Totally Overwhelmed but have some Ideas, please help with A/V Receiver Choice

drummer86

There a endless possibilities for bookshelves in the $1K range. Best thing to do it get out there and get your ears on some stuff. Totem, Dynaudio, Dali, Focal, Paradigm, PSB, B&W, KEF, and so on... They all have a certain sound to them and until you get your ears on some stuff you won't know what you like. What I may consider a "warm" speaker in my room others may not. This hobby is extremely subjective and high price tags don't necessarily mean that you'll be totally happy with the sound you get.

OMG

Drummer86, I will have this in a basement room 24' x 24'. I originally listened to bookshelves but saw all those gorgeous floor standing speakers around me. I don't think bookshelves can do what I am trying to achieve.

DSkip, you better believe I will now check out the 703's. If I can get 95% of the sound for 50% of the cost even a fool like me would have to jump on that. I am going to end up with subs for sure. I just am not sure if it will be round one of the purchasing.

Streaming music is something I don't know anything about. I just thought my kids will get a kick out of watching youtube videos with amazing sound. Also it would be pretty cool to have a song on my cell phone and play it on the system.

I don'r really know what other streaming sources there are out there. Pandora? would that be considered a streaming source. Someone else was talking about Squeezebox. I meant to look into what that was all about.

OMG

Also thanks for all those tips on cables....

F1nut

I will have to keep in mind DSkips comments on the 705 bass issue.

I've heard them on high quality gear, there is no bass issue.

F1nut

OMG wrote: »

Also thanks for all those tips on cables....

Here's another, MIT.

OMG

I have to find somewhere where these things are all in stock and set up to play. I may have to hit the botiquey stores.

Thanks for the MIT info F1nut and the 705 comment.

drummer86

OMG, I think some larger bookshelves may surprise you with what they're capable of. Take a look at these, which are basically a tower with the bottom cut off. Don't underestimate the value of good subwoofers here either.

http://www.ascendacoustics.com/pages/products/speakers/cmt340m/cmt340m.html

msg

drummer86 wrote: »

OMG, I think some larger bookshelves may surprise you with what they're capable of. Take a look at these, which are basically a tower with the bottom cut off. Don't underestimate the value of good subwoofers here either.

http://www.ascendacoustics.com/pages/products/speakers/cmt340m/cmt340m.html

drum, have you heard these? they remind me a little of vintage 2-ways. those old floor speakers always sounded pretty smooth and relaxed to me.

92db sensitivity? nice. is that accurate? so, easy to drive to optimal output?

OMG

I have to admit I was totally against bookshelves after listening to some that didn't sound full but again, the setup in the showroom probably ruined any chance of the sale. Now though I have been reading up on (and will check out in person) the Polk LSim 703's discussed above. Now I guess I should check out the acendacoustics but I'll have to find where they sell them.
If the bookshelves don't really do it for me, I can always move them to another room and go back after the floor speakers....after the divorce is finalized.. kidding.

FastGame

OMG wrote: »

I have to admit I was totally against bookshelves after listening to some that didn't sound full but again, the setup in the showroom probably ruined any chance of the sale. Now though I have been reading up on (and will check out in person) the Polk LSim 703's discussed above. Now I guess I should check out the acendacoustics but I'll have to find where they sell them.
If the bookshelves don't really do it for me, I can always move them to another room and go back after the floor speakers....after the divorce is finalized.. kidding.

I think the Polk LSim 703's would do well enough that moving them to another room would be out of the question....unless you went to real high end floor standers. The bad thing about bookie's is if you buy stands for them, figure in the cost of stands and you could of got some towers....IMHO LSim 703's with a good sub will sound better than towers in the same price range (excluding stands), if you can get stands cheap you'll have a real nice setup.

BTW I have no dog in the fight. I just built my system and it was a toss up between the Polks with sub vs Salk SST, I'm getting the Salks so I hope I made the right choice. Until the Salks come I'm using a loaned pair of Monitor Audio Sliver 8's and they sound fantastic....getting scared cuz I hope the Salks can best them.

OMG

Hope that works out FastGame and appreciate it. I am very interested in hearing those 703s more and more and will definitely get a sub no matter what I get, juat a matter of when. I do want to save some money as long as i am still blown away by the sound.

drummer86

The Ascends are sold directly from their website. The CMTs are a very well-respected dual purpose speaker but I doubt they would compete with the 703s for music reproduction. This shouldn't come as any surprise though as the LsiMs are more than double the price. I always lobby for bookshelves if your room would suit them because a $1K pair of bookies will almost always have better components than a tower speaker of the same price. Of course, this is assuming that a subwoofer would accompany the system regardless of speaker choice, as is typical in most HT setups.

drummer86

msg wrote: »

drum, have you heard these? they remind me a little of vintage 2-ways. those old floor speakers always sounded pretty smooth and relaxed to me.

92db sensitivity? nice. is that accurate? so, easy to drive to optimal output?

I haven't heard these personally but have heard only positive things about them either through forums like this one or from friends that have owned or demoed them. They were on my short list when I bought speakers last year but I just couldn't swing the return shipping for the demo.

OMG

I must sound like a quack in just one thread going from Klipsch to Polk 707s and RTia's and now very interested in the 703's. The 703's seem like the top cut off of a 707. I may pull the trigger on 703's (yes, I'll listen to them first), at the same time pick up a sub and the receiver and cables. Are centers mandatory right away if this is doubling as a home theater or can I get away without a center and still hear voices until I pick up a center?

txcoastal1

I've always built my systems in pieces. My advice is get the receiver and speakers pull out a player i.e. CD/PS3 pop in some cd's of your favorite music and give it a whirl.

Pop in a movie run in phantom center mode. If you think your on the right track get the sub and center channel. If not box up the speakers pay the shipping and them back.

It's going to be really hard to get your ears on the 703's but if you get to listen to any of the Polks or what ever brands more than likely stepping up the line of that manufacturer will be a positive.

To harm no foul to take baby steps but I like the journey.

Cheers
Ron

A pair 703's will run fine off the Pioneer SC elite series avr

Hermitism

Skip, do you miss having surrounds? How would they detract from your system?

cfrizz

There is no right or wrong way to put together a system. Start out with the speakers & receiver/amp then work out the rest. I'm still not sold on just bookshelves for the size of your room.

drummer86

cfrizz wrote: »

There is no right or wrong way to put together a system. Start out with the speakers & receiver/amp then work out the rest. I'm still not sold on just bookshelves for the size of your room.

I must have missed where you posted the size of your room. 24x24 is a pretty tall order for bookshelves to fill. My room is 13x18 and by no means a dedicated room and the bookshelves are plenty. We love to make recommendations on how to spend people's money but in the end it's going to be your ears that make the final decision. Demoing speakers is tons of fun if you have the time to do it!

txcoastal1

He may have a 24x24 room but how far will he be sitting from his rig. My main rig room is 18x15 but I am only 9' from rig.

msg

I'm working with an open floor plan, too, but not that large. More like 16x28, then opens to 22x28. out of that, about 12x14 is the dedicated listening space.

Currently still in acquisition mode, I'm currently using the two 703's, a CSi5, two Monitor 10's, and a leedle 8" Infinity sub, and it's reasonably full for background music when in Stereo Surround with all speakers active, even at lower volume. However drop back to just the 703's and sub and, yes, it's significantly weaker. The extra three speakers make quite a difference. The CSi5 is being replaced with the 706c, but I will probably still keep the Monitor 10's in place too for the background stuff. When it's just 2ch and I'm in the listening space, I'll drop them out and use just the 703's.

Definitely needs a real sub or two. I may still end up adding a second pair of speakers down the road, too, depending on how well the 706c contributes.

Even so, I do have to wonder just how much more sound/fill the larger LSiM's could provide. Isn't the bottom end of those speakers just for bottom end or does contribute any to midrange? I am finding in my build that the whenever I feel anything missing, it's been in the way of fullness. generally, I get the extremes of highs and lows, but it sounds empty everywhere else. more speakers fills it out, and it even sounds better at lower listening levels. I feel like this is more midrange response that I'm trying to fill. I don't know, I'm just a beginner, so maybe you more experienced folks can chime in here - what does open space tend to eat up? specific frequency ranges or pretty much everything?

OMG

Thanks again all. I am thinking the DSWPro660 will be the Sub. The room does have a bathroom cut into the 24x24 and the listening area will be mainly around 10 feet from the speakers. I started leaning more towards the smaller speakers to start when my 7 year old knocked over a table a couple days ago. Then started thinking of all the playdates in that room. My 8 year old does some damage too. They know not to touch my good things but accidents happen. I was thinking of mounting the bookshelves speakers somehow so they wouldn fall on anyone. In another 4 or 5 years I might get something to accompany them. Or I'll ship the kids off for a few years. I think building a wall in the room would be cheaper than upgrading the speakers but I like the open space. Thanks for the ideas.

drummer86

I don't think many here will disagree with me when I say that Polk may not be your best bet for a good sub. Internet-direct brands like Hsu, SVS, Rhythmik, and PowerSound Audio offer much better bang for you buck and higher overall sound quality. Don't skimp on the subs. I only have personal experience with Hsu and SVS but their customer service is fantastic and they'll walk you through the selection process over the phone.

cfrizz

The DSW Polk line is nothing to shrug off. They are quite impressive.

OMG

I read about Lsim speakers being timber matched with each other. Does the Polk line of Subs match Polk speakers any better than another brand? I know the sub isn't going to have the beautiful cherry finish like the lsim's. I'm going to check out drummers suggesions and will take a look at what the other posters are using I am a bass player so I don't think there is another range of sound that I focus on more then the low end. I really want a great sub. Thanks for the tips.

OMG

It looks like I'm going to have to look up some subs. MicoPro 2k? I think that is a step higher than the DSWPro660 from first glance. I think I have to check the forums now on subs. On a side note, I walked through Abt today and can't believe the prices on some of these towers, I should have paid better attention to the brands but some had prices over $10k per speaker. I don't know what could possibly make them that expensive - they are pretty stylish. Will check back in the morning which is coming up pretty quickly.

drummer86

As DSkip said, the price is the argument against the Polk subs, not their performance. The DSW660 and the Hsu VTF-3 are the same price. Now, I've only heard the step down models of each of those but there really isn't much of a comparison. They're both going to be good subs, but for the money the ID companies have it going on.

OMG

I hate to ask this like this but is it an understood that the DSWPro660 is not quite as good as the HSU VTF-3? I would buy the HSU VTF-3 in a heartbeat if most people feel this is a better sub. I have to check forums on this topic. Thanks Drummer, I am really a bass nut. I have to feel like I'm floating on the bass with my music.

cfrizz

Polk really stepped up to the plate with their DSW line. So as Drummer pointed out. it really comes down to if you want to spend more money for Polk, rather than spending less going with a internet direct company. Only you can decided if it is worth it to you or not.

drummer86

OMG, with your budget you'll certainly find something to make you happy. If I had the money for it I'd likely upgrade to the VTF-15 or one of SVS's cylinder subs but I can't justify the cost with a new baby in the house. The good news now is that if you simply want to remain loyal to Polk and purchase one of their subs you can still get a quality product, you're just going to pay a little more for it.

OMG

How about the SVS PB 2000? Any knowledge of that sub? I looked at MicroPro 3000 thinking it was a step up from DSWPro660 and there are some affordable ones out there but I think the DSWPro660 is getting more favorable reviews.