Speakers...which ones?

shack

Originally posted by audiobliss
Thanks, frg41. I wouldn't mind using Polk speakers; I'm pretty sure Now Audio Video in town sells them.

Now Audio only sells Klipsch, Boston Acoustics, Monitor Audio , Definitive Technology and maybe Martin Logan. Of that group I would look at the Klipsch or Bostons. If there is a Tweeter in your area look at their line of Bostons. Go to Circuit City and look at the Polk RTi6 Bookshelf.

But 1st WHAT IS your budget? Do you want 2 speakers? Do you want 2 speakers and a sub? Do you want 2 front, 2 rear, a center channel and a sub. Stereo music or Home Theater? You gotta narrow it down some...

audiobliss

To clarify a little bit: My budget is $500 max, including everything (I already have the receiver). Ideally, I think I'd want floor-stander. However, I've been persuaded that I can get better quality speakers cheaper in a bookshelf model. But, if I get a sub, will I then be spending just as much as I would on floor standing speakers? Question: In this price range, is it common to buy speakers and a sub? Should I really just go with some speakers and try and save some money so I can later get a sub? I'll be using this setup for music about 98.976% of the time, but will like to be able to expnd it into HT later (when I have the time, money, and space: when I move out). BTW, I'm in the triad in NC, right between Winston and Greensboro. So, neither place is too far to drive to look at speakers. (There's High Point, too.) Well, I'm going to see if I can't start listening to speakers again. Keep all the advice coming, 'cause I got a big hole it's fillin'!

shack

Understand that I am a BIG fan of bookshelf speakers. I feel a pair of GOOD sub $500 bookshelf speakers will outperform a similarly priced pair of floorstanders. But again that is just my pesonal bias. Remember too, that unsless you actually have a bookshelf to put the speakers on you will have to purchase (or make) a pair of speaker stands. I would then save up for a nice sub. There are several subs in the $400 and under range that would work very well with a nice set of bookshelf speakers and will hit harder and lower that a comparibly priced set of floorstanders.

Second, while there are certainly good buys out there for used speakers...I would consider purchasing new for a couple of reasons. You have indicated that you would like to use whatever you buy as a building block for HT in the maybe near future. The older you go with speakers, the harder it will be to find speakers that will match as you add on. Having had a mismatched home theater at one time, I now prefer to have all my speakers (excluding sub) match as much as possible and preferably in the same line or family of speakers. Also being relatively new to the hobby it is sometimes difficult to determine the condition of used gear and you almost never have a warranty. New helps avoid a lot of those pitfalls.

Ok...based on what I said above...here is what I would do. If you like the Klipsch, thats fine. Before you make that decision, here are several that you should take a look at and I know from traveling in your area that you can find them to demo:

B&W DM303 - MSRP $300 - These get very high marks for high bang for the buck from several members here. Don't expect any discounts though. Also don't assume that because these are at the low end of the price spectrum that they are necessarily inferior to the others.

Polk RTi6 - MSRP $379 - Several folks here heard these at Russ' Texas gathering and spoke highly of them - Circuit City for sure and you may catch them on sale somewhere.

Boston Acoustics CR85 - MSRP $400 - A nice laidback sound from a company that doesn't get much press but has been around for a while and makes a pretty good speaker, Should be able to find these at Now Audio or Tweeter and maybe they will deal.

NHT SB2 - MSRP $400 - These may be the most difficult to locate because their dealer network is sparse....however since they are an acoustic suspension design they "may" have a little better low extention than some of the others.

Paradigm Monitor 5 - MSRP $519 - This is the largest and best Paradigm bookshelf model in your price range. I am not a big fan of this brand but I have heard these and they are pretty good. They are also the closest out there to my Polk RT55is so there is probably a bias there..

These are just a few that I have listened to and could recommend that YOU go demo. There are certainly other brands like Def Tec, JBL, etc... but I have very little experience with them.

Good luck...go listen to everything you can and remember the most imortant rule:

DO NOT BUY ANYTHING BASED ON WHAT ANYONE HERE OR ANYWHERE ELSE RECOMMENDS WITHOUT LISTENING FOR YOURSELF!

audiobliss

I've heard several people recommend the RTi6 speakers, which seem to be pretty nice. However, the RTi38 speakers have a lower frequency response and, to me, are more visually appealling. I was wondering why nobody brought these up, and why aren't they better considering they have a lower frequency response?

audiobliss

Also, the RTi6s are obviously nicer considering they cost more, but why? I don't understand this.

audiobliss

And (sorry I couldn't combine all this into one post), would all the Polk center channel speakers be timbre matched? If not, which ones could I use? Also, which rear channel speakers could I use? This isn't THAT important, because it will probably be quite a few years before I start expanding into HT, though I might try and get a cc speaker soon enough. Also, are there any complaints against Klipsch besides the harshness that the horn loaded tweeter provides? I don't really know why, but I'm really drawn to their speakers.

TN_Polk_Lover

Originally posted by audiobliss
I've heard several people recommend the RTi6 speakers, which seem to be pretty nice. However, the RTi38 speakers have a lower frequency response and, to me, are more visually appealling. I was wondering why nobody brought these up, and why aren't they better considering they have a lower frequency response?

I agree with you that the RTi38's are more visually appealing. But, of course, the appearance is very much a matter of personal opinion and everyone has different tastes. I have a pair of RTi38's (Cherry finish) connected to an older model Yamaha Receiver (R-9) which is rated at 125 watts per channel (2 channel only).

I love the sound of my speakers. If you put them on good stands so that the tweeters are at ear level when you are seated, and you can position them at least 2 feet away from any wall, then they will image very nicely. You might not yet understand what we mean by "image" but once you do understand and hear it for yourself, you'll be hooked. If speakers "image" well, you will hear a "soundstage" spread out in front of you and the speakers themselves will seem to disappear. You should be able to close your eyes and not really tell where the speakers themselves are, but you will be able to locate certain voices or instruments in space. (This of course depends alot on the particular recording you are listening to). The effect is almost magical the first time you experience it. Many people feel that somewhat smaller bookshelf speakers image better than larger floorstanding speakers. The tradeoff is that you don't have real deep bass.

For myself, if my budget is limited, I'd rather have the best pair of good imaging bookshelf speakers I could afford. Then, later, as money permits, you could add a subwoofer if you want some deeper bass (for example, if you like pipe organ music and want to experience the "feeling" of the lowest bass notes.)

Also, if you are still at home and have a small bedroom, you may not have room for floor speakers or even bookshelfs on stands. You may have to hang the bookshelf speakers on the wall. If you do put them close to the wall, they won't image as well, but at least later when you have more room you can put them on stands and get them away from the walls.

I haven't really done a lot of in-store listening, but just from what little I've done, to me, Polks have a "sweeter" "smoother" high end than some speakers but with a very neutral mid-range. Klipsh to me have a more "forward" more pronounced mid range. If you like to listen to brass (trumpets, trombones, etc.) some people prefer the Klipsh because they seem to slightly emphasize the "brassy" sound.

Hope this helps. I'm now 49 years old, but I was fascinated with "record players" from as early as I can remember (about 3 years old). I didn't start buying any "hi-fi" equipment until I was 18, but if you love music as I do you won't regret getting into this hobby. I'd just recommend going for quality vs. quanity. For instance, go for a better quality 2 channel system, vs. a cheap multichannel home theater system. Nothing wrong at all with home theater if you can afford it! Of course, you already have the HT receiver, but you can still use it in 2 channel mode until you can afford to add more speakers for the center - surround - rear.

Just my advice, but as always, trust your own ears.

TN_Polk_Lover

Originally posted by audiobliss
Also, the RTi6s are obviously nicer considering they cost more, but why? I don't understand this.

I think that the RTi6's are considered a newer model replacement for the RTi38's, so seems that some places have the RTi38's at a reduced price. Crutchfield has them reduced (I think?) and in the Nashvile area there are stores called "Electronic Express". They also have the 38's at a clearance price.

audiobliss

I think I'd be sold on the RTi38s if I knew of some place reasonably close that had 'em so I could hear 'em; I've never even seen 'em. It'd really be great if I could get 'em before the 29 so I could get the free sub. They don't show up on CC's website, and, if I could somehow manage to persuade Mom & Dad to order online, I can't find 'em on Crutchfield's website, either. I'd hate to buy something I haven't heard, and I don't think Dad would like that, either. But, if I could find a place to hear 'em, I think I'd like 'em, especially with a sub.

audiobliss

Thanks for all the help, guys. I'm going to try and start listening, now. I'll keep ya posted if I find something.