Speakers with tight bass

[MrRoy]

I coudn't think of a title for this thread, but I think it fits.

A couple of weeks ago I was at the Fry's in Downers Grove, IL, and I was listening to what appeared to be either a Polk RM7 or RM8 center with the R300 floorstanding speakers, being pushed by an Onkyo 705. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. That center was amazing...the voices from the 2 animated characters in the movie, the tight bass coming from either the center or the r/l when one of the characters bounced a basketball. It all just sounded awesome, and I don't believe a sub was turned on.

Does this sound correct? Are those speakers just that good?

I have a Sony SS-CN5000 center and SS-F6000 floorstanding for my fronts. I really like the way they sound when watching a movie (music can be better), but what I heard was awesome.

[Johnny Vinyl]

I can't speak for the speakers you were listening to, but I can tell you that my speakers reproduce the bottom end very well. In fact, so much so that I have yet to purchase a subwoofer. I should say that I am NOT a bass-freak, so that may skew my opinion somewhat. However, there are several speaker models out there that handle the lower frequancies quite adequatey.

For the record, I have Totem Staff's handling most of my needs, which is centred around 2-channel listening. I also have Totem Mites to handle the surrounds and a Totem Mite-T Centre. All are finished in Mahogany.

John

[rded]

Originally Posted by MrRoy

I coudn't think of a title for this thread, but I think it fits.

A couple of weeks ago I was at the Fry's in Downers Grove, IL, and I was listening to what appeared to be either a Polk RM7 or RM8 center with the R300 floorstanding speakers, being pushed by an Onkyo 705. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. That center was amazing...the voices from the 2 animated characters in the movie, the tight bass coming from either the center or the r/l when one of the characters bounced a basketball. It all just sounded awesome, and I don't believe a sub was turned on.

Does this sound correct? Are those speakers just that good?

I have a Sony SS-CN5000 center and SS-F6000 floorstanding for my fronts. I really like the way they sound when watching a movie (music can be better), but what I heard was awesome.

Hey a member from Illinois Ah! Frys! My favorite store for buying blurays!!! The truth is, those Polks are just better than your speakers and that's why they sound very open and detailed to you. But for the same price or slightly more I could think of 5 other brands better than Polks.

[callas01]

Originally Posted by rded

The truth is, those Polks are just better than your speakers and that's why they sound very open and detailed to you. But for the same price or slightly more I could think of 5 other brands better than Polks.

+1, Mr Roy, I have to agree with rded that the sony's definetly lack the detail and complete sound that really good speakers have. now that I have had the Energys for a few weeks, and time to listen to them, get used to them and break them in, I have to say, that the Sony speakers that I used to have are just not very good. I am not a huge Polk fan or Klipsch but they have to be better then the sony's. My new speakers don't go really low, but it think its about 40 or 45 hz, but the bass is accurate and tight. they sound really solid in just 2 channel for both movies and music.

I think you will find that many speakers will be better sounding, especially through the mids and highs. My sonys were boomy and yes they could be powerfull, but they weren't accurate at all. After rewatching TDK and transformers, I can tell you that there was a lot of things missed in the audio. If your wife will let you swing some new speakers, let me know and give me your zipcode, I will find you some places near you where you could hopefully go listen to some great speakers and judge what you like and want to spend.

[primaz]

As others said comparing Sony to Polk you naturally would hear an improvement but Polk is just average in sound quality. I agree that the other brands mentioned sound much better than a Polk and I would add to that list Canton speakers. To me your speakers are where at least 50% of the money should be. The key ones are the mains and the center those should be the same brand or very well matched.

The next shock will be adding a quality sub to the system. I would say that without a sub even great towers are not perfect. I have Canton towers with each speaker having dual 9" woofers with a built in amplifier that sounded great with tight bass and able to go very low. Yet when I added my 12" 350 watt Outlaw Audio Sub to the system it was again the night and day feeling you heard with your Sony vs Polks.

[chaser23]

you have to understand that Sony is not exactly known for their speakers. I'm not saying they are bad or lack what you need but when you hear the word Sony, the first thought in your head wouldn't be speakers. It would be maybe TV, audio equipment, etc, but definitely not speakers. Go for a brand that makes ONLY speakers and you should be okay.

[Squozen]

Yep, if the best that you've heard is your Sonys, there's still a lot of learning to do. Find yourself a real high-end audio store and have a listen to some of the possibilities available to really drain your wallet. I remember walking into one and walking out with a $1000 D/A converter that I never actually got around to using.

[MrRoy]

Originally Posted by Squozen

Yep, if the best that you've heard is your Sonys, there's still a lot of learning to do. Find yourself a real high-end audio store and have a listen to some of the possibilities available to really drain your wallet. I remember walking into one and walking out with a $1000 D/A converter that I never actually got around to using.

This would only lead to trouble.

I know my Sony speakers aren't the best, for for $250 it was the best I could do at the time. I guess I was just surprised at what I heard coming from a small Polk center and $40 towers.

[rded]

Originally Posted by MrRoy

This would only lead to trouble.

I know my Sony speakers aren't the best, for for $250 it was the best I could do at the time. I guess I was just surprised at what I heard coming from a small Polk center and $40 towers.

We all have to start somewhere right?? If indeed you have not reconfigured your room, I noticed on your HT pix that your towers are too close to the rear walls. This could cause the towers to sound boomy,dull and devoid of detail. Try moving them forward by at least a foot and see if it opens up the sound. Sometimes the best upgrade is not buying new stuff and gear but optimization of space and current set up. Which reminds me, I need bass traps bad

[Johnny Vinyl]

Originally Posted by rded

We all have to start somewhere right?? If indeed you have not reconfigured your room, I noticed on your HT pix that your towers are too close to the rear walls. This could cause the towers to sound boomy,dull and devoid of detail. Try moving them forward by at least a foot and see if it opens up the sound. Sometimes the best upgrade is not buying new stuff and gear but optimization of space and current set up. Which reminds me, I need bass traps bad

Well said!

John

[zweet77]

Originally Posted by MrRoy

This would only lead to trouble.

I know my Sony speakers aren't the best, for for $250 it was the best I could do at the time. I guess I was just surprised at what I heard coming from a small Polk center and $40 towers.

Yeah thats the point working your way up I started with a sony htib then went to ssb1000's up front and then I picked up a cs20 and some monitor 50's.While there are better speakers out there Polk speakers can sound amazing if driven and calibrated properly.And at the price you saw for those speakers you saw you will be hard pressed to match that quality.

[MrRoy]

Originally Posted by rded

We all have to start somewhere right?? If indeed you have not reconfigured your room, I noticed on your HT pix that your towers are too close to the rear walls. This could cause the towers to sound boomy,dull and devoid of detail. Try moving them forward by at least a foot and see if it opens up the sound. Sometimes the best upgrade is not buying new stuff and gear but optimization of space and current set up. Which reminds me, I need bass traps bad

I just moved my towers forward a foot. I will see how it goes.

[MrRoy]

So, moving the speakers made a difference, even my wife noticed it. Good recommendation.

[rded]

Told you so!

[richteer]

Originally Posted by MrRoy

So, moving the speakers made a difference, even my wife noticed it. Good recommendation.

It's nice when a cheap (or in this case, free) tweek works. :-) Now you know I (and others) usually recommend pulling the speakers away from the walls. I can't believe how many system photos are posted here with quite nice gear, but the speakers are right against the wall completely ruining the sound. I mean, if you're gonna spend a few hundred (or in some lunatics' cases (*ahem*), a few thousand!) on a pair of speakers, you might as well place them as well as you can to get your money's worth!

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by richteer

It's nice when a cheap (or in this case, free) tweek works. :-) Now you know I (and others) usually recommend pulling the speakers away from the walls. I can't believe how many system photos are posted here with quite nice gear, but the speakers are right against the wall completely ruining the sound. I mean, if you're gonna spend a few hundred (or in some lunatics' cases (*ahem*), a few thousand!) on a pair of speakers, you might as well place them as well as you can to get your money's worth!

This is not such a FREE tweak. I know of a Lunatic Case person who lives close to Lake Okanagan and spent a few thousand dollars on a pair of Martin Logan speakers. If he tries to move those monsters as often as I have moved my speakers and subwoofers, he will have permanent back injury that will haunt him for the rest of his life.

[Drew664]

Does pulling a speaker away from the wall matter more or less if the speaker is front ported?

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by Drew664

Does pulling a speaker away from the wall matter more or less if the speaker is front ported?

Yes it does. If you want to hear the speakers more than the room and are in interested in more detail than boom, always move speakers a couple of feet away from the wall. This is also true about subwoofers. When a subwoofer is too close to the wall or a corner, it becomes too boomy and tiresome.

[richteer]

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

This is not such a FREE tweak. I know of a Lunatic Case person who lives close to Lake Okanagan and spent a few thousand dollars on a pair of Martin Logan speakers. If he tries to move those monsters as often as I have moved my speakers and subwoofers, he will have permanent back injury that will haunt him for the rest of his life.

I know that lunatic too! He tells me that his MartinLogans aren't as heavy as they look, so they're quite easy to move round. Apart from the base (which is about the same size as a case of wine), there's almost nothing to them. :-)

[richteer]

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

Yes it does. If you want to hear the speakers more than the room and are in interested in more detail than boom, always move speakers a couple of feet away from the wall. This is also true about subwoofers. When a subwoofer is too close to the wall or a corner, it becomes too boomy and tiresome.

+1 QFT!