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Speakers - choices choices ;)
this thread has 19 replies and has been viewed 1272 times
I've now got a new cabinet for my HTPC to go in. I've decided that the old Pioneer Reciever and Speakers can stay with the old TV and cabinet.
Now I'm up for some new speakers ... perhaps ...
Should I:
1) Use the Mauhan Short (MS) Bookshelf speakers I have at my office (unused) with a yamaha receiver 5.1 amp?
2) Get a new receiver amp with a new set of speakers?
3) Get the new speakers and just use the yamaha amp?
before you throw advice my way - the yamaha amp doesn't have THX or DTS - which I would love to get - but not sure if I'm going to use it properly. I already have a Jamo sub - and don't really have any ideas about rear speakers yet.
I really want the speakers to sound cool - but also look cool (I think most speakers these days all sound pretty decent).
__________________
Case: Accent (Maestro), Mb: Abit An8 Guru, CPU: Athlon 64 3500+
RAM: 2 x 512MB DDR, HDD: 1 x 400Gb SATA 7200RPM Seagate Barracuda
Tuners: 1 x Hauppauge WinTV-PVR 250MCE, DVB-T300 Compro
Running: XP/MCSE 2005, iMon Remote & LCD, MS BlueTooth KB/Mouse
I've always been a fan of Yamaha amps (updating to DTS is worthwhile) and Richter speakers. I have found both tend to be good value for money. My fronts are Richter Wizards - 15 years old, still going strong, sound good and I have no intention of changing them this side of a Lotto win.
The thing with speakers is they are a very personal choice. It's what YOU like that's important, just because I think brand A sound too tinny or lfeless, doesn't mean you won't love them. I would recommend you at least audition the Richters if you decide to purchase new speakers.
BTW, if you are going 5.1 surround, it's often best to make sure the fronts and centre are the same brand so the sound doesn't change "colour" as it moves across the sound stage. This also applies to a lesser extent to the rears. Subs are not as prone to this.
I'm with GlenR on the Yamaha amps (actually A/V processors in my case). I had retired a Yamaha DSP-A1 for a Yamaha RZ-X1 (drives 8.1 if you have that many speakers) some time ago and love(d) both of them.
They also have reasonably clear manuals (somewhat of a rarity), which is good because of the multiude of audio and video connections on them.
Also with GlenR on speakers...audition them yourself, preferably while bringing in some music samples from your collection of the type of music you listen to most.
It makes little difference if they faithfully reproduce classical if you never listen to it and you could end up paying a premium for performance from which you will never receive any value.
I've put the yamaha amp in with the MS bookshelfs. Firstly, the bookshelfs have to go! They've got a great sound, but they look dick!
Now, the Yamaha amp is missing a subwoofer output.
So it looks like I'm up for new amp and speakers. The Jamo is currently plugged into the Sub-out on the Abit sound daughter card - and isn't that card useless!
hmmmmmmmmmm (pardon the frustration)
__________________
Case: Accent (Maestro), Mb: Abit An8 Guru, CPU: Athlon 64 3500+
RAM: 2 x 512MB DDR, HDD: 1 x 400Gb SATA 7200RPM Seagate Barracuda
Tuners: 1 x Hauppauge WinTV-PVR 250MCE, DVB-T300 Compro
Running: XP/MCSE 2005, iMon Remote & LCD, MS BlueTooth KB/Mouse
Just thought I'd mention too that THX isn't all it's cracked up to be. It's not an audio format (like AC3/DTS), as many people think. It's a certification. i.e. That model has passed the parameters set by George Lucas' team of audio engineers.
In all honesty I don't know if it's all it's cracked up to be.
As for speakers that is a very personal choice. I use Jensen DX-90's front and rear and also have a large Jensen Center speaker. They all look fantastic (carved Mahogany, very nice finish). Each of the dx-90's have a subwoofer built in (they say sub base isn't directional), but I can tell you than when you get 4 of them around the sound stage it makes one hell of a difference. Jensen don't make the dx-90 anymore but I would encourage you to check out their current range. They are a very nice speaker and retail for relatively good prices these days. I also use Onkyo gear for Amp's. Have done for quiet some time now. Very nice amps if you get a chance to compare to Yamaha/Marantz etc.
Most importantly as other's have suggested you should buy all the speakers (whether 5.1 or 7.1) at the same time and from the same manufacturer preferably in the same "Series" to gaurantee that their capabilites are matched. This is true more speficially for front and centers, but you also want the rears matched too (if, like me, you listen to alot of 5 channel stereo mode stuff).
Make sure the speakers are rated from 100-20000Hz (20-20000Hz if they include subs) so you get the full spectrum of reproduction. Not all speakers have that range.
I have a Yamaha rxv795 amp 5.1 with DD and DTS. B&W 600 Series speakers, 602 fronts 600's at the rear a LCR3 (it think thats the model) for centre and a asw300 subwoofer.
I just recently got the rear speakers and was tosing up whether to get a new amp but upon comparing a 5.1 to a 7.1 set up I just couldnt see the value or to be honest hear the difference, of course we all hear differently and prefer different speakers. I have come to the conclusion that stick with your budget because 9/10 times you wouldnt hear a dicernable difference much like a P4 3GHz or a 3.2GHz you need a computer program to tell you the difference. Technology is the same in all industries beware the bleeding edge. Alas it is so much fun isnt it.
I love marantz amplifiers, they are really well balanced and sound excellent for PCM stereo as well as DD, DTS etc.
Good speakers will make all the difference in your system. If you specify your speaker budget we can offer some more specific products to try.
For foreign manufacturs I like B&W, Energy but you can get batter bang for buck with local made products of excellent quality and sound for every possible budget.
I personally like VAF (www.vaf.com.au) the best, but sound is a very personal issue. Make sure you spend at least 1 hour listening to what you are going to buy when you narrow down to the last 2 or 3 sets of speakers. Some speakers sound good for 5 mins but wear you down for exteneded listening.
Some other good sites are www.avsforum.com for info about displays (projectors, plasma etc)
www.audioreview.com is ok for info about hardware (amplifiers and American speakers etc)
... perhaps ...
wooo hoooo (and I got official approval from the Wife 
