Looking to upgrade my speakers
I have just upgraded my very old TV and receiver, but still have my old speaker system. I'm just getting into Home Theater and looking for some advice. My room is about 10' x 20' (not ideal for a theater) with the 55" TV centered along the 10" wall. I have a 3-shelf TV stand that has its own VESA support that the TV mounts on, so the TV is not actually standing directly on the top shelf, but is raised about 5" - 6" above it. The Yamaha RX-V671 AVR, HTPC and BluRay player all sit on the shelves below the TV. My Center speaker sits on the top shelf, centered below the TV.
My speakers are Cambridge Soundworks: MC100 satellites (Front mains, side surround, and one back surround) on floor stands, MC150 (Center) and BassCube 8S (Sub). In listening to the system, particularly BluRay movies, it seems like something is "missing." Like there are "holes" in the audio. I'm not an experienced audiophile, so I probably can't explain it well. My biggest complaint is that in a movie (or even TV shows), the dialog is difficult to hear, even if I turn up the volume "too loud." It just doesn't have the clarity or crispness that I think it should have. It just sort of blends in with the other sounds. When I run a pink noise test on each of the speakers, the sound from one to the next is distinctly different from each. I think this sort of confirms my perceptions of "holes" in the audio response.
I checked the receiver to make sure the EQ is set to flat. I even boosted some of the higher frequency bands up a few dB, and that helped a bit, but it still sounds "mushy" to me. My conclusion is that I probably need to upgrade my speaker system to something more capable. This is where I am looking for recommendations. I am targeting a budget in the $600 to $1,000 range.
Since my first priority is to get clearer vocal dialog, I'm guessing that the first thing that I should upgrade is the Center speaker. I was looking at the Polk CS2, but that is just too big to fit under the TV, either on the top shelf or even on the equipment shelves below. What can I replace my MC150 with that will really make a difference? On the top shelf I am limited to about 5" tall and 10" deep, or on the next shelf down about 7" tall and 18" deep. Is it feasible to replace just the Center speaker first? Or do I need to replace the Mains at the same time?
Which brings me to my second priority: replacing the Mains. I can go with floorstanding speakers, as long as the footprint doesn't get too big. Something up to about a 8" to 10" wide and 12" to 16" deep should be fine. I am looking at the Polk Monitor 60 Series II speakers as a potential candidate. These look like very capable speakers at a good price point. But I think my main concern is getting something that works well with the Center speaker choice (above). Or is it possible that I won't need a Center speaker with these? Is this "too much" speaker for my room size? Should I step down to the 50's instead?
My third priority is the side & back surround speakers. I am assuming that these are less critical, and that I could address them after I get some good Mains and Center speakers. Is that reasonable?
That brings me to #4 on the list: the subwoofer. If I get some good mains like the 60's mentioned above, I'm guessing that will fill in the mid-base pretty well and take some of the load off of my anemic subwoofer. With my satellite speaker system, I have the subwoofer crossover point set at 120 Hz, but with better mains, I would think that I could lower that to more like 80 Hz. Is that the right direction?
Is that a reasonable priority? Should I move the Sub up to Priority #3 and the surround speakers down to #4? What are some good options for the Center speaker that would fit in my limited space requirements and complement the Mains? Could I use something like the Polk Monitor 40 bookshelf speaker as a Center speaker? Any other thoughts?
Thanks for reading!
<<<< Clay >>>>
My speakers are Cambridge Soundworks: MC100 satellites (Front mains, side surround, and one back surround) on floor stands, MC150 (Center) and BassCube 8S (Sub). In listening to the system, particularly BluRay movies, it seems like something is "missing." Like there are "holes" in the audio. I'm not an experienced audiophile, so I probably can't explain it well. My biggest complaint is that in a movie (or even TV shows), the dialog is difficult to hear, even if I turn up the volume "too loud." It just doesn't have the clarity or crispness that I think it should have. It just sort of blends in with the other sounds. When I run a pink noise test on each of the speakers, the sound from one to the next is distinctly different from each. I think this sort of confirms my perceptions of "holes" in the audio response.
I checked the receiver to make sure the EQ is set to flat. I even boosted some of the higher frequency bands up a few dB, and that helped a bit, but it still sounds "mushy" to me. My conclusion is that I probably need to upgrade my speaker system to something more capable. This is where I am looking for recommendations. I am targeting a budget in the $600 to $1,000 range.
Since my first priority is to get clearer vocal dialog, I'm guessing that the first thing that I should upgrade is the Center speaker. I was looking at the Polk CS2, but that is just too big to fit under the TV, either on the top shelf or even on the equipment shelves below. What can I replace my MC150 with that will really make a difference? On the top shelf I am limited to about 5" tall and 10" deep, or on the next shelf down about 7" tall and 18" deep. Is it feasible to replace just the Center speaker first? Or do I need to replace the Mains at the same time?
Which brings me to my second priority: replacing the Mains. I can go with floorstanding speakers, as long as the footprint doesn't get too big. Something up to about a 8" to 10" wide and 12" to 16" deep should be fine. I am looking at the Polk Monitor 60 Series II speakers as a potential candidate. These look like very capable speakers at a good price point. But I think my main concern is getting something that works well with the Center speaker choice (above). Or is it possible that I won't need a Center speaker with these? Is this "too much" speaker for my room size? Should I step down to the 50's instead?
My third priority is the side & back surround speakers. I am assuming that these are less critical, and that I could address them after I get some good Mains and Center speakers. Is that reasonable?
That brings me to #4 on the list: the subwoofer. If I get some good mains like the 60's mentioned above, I'm guessing that will fill in the mid-base pretty well and take some of the load off of my anemic subwoofer. With my satellite speaker system, I have the subwoofer crossover point set at 120 Hz, but with better mains, I would think that I could lower that to more like 80 Hz. Is that the right direction?
Is that a reasonable priority? Should I move the Sub up to Priority #3 and the surround speakers down to #4? What are some good options for the Center speaker that would fit in my limited space requirements and complement the Mains? Could I use something like the Polk Monitor 40 bookshelf speaker as a Center speaker? Any other thoughts?
Thanks for reading!
<<<< Clay >>>>
Post edited by Clay on
Comments
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If you don't mind buying used and willing to do some search work/wait a bit longer, check local craigslist, ebay etc and see if you can find something good. In this way with 1K budget you might be able to get a RTi lineup instead of monitors. I just got a pair of cherry RTi A5's for $275 off craigslist and a cherry CSi 3 for $95 off ebay. All of them are in great shape. With RTi/CSi fronts and center I don't think the sides and surrounds matter that much.
If you have frys nearby, sometimes they put RTi 8 (comparable to A5) onsale for 150~200, and this week they sell RTi 12 for 299. Great deals. -
I haven't checked Craigslist yet. Since I'm really new to Home Theater, I'm a little wary about buying used speakers, in that I would feel like a sucker. I don't know enough to tell when a speaker has something wrong with it. How do you thoroughly check out used speakers?
I do have a Fry's nearby. I may check them out this weekend.
Any thoughts on whether a Monitor 40 would make a reasonable Center speaker with Monitor 60 Mains?
Thanks! -
Do yourself a favor and go to frys over the weekend. They currently have RTi8 for $340 a pair. Similar size to the monitor 60 but about $100 more expensive. I'd spend that $100 more to get the RTi anyday of the week if I were you. They also have RTi 6 for $180/pair.
As for subwoofer, check newegg for Klipsch RW-12D. The lowest price ever was $280 last week. From what I read and heard, pretty much the best sub you can get for under $300.
If my math is correct, that still leave you with more $150 to get a decent center. FYI, frys had new CSi 3 for $129 a few weeks ago.
Throw in whatever you previously had for surround or side, you get a really awesome 7.1 setup. -
Do not get a Csi3 unless size is an issue. A Csi5 is so much better in every way.
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Darn, I missed the sale. RTi8 for $340 a pair? They are $420 each now! Is there a site that I can subscribe to that notifies me when stuff like this goes on sale?Do yourself a favor and go to frys over the weekend. They currently have RTi8 for $340 a pair. Similar size to the monitor 60 but about $100 more expensive. I'd spend that $100 more to get the RTi anyday of the week if I were you. They also have RTi 6 for $180/pair.
As for subwoofer, check newegg for Klipsch RW-12D. The lowest price ever was $280 last week. From what I read and heard, pretty much the best sub you can get for under $300.
If my math is correct, that still leave you with more $150 to get a decent center. FYI, frys had new CSi 3 for $129 a few weeks ago.
Throw in whatever you previously had for surround or side, you get a really awesome 7.1 setup. -
Darn, I missed the sale. RTi8 for $340 a pair? They are $420 each now! Is there a site that I can subscribe to that notifies me when stuff like this goes on sale?
http://www.frys.com/ads/audio-video-television-cameras-portable-car-electronics
Their weekly ads still show $340 for the pair, and that is supposed to be the price for this week until Friday if I didn't miss anything. If you have a local frys, call them and I bet they'll honor the price in their ads. Their store price and online price do not always match. -
Is there a site that I can subscribe to that notifies me when stuff like this goes on sale?
www.dealnews.comMy humble setup...
...is no more.
