need advice...towers vs bookshelf..advantages

[STARSCREAM]

Thanks guys. I ended up ordering the following setup:

three Energy RC-70's for front left/center/right
four Energy RC-R's for side/rear surrounds
SVS PC12-NSD subwoofer

[aramis109]

I started up an Emotiva speaker thread somewhere around here- you might want to look at that.

As far as bookshelf speakers vs. towers- it depends on setup and such. Are you going to be needing stands? That figures into the cost. Towers do as you mentioned have a lower extension, so in theory if you wanted to set your crossover lower you certainly can. It also depends on what you're using the system for- to me, 2channel music is probably going to sound better on towers than bookshelf speakers, all things being equal due to the physics in the cabinet.

Part of me honestly wishes though that I'd gone with a bookshelf setup as my wife still pooh-poohs the "big speakers" in the house. There are also some terrific looking and sounding bookshelf setups- Paradigm instantly comes to mind.

[StimpsonJCat]

If you listen to any 2 or 2.1 channel music towers are the only way to go. For HT you could get away with bookshelves. I'd recommend a good sub for HT no matter which way you decide to go.

Some will disagree about bookshelves not being good enough for music (especially some high end ones).

[Twitch9]

Originally Posted by StimpsonJCat

If you listen to any 2 or 2.1 channel music towers are the only way to go. For HT you could get away with bookshelves. I'd recommend a good sub for HT no matter which way you decide to go.

Some will disagree about bookshelves not being good enough for music (especially some high end ones).

I disagree with bookshelves not good for music, i auditioned the new Paradigm studio 10's and 20's v5 and they will blow most floor standing speakers away in the same price range. I have never heard that statement before that bookshelf speakers are not good for music.

[Squozen]

Originally Posted by StimpsonJCat

Some will disagree about bookshelves not being good enough for music (especially some high end ones).

I would absolutely disagree. A friend of mine has some beautiful Monitor Audio bookshelf speakers that sound stunning with music. As long as you have a well-integrated subwoofer to provide the low-end, bookshelf speakers are theoretically better than most tower speakers as they have stiffer panels and less resonance due to the lack of large woofers.

[jomari]

listen to some dynaudio focal 110's and this would change your mind regarding musical bookshelves. i hold my own regarding bookshelves can dish out as much as towers can when it comes to musical interest. you just have to pick the right one.

ive imparted my take on towers, bookshelves, and using towers as surrounds in a previous posting...

this may lead to a very opinionated discussion. the whole tower vs bookshelf speakers is a very subjective topic at times, and hopefully others can keep an open mind towards this.

as beta man mentioned earlier, sure some towers can handle lower frequencies compared to their counterparts, but sometimes (based on klipsch' reference and synergy line) sometimes can hold its own (of course, we are comparing the same line, the same drivers (size of course), and done in ideal conditions.

you have to remember that in a home theater setting tho, most of the lower frequencies will be handled by the subwoofer, care of beta. in two channel (no sub) listening tho, it also would be advisable to have a set of fronts that can handle that as well.

the great thing about quality bookshelves is that not only can it perform the mids and highs of a tower, but can be placed much more conveniently within the living conditions. you can also consider adjusting the height of the speaker in order to afix the tweeters towards the line of 'sight' so to speak to get better imaging, thus the different heights of speaker stands.

at times tho, i noticed that others would prefer to have all matching speakers (including the surrounds) as a 5.1 system, but id disagree. a good example is having someone use towers all throughout the room, completing his 5.1 with tonal and sonic balance. in retrospect, id rather have all that money you've placed in purchasing those two surround towers, and use that to have better front channels (mains to be exact, and if allowing, a matching center), and then minimize the amount you dedicate for the surrounds (as long as the surrounds are tonally matching your front stage to prevent localization).

again, this is just the way i see things, and well, as an opinion its quite subjective.

kinda got that part earlier. just wasnt sure.

invest your money in a great soundstage, fronts and center speakers, and then move towards the surrounds later on. not only will you get your moneys worth in the long run, you will enjoy years of sonic bliss when you know your hard earned money, time, and diligence in research and auditioning, has paid off.

on a quick whim, i say again,

you dont rush when you buy a house, or a car, why the hell would you do so with your home audio equipment?

Again, this is a matter of preference.

If you do plan to get towers, consider that they should be able to handle quite a lot more than its counterpart bookshelves to justify this. my colleagues and i have had numerous discussions regarding the fact that most bookshelf speakers have almost identical if not accomodating components that a tower would have. Id also consider that unless your towers can go to a decent lower frequency, you'd still end up setting your speakers at small and use the crossover settings to assist you.

Another factor to consider is the size of the room. With towers, you'd end up pulling em a bit farther due to its relation to the backwall, either giving you too much boom, or too little.

[STARSCREAM]

I should have added that I will be using the speakers for 100% movie watching. So if this also factors into recommendations please let me know.

Anybody heard the Energy Reference Connoisseur line?
I have also heard good things about monitor audio stuff.

[StimpsonJCat]

What is the budget? What type of tweeter do you like? The BICs were horn tweets, right? I have heard great things about Monitor Audio, but haven't heard them. I would look at Paradigms as well. I would get the sub elsewhere (HSU, Epik, eD, SVS, etc..)

If you end up getting the SVS monitors & sub I'd love to hear what you think of them. That set w/ sub looks like a good deal.

[aramis109]

Originally Posted by STARSCREAM

I should have added that I will be using the speakers for 100% movie watching. So if this also factors into recommendations please let me know.

Anybody heard the Energy Reference Connoisseur line?
I have also heard good things about monitor audio stuff.

Monitor Audio is good stuff. When I was listening to the Def Techs I gave them a listen too. They make really pretty speakers as well- beautiful hardwoods and the like. I would put them and Paradigms on my short list if I were you.

have you given Def Techs' Mythos systems a look-see? They're at least a slim tower with integrated subs. Clickee.

[dobyblue]

If it's all for HT then bookshelves may give you more installation options.
I would consider looking at Axiom, Aperion, AV123 as well as whatever options your local dealer has including Paradigm, but with the latter you want to watch out what power handling they have as anything approaching 100 watts can be a little overpowering, especially for front/center duties.

The Axiom M3's (http://axiomaudio.com/m3.html) are $330/pair and have +/- 3dB response to 60Hz with 175 watts power handling. My friend Matt (posts here as BrahmaBull) has a pair and I can vouch for them, really nice imaging and a nice neutral tone to them.

They give you a discount on 5 or more speakers so I'm sure you could get them to give you an odd number to have one for a centre channel.

[Johnny Vinyl]

We can recommend all we want, but without a budget we have no way of truly making solid recommendations.

Having said that and knowing that movies are of most concern to you, a good bookshelf system can work wonders and satisfy you immensely. If that's the route you're thinking of, I would but 2 pairs of (pick brand/model) and a matching Centre along with a sub of your choice. If later on you wanted to introduce some towers for the fronts (it may happen), then you'd have a matching rear surround field for the others.

John

[Blu Titan]

Originally Posted by aramis109

I started up an Emotiva speaker thread somewhere around here- you might want to look at that.

As far as bookshelf speakers vs. towers- it depends on setup and such. Are you going to be needing stands? That figures into the cost. Towers do as you mentioned have a lower extension, so in theory if you wanted to set your crossover lower you certainly can. It also depends on what you're using the system for- to me, 2channel music is probably going to sound better on towers than bookshelf speakers, all things being equal due to the physics in the cabinet.

Part of me honestly wishes though that I'd gone with a bookshelf setup as my wife still pooh-poohs the "big speakers" in the house. There are also some terrific looking and sounding bookshelf setups- Paradigm instantly comes to mind.

Bookshelf speakers would look out of place with that monster center you have. You have done good.