Best pair of towers for under $500

[Footloose301]

Looking to upgrade my fronts. Seems that I'm lacking in the midrange and I'd like a bit more there. I've looked at the Klipsch VF-36's at Best Buy but they want $475 each and can't really find them online too easily. Is there anythjng else I should look at? I was checking out the definitive tech 7006's because they auditioned great and might be willing to front the extra cash for them from eBay. However, I heard them without a dedicated subwoofer and they were great and I've got the monster AV123 15" MFW. So I think spending the extra on those 7006's would be a waste. I'm trying to stay as cheap as possible here. My current Polk T90e's have 5.25" woofers. Thinking a set of towers with 8" speakers might be the way to go.

Side note: haven't decided whether it would be smarter to buy the emotiva 3 ch amp or upgrade to the Pioneer Elite SC-27 for a bit of added power.....

[SammyG]

Would you consider bookshelves as well?

[Zman2k2]

I've said it to a few people, and those that have tried agree with me.
Elemental Designs A6-6T6 towers.
Take a look through the official thread and see what some of the other owners think.

[starkent08]

i got a pair of boston acoustic hs450s for 88 dollars a piece oringial retail was 350 a piece there awesome speakers

[sterryo]

Originally Posted by SammyG

Would you consider bookshelves as well?

I would recommend the Elemental Designs w6-5tc High end stand monitors, they sound better than Elemental Designs highly regarded a6-6t6 towers they run $475 on sale and $650 shipped normally. Don't let their size fool you, bigger is not always better and you would have to spend considerably more $$$ to get better sound.....

BTW with such a great sub you really don't need a large speaker that can hit those low notes, you will most likely xover around 80hz anyway. The w6's don't start losing lowend resolution until 40 hz and most towers at that price point don't go lower either

[SammyG]

Originally Posted by sterryo

I would recommend the Elemental Designs w6-5tc High end stand monitors, they sound better than Elemental Designs highly regarded a6-6t6 towers they run $475 on sale and $650 shipped normally. Don't let their size fool you, bigger is not always better and you would have to spend considerably more $$$ to get better sound.....

BTW with such a great sub you really don't need a large speaker that can hit those low notes, you will most likely xover around 80hz anyway. The w6's don't start losing lowend resolution until 40 hz and most towers at that price point don't go lower either

I was thinking the same thing, a much better performer for the money, beautiful finish as well.

[sterryo]

Originally Posted by SammyG

I was thinking the same thing, a much better performer for the money, beautiful finish as well.

these speakers are out right gorgeous pics do not do them justice. they have really dressed up my HT room, in your bedroom they would look sick

[SammyG]

Originally Posted by sterryo

these speakers are out right gorgeous pics do not do them justice. they have really dressed up my HT room, in your bedroom they would look sick

They aren't for me, I'm not the OP

[Steve]

Originally Posted by Zman2k2

I've said it to a few people, and those that have tried agree with me.
Elemental Designs A6-6T6 towers.
Take a look through the official thread and see what some of the other owners think.

WOW those are beautiful! I would love to see and hear them in person.

[callas01]

I would suggest for under $500 to look at the PSB T45s, they can be found at audioadvisor, saturdayaudio.com or dmc-electronics.com, and right now the T55s are $569 at saturdayaudio for february. Energy RC-30s at http://www.wwstereo.com were $299 ea, over your budget but gonna be much better then most $500 speakers.

You can also go for some Bookshelf speakers, Id reccommend

Monitor Audio RS1 $470/pr @ saturdayaudio.com
PSB Image B25 $319/pr @ saturdayaudio.com
Energy RC-10 $299/pr @ vanns.com

Honestly you have a nice sub, so bookshelfs will be good for movies and music, just get a good set of bookshelf speakers.

[Big Daddy]

These tower speakers from Emptek are beautiful and perform marverously. They are $500 a pair and Audioholocs reviewed them and picked them as budget speakers of the year. You can buy them directly from factory in Utah or buy them from Audioholics store. Audioholics does not charge for shipping.

http://www.emptek.com/e5ti.php
http://store.audioholics.com/section...nding-speakers

[erict]

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

These tower speakers from Emptek are beautiful and perform marverously. They are $500 a pair and Audioholocs reviewed them and picked them as budget speakers of the year. You can buy them directly from factory in Utah or buy them from Audioholics store. Audioholics does not charge for shipping.

http://www.emptek.com/e5ti.php
http://store.audioholics.com/section...nding-speakers

They look almost like the ed's A6-6T6.

[Footloose301]

Those emptek and ED speakers look very similar. I like that the ED can take more power though because I might be adding an amp. I listen to movies rather loudly. Both are great looking.

[Footloose301]

Originally Posted by SammyG

Would you consider bookshelves as well?

I don't know. Towers have always appealed to me.

[Fors*]

Originally Posted by Footloose301

Those emptek and ED speakers look very similar. I like that the ED can take more power though because I might be adding an amp. I listen to movies rather loudly. Both are great looking.

Have you thought about a new center channel that you'll want to go with these new towers so they timber match properly?

[progers13]

Originally Posted by erict

They look almost like the ed's A6-6T6.

Similar indeed

[Footloose301]

Originally Posted by Fors*

Have you thought about a new center channel that you'll want to go with these new towers so they timber match properly?

Not really. If I upgrade the center then it'll collect dust because I don't have a need for another center. Atleast when I upgrade the fronts, my current Polk T90e's are going to be my rear speakers which should be a great deal better than the HTIB 3.5" paper cones that currently reside as my rear channels.

[Fors*]

Originally Posted by Footloose301

Not really. If I upgrade the center then it'll collect dust because I don't have a need for another center. Atleast when I upgrade the fronts, my current Polk T90e's are going to be my rear speakers which should be a great deal better than the HTIB 3.5" paper cones that currently reside as my rear channels.

For proper imaging up front, you'll really want your center to timber match your towers. This usually means getting a center channel from the same company and probably the same line to match the sonic nuances of the fronts. Otherwise, the sound might not blend properly and you'll find your center really under-performing in how it blends with the fronts. I have the CS10, and I find that it does have its limitations.

[Footloose301]

Originally Posted by Fors*

For proper imaging up front, you'll really want your center to timber match your towers. This usually means getting a center channel from the same company and probably the same line to match the sonic nuances of the fronts. Otherwise, the sound might not blend properly and you'll find your center really under-performing in how it blends with the fronts. I have the CS10, and I find that it does have its limitations.

It does lack. I was hoping it would get better after I add a power conditioner and Emotiva 3ch amp

[aramis109]

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

These tower speakers from Emptek are beautiful and perform marverously. They are $500 a pair and Audioholocs reviewed them and picked them as budget speakers of the year. You can buy them directly from factory in Utah or buy them from Audioholics store. Audioholics does not charge for shipping.

http://www.emptek.com/e5ti.php
http://store.audioholics.com/section...nding-speakers

Doesn't it seem... a little wrong to review the speakers you sell as "budget speakers of the year"? They may very well be awesome, I don't know either way, but it seems like a conflict of interest. Anyone else review them?