<= $600 Tower Shootout

Steve@3dai
Steve@3dai Posts: 983
edited December 2002 in Speakers
I think about $600 and lower is a nice price for towers. Right now, I've looked at a couple offerings:

Polk R30 - $199.95 each
PSB Alpha T - $549 pair
Bose 601 Series IV $548 pair
JBL N38II - $249 each

I haven't listened to these yet. I really want to listen to the R30s against the Alpha Ts. I have some Alpha Bs and I REALLY like them. Very nice bookshelf for $249 a pair.

Anyone else have some recommendations?

I dunno, I was just looking around and thought this would be a good topic.
LSi 9/C/FX
Arcam AVR-200
Post edited by Steve@3dai on
· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
«1

Comments

  • Lsi9
    Lsi9 Posts: 616
    edited December 2002
    why would you need towers if you have the lsi9's?

    Audio Physic Scorpio II
    Pathos Logos
    MIT Shotgun S3
    Bada HD-22 CDP
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • liv4fam
    liv4fam Posts: 311
    edited December 2002
    You can look at the Paradigm Esprit, Monitor Audio 7's, and PSB, JBL, Klipsch, Boston Acoustics, etc. etc.

    But personally IMO you are not going to find a floorstand for 600 dollars or less that is going to compete with your LSI 9's.

    If you can save up your money and buy the LSI 15's.

    That would be your best bet.:)
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • RuSsMaN
    RuSsMaN Posts: 17,987
    edited December 2002
    Originally posted by Steve@3dai
    I dunno, I was just looking around and thought this would be a good topic.

    Where did he say anything about comparing them to the LSi? ;)

    Interesting topic, let me think about it.

    Cheers,
    Rooster
    Check your lips at the door woman. Shake your hips like battleships. Yeah, all the white girls trip when I sing at Sunday service.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • mantis
    mantis Posts: 17,200
    edited December 2002
    OK,
    I don't understand the intrest in this shootout,you already own Lsi.......is this for another room?A friend?Just thinking of something 2 post???

    Take a trip down to your local Tweeter and shootout the Klipsch,Tivoli,Boston acoustic's,Bose,and Mirage.........

    Then take a ride over to CC..Polk,Infinity,bose,etc.Do this shoot out and report back.I never did one in this price class.

    The only speaker that comes to mind that would be nice would be the Energy c5's,they where nice........running off of Rotel seperates.
    Dan
    My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Steve@3dai
    Steve@3dai Posts: 983
    edited December 2002
    I'm not trying to compare them to my LSis.

    What is someone was looking for a compact tower? I like the idea of a tower because then you don't have the added cost of stands, or worrying about knocking the speakers off the stands.

    I just thought it would be interesting to talk about. The LSi15s are a little "big" for what I would be looking for. Not that I am buying anything.
    LSi 9/C/FX
    Arcam AVR-200
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • phuz
    phuz Posts: 2,372
    edited December 2002
    I'd say go with the PSB or Boston if you can find them here in Austin.

    We don't have a Tweeter in Austin, but I'm sure there is someone here that sells Boston stuff.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • TroyD
    TroyD Posts: 13,077
    edited December 2002
    JMLab Chorus
    Maggie MMG's (although may not play deep enough)
    AR-11's,
    Monitor Audio Silver 5i


    BDT
    I plan for the future. - F1Nut
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • RuSsMaN
    RuSsMaN Posts: 17,987
    edited December 2002
    The Maggies are rated to 50Hz, thats not too shabby.

    Good call on the AR11's, hi-res series closeout, $349 a pair online. Very similar to the LSi15 in layout, just minus 1 midbass.

    Cheers,
    Rooster

    ps, Dan, your sig SUCKS man. What is that ****?
    Check your lips at the door woman. Shake your hips like battleships. Yeah, all the white girls trip when I sing at Sunday service.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • TroyD
    TroyD Posts: 13,077
    edited December 2002
    Don't you remember? Enter the term? That's when Dan was laying down his definition of HT as gospel.

    Want High End Sound? Spend the Money? Spoken like a true salesman.

    No replacement for experience? I'd take actual knowledge, common sense or a host of other virtues. I know a lot of people with a lot of experience that are still completely incompetent.

    BDT
    I plan for the future. - F1Nut
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • RuSsMaN
    RuSsMaN Posts: 17,987
    edited December 2002
    I should have put a smilie ;) in there, God knows I care not to debate THIS, it just made me want to PUKE when I read it.

    Enter the effin term?

    ;)

    Cheers,
    Rooster
    Check your lips at the door woman. Shake your hips like battleships. Yeah, all the white girls trip when I sing at Sunday service.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • TroyD
    TroyD Posts: 13,077
    edited December 2002
    yeah, I like to bag a pair of AR-11's just because....

    BDT
    I plan for the future. - F1Nut
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • RuSsMaN
    RuSsMaN Posts: 17,987
    edited December 2002
    Me too man, me too.

    Cheers,
    Rooster
    Check your lips at the door woman. Shake your hips like battleships. Yeah, all the white girls trip when I sing at Sunday service.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • mantis
    mantis Posts: 17,200
    edited December 2002
    So is there something wrong with is???I kinda like it.I was tired of my old one and this is what I came up with........
    Dan
    My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • TroyD
    TroyD Posts: 13,077
    edited December 2002
    Originally posted by mantis
    So is there something wrong with is???I kinda like it.I was tired of my old one and this is what I came up with........

    Nothing wrong except none of them hold a lot of water. ;)

    BDT
    I plan for the future. - F1Nut
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Apex
    Apex Posts: 69
    edited December 2002
    I went to tweeter today,i ended up buying a Mirage center channel.I loved the sound it produced on it's own.

    I was sold on CS400i but this one really took me by surprise.

    It cost me 480.00 w/a ten year warranty also a little better price than the polk too.I felt like i'm getting more for my money than i would've gotten from the polk.

    I know this may be off the subject.But just thought i might add we should have a center channel shootout as well.since this is where most of the sound comes from.

    H/K AVR7000

    "LSI25's bi-wired with 2.4s

    Mirage OM c2 Center "LSiC soon"

    FX300i rears "LSi15's soon for the rears".


    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • TroyD
    TroyD Posts: 13,077
    edited December 2002
    How well does it match the rest of your rig? THAT is the 64 dollar question.

    BDT
    I plan for the future. - F1Nut
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Apex
    Apex Posts: 69
    edited December 2002
    I think it goes very well.Even though i'm new to this whole "home audio thing".
    H/K AVR7000

    "LSI25's bi-wired with 2.4s

    Mirage OM c2 Center "LSiC soon"

    FX300i rears "LSi15's soon for the rears".


    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • RuSsMaN
    RuSsMaN Posts: 17,987
    edited December 2002
    Well, there ya go.

    How about a link for pics/specs/etc?

    Cheers,
    Rooster
    Check your lips at the door woman. Shake your hips like battleships. Yeah, all the white girls trip when I sing at Sunday service.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • mantis
    mantis Posts: 17,200
    edited December 2002
    Nothing wrong except none of them hold a lot of water.

    What.......... yours????

    Don't agree with any of them or can't?
    Dan
    My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • mantis
    mantis Posts: 17,200
    edited December 2002
    I went to tweeter today,i ended up buying a Mirage center channel.I loved the sound it produced on it's own.
    Well if thats the case,why not just pick up the rest of the Mirage OM line?They will mate the best with the Om center channel you bought.I like Mirage speakers,there nice to listen 2.I like the OM7's the best overall.For 2 grand......I like the Lsi15's alot better.

    Your new at the Home Theater thing huh....cool.I'll give you a tip,using the same brand speakers all theway around is a good start.Using the same brand same series is even better.Mating a Mirage center to Polk speakers????Is that what you own for mains????I 'd like to know.
    Dan
    My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Apex
    Apex Posts: 69
    edited December 2002
    Well i guess mating the same brand of speakers would be a good start.

    But i did listen to the polk and to the mirage.The mirage sounded better for my taste.Lots of midbass,voices very clear and localized at high volume.Polk for me seemed to struggle at high volume,kinda blurring everything together.

    My mains as of now are RT1000i's.I'm trying to get the RT2000's.

    Don't get me wrong i am noway talking down about the cs400i.

    My personal prefferance went to the mirage.

    And like i said in a previous post we should have a "Center channel shootout".Since this where the main part of the sound comes from.

    But i do still love polk though otherwise i wouldn't own them.
    H/K AVR7000

    "LSI25's bi-wired with 2.4s

    Mirage OM c2 Center "LSiC soon"

    FX300i rears "LSi15's soon for the rears".


    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • mantis
    mantis Posts: 17,200
    edited December 2002
    Apex,
    well if it's working for yeah.........well good for you.Enjoy man.
    Dan
    My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • TroyD
    TroyD Posts: 13,077
    edited December 2002
    Apex,

    If it works for you, good on you!

    Dan,

    2 of the 3 hold no water. ;)

    Good sound doesn't HAVE to be expensive
    Experience without knowledge and the ability to apply lessons learned means VERY little

    Enter the term, that is kind of entertaining but the thread where it originated from, well, again, your argument was weak.

    BDT
    I plan for the future. - F1Nut
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Steve@3dai
    Steve@3dai Posts: 983
    edited December 2002
    Stop hijacking my thread, keep your personal comments out of this please... everyone.

    I think I am going to stop by Audio Systems here in Austin this weekend and see what they have around that price range. They might have something from Dynaudio.
    LSi 9/C/FX
    Arcam AVR-200
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,645
    edited December 2002
    :p oops, sorry! I couldn't help myself....

    Seriously, let us know what you find.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • shack
    shack Posts: 11,154
    edited December 2002
    Since you mentioned the PSB line you might want to see if you can find some PSB Image 5Ts. They list for around $800 but can be had for under $600. Or maybe the PSB Image 4Ts that lists for $650 (similar in size to the Alpha T). I heard the 5Ts when I was auditioning some PSB monitors in Charlotte. They sounded pretty good.
    "Just because you’re offended doesn’t mean you’re right." - Ricky Gervais

    "For those who believe, no proof is necessary. For those who don't believe, no proof is possible." - Stuart Chase

    "Consistency requires you to be as ignorant today as you were a year ago." - Bernard Berenson
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • TroyD
    TroyD Posts: 13,077
    edited December 2002
    Originally posted by Steve@3dai
    Stop hijacking my thread, keep your personal comments out of this please... everyone.

    Steve, you OK?

    This is the POLK forum, remember?

    I'd still give the AR's some thought though.

    BDT
    I plan for the future. - F1Nut
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Steve@3dai
    Steve@3dai Posts: 983
    edited December 2002
    Have to find a dealer for the ARs to listen to.

    I'll have to see if Audio Systems has the Image series, I think they only stock the Alpha series.

    I'm ok, just not ok with people hijacking my damn thread! ;)
    LSi 9/C/FX
    Arcam AVR-200
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • faster100
    faster100 Posts: 6,124
    edited December 2002
    i mean it, stay with the topic.....
    MY HT RIG:
    Sherwood p-965
    Sherwood sd871 dvd
    Rotel 1075 amp x5
    LSI15 mains
    LsiC center
    LSIfx surround backs
    Lsi7 side surrounds
    SVS pb12/plus2

    2 Channel Rig:

    nad 1020 Pre-amp
    Rotel 1080 stereo amp
    Polk sda 2B
    kenwood grunt Tuner
    realistic lab 450 TT
    Signal cable IC
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • faster100
    faster100 Posts: 6,124
    edited December 2002
    I have to disagree with the polks struggleing at high volumes.. I have RTI70 with a 165x2 amp and they do great at very high volumes, I have turned down the treble abit as they seem to be bright at real high volumes and then again that could be my receiver or amp but after alittle tweakin they sound fine, as i don't set bass and treble at flat.. they need adjusting with diff music/movies that way....
    MY HT RIG:
    Sherwood p-965
    Sherwood sd871 dvd
    Rotel 1075 amp x5
    LSI15 mains
    LsiC center
    LSIfx surround backs
    Lsi7 side surrounds
    SVS pb12/plus2

    2 Channel Rig:

    nad 1020 Pre-amp
    Rotel 1080 stereo amp
    Polk sda 2B
    kenwood grunt Tuner
    realistic lab 450 TT
    Signal cable IC
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter