Looking for new speakers

ruppertsreef

Hello my name is Brice and I’m new to the forum. Looking to upgrade speakers as I have been using my wife’s old box speakers from an old dvd/receiver that she owned when we got together 10 years ago. So I assume anything will be better

Av receiver is a denon avr 591 and I’m just looking for a better sound for our living room 5.1

Room dimensions are 33 ft wide 22 front to back and 14 ft tall at top peak. Ceiling is 8 ft at lowest point and slops the distance of the 33 feet. This gives idea of how open the space is. Listening area around couch would be 16 ft wide and 18 front to back. This is from tv wall to the wall behind couch.

Room is essentially one large open space with kitchen entryway living room with an open hallway at front and back of listening area.

Was thinking about buying rti a1 and csi a4 And getting the rears at a later date

Would these work or is my room too large or to open or are there better speaker choices for my area. Not looking to spend a ton on the front three but if I can find them used or something for around 500 total Thanks

F1nut

In a space that size you need a new AVR with pre outs and multi-channel power amp to drive any speakers you may purchase. Some all around speakers (HT/music) that won't break the bank would be the Signature series.

headrott

Hmmmm. It's like there's some good advice there, but I can't read it........ That should be remedied.

Dabutcher

What city do you live in? Maybe we can help you find a good deal on Craig’sList in your town? Peace. D

Emlyn

I recommend the Polk Signature line of speakers. Since you mention the RTiA1, are you mainly interested in bookshelf speakers? If so, the Signature S20 are better speakers. A pair of those and a matching center speaker is still within your $500 budget.

https://www.amazon.com/Polk-Audio-Signature-S20-Bookshelf/dp/B01LVWWXQG

Another option if you can set up floor standing speakers is to get a pair of Signature S55s at a bit more than budget and get a center speaker later. If you do get S20s first, at some point in future you could get larger front speakers and move the S20s to surround duty.

Welcome to the forum, and watch out for your wallet!

ruppertsreef

I had mentioned the rti a1 and csi a4 because I found a set of the three for around 210. Didn’t want to pull the trigger if they would end up being too small. And then some fxi rears later.

I live in northern Wisconsin not many people selling around here. Wife doesn’t like the idea of floorstanding unless they are directly left and right of tv which wouldn’t be wide enough for large couch.

hochpt21

Where approx in WI? I'm in Wisconsin Dells.

You will have a difficult time filling that space with small speakers, but I get that you are not the only one living there who makes those decisions

How far apart would the speakers be if they were where your wife wanted them? 6'...8' ? Are you ok living with just a 2-channel system for now, or are you looking for at least the front 3?
My suggestion would be to start with the best pair of floorstanders you can get now, and then add speakers as your budget allows.

Emlyn

The Signature S20s are a good compromise if a floor standing set of speakers is not possible. People tend to be surprised at now big the S20s are for bookshelf speakers, especially for the price charged.

cfrizz

I also recommend the Signature series as it can do both music and movies equally.

Could you take a picture of the room where the speakers would be going so that we can advise you better.

Oh and Welcome to Club Polk!

dromunds

I’m in Central Wisconsin and will be selling Polk LSi speakers. LSi-7’s, LSi-9’s and LSi-C almost certainly. What town are you near? I may be selling some floorstanders as well. Not familiar with that Denon receiver but thinking it’s not sufficient for that size space.

ruppertsreef

I live in Minocqua about an hour 15 north of Wausau if you know where that iS.

The receiver I bought six years ago or more to control all of my electronics as the TV we had at the time did not have enough inputs. I don't know much about the power it has or would need very rarely do we have it turned up into the teens. Normal watching tv volume is around -25db and during movies -18 -15 maybe.

I will get a picture of the listening area later tonight things can be moved around to fit floorstanding speakers the wife just was not keen on the idea. But seeing that our current speakers are maybe 3" x 3" by 12 she had no issue with me explaining that the new speakers would be 12 x 12 x 8 which I thought she would think was huge.

Guess I'm really open to any suggestions but from what I can find I can't really seem to find any information about like room sizes and what would be preferred as far as speakers go I just know that It can sound better.

dromunds

I work in Wausau. I dont know how many posts you need to PM but if you to discuss LSi-7’s and LSi-C give me a shout. I have various surrounds also.

Dabutcher

Do you have small children? If so bookshelf speakers on stands might not be a good choice. Good luck. D

ruppertsreef

IT would either be wall mounted bookshelfs about anywhere from 5-7 feet up and pointed at listening position or the floor standing I have to sell wife on. With wall mounted I can do the recommended 22-30 degrees off center and same distance from center. Floor standing would have to be either one foot left and right of 65 tv or like 6 feet each side of tv

Upstatemax

I’ll just put it out there, it not a fan of the “Signature” series.

Bloated and not very well balanced. Not good for an AVR, they want a lot of power to control an over active driver...

motorhead43026

^^hmmmm, my experience is pretty much the opposite. But then again mine (S60) are driven with an Anthem 225 intergrated. They really play well together.

halo

@ruppertsreef

The KEF Q150's are on sale right now for $299 a pair (KEF direct, Crutchfield, Amazon) and, if I were you, I would grab the S15's for a direct comparison in your own home on your equipment. Keep whichever speakers you like the best and add a sub to shore up the bottom end.

Here's a review of the KEF Q150 speakers: The WIrecutter

Here's a review of the Polk Signature S15's: Zero Fidelity

ruppertsreef

A lot of you have suggested the s20 which seem pretty close spec wise the the rti a1's that I have found cheaper than I can get a used set of s20's. Would it be dumb of me to get the rtia1 cheaper over the s20 or do you think hey would be too small for my space.

Anything could be better than the current speakers.

rpf65

You have a pretty big room. I think the A1’s might be a little small for that space. If you want the RTI A series, I would suggest the A5’s. The smallest floor standers of the series, and easy to drive.

Really good for home theater, but most think there are better choices for music. Add a sub, and they would work well with an AVR in a room that size.

Upstatemax

motorhead43026 wrote: »

^^hmmmm, my experience is pretty much the opposite. But then again mine (S60) are driven with an Anthem 225 intergrated. They really play well together.

That’s my main issue with the Signature series, at least the S20’s.

They don’t start to behave till you’re throwing decent amounts of power at them with an amp that can control the woofer.

For a speaker aimed at budget audio where people generally are not using high power (expensive) amplification, it seems like a large oversight to me.

A subwoofer can help, but still not a well balanced speaker, IMO.

ruppertsreef

See what I can't seem to grasp and no websites for the speakers seem to explain is how do you tell what size soeaker will work for what size room and how to tell if my receiver is powerful enough or what would be powerful enough

codycatalist

ruppertsreef wrote: »

See what I can't seem to grasp and no websites for the speakers seem to explain is how do you tell what size soeaker will work for what size room and how to tell if my receiver is powerful enough or what would be powerful enough

Too many variables to make blanket statements, simple as that. We need to know the speaker before we can be certain an AVR can handle it properly. If it doesn't we can offer suggestions usually of ALL budgets to help supplement. Just get your questions out there whether you think they are dumb or you can't explain them properly, we will help. Try to include as many details as possible, there are things you may not even know that will affect your sound.

Now I've heard good things about the Signature Series and it sure is the more versatile speaker compared to the RTiA but you can still find a Frys Electronics and try both the series out. We will get you figured out man don't you fret, if there is anything we collectively agree on it's being good at spending money.


Welcome and stick around.

rpf65

ruppertsreef wrote: »

See what I can't seem to grasp and no websites for the speakers seem to explain is how do you tell what size soeaker will work for what size room and how to tell if my receiver is powerful enough or what would be powerful enough

Maybe this will help you understand speaker size as it relates to room size a little more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subwoofer

The size of the cabinet helps the speaker produce sound, and the lower frequencies are affected first.

As far as reciever power goes, watts isn’t the only thing to consider. Actually it’s current that’s the real concern. Current is good clean power, and that’s what you want. Some manufacturers do a much better job than others.

House sound is a consideration when pairing speakers to AVR’s also.

ruppertsreef

House sound as in like ambient noise in my house. Like the constant humming of motors moving water in my 300gallon saltwater system or is house sound something else

txcoastal1

House sound= Tonal sound signature a brand displays
Ex: forward, bright, neutral, etc

As for room size: variables not only include room size but also include seating distance and room setup

rpf65

Different manufacturers AVR’s, amplifiers, CD players, and everything else sound different. Some people like the sound of Yamaha, others prefer the sound of Marantz.

Then it starts getting really confusing.

txcoastal1

Don't become like us...walk away

If you don't walk away you will fall into the rabbit hole... you have been warned

sponger

I think for such a large room with and with so little power to work with, you want a sensitive speaker. That is, the easier the speaker is to drive, the better. The signature is going to be easier to drive than the RTi. I've heard a 5.1 home theater in a large basement that consisted of an entry level low powered denon and polk monitor speakers. They were the small towers and center from the monitor line. The sub was a PSW110. It got plenty loud to be enjoyable. No it wouldn't satisfy with the real enthusiasts out there---not in a million years and not by a long shot. But the AVR is the heart of the set-up and if an avr 591 is your starting point then you have to make do. And really it isn't as bad as it sounds it would be.

dalylaleahthor

I also recommend the Polk signature line. Listened to the being driven by a receiver and it didn't fail to impress me.

erniejade

How loud do you play music?

Jimbo18

If you decide on the Polk S20's, there's a great price on them right now from Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/Polk-Audio-Signature-S20-Bookshelf/dp/B01LVWWXQG/ref=pd_day0_hl_23_1?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B01LVWWXQG&pd_rd_r=20998eb0-19b5-11e9-8448-d7e517c085e3&pd_rd_w=7KkHi&pd_rd_wg=1f6QC&pf_rd_p=ad07871c-e646-4161-82c7-5ed0d4c85b07&pf_rd_r=WMGXJDS1SX8RMQ9A3ES3&psc=1&refRID=WMGXJDS1SX8RMQ9A3ES3

No telling how long the sale will last, but it shows 15 pairs left.