Selecting Speakers for Home Theater + Music - Blu-ray Forum

Canada · 02-01-2009, 03:28 AM

I am in the process of selecting new speakers for my home theater.

I have narrowed it down to three speaker companies, I am open to suggestions as long as it's not Bose, Klipsich or Polk.

I am interested in

B&W
Paradigm

can you tell me pesonal experiences with these speakers that would be greatly appriciated. Can you tell me what line of speaker and what model.

After I get my act (ie finances) together then the fun begins, shopping man style.

CasualKiller · 02-01-2009, 03:32 AM

If you've narrowed it down so specifically all that's really left for you to do is give yourself a budget and go out and start auditioning to see what you like.

Big Daddy · 02-01-2009, 04:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Canada

I am in the process of selecting new speakers for my home theater.

I have narrowed it down to three speaker companies, I am open to suggestions as long as it's not Bose, Klipsich or Polk.

I am interested in

B&W
Paradigm
or PSB

can you tell me pesonal experiences with these speakers that would be greatly appriciated. Can you tell me what line of speaker and what model.

After I get my act (ie finances) together then the fun begins, shopping man style.

I am familiar with the PSB speakers. They are designed by Paul Barton, Canada's most famous speaker designer. He regularly visits the facilities at the National Research Council of Canada to conduct research and design his speakers.

Depending on your budget, there are several lines and within each line, there are several models. The Image series are the most economical, followed by Imagine, Synchrony, and Platinum.

I own a pair of PSB Image S50 surround speakers. They are listed for $700 and I bought them for $500. They are outstanding. There are less expensive Image series (15, 25, 45, 50) available. Series 65 are the most expensive Image speakers. Don't be fooled by list prices. The actual market prices are a lot lower. You can also find them on Ebay-U.S. and Ebay-Canada.

http://shop.ebay.com/?_from=R40&_trk...All-Categories

This Southern California dealer has a big PSB sale.

https://dmc-electronics.com/Default.htm

Reviews:
http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/volum...rs-9-2000.html
http://www.goodsound.com/equipment/psb_imagine_b.htm
http://www.hometheaterreview.com/equ...ewed000967.php
http://www.stereophile.com/floorloudspeakers/408psb/

Beta Man · 02-01-2009, 06:24 AM

I like my B&Ws, and had some 703's before swapping them out (they were great for music)

But in the end it comes down to personal preference.... and you should audition several speakers......

wdhays · 02-01-2009, 06:42 AM

You have obviously done some homework & recognize quality when you hear it. Still I have a few questions.What is your price range? What electronics will you use to drive them? Receiver or separates? How big is your room? Are you going 5.1 or 7.1? Are the following available in your area:

RBH
Dynaudio
Phase Technology
Revel
Magnepan
Mirage
Energy
Martin Logan
Monitor Audio

It's hard to comment without more info. If you are going to use a receiver, it's fairly safe to say that you need to stick with 8-ohm speakers. Separates would open the door for the 6 & 4-ohm variety.

A low wattage receiver will work better with higher sensitivity speakers, while low sensitivity speakers will require more power.

That being said, I have the most experience with Paradigm. Although they are not in my current system, they have the best imaging of anything I've heard. They're like having 5 "sweet spots" in your room. It almost doesn't matter where you are sitting or standing. The sound is like it is only speaking to you. The Studio 20's had more than respectable bass & got better from there. My uncle has the 4 of the Studio 100's in his 5.1 system. Bass is one of this speaker's many talents. Many would not even feel the sub was required here, but he wants the last 10hz that the 100's would tend to roll off. For movies, some might prefer the ADP-590 surrounds, but he doesn't have an appropriate place to hang them, so he prefers a floorstander.

Currently, I am using an Energy Connoisseur C-9 system. It doesn't image as well as the Paradigms, but has an even more clean, level sound. No sound is overdone or underdone. They have been called the "poor-man's" Revel. They will play as loud as I dare listen, with never a sign of congestion or distortion. They too could be used without a sub by most people's standards, but I think some details are gained by crossing them @ 50hz & offloading the rest to the sub.

I auditioned the Magnepan 3.6 (I believe) in a specialty shop. These, by far, have the largest soundstage that I have ever heard. Where the Paradigms might sound like you have wireless headphones on in the room, these sound as if the whole room is singing to you. These seemed to require a sub for full range sound. They may be the most expensive to own, as they require tons of quality power to drive them. Be carefull listening to these. There may be no going back.

The Revel F52, definitely, are the highest resolution speaker I have ever heard. You hear people say all the time, that they heard new details in a recording. Well, that is exactly what this speaker does. I didn't just hear the drum beats, I heard the sticks striking the drums as well. Another caution here; you will hear how good or bad the recording & processing was, in your music/ movies. But you won't catch yourself saying, "what did he say", when watching movies anymore. Everything comes through, like you are there. This is another speaker that may not require a sub, depending on your taste.

Monitor Audio GS60 is another speaker that I've demo'd. This was another high resolution speaker in my opinion, but not to the degree of the Revel. It was musical & sophisticated. It was clean, but didn't seem to be as full range as most of the others so far. I would say that a quality sub needed to accompany this speaker for any serious listening.

I was recently in Best Buy, walking by their Magnolia theater, where they had a pair of Martin Logan Source playing. I had no plans to stop, but felt myself unable to fight off the urge to go sit down & listen to them. They are a hybrid speaker design, part electrostat, part traditional driver in a box. That's how they sounded, like a cross between the Magnepan & the Paradigm. The bass sounded so "sweet". Usually if you notice a certain frequency range, it is seen as a bad thing. But in this case, there was something about the bass that made me want to stay & listen longer.

I have listened to B&W and planned to buy them, at one time, but that never became a reality & I honestly do not remember enough about them to comment accurately.

As far as the others go, I can't help much. I know they are all highly regarded in the audio circles & you could probably find plenty of reviews. Obviously, you need to listen for yourself. I only mention them in case your dealer has them available.

Happy shopping!

Johnny Vinyl · 02-01-2009, 01:40 PM

I listened to at least a half-dozen speaker brands before deciding on mine. In the end it came down to this. I listen to music much more than I watch movies (about 80%-90% music), so the speakers I chose had to satisfy my needs in that regard. As such, I went with Totem Sttaf speakers for my fronts and added the remaining (matching) Totem Mites later.

These are considered better for music than HT in audio circles, but quite frankly, I am very pleased with the way they sound for movies as well.

FYI:
Totem Sttaf - $1,895 CDN a pair (depending on finish)
Totem Mites - $695 CDN a pair (depending on finish)
Totem Mite-T - $595 CDN single (depending on finish)

Enjoy your auditioning!

John

aramis109 · 02-01-2009, 02:28 PM

I love your Totems, John. So pretty!

Personally I can only speak for B&W of your choices. My father-in-law has some in a decent 3.1 setup. They really have a nice punch. For example, on Transformers when they're shooting their big howitzer-style guns, I could feel it in my chest. (It wasn't the sub.) He plays them WAY too loud (hearing is going) and they really don't fatigue me, even watching games and jumping to commercials. We're actually going over today to watch the Superbowl.

Anyway, I really like his speakers, and I told him that if ever he wants to get rid of them to come to me first.

rded · 02-01-2009, 03:29 PM

I have the Dynaudio Contour 3.4s and they are one one of the most linear speakers around. If you have any ??? about dynauio, PM me. I agree with the above posts that you should consider Revel and Totem. Another brand you should look into is Focal.

Johnny Vinyl · 02-01-2009, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aramis109

I love your Totems, John. So pretty!

Thank you! They are indeed and I couldn't be happier with everything about them! I really do like them!

John

Johnny Vinyl · 02-01-2009, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rded

I have the Dynaudio Contour 3.4s and they are one one of the most linear speakers around. If you have any ??? about dynauio, PM me. I agree with the above posts that you should consider Revel and Totem. Another brand you should look into is Focal.

I agree with this choice as well. In fact, the Focals came very close to being in my setup. I had difficult time choosing between the two. I'm sure that if I had chosen the Focals...I would be just as happy!

John

Kai Winters · 02-02-2009, 12:09 PM

I believe it depends on your budget and your ears.
Speakers sound different to us and will to you so our advice is generally brand favorites.
For me Paradigm is the brand. My budget was not great so my choices were somewhat limited and of those I felt the Paradigms, see below, I have fit the bill nicely.
I have heard better, including the Paradigm Studio 20's that I am saving to purchase, but again for my money and ears the Paradigms were best.

I suggest taking a variety of your favorite music and movies with you when you test drive the speakers. Also try to have their electronics match yours as close as possilbe. I was able to use the same receiver as I have but made sure to check its' settings to match mine. It won't be perfect because their rooms may be a bit more acoustical than yours but generally they are ok because of the large amount of gear they have on display.

Don't worry about wasting the salesman's time. When they know you are serious they will usually leave you alone to listen to the speakers unimpeded.

I also took a small notebook with me to make notes on the speakers, prices, etc. It is too much to try to remember it all if you are auditioning multiple speakers, etc.
Most important is to take your time...Speakers may last your for a decade of more, compared to electronices like receivers that may last only a few short years, so it is better to over spend a bit on speakers because of their life span rather than settling and wishing you had a "do over" a year later.

Good luck and keep us informed.

blujacket · 02-02-2009, 12:56 PM

Take some music that you are familiar with and audition all those brands you're interested in. I believe if a speaker plays music good it's an even better home theater speaker. Have fun and good luck. Speaker shopping sure is fun.

Halcro 1 · 02-02-2009, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rded

I have the Dynaudio Contour 3.4s and they are one one of the most linear speakers around. If you have any ??? about dynauio, PM me. I agree with the above posts that you should consider Revel and Totem. Another brand you should look into is Focal.

He only listed 3 brands of speakers , and dynaudio revel and totem werent on them ..... Psb and paradigm are excellent choices ..... I had the mini-monitors ,,,, they were awesome for the bucks spent ..... and they can be had under retail as well as the PSB....Everyone lists their speaker and forgets what the poster wants.....That makes it that much more confusing.....Can I say he should look at my Acoustic Zen speakers .... No why those werent the brands he was interested in ..... Im not being a prick , just trying to keep in lne what the topic is about....

rded · 02-02-2009, 03:24 PM

Dude read the OP's 1st post carefully, he said: "I am open to suggestions as long as it's not Bose, Klipsich or Polk."

prerich · 02-02-2009, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CasualKiller

If you've narrowed it down so specifically all that's really left for you to do is give yourself a budget and go out and start auditioning to see what you like.

+1!!!! All great speaker manufacturers - its up to your ears - audition!!!!

Johnny Vinyl · 02-02-2009, 11:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Halcro 1

He only listed 3 brands of speakers , and dynaudio revel and totem werent on them ..... Psb and paradigm are excellent choices ..... I had the mini-monitors ,,,, they were awesome for the bucks spent ..... and they can be had under retail as well as the PSB....Everyone lists their speaker and forgets what the poster wants.....That makes it that much more confusing.....Can I say he should look at my Acoustic Zen speakers .... No why those werent the brands he was interested in ..... Im not being a prick , just trying to keep in lne what the topic is about....

Hi Mike,

You're right! He didn't list those, but he did say he was open to suggestions. One thing was clear, he didn't want Bose, Klipsch and Polk.

I gave him a scenario as to how I came to choose my speakers and offered some pricing (he was open to suggestion). I never told him once that he should consider Totem.

The topic is about speakers and he listed his preference, but also said he is open to suggestion. I don't see how that is not within the parameters of the topic.

John

rded · 02-02-2009, 11:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John72953

You're right! He didn't list those, but he did say he was open to suggestions. One thing was clear, he didn't want Bose, Klipsch and Polk.

I gave him a scenario as to how I came to choose my speakers and offered some pricing (he was open to suggestion). I never told him once that he should consider Totem.

The topic is about speakers and he listed his preference, but also said he is open to suggestion. I don't see how that is not within the parameters of the topic.

John

Amen John!!!

Intamin · 02-03-2009, 01:35 AM

I'd recommend looking at Salk's. The Song Towers were recent winners of two different speaker of the year awards, and Jim builds a great product. Here's a comparison of B&W to some Song Towers from one listener,

"I've commented multiple times about both incomparison to Salk. Here are some of my notes, in no particular order.

For me I have always been a metal dome tweeter fanatic. I have loved the detail and highs that metal domes are able to present. Boston Acoustics, Focal, B&W are all right up my alley. The more I have listened to them though I realize there is maybe just slightly too much highs for my liking in nearly all of these brands.. well at really high volumes anyway. On the other end of the spectrum I cannot stand the fact that brands like Dynaudio sound like they have a sock over their tweeter.

I was very hesitant in ordering Salk SongTowers given the fact I hadn't heard a silk dome I really liked, but given the descriptions I had read of their sound I was willing to risk it, and I knew Jim would let me return them if I wanted. No bias here I was sold almost instantly. They are one of the brightest silk domes I have ever heard, and certainly the most detailed, but no where near as fatiguing as a B&W for example. Personally I think it is the perfect amount of detail without any of the fatigue associated with "bright" tweeters.

In summary I think the SongTowers silk dome tweeter sounds absolutely divine and perfect to my ears. Not bright, but detailed and revealing."

Here's a link to their website, www.salksound.com Also check out their audiocirlce page for auditions in your area and other info from owners, http://www.audiocircle.com/circles/index.php?board=82 and finally here is a thread for Salk Owners that you should find helpful should you be interested as it has all sorts of comparisons to other speakers as well as commentary from the crossover designer and the owner, Jim http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=939744

One last link for you, pictures of them in houses, as Jim has some amazing finish work... http://www.audiocircle.com/circles/i...&topic=60067.0

Like everyone before has said though, it's up to you to do the research and listen to as many different speakers as possible. I listened to Klipsch, Polk, Def Tech, Paradigm, B&W's (up to the 802D's, which were great speakers, just too much money!), and Dynaudio before buying my Song Towers based on the quality and outstanding reviews, as well as the great price and custom finishes (I got mine in a dyed walnut), and I couldn't be happier. Good luck and enjoy the search!

callas01 · 02-03-2009, 02:43 AM

I hear the B&W 683's all day at my dad's house, they are awesome, great for music and movies. Personally I am leaning towards some Energy CF-50's myself. But the best thing you can do is decide on a budget and then go listen as everyone has been saying. That is truly the only way to do it. Have fun. Let us know what you decide on.

Geezer00003 · 02-03-2009, 03:08 AM

They're plenty of good speakers to choose from.
You won't go wrong with Paradigm.

02-01-2009, 03:28 AM	#1
Canada Blu-ray Archduke Top contributor Member since:Mar 2007 Location:Victoria, BC Home Theater Gallery:17 4K collection:305 Blu-ray collection:1201 DVD collection:37 Blu-ray reviews:42	Selecting Speakers for Home Theater + Music I am in the process of selecting new speakers for my home theater. I have narrowed it down to three speaker companies, I am open to suggestions as long as it's not Bose, Klipsich or Polk. I am interested in B&W Paradigm can you tell me pesonal experiences with these speakers that would be greatly appriciated. Can you tell me what line of speaker and what model. After I get my act (ie finances) together then the fun begins, shopping man style. Last edited by Canada; 02-07-2009 at 05:19 AM.

02-01-2009, 06:42 AM	#5
wdhays Member Member since:Jan 2009	You have obviously done some homework & recognize quality when you hear it. Still I have a few questions.What is your price range? What electronics will you use to drive them? Receiver or separates? How big is your room? Are you going 5.1 or 7.1? Are the following available in your area: RBH Dynaudio Phase Technology Revel Magnepan Mirage Energy Martin Logan Monitor Audio It's hard to comment without more info. If you are going to use a receiver, it's fairly safe to say that you need to stick with 8-ohm speakers. Separates would open the door for the 6 & 4-ohm variety. A low wattage receiver will work better with higher sensitivity speakers, while low sensitivity speakers will require more power. That being said, I have the most experience with Paradigm. Although they are not in my current system, they have the best imaging of anything I've heard. They're like having 5 "sweet spots" in your room. It almost doesn't matter where you are sitting or standing. The sound is like it is only speaking to you. The Studio 20's had more than respectable bass & got better from there. My uncle has the 4 of the Studio 100's in his 5.1 system. Bass is one of this speaker's many talents. Many would not even feel the sub was required here, but he wants the last 10hz that the 100's would tend to roll off. For movies, some might prefer the ADP-590 surrounds, but he doesn't have an appropriate place to hang them, so he prefers a floorstander. Currently, I am using an Energy Connoisseur C-9 system. It doesn't image as well as the Paradigms, but has an even more clean, level sound. No sound is overdone or underdone. They have been called the "poor-man's" Revel. They will play as loud as I dare listen, with never a sign of congestion or distortion. They too could be used without a sub by most people's standards, but I think some details are gained by crossing them @ 50hz & offloading the rest to the sub. I auditioned the Magnepan 3.6 (I believe) in a specialty shop. These, by far, have the largest soundstage that I have ever heard. Where the Paradigms might sound like you have wireless headphones on in the room, these sound as if the whole room is singing to you. These seemed to require a sub for full range sound. They may be the most expensive to own, as they require tons of quality power to drive them. Be carefull listening to these. There may be no going back. The Revel F52, definitely, are the highest resolution speaker I have ever heard. You hear people say all the time, that they heard new details in a recording. Well, that is exactly what this speaker does. I didn't just hear the drum beats, I heard the sticks striking the drums as well. Another caution here; you will hear how good or bad the recording & processing was, in your music/ movies. But you won't catch yourself saying, "what did he say", when watching movies anymore. Everything comes through, like you are there. This is another speaker that may not require a sub, depending on your taste. Monitor Audio GS60 is another speaker that I've demo'd. This was another high resolution speaker in my opinion, but not to the degree of the Revel. It was musical & sophisticated. It was clean, but didn't seem to be as full range as most of the others so far. I would say that a quality sub needed to accompany this speaker for any serious listening. I was recently in Best Buy, walking by their Magnolia theater, where they had a pair of Martin Logan Source playing. I had no plans to stop, but felt myself unable to fight off the urge to go sit down & listen to them. They are a hybrid speaker design, part electrostat, part traditional driver in a box. That's how they sounded, like a cross between the Magnepan & the Paradigm. The bass sounded so "sweet". Usually if you notice a certain frequency range, it is seen as a bad thing. But in this case, there was something about the bass that made me want to stay & listen longer. I have listened to B&W and planned to buy them, at one time, but that never became a reality & I honestly do not remember enough about them to comment accurately. As far as the others go, I can't help much. I know they are all highly regarded in the audio circles & you could probably find plenty of reviews. Obviously, you need to listen for yourself. I only mention them in case your dealer has them available. Happy shopping! Last edited by wdhays; 02-01-2009 at 09:00 AM.

02-01-2009, 01:40 PM	#6
Johnny Vinyl Moderator Top ranked HT gallery Top contributor Member since:Jul 2007 Location:At the crossroad of Analogue Dr & 2CH Ave Home Theater Gallery:19 Blu-ray collection:205 DVD collection:7 Blu-ray reviews:3 Trading Score:8	I listened to at least a half-dozen speaker brands before deciding on mine. In the end it came down to this. I listen to music much more than I watch movies (about 80%-90% music), so the speakers I chose had to satisfy my needs in that regard. As such, I went with Totem Sttaf speakers for my fronts and added the remaining (matching) Totem Mites later. These are considered better for music than HT in audio circles, but quite frankly, I am very pleased with the way they sound for movies as well. FYI: Totem Sttaf - $1,895 CDN a pair (depending on finish) Totem Mites - $695 CDN a pair (depending on finish) Totem Mite-T - $595 CDN single (depending on finish) Enjoy your auditioning! John Last edited by Johnny Vinyl; 02-01-2009 at 02:15 PM.

02-03-2009, 01:35 AM	#18
Intamin Power Member Top ranked HT gallery Top contributor Member since:Sep 2007 Location:Houston Home Theater Gallery:38 Blu-ray collection:318	I'd recommend looking at Salk's. The Song Towers were recent winners of two different speaker of the year awards, and Jim builds a great product. Here's a comparison of B&W to some Song Towers from one listener, "I've commented multiple times about both incomparison to Salk. Here are some of my notes, in no particular order. For me I have always been a metal dome tweeter fanatic. I have loved the detail and highs that metal domes are able to present. Boston Acoustics, Focal, B&W are all right up my alley. The more I have listened to them though I realize there is maybe just slightly too much highs for my liking in nearly all of these brands.. well at really high volumes anyway. On the other end of the spectrum I cannot stand the fact that brands like Dynaudio sound like they have a sock over their tweeter. I was very hesitant in ordering Salk SongTowers given the fact I hadn't heard a silk dome I really liked, but given the descriptions I had read of their sound I was willing to risk it, and I knew Jim would let me return them if I wanted. No bias here I was sold almost instantly. They are one of the brightest silk domes I have ever heard, and certainly the most detailed, but no where near as fatiguing as a B&W for example. Personally I think it is the perfect amount of detail without any of the fatigue associated with "bright" tweeters. In summary I think the SongTowers silk dome tweeter sounds absolutely divine and perfect to my ears. Not bright, but detailed and revealing." Here's a link to their website, www.salksound.com Also check out their audiocirlce page for auditions in your area and other info from owners, http://www.audiocircle.com/circles/index.php?board=82 and finally here is a thread for Salk Owners that you should find helpful should you be interested as it has all sorts of comparisons to other speakers as well as commentary from the crossover designer and the owner, Jim http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=939744 One last link for you, pictures of them in houses, as Jim has some amazing finish work... http://www.audiocircle.com/circles/i...&topic=60067.0 Like everyone before has said though, it's up to you to do the research and listen to as many different speakers as possible. I listened to Klipsch, Polk, Def Tech, Paradigm, B&W's (up to the 802D's, which were great speakers, just too much money!), and Dynaudio before buying my Song Towers based on the quality and outstanding reviews, as well as the great price and custom finishes (I got mine in a dyed walnut), and I couldn't be happier. Good luck and enjoy the search! Last edited by Intamin; 02-03-2009 at 01:41 AM.

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02-01-2009, 03:32 AM	#2
CasualKiller Blu-ray Samurai Member since:Feb 2008 Location:Brooks Alberta Blu-ray collection:54 Trading Score:15	If you've narrowed it down so specifically all that's really left for you to do is give yourself a budget and go out and start auditioning to see what you like.

02-01-2009, 06:24 AM	#4
Beta Man Moderator Top contributor Member since:Jan 2008 Location:Juuuuuuuust A Bit Outside.... Home Theater Gallery:4 Blu-ray collection:268 Blu-ray reviews: 18 Trading Score:25	I like my B&Ws, and had some 703's before swapping them out (they were great for music) But in the end it comes down to personal preference.... and you should audition several speakers......

02-01-2009, 02:28 PM	#7
aramis109 Blu-ray Ninja Member since:Mar 2008 Location:Milwaukee, WI Home Theater Gallery:10 4K collection:4 Blu-ray collection:360 Trading Score:18	I love your Totems, John. So pretty! Personally I can only speak for B&W of your choices. My father-in-law has some in a decent 3.1 setup. They really have a nice punch. For example, on Transformers when they're shooting their big howitzer-style guns, I could feel it in my chest. (It wasn't the sub.) He plays them WAY too loud (hearing is going) and they really don't fatigue me, even watching games and jumping to commercials. We're actually going over today to watch the Superbowl. Anyway, I really like his speakers, and I told him that if ever he wants to get rid of them to come to me first.

02-01-2009, 03:29 PM	#8
rded Blu-ray Ninja Member since:Aug 2008 Location:555 Naim Street Blu-ray collection:254 Trading Score:1	I have the Dynaudio Contour 3.4s and they are one one of the most linear speakers around. If you have any ??? about dynauio, PM me. I agree with the above posts that you should consider Revel and Totem. Another brand you should look into is Focal.

02-02-2009, 12:09 PM	#11
Kai Winters Active Member Member since:Dec 2008 Location:Northern NY...Brownville Home Theater Gallery:4	I believe it depends on your budget and your ears. Speakers sound different to us and will to you so our advice is generally brand favorites. For me Paradigm is the brand. My budget was not great so my choices were somewhat limited and of those I felt the Paradigms, see below, I have fit the bill nicely. I have heard better, including the Paradigm Studio 20's that I am saving to purchase, but again for my money and ears the Paradigms were best. I suggest taking a variety of your favorite music and movies with you when you test drive the speakers. Also try to have their electronics match yours as close as possilbe. I was able to use the same receiver as I have but made sure to check its' settings to match mine. It won't be perfect because their rooms may be a bit more acoustical than yours but generally they are ok because of the large amount of gear they have on display. Don't worry about wasting the salesman's time. When they know you are serious they will usually leave you alone to listen to the speakers unimpeded. I also took a small notebook with me to make notes on the speakers, prices, etc. It is too much to try to remember it all if you are auditioning multiple speakers, etc. Most important is to take your time...Speakers may last your for a decade of more, compared to electronices like receivers that may last only a few short years, so it is better to over spend a bit on speakers because of their life span rather than settling and wishing you had a "do over" a year later. Good luck and keep us informed.

02-02-2009, 12:56 PM	#12
blujacket Blu-ray Guru Member since:Jun 2007 Location:Dayton,Ohio 4K collection:70 Blu-ray collection:658	Take some music that you are familiar with and audition all those brands you're interested in. I believe if a speaker plays music good it's an even better home theater speaker. Have fun and good luck. Speaker shopping sure is fun.

02-02-2009, 03:24 PM	#14
rded Blu-ray Ninja Member since:Aug 2008 Location:555 Naim Street Blu-ray collection:254 Trading Score:1	Dude read the OP's 1st post carefully, he said: *"I am open to suggestions as long as it's not Bose, Klipsich or Polk."*

02-03-2009, 02:43 AM	#19
callas01 Blu-ray Prince Top contributor Member since:Jun 2008 Location:Riverside, CA Home Theater Gallery:42 Blu-ray collection:230 DVD collection:47	I hear the B&W 683's all day at my dad's house, they are awesome, great for music and movies. Personally I am leaning towards some Energy CF-50's myself. But the best thing you can do is decide on a budget and then go listen as everyone has been saying. That is truly the only way to do it. Have fun. Let us know what you decide on.

02-03-2009, 03:08 AM	#20
Geezer00003 Senior Member Top ranked HT gallery Member since:Dec 2008 Location:GTA Ontario, Canada Home Theater Gallery:12 4K collection:207 Blu-ray collection:669	They're plenty of good speakers to choose from. You won't go wrong with Paradigm.

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