Advice on Focal options.

[acritzer]

After semi-hijacking another thread I thought I should branch off and try to collect more opinions about these two speaker sales.
If you've responded in the other posts, no need to duplicate things, but I'm still interested in more ideas about these deals.

Knowing right now that I have Polk Monitor 60's and a CS2, running on a Pioneer 920 (which isn't likely to change in the near future), I'm interested in a solid upgrade in speaker quality. HT is my main use, and I'm mainly interested in improved clarity as it pertains to the front stage imaging.

Deal one is this:
http://cincinnati.craigslist.org/ele/2139598990.html
http://cincinnati.craigslist.org/ele/2139611047.html

I've already gotten a price at $800 and may be able to get him a bit lower. Advantages here are that I can listen to them before hand, and they may be a bit higher model than the next set.

Deal two is this:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...=STRK:MEWAX:IT

Cheaper, but I would need to buy stand so the price probably wouldn't be that difference in the end. Also, it may just expire and repost later at a reduced price? Not sure if these are noticeably different than the 716's from Craigslist.

Both sets seem to be in good condition, at least at first glance.
So, there you have it...whatever any of you know about the specific models would be appreciated. I just don't know if the $800 is a deal I shouldn't pass up, for example.

Thanks a bunch.

[Zman2k2]

I've listened to the 716's as well as the 706's. For the money, you really can't go wrong with either. But if you were to ask my opinion, I would probably recommend the 706's over the 716's.

My main reason would be the better midrange performance of the bookshelves. I'm not sure why, I listened to them in the same room, but the towers seemed to have a muddy midrange sound. It was almost as if the mid and woofer shared the same cabinet, instead of being separate. The mids were more pronounced in the speaker, which some may like, but it wasn't my sound.

As far as low end extension, you won't get that from either speaker. I would say at around 80Hz, either speaker really starts to give up and roll off, rather than exert itself. A sub is definitely recommended for either setup.

In the end, you really can't go wrong with either, but I would definitely give the 716s a listen first if you can. And bring along a lot of demo material that you know, and have a good feeling for how it should sound.

[callas01]

basically you are looking at speakers from the same line and series, both came out in 2004ish. Both are part of the S series from that year.

If you have the opportunity to get the towers, and the budget for it, go for it. If you don't have the budget, then the bookshelfs should/will offer you an improvement over the Polks you have now.

You have a great sub, so the bookshelfs would be fine, and since you don't listen to much if any music, again, bookshelfs would be fine. Unless you are in a big room, then the towers will offer more output for filling the room.

[ryandubbz]

So basically either $800 for towers and center

Or $550 plus $70, plus $100 for speaker stands(unless you make your own)
So that puts those at $720


You might as well spend the extra $80 and get the Floor Standers. . .

Also you could always buy the bookshelves later for your surrounds.

But this all depends on how good of quality these craiglist speakers are in.

Good Luck!!! And may the Focal be with you