Bookshelves - To Polk or not to Polk... and other questions.

MrBuhl

I have a question for the audio gurus - more specifically for the bookie and HT gurus. Let's just say I was considering moving away from my 2b's and towards a bookshelf in support of my 1c's, which are now my dedicated 2CH rig. Further, let's just say I haven't put myself on temporary equipment moratorium...

I've been searching the archive threads here for thoughts and likes on different bookshelves, I want to go mid-high used as a target for the value play - let's say staying around $500 used.

I know that it will come down to what sounds best with my system in my room as well - but there may be idiosyncrasies that some of you are experienced with on some of these brands/models that will help as I gently and patiently peruse the usual channels for a screaming deal on one of these.

The room - roughly 13' wide by 12' deep in the listening area (it's actually a bit longer but there is a fairly substantial blockage at the 12' mark that makes it effectively 12ish). For the HT/2CH combo rig I currently have an old HK AVR 20II (used for preamp outs and HT surround channels), inexpensive Yamaha SACD/DVD changer, Yamaha YP-D6 TT with Noosh's Pro-ject phono box when I get it and the Audire Model 1 amp. I do not use a sub down here, and with the 2b's haven't felt the need to.

I've been keeping an eye out for an upgrade to a used Pio Elite receiver - so that's a possibility, and I could substitute in the B&K ST1400II for power if I need to go up a notch from the Audire - in sound or power - so there are some other options here.

So - without further ado - if you've hung in this long - my short list is as follows:

Polk - LSi7 or LSi9
Totem - Rainmaker / Dreamcatcher
KEF - Q300 / Q100
Wharfedale - Diamond 10.1 / 10.2
Von Schweikert - Vr1
NHT - SB3
EPOS - ELS-3

Any particular picadillos I should be aware of with this lineup? Anything glaringly not up to snuff? Primary duty would be home theater, and secondary use would be 2CH digital with #2 turntable.

Thanks for your time and thoughts!

F1nut

If I'm understanding you correctly, you're thinking of replacing the 2B's with a monitor to be used primarily for HT. Since you don't feel the need for a sub with the 2B's why do you want to switch to a monitor, which will require adding a sub?

MrBuhl

F1nut wrote: »

If I'm understanding you correctly, you're thinking of replacing the 2B's with a monitor to be used primarily for HT. Since you don't feel the need for a sub with the 2B's why do you want to switch to a monitor, which will require adding a sub?

You are understanding me correctly, yes. I guess I'm wondering if I'm missing something without giving a monitor setup a whirl honestly F1. Maybe I just have the "itis" - but I'm so happy with the upgraded 1c's and current rig there, that suddenly I'm not as happy as I used to be with the 2b's (though to be fair, they have nowhere near the rig supporting them). I wasn't going to sell the 2b's, I'm looking to see what my options are I guess. Does that make any sense?

gce

If you're going to go to bookies you're going to want to get a sub for HT. I went from RTi7's to LSiM703's and I'm glad I have a sub for HT. Even for music you may want a sub at times.

MrBuhl

gce wrote: »

If you're going to go to bookies you're going to want to get a sub for HT. I went from RTi7's to LSiM703's and I'm glad I have a sub for HT. Even for music you may want a sub.

Thanks, yes, absolutely - wasn't ruling out the sub idea at all - I actually have one to support the family room system (in-wall speaks there - hey, it's the wife's room) so I'm not opposed at all. Was just trying to identify that I don't have one in the HT now because of the 2b's.

tonyb

Keep an eye out for a pair of Revel M22's....used maybe 700 hundred, a tad over your budget but well worth it.

MrBuhl

Awesome - thanks Tony!

F1nut

Personally, I don't think you're missing anything, but hey give a monitor a shot. Hard to go wrong with any on your list as stand alone's. However, timbre matching will be your biggest concern. I can tell you that the NHT's will not be a good match and would be hard to find anyway. As for the others I'm not sure which would work best with the CSi3.

MrBuhl

F1nut wrote: »

Personally, I don't think you're missing anything, but hey give a monitor a shot. Hard to go wrong with any on your list as stand alone's. However, timbre matching will be your biggest concern. I can tell you that the NHT's will not be a good match and would be hard to find anyway. As for the others I'm not sure which would work best with the CSi3.

Ahhh!! Now THAT is something I was neglecting for sure - because I don't want to go about changing up the RC80i's (ceiling) or CSi3 - thanks for the thought on that!

Nightfall

Why not put this money into TL'ing your 2B's?

MrBuhl

D a n g it Nightfall - LMAO - that is EXACTLY the threads I was just looking at - are you psychic!!? I forgot that was an option available on the 2b's!

cincycat13

Nightfall wrote: »

Why not put this money into TL'ing your 2B's?

With advice like that how am I gonna convince him to bring his 2Bs and $500 to trade for my LSiM 703s?

I do like the pinpoint soundstage of the bookies. Miss the bass of the 2Bs. They are both great...just different. I did not have a room that was suitable for the SDA when I traded mine for some RTA15TLs. I kept a set of SDA 2.3 so I can still get my SDA fix...they just take more room.