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    Invelos Forums->General: General Home Theater Discussion Page: 1 2  Previous   Next
Home theater speakers
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DVD Profiler Unlimited Registrantleaff
Registered: May 16, 2009
Canada Posts: 15
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Hi everyone.

I'm in the market for new home theatre speakers.   What I have at the moment is a 5.1 set, made up of several different brands not designed for each other or home theatre. A bunch I collected over the years.

I have a budget of $2,500 and would like to buy a matching set of speakers that could give me a reasonably good sound stage in a room 9' x 13' with a HK AVR 330 amp. 55 watts RMS. I'm looking for a 5.2 set-up which could easily be upgraded to 7.2 when the time comes that I have enough movies to warrant it.

So far I have looked at JBL, Castle, Mordant Short and Klispch.

I'd love to hear everyone’s favourites to see if there is any kind of consensus.  I'm from Ottawa Canada so if possible keep the brands to what would possibly be available in my area. No exotics.
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar Contributordee1959jay
Registered: March 19, 2007
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You being in Canada might take a look at Mirage. "Homegrown"! And very good, I might add.
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantFUBAR
It's Gonna Work
Registered: March 21, 2007
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Another Canadian made speaker company is Axiom Speakers that hail from Ontario's cottage country and are headquartered in Dorset.  They are very good and also fairly reasonable.  They also have a varied selection, and some truly innovative stuff.

Buy Canadian, but not the overpriced stuff.
Graham
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorAce_of_Sevens
Registered: December 10, 2007
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I'm happy with my JBL Studio L series, which should work for your budget.
DVD Profiler Desktop and Mobile Registrantmediadogg
Aim high. Ride the wind.
Registered: March 18, 2007
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I love the sound from my Polk Audio system. Lots of good sound for a reasonable price (about $1000 US on sale for 7.2). And I advocate two (powered) subwoofers for balanced, thunderous bass without distortion. The long wavelength bass notes can be made to reinforce in the middle of the room with proper placement, giving a much broader powerful sound, than a single subwoofer pouding away in a corner.

IMHO you should consider upgrading your receiver with the savings. Some speakers will need a lot more than 55 watts to reach realistic levels. My room is larger, but even with (100 watts x 7) + 2 powered, there are times I could use more.

(Sounds like you know what you are doing ... best of luck and enjoy that sweet new sound!!!!)
Thanks for your support.
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 Last edited: by mediadogg
DVD Profiler Unlimited Registrantleaff
Registered: May 16, 2009
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Thanks for all the suggestions. Keep them coming!

As stated in my original post, I am looking for a two sub woofer system as the .2 implies in 5.2.

I also prefer crossover speakers instead of satellites.

I have not had any problems with my amp as my speakers have a reasonable SPL. HK are known for not exagerating their specs and often perform better than the competition. As for transients, I've had nothing but clean response. As for qualitiy, I'm not into the high end stuff as I frankly can't tell the difference. I might upgrade my amp when HDMI and codecs settles down so i can use it decode HD audio and to swith video. At the moment my amp is just used as a power amp and source selector. I decode in my DVD with 7.1 analogue output and switch video in my Plasma. So far so good except for the base management could be better. This all managed with a Logitech remote.

Its usually one thing at a time with me but thanks for the suggestions. I'll be sure to compare SPL to make sure I'm not underpowered.
DVD Profiler Desktop and Mobile Registrantmediadogg
Aim high. Ride the wind.
Registered: March 18, 2007
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Quoting leaff:
Quote:
I also prefer crossover speakers instead of satellites.
I hear ya. That may be why the Polks sound not too bad. I'm using their subwoofer, which has the crossover built in. And the satellites are two way, mid-range + dome tweeter.

Still, I have to admit I have considered somewhat larger 3-way front speakers when my budget allows. That should give a more robust mid-range.

Sorry I missed the ".2" in your original post. 

(Edit: relevant to some of what VirusPil said following, I have always looked misty-eyed at Axiom products. I've never heard them, but their web site is very informative. They have a great article on speaker loudness and efficiency issue, and an accurate description of the relationship of amplifier power to SPL, taking other factors into account such as speaker efficiency and room placement and size. I found the article very infomative. I studied some of that stuff many years ago, and it was a good refresher.)
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 Last edited: by mediadogg
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorVirusPil
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Registered: January 1, 2009
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Quoting leaff:
Quote:
... I'll be sure to compare SPL to make sure I'm not underpowered.


If you want it loud search look after speakers with a good efficiency. Or take an AMP with much RMS power and speakers that are high resistant.

But it's all depending on what you think/feel is loud. The subs can be a bit louder, but ~95 db is for the rest of the fequencies much enough.
DVD Profiler Unlimited Registrantstephan.klose
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Registered: June 27, 2007
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Are you still in the market for some new speakers or did you get yours already?
Check out my Youtube channel under https://www.youtube.com/user/alittleolder
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar Contributorruineddaydreams
Registered: Dec. 2, 2002
Registered: March 14, 2007
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My new obsession is the Martin Logan Motion series... though they need way more then 55 watts to power them (they are hungry!) which would push this over cost...
-JoN
DVD Profiler Unlimited Registrantstephan.klose
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Registered: June 27, 2007
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Well, is your receiver/amplifier strong enough to handle them?
Check out my Youtube channel under https://www.youtube.com/user/alittleolder
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar Contributorruineddaydreams
Registered: Dec. 2, 2002
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Barely... I have a mid range yamaha at home... it would work, but it wont sound as good as it can...

I manage a large consumer electronic store... so I get to play with toys that are not mine pretty regularly... I am in an apartment right now and couldnt fully use them anyhow

http://www.martinlogan.com/motionSeries/specs.php
-JoN
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorDoubleDownAgain
I see better with 'em on
Registered: March 13, 2007
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I recently purchased a new AVR and speakers a few months ago, this is what I went for:

AVR: Onkyo TX-SR707

Front: Paradigm Monitor 7 v6

Center: Paradigm Monitor CC-190

Rear: Paradigm Atom v6

Sub: Definitive Technology ProSub 800

Sounds great, although I have neighbors upstairs so I can't crank it too loud.
HDTV: 52" Toshiba Regza 52XV545U  AVR: Onkyo TR-707
Speakers: Paradigm Monitor 7 v6, CC-190 & Atom Monitors  Subwoofer: Definitive Technology ProSub 800
BD/DVD: Oppo BDP-93 (Region Free)  HD PVR: Motorola DXC3400 500GB w/ 1TB Expander
BD/DVD/Game: 250GB PS3 Slim DVD/Game: 250GB XBox 360 Elite Special Edition (Black) Game: Wii
Remote: Logitech Harmony One w/ PS3 Adapter WHS: Acer H341 Windows Home Server
 Last edited: by DoubleDownAgain
DVD Profiler Unlimited Registrantstephan.klose
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Registered: June 27, 2007
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Quoting DoubleDownAgain:
Quote:
I recently purchased a new AVR and speakers a few months ago, this is what I went for:

AVR: Onkyo TX-SR707

Front: Paradigm Monitor 7 v6

Center: Paradigm Monitor CC-190


Rear: Paradigm Atom v6

Sub: Definitive Technology ProSub 800

Sounds great, although I have neighbors upstairs so I can't crank it too loud.


That's a pretty nice set.. Is your subwoofer front or down beam? Because I noticed over the years if you don't have it directly on the floor and vibrations go directly there but instead put it on something you can crank it up way higher and it sounds better for you and for the neighbours the loudness stays the same... I hope you also went for quality cables with that setup..
Check out my Youtube channel under https://www.youtube.com/user/alittleolder
DVD Profiler Unlimited Registrantstephan.klose
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Registered: June 27, 2007
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Quoting ruineddaydreams:
Quote:
Barely... I have a mid range yamaha at home... it would work, but it wont sound as good as it can...

I manage a large consumer electronic store... so I get to play with toys that are not mine pretty regularly... I am in an apartment right now and couldnt fully use them anyhow

http://www.martinlogan.com/motionSeries/specs.php


I know what you are going through.. I worked at a large retailer and managed the hi-fi dept.. It was so hard to leave those great items there in the evening.. As for your home equipment.. Have you thought how much you wanna spend? And of course you need to spend less for the same setup as other people because you can buy them all at cost.. How big is the room you have set up as your AV Room and do you wanna go for 5.1 or 7.1.. (I have tried both but 7.1 really works only in extremely big rooms .. Otherwise it just takes up space and you hardly know the difference.. Also like 98% of movies are still produced in 5.1 and 7.1 mix is just artifical ..)
Check out my Youtube channel under https://www.youtube.com/user/alittleolder
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar Contributorruineddaydreams
Registered: Dec. 2, 2002
Registered: March 14, 2007
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im not currently looking to do anything unfortunately... i just got engaged and i am currently saving up to buy a house and plan a wedding... once those things are complete the theater room will be the first order of business (the wife loves these toys as well so)

If I were building my dream system right this second however it would look a bit like this:'


TV
Gaming / Blu-Ray (3D Capable)
Receiver
DVR
Front Speakers
Center Speaker
Rear Speakers
Sub
Power Management

Small Price to pay for perfection in my mind... of course add all the needed accys and wiring etc etc
-JoN
 Last edited: by ruineddaydreams
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