to mention MMG's just simply don't sound that great until you mod the frames and stands, then you have something. I believe the OP is using this in a multi-channel set-up

H9

Have you heard the MMG's and emotiva setup before or are you just assuming?

robert0507

audiocr381ve wrote: »

I know you didn't ask this specifically, but I'm going to throw it out there in hopes to save you from the heart ache of spending money on speakers and not finding the result you're looking for.

Here's my suggestion. Upgrade your electronics.

What equip. would you suggest? So far I have narrowed it down to three speakers. The Lsim 703, Kef q900, and Maggie 1.6. I listen to alot of 2 channel or 2.1 channel music with a little 7.2 movie watching. I need something with great mids and highs. I have a really good sub already so anything I say below 60 hz is covered.

EDUBAG

I believe that you would like kef, i had rtia7 and bought the kef r300 bookshelfs and love them. I use them for music only and no sub yet but they sound very very good, clean accurate.

Try ti get your ears on some kef before you decide

Good luck

heiney9

leroyjr1 wrote: »

Have you heard the MMG's and emotiva setup before or are you just assuming?

I have heard them separately and IMO, they would be a pretty awful match.

Never had p-butter and raw onions together on a sandwich, but I can say that it's not a good match based on experience with both p-butter and onion separately.

H9

Dawgfish

robert0507 wrote: »

Thank you Dawgfish. Were could I find some speaker stands for those 703. Also would the xpa2 amp be to much power for these speakers?

I got my speaker stands from Audio Asylum. I use the Pangea heavy duty 28" tall stands with good success. http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=PGDS03

The xpa-2 would not be too much power for these, in fact it's better to overpower speakers than underpower them. I am currently using an Anthem Amp 2 which is a 200 wpc amp on them and they sound wonderful. I have used Emotiva amps in the past and have enjoyed them. Having said that, I think they are better suited as home theater amps as opposed to two channel amps. Personally, if I were in your shoes I would look more towards a used B&K, Parasound, Anthem or other warmer sounding amps. I can tell you for a fact that the LSiMs love tubes, so if you could find a good deal on a tube amp and would like to try that out, that would be another great option.

George Grand

heiney9 wrote: »

Never had p-butter and raw onions together on a sandwich, but I can say that it's not a good match based on experience with both p-butter and onion separately.H9

That doesn't prove anything. You wouldn't think peanut butter and Ajax powdered cleanser go together well, but they do. Peanut butter and chia seeds also.

Dawgfish

Dawgfish wrote: »

I got my speaker stands from Audio Asylum. I use the Pangea heavy duty 28" tall stands with good success. http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=PGDS03

The xpa-2 would not be too much power for these, in fact it's better to overpower speakers than underpower them. I am currently using an Anthem Amp 2 which is a 200 wpc amp on them and they sound wonderful. I have used Emotiva amps in the past and have enjoyed them. Having said that, I think they are better suited as home theater amps as opposed to two channel amps. Personally, if I were in your shoes I would look more towards a used B&K, Parasound, Anthem or other warmer sounding amps. I can tell you for a fact that the LSiMs love tubes, so if you could find a good deal on a tube amp and would like to try that out, that would be another great option.

I meant to say I got the stands from Audio Advisor. The link is correct though. My bad.

robert0507

Dawgfish wrote: »

I meant to say I got the stands from Audio Advisor. The link is correct though. My bad.

Ok so Im about to pull the trigger. But Im still split between the 703 and kef q900. I listend to the kef today at a dealer. Awesome sound. Really did like it. But cant find the lsim anywhere to audition. Dawgfish have you heard the kef q900? If so what made you get the 703 over the q900?

leroyjr1

Where's your location?

leroyjr1

Don't think you can go wrong with either one.

Dawgfish

robert0507 wrote: »

Ok so Im about to pull the trigger. But Im still split between the 703 and kef q900. I listend to the kef today at a dealer. Awesome sound. Really did like it. But cant find the lsim anywhere to audition. Dawgfish have you heard the kef q900? If so what made you get the 703 over the q900?

I have not heard the Kefs, but have heard nothing but good things about them. I have heard some B&W, Totem, Usher, and Tyler Acoustic bookshelves and to me the 703s hang with/or surpass any of them. The 703s really surprised me. I have always been a tower kind of guy. I've owned modded SDA-1Cs, RTA-12Bs, a whole bunch of DCM Timeframes and Timewindows, and some Martin Logan Sequel II towers for two channel duties in the past. Until I heard the 703s I never thought you could fill a large room full of sound with bookshelves the same way you could with some towers. I've changed my mind now. My system has never sounded better than it does now with the 703s paired with a REL sub. I love it. Like Leroyjr1 said though, I don't think you could go wrong with wither one. Which you were closer, I would welcome you over anytime to hear the 703s.

robert0507

Dawgfish wrote: »

I have not heard the Kefs, but have heard nothing but good things about them. I have heard some B&W, Totem, Usher, and Tyler Acoustic bookshelves and to me the 703s hang with/or surpass any of them. The 703s really surprised me. I have always been a tower kind of guy. I've owned modded SDA-1Cs, RTA-12Bs, a whole bunch of DCM Timeframes and Timewindows, and some Martin Logan Sequel II towers for two channel duties in the past. Until I heard the 703s I never thought you could fill a large room full of sound with bookshelves the same way you could with some towers. I've changed my mind now. My system has never sounded better than it does now with the 703s paired with a REL sub. I love it. Like Leroyjr1 said though, I don't think you could go wrong with wither one. Which you were closer, I would welcome you over anytime to hear the 703s.

Yeah I am from CT. I would def take you or Leroyj up on your offers. LeroyJr1 how is that review coming along?

leroyjr1

robert0507 wrote: »

Yeah I am from CT. I would def take you or Leroyj up on your offers. LeroyJr1 how is that review coming along?

If I told you, you wouldn't believe me. I'm not very good at reviews but I'm very impressed with what I'm hearing. I have heard the Q900's and 703's and feel both are good but I'd take the 705's over the Q900's. The 703's are just as good as the 705's but I'm a floorstanders type of guy. I also think quality of the LSIm's are much better, more in line with the R series from Kef. Honestly for me it's like answering which car is better a Ford Mustang or a Chevy Camaro. Both speakers are great. With the 900's you're getting a speaker that doesn't need help for music reproduction where's the 703's might need a little reinforcement.

Rampittman

i just set up a rti system with a9s as mains, a3s as surrounds, a1s as front wides. with external amp and breakin a9s are as awesome for music as HT. not bright just crystal clear sound. as good as aperions, very impressed and highly recommend.

Turbota

Some here have said the RTi A9s are great for movies, but not be the best choice for 2-channel audio only.

How about a set of RTi A7s?

They would also require a little less power to run too.

Drenis

Turbota wrote: »

Some here have said the RTi A9s are great for movies, but not be the best choice for 2-channel audio only.

How about a set of RTi A7s?

They would also require a little less power to run too.

If anything, A9's have a smoother mid-range and excel for music more so than the latter models. ESPECIALLY after a crossover upgrade so I hear...

EDUBAG

Robert,

if you are seriously considering the 703 i think you should look the r300 from kef, the retail is 1800 but i am sure you could find them somewhere for 1500. It is the clearer speaker i have heard yet!! Very well made and perfect balance, no fatigue and i use mine quite a bit.

So far i am not using a sub and they sound very full, but being bookshelf (pretty big ones at that) i am sure i will be adding a sub eventually.

I prefer a better hf and mf in a speaker because with a good sub you can take care of the lf.

I think that this is a more direct competition with the 703, but have read that the lsim are a little more laid back.

Like you those were my options and had a very hard time auditioning a pair of 703, i heard the q300 and was so surprised with the clean sound that i bought the r300 without listening to them (they came out this past december).

You are going to be very happy with either one, but i wanted to make clear that the q line does not compare to either 703 or r300.

Good luck and keep us posted

Dawgfish

I would like to say that a sub is not a necessity for the 703s. They have surprisingly good bass, especially for bookshelfs. I was just used to the bass that many towers put out, so I wanted a sub just to fill in the very low end, but to be honest I could easily have gotten by without it. In fact I would rather run no sub at all then to have a sub in the loop that was less than musical. The REL sub I'm running with the 703s is a perfect match. It integrates with the 703s perfectly to the point where you really can't tell any sub is being ran at all. The combination sounds seemless and very smooth. I love it.

robert0507

EDUBAG wrote: »

Robert,

if you are seriously considering the 703 i think you should look the r300 from kef, the retail is 1800 but i am sure you could find them somewhere for 1500. It is the clearer speaker i have heard yet!! Very well made and perfect balance, no fatigue and i use mine quite a bit.

So far i am not using a sub and they sound very full, but being bookshelf (pretty big ones at that) i am sure i will be adding a sub eventually.

I prefer a better hf and mf in a speaker because with a good sub you can take care of the lf.

I think that this is a more direct competition with the 703, but have read that the lsim are a little more laid back.

Like you those were my options and had a very hard time auditioning a pair of 703, i heard the q300 and was so surprised with the clean sound that i bought the r300 without listening to them (they came out this past december).

You are going to be very happy with either one, but i wanted to make clear that the q line does not compare to either 703 or r300.

Good luck and keep us posted

So if guys had a choice between the r300,lsim 703 or a paradigm sig 40 v2 which would you choose? Just curious .

polkfarmboy

I would snag these http://www.ebay.com/itm/MartinLogan-ElectroMotion-ESL-Excellent-Condition-Martin-Logan-/261010230552?pt=Speakers_Subwoofers&hash=item3cc56c0d18#ht_587wt_1147

$1375 its a steal

robert0507

Ok So I am going to go and demo the r300 with my brother today. I hope they impress me.

robert0507

polkfarmboy wrote: »

I would snag these http://www.ebay.com/itm/MartinLogan-ElectroMotion-ESL-Excellent-Condition-Martin-Logan-/261010230552?pt=Speakers_Subwoofers&hash=item3cc56c0d18#ht_587wt_1147

$1375 its a steal

hmm something to consider

newrival

heiney9 wrote: »

I have heard them separately and IMO, they would be a pretty awful match.

Never had p-butter and raw onions together on a sandwich, but I can say that it's not a good match based on experience with both p-butter and onion separately.

H9

To be fair, you should disclose that you have a large (read: massive) bias against emotiva. I have heard an XPA2 and thought it was pretty decent. And at least far from the horrendous atrocity you make it out to be. There are others here with experience equalling yours (subjective) that felt the emo amps are a good value and echo my sentiment.

newrival

deleted

polkfarmboy

robert0507 wrote: »

hmm something to consider

Here are links to them reviews

http://www.hometheater.com/content/martinlogan-electromotion-esl-speaker-system

http://www.tonepublications.com/review/martinlogans-electromotion-esl/

http://www.avguide.com/review/martinlogan-electromotion-esl-51-channel-speaker-system-tpv-109

heiney9

newrival wrote: »

To be fair, you should disclose that you have a large (read: massive) bias against emotiva. I have heard an XPA2 and thought it was pretty decent. And at least far from the horrendous atrocity you make it out to be. There are others here with experience equalling yours (subjective) that felt the emo amps are a good value and echo my sentiment.

No bias at all, they plain sound just average to my ears, IMO. How that's considered a bias I don't know. I've heard the cdp and it was decent, but for it's price point one could do better, one could do worse. Heard the XPA1 and XPA2 and once could do a lot better, IMO.

Horrendous atrocity????? Don't believe I have ever said that. I have listened to a lot of gear and Emo falls towards the bottom, it's not my cup of tea and anytime someone mentions brands like B&K, Parasound, Acurus, Adcom, Carver, Rotel, NAD, Sunfire and others in the same sentence wanting to know which to choose, I'll always choose the one (of those mentioned) that is NOT Emotiva because they just plain perform better, IMO.

Because I have a preference and an opinion doesn't mean I am inherently "biased" against Emo. It means I prefer the sound of most other similar brands. If you want to take that as massive bias against, then that's your perogative (Bobby Brown).

H9