new 5.1 speaker setup

[cembros]

ok so im looking to upgrade to a new 5.1 speaker setup. I am currently using a sony str da3300es with my ps3 (until sony releases a new es blu ray player) and im looking to spend between 2k and 4k. What is everyones opinion as to the best speakers in this price range with this setup. Any input is greatly appreciated

[cembros]

also,asthetics is a very important factor, i want the speakers to look really nice. For that reason i wish to stay away from klipsch ( no offence to anyone who owns these but i find them to be very ugly, even though they sound amazing, i just head the refrence series today and they sound great.)

[hagar852]

Originally Posted by cembros

also,asthetics is a very important factor, i want the speakers to look really nice. For that reason i wish to stay away from klipsch ( no offence to anyone who owns these but i find them to be very ugly, even though they sound amazing, i just head the refrence series today and they sound great.)

Well check out these..

www.aperionaudio.com

I have the same receiver with these speakers.. These speakers have an amazing finish on them... I can send pics if you wish to see..

[crackinhedz]

best subwoofers for the money:

Acoustech H-100

Elemental Designs A2-300

AV123 MFW-15


...any of these would go great with whatever else you go with.

[Beta Man]

start planning on breaking your budget.... it's inevitable

[theprophecy247]

lol i heard B&W speakers are good

[cembros]

i was looking at b&w's 700 series but i dont know if they will be in my price range. Also iv never heard of any of the other brands suggested, i would love to hear them for myself but dont know of any place to go listen to them

[cembros]

i did go to sound advice today and the employee helping me was really pushing polk audio. I have polk now and im looking to go in a different direction.

[mdabb]

Revel Concerta series

http://www.revelspeakers.com/product...eries=concerta

[Beta Man]

Originally Posted by cembros

i was looking at b&w's 700 series but i dont know if they will be in my price range. Also iv never heard of any of the other brands suggested, i would love to hear them for myself but dont know of any place to go listen to them

your price "range" is between $2k and $4k, and the Fronts and center of the 700 series would set you back about $2,400 or so if you got the 705's,(assuming you get a little percentage off, and after tax) maybe add a ML Dynamo sub (or SVS etc everyone talks about) for another $600, and you're at $3K.... then you can either use a pair of speakers you have for rears, or you could always dip back into the wallet...

I wouldn't recommend the 705's and HTM7 ......... WITHOUT LISTENING TO THEM....

I wouldn't recommend buying speakers that cost $200 a piece, let alone $800-$900 a piece, without auditioning them first......


The 703's and the Center alone would probably break your $4K budget.... The 704's would "push" your budget to the limits, and the 600 series is a great "bang for the buck" and would get your towers/center/rears and leave room for a sub (I'd look outside of B&W for subs) so it's in your best interest to give these a listen too.

[cembros]

thank you for all the responses, all very helpful. I went to best buy today and tested the Martin Logan source 8" and absoutly loved them. They were 999 each, which i would be willing to dish out. Only problem is that my reciever puts out only 100wats and the representitive was unsure if this would be enough to power the speakers. The fresco 4" rears sounded great to but at the same price as the fronts i dont think i could afford them. Does anyone know of a good match for the fronts?

[monster_man]

I'm not sure how you'll buy any B&Ws without listening to them. I don't know of anywhere that sells them by mail order or online. If you do find a way, B&Ws are some great sounding speakers.

Then again, you won't know how good until any speakers are placed in the room you intend to use them. I moved about six months ago and my current listening room is much nicer than the one we just left. In my limited experience, furniture, carpet, windows and their coverings seem to be really important in regards to the sound of my speakers as the speakers themselves.

Its really difficult to get advice on your final choice. Sure get some picks to put on your short list, but picking speakers is like picking a woman . They may look good, get great reviews, but a few months after bringing them home you can't wait to get rid of them.

[cembros]

im not going to buy anything without hearing it first, i just need to find a local store that sells them. I really fell in love with the martin logans today, i just dont know if i can power them with my receiver

[Beta Man]

Originally Posted by cembros

im not going to buy anything without hearing it first, i just need to find a local store that sells them. I really fell in love with the martin logans today, i just dont know if i can power them with my receiver

If Home-Theater is your main goal (if you don't listen to a lot of music) Martin Logans are great..... heck, they're great for music too, but I prefer other speakers to them for music.


I'm not sure of all of the models of Martin Logans, but I'm sure they make an electro-static that isn't as costly as the ones you were looking at, and I'm pretty sure any ML Electro static will match up well to be used as rears, with the fronts/center

[DiverSpear]

I have ML's and they sound great for movies and music. My receiver has no problem driving them it's a 5300ES. Best buy Magnolia seals entry level ML's but they will pop the budget. Then you could get some ML Montage's for the rears. But you will wind up spending around 6K+.

[cembros]

Originally Posted by DiverSpear

I have ML's and they sound great for movies and music. My receiver has no problem driving them it's a 5300ES. Best buy Magnolia seals entry level ML's but they will pop the budget. Then you could get some ML Montage's for the rears. But you will wind up spending around 6K+.

what do you mean they seal entry level ML's?

[DiverSpear]

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....c=abcat0200000

Here is their ML line. ML does make more that are astronomically expensive.

[cembros]

ha ok i see you ment sell. Ya i was looking at bestbuy today and im pretty sure i want to get the ML source 8" paired with the fresco's for the rears. The center i heard was the vingette but it was way to small. No clue as to a subwoffer though, the setup was without one and still sounded amazing. Im really worried that if i do get this system my receiver at only 100watts wont power the speakers well. Does anyone know anything about using a seperate amplifer with a a/v receiver??

[DiverSpear]

I'm using a Velodyne sub and it sounds great. Your receiver can power the speakers but you can run a seperate amp, just get ready to spend more money. You will need a 5 channel amp if you are running 5.1. Your receiver has pre-amp outputs for up to 7.1. How much do you think you want to spend on an amp? You can always add the amp later if you think the receiver isn't pushing them to your satisfaction.

[cembros]

well ill be running the speakers in a small room for a while so i wont even need that much power for now, but when i do move into a bigger place ill look into an amp. I would probable spend about 700 on an amp but that all depends on where i am financaly at that point. Do you have any recomendations. Also how do you like your sub, im clueless as to what sub i want, all i know is i want a 12" and i dont want something that just rumbles. I want a sub that has accurate sharp bass