What are the best 2 channel speakers for $3000?

[stobbart]

Or am I looking at this the wrong way. Would I be better off investing this kind of money in some bookshelf speakers with stands or are tower speakers the better bang for the buck. Im pretty new to this so I dont really know what would be better. Hmmm I may need to start a new thread "Floorstanding vs bookshelf speakers" lol.

And these will not just be for 2 channel music but running blu-rays at 2 channel. I cant see trying to fit a good 5.1 in my small area.

[rded]

Originally Posted by stobbart

Or am I looking at this the wrong way. Would I be better off investing this kind of money in some bookshelf speakers with stands or are tower speakers the better bang for the buck. Im pretty new to this so I dont really know what would be better. Hmmm I may need to start a new thread "Floorstanding vs bookshelf speakers" lol.

I only went with what you've posted above as they are floor standers...Its really up to you.

BTW what are you thinking as far as amplification?

[stobbart]

Originally Posted by rded

BTW what are you thinking as far as amplification?

I have an old monster receiver. Hitachi SR-2004. So I dont think Ill have a problem getting the most out of the speakers I go with.

And you seem to have more knowledge and experience then me so what is your opinion on floorstanding vs bookshelf? I want to gather all opinions and thoughts before I make my descision. I originally said floorstanding because I want them displayed and like that look. I dont really know about the quality of sound between the two. For instance a $3000 floor vs a $3000 bookshelf.

[rded]

Originally Posted by stobbart

I have an old monster receiver. Hitachi SR-2004. So I dont think Ill have a problem getting the most out of the speakers I go with.

And you seem to have more knowledge and experience then me so what is your opinion on floorstanding vs bookshelf? I want to gather all opinions and thoughts before I make my descision. I originally said floorstanding because I want them displayed and like that look. I dont really know about the quality of sound between the two. For instance a $3000 floor vs a $3000 bookshelf.

Bud, it really depends on personal taste and space, even WAF restrictions. With your budget you can go either way. I personally prefer floorstanders but I have a pretty big listening area 24' x 12' x11' but only use half. Floorstnader have better dynamics but its not necessarily a good thing. I personally prefer speakers that are neutral and linear-meaning no frequency jumps out at you. The bass is not over, the top the midrange is not glaring in short I want speakers that don't lie The more you audition, the more you get the feel of what you want in a speaker. Dynaudio and Totem make neutral speakers and so does Sonus faber and Vienna Acoustics(but they are more on the warm side of neutral).

EDIT: at 12 by 12, you should be ok with floor standers but you're ganna need better amplification than the hitachi... Sorry.

[stobbart]

Originally Posted by rded

EDIT: at 12 by 12, you should be ok with floor standers but you're ganna need better amplification than the hitachi... Sorry.

Really? How much amplification do these types of speakers need? 200 wpc is not going to cut it?

[richteer]

Originally Posted by stobbart

Really? How much amplification do these types of speakers need? 200 wpc is not going to cut it?

Rhett said "better amplification", not "more powerful". And he's right. A receiver from the '70s just isn't good enough for the task of driving $2k to $3k speakers. It'd be like buying a new sports car but insisting on using some old tires you've got kicking around.

If you go the for ML Sources I recommended, that'll leave you about $1000 for a half decent integrated amp and some cables.

[Driver_King]

Originally Posted by stobbart

Really? How much amplification do these types of speakers need? 200 wpc is not going to cut it?

It's not about the amp power; it's about the sound quality of your amplifier. You should look at speakers around $2k and then around $1k or so for amplification and some extra money for interconnects, better sources, wires, acoustic paneling, ect.

[stobbart]

Originally Posted by Driver_King

It's not about the amp power; it's about the sound quality of your amplifier. You should look at speakers around $2k and then around $1k or so for amplification and some extra money for interconnects, better sources, wires, acoustic paneling, ect.

Well if I need a better reciever I would just save up for that as well and not lower my quality of speakers. See im not going out this weekend and spending all my money. Im going to be completly rebuilding my HT from the ground up and will save and spend as much as necessary.

[rded]

Originally Posted by stobbart

Really? How much amplification do these types of speakers need? 200 wpc is not going to cut it?

Sorry I missed your post when you said your rwceiver is old. OTOH Ive heard 50 watt amps handle bigger speakers but since your receiver is old and they did make better products back in the day I'd give it a try.See If you can bring your receiver when you audition speakers or for best results bring the speakers home and try them out with what you have.

[Johnny Vinyl]

You might also want to consider a new 2-channel Integrated Amp and going with a pair of Totem Arros or Totem Sttafs or the similarly priced Dynaudios, in addition to the other brands that Rhett mentioned (I personally really like the Vienna Acoustics offerings).

Food for thought!

John

[StimpsonJCat]

Originally Posted by stobbart

Or am I looking at this the wrong way. Would I be better off investing this kind of money in some bookshelf speakers with stands or are tower speakers the better bang for the buck. Im pretty new to this so I dont really know what would be better. Hmmm I may need to start a new thread "Floorstanding vs bookshelf speakers" lol.

And these will not just be for 2 channel music but running blu-rays at 2 channel. I cant see trying to fit a good 5.1 in my small area.

I don't recommend going with bookshelves for 2 channel. You might get away it if you add a decent sub for 2.1, but I'd go with towers if music is your main concern.

[rded]

Originally Posted by StimpsonJCat

I don't recommend going with bookshelves for 2 channel. You might get away it if you add a decent sub for 2.1, but I'd go with towers if music is your main concern.

I would have to disagree with you on that. Some bookshelves have plenty of bass and can overwhelm a small room easily. That's why I asked how big his dedicated are is.

[Johnny Vinyl]

Originally Posted by StimpsonJCat

I don't recommend going with bookshelves for 2 channel. You might get away it if you add a decent sub for 2.1, but I'd go with towers if music is your main concern.

I would have to agree with that as well. There are a few bookshelf speaker exceptions to this, but in general I'd also stay with floorstanders.

John

[Johnny Vinyl]

Is that Hitachi receiver still what you are using? If so, how much power does that unit put out?

John

[stobbart]

Originally Posted by John72953

Is that Hitachi receiver still what you are using? If so, how much power does that unit put out?

John

200 WPC and its able to double to 400 as required for short outputs.

Found this online:
1978 Hitachi SR-2004 Class G Receiver
Fifth most powerful "all in one" Monster Receiver made during the "Power Wars" of the late 1970's
SR-2004 were made by Hitachi, making this receiver a real rarity and somewhat of a "purebread".
What really made the SR-2004 stand out was its "Class G" Amplifier, with a prodigious 200 watt RMS per channel power output, placing it among the most powerful receivers ever made. In fact, according to a review from the November 1978 issue of "High Fidelity" Magazine, it was capable of dynamic peaks of 400 watts/ch "that gives it a shot a first place in the receiver power race". When High Fidelity tested the SR-2004, it found that the power output was actually more like 240 watt/ch RMS.
http://www.electricalhobby.com/monst...achiSR2004.htm

[rded]

Originally Posted by stobbart

200 WPC and its able to double to 400 as required for short outputs.

Nahh...I wouldn't go with specs especially with Japanese-manufactured receivers. Speakers will appreciate Clean high-current before power and lets not start that debate here ok?

[Driver_King]

Your speakers would definitely have to find better positioning than where they are in your bedroom compared to where you have your current speakers. You may also want to look into other amplification, wall treatments, ect.

[richteer]

I'd be remiss if I didn't suggest you audition the MartinLogan Source. At only $2200, it's well inside your budget (unusual for recommendations from me!).

[D]

You can't go wrong with B&W 805's.

[Intamin]

I'll recommend my own speakers, the Salk Song Towers, which can be found here, http://www.salksound.com/speakers_so...towerqwt.shtml. They are right at 2k shipped, and having listened to speakers at double the price, I would say they compare very favorably imo. The midrange on these is absolutely great, the bass is well defined and not bloated, and with a small room, these speakers are very placement friendly by being a transmission line design. They were also recent winners of awards from Audioholics and Enjoy the Music, both of which are online publications. For some good images, check out this thread, https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=98244

The only time I've felt like I wanted new speakers has been listening to Dynaudio Contour 5.4, B&W 802d's, and Klipsch Palladiums. I've listened to most speakers in the 2-4500 price range, and the Song Towers have been my favorite.