Still Need Speaker Help!

[sarnell2]

So I got a nice new TV, Receiver, and Blu-Ray Player. It's all set up correctly (with HDMI 1.3) and bitstreaming DTS-HD Master. The problem is that my speakers are really old and crappy. I can't hear any difference when switching from DTS-HD Master, Dolby Digital, Uncompressed, etc. Can someone recommend a good set of speakers (either 5.1 or 7.1 setup)? I'd appreciate if you could include a model along with the brand. From searching around on the forum it seems like a lot of people recommend Klipsch and Polk.

Thanks!

[jpotter]

I just picked up some Polk RTi8's (for front mains) at frys for $150 a piece. Haven't set them up yet but they have a room to demo the speakers and they sound awesome! I hear they are discontinuing these speakers and will replace them with something new in 08, which is why they are discounted close to $300 a piece.

I have been researching over at avs and these seem to be very popular.

BTW: I am paring these with the Onkyo TX-SR705 as well and slowly building my home theatre system. When i get these hooked up i can give you some feedback but for now there is tons of information over at avsforums

[crackinhedz]

check out Fluance.com

[blindcat87]

Check out www.ascendacoustics.com

Great speakers, a lot more bang for the buck IMO than most big brands. If your budget is larger, go for Sierra 1s. Below that is the CMT-340 SEs, then the CBM-170SEs, and finally the new HTM-200SEs for more entry level. The great thing is that all of their speakers blend very well, so you can mix and match according to budget. Dave at Ascend is very dedicated to accuracy, he designs his speakers to reproduce the audio as accurately as possible without coloring the sound. I have Sierras as mains and center and 340SEs as surrounds. Amazing detail and clarity. Plus the Sierras look damn cool in natural bamboo or piano black. I really love these speakers if you can't tell. On top of that, Dave is very helpful and easy to get in touch with. I think it is a bonus to be able to get help and advice from the owner of the company and designer of the speakers.

Chris

Originally Posted by sarnell2

So I got a nice new TV, Receiver, and Blu-Ray Player. It's all set up correctly (with HDMI 1.3) and bitstreaming DTS-HD Master. The problem is that my speakers are really old and crappy. I can't hear any difference when switching from DTS-HD Master, Dolby Digital, Uncompressed, etc. Can someone recommend a good set of speakers (either 5.1 or 7.1 setup)? I'd appreciate if you could include a model along with the brand. From searching around on the forum it seems like a lot of people recommend Klipsch and Polk.

Thanks!

[coolmilo]

Originally Posted by sarnell2

So I got a nice new TV, Receiver, and Blu-Ray Player. It's all set up correctly (with HDMI 1.3) and bitstreaming DTS-HD Master. The problem is that my speakers are really old and crappy. I can't hear any difference when switching from DTS-HD Master, Dolby Digital, Uncompressed, etc. Can someone recommend a good set of speakers (either 5.1 or 7.1 setup)? I'd appreciate if you could include a model along with the brand. From searching around on the forum it seems like a lot of people recommend Klipsch and Polk.

Thanks!

Keep in mind that you should not hear a difference between PCM, DTS-HD MA, and Dolby TrueHD. I did notice a 6 DB increase in loudness when switching from PCM and TrueHD. But the sound quality should be the same.

Now for speaker recommendations: I recommend going to a high fidelity store (not Best Buy or Circuit City) and listen to different speakers to help make up your mind. Part of the process is choosing speakers that sound good to "you" as much as brand name and budget.

I went with B&W 800 series speakers and Velodyne DD sub.

I also thought Paradigm and Klipsch sounded good.

[saljr]

Ascend is the most accurately reproduce the audio equal to the master copy. I'm no audio expert but if you can reproduce audio speaker equal to the master copy. WOW I heard about these before in Tomshardware forum and they mention about Dave that he guarantees that his speakers will produce master copy quality sound.

[Petra_Kalbrain]

I'll throw Bowers & Wilkins into the mix. The individual "Mini Theatre" speakers run about $250 CDN each. I got 5 of the "Mini Theatre" speakers and the AS2 subwoofer for $1900 CDN (plus tax of course). Here's a link to their assortment, but check out the "Mini Theatre" section first.

http://www.bowers-wilkins.com/display.aspx?infid=769

So, I essentially got the MT-20 set.

http://www.bowers-wilkins.com/displa...nfid=821&sc=ht

[jsteinhauer]

Originally Posted by coolmilo

Now for speaker recommendations: I recommend going to a high fidelity store (not Best Buy or Circuit City) and listen to different speakers to help make up your mind. Part of the process is choosing speakers that sound good to "you" as much as brand name and budget.

That's how I ended up with Paradigms. I advise to start at the "bottom" and work your way up your budget, but stop when you get to the top of your budget, because you'll be dissatisfied forever.

[I Bleed Blu]

Klipsch Reference! Do not get their intro line tho..

[Nick67gto]

i suggest NHT speakers they sound amazing

[kingofgrills]

Originally Posted by sarnell2

So I got a nice new TV, Receiver, and Blu-Ray Player. It's all set up correctly (with HDMI 1.3) and bitstreaming DTS-HD Master. The problem is that my speakers are really old and crappy. I can't hear any difference when switching from DTS-HD Master, Dolby Digital, Uncompressed, etc. Can someone recommend a good set of speakers (either 5.1 or 7.1 setup)? I'd appreciate if you could include a model along with the brand. From searching around on the forum it seems like a lot of people recommend Klipsch and Polk.

Thanks!

Take some of your favorite CDs and movies to a hi-fi store and audition several speaker setups. Great bang for the buck speakers I would suggest off the top of my head include Bowers & Wilkens (B&W), Paradigm, and Monitor Audio. Seriously, all three brands have great stuff. B&W is a bit pricier than the others, but if you can afford it they're worth it.

Make sure you try them with and without a sub - sales guys always throw a sub in there as default. Comparing them without a sub, will allow you to review the speakers own bass capabilities. Try the same audio passages with each setup, and let your ears be your guide.

Just steer clear of Bose.

[hagar852]

I suggest www.aperionaudio.com

They are a great company with GREAT speakers..

[ArkGuy]

Originally Posted by kingofgrills

...
Make sure you try them with and without a sub - sales guys always throw a sub in there as default. Comparing them without a sub, will allow you to review the speakers own bass capabilities. Try the same audio passages with each setup, and let your ears be your guide.

This may be the best advice in the whole thread. For those looking to, or willling to, build over time, you can max out your budget on fronts only if you find some with good bass without a sub. That's exactly how many people liste to music anyway, i.e. with just the two fronts.

When you get up to the $600-1000 MSRP per pair range, you can find pairs with impressive bass and overall quality running without a sub. Two examples in my opinion would be Monitor Audio RS6's and Paradigm Monitor 7's. Just this week, I've noted floor models of the MA's for $750 ($1,000 MSRP) and the 7's (v4) for $550. Unless you like to see your pets and small children run from the room with their hands over the ears from a steady diet of blown up buildings and car crashes, either pair of speakers will give you good sounding bass until you can buy the sub you want (though I'd use your best "crappy speakers" for rears while I saved for a good matching center before getting a new sub).

[Aztec_MC]

Polk Audio is probably your safest bet. I get amazing, high end sound from my Polk Audio speakers for about $130 a piece at circuit city. I didn't even need a subwoofer. These speakers completely changed how I saw movies. Instead of PQ, I focus on the pristine audio I'm getting. I can hear the dialogue clearly and my Polk Audio outperforms my brother's $1,000 speakers. LOL.

[bdrex28]

Originally Posted by Aztec_MC

Polk Audio is probably your safest bet. I get amazing, high end sound from my Polk Audio speakers for about $130 a piece at circuit city. I didn't even need a subwoofer. These speakers completely changed how I saw movies. Instead of PQ, I focus on the pristine audio I'm getting. I can hear the dialogue clearly and my Polk Audio outperforms my brother's $1,000 speakers. LOL.

Which polk's do you have?

[Aztec_MC]

I'm using the M20 series Fronts, M30 surround, and CSR Center speakers. They sound amazing and are cheap.

http://www.polkaudio.com/homeaudio/p...m20/?reviews=1

http://www.polkaudio.com/homeaudio/p...r30/?reviews=1

http://www.polkaudio.com/homeaudio/p...csr/?reviews=1

[btf1980]

Both Klipsch and Polk are quality speakers, but they have very distinct sounds. Klipsch uses a horn tweeter, so it has a very bright, forward sound. Many people like this, some do not. It will rock the house for HT purposes though. Polk isn't as forward Klipsch. It certainly is just as capable, but again a different sound, not better or worse, that's up to the listener to decide, but it's different.

I think the key thing you need to figure out first is your budget. Recommendations and quality can vary wildly within the same brands. Obviously the entry level Klipsch bookshelves will pale in comparison to the Reference towers. Same applies for Polk. What receiver and BD player are you using?

[hagar852]

Since we have the same tv sarnell2 why not have the same speakers?

The Aperions actually match the finish of the FP-T5084.

My pics are in the home theater pics thread page 65..