Floorstanding for around $600?

[soundslike]

Looking for help finding a good pair of floorstanding speakers for around $600 bucks. I have a Pioneer Elite vsx-21 reciever and a philips 963SA dvdplayer. Gave away (thus the budget) my bose (horrible sound) to my parents. I know that champagne sound is unrealistic in this price range (or is it?) so I am looking for micro-brewed beer sound on a pabst blue ribbon budget. Mostly for music (I want to take advantage of the 963's 192 bit upsampling) with a dvd or or two on the weekends. Probably won't buy sub, will buy center channel. Want I want out of speaker? Listen to a mix of music that leans towards jazz. Want soundstage, the ability to pick apart instruments (example:want to hear Boyd Tinsley's violin seperate from Dave Matthews guitar during jams). Done a bit of searching, leaning towards axiom m50 ti or athena as-f2 based of reviews on this site. Tested similiar offerings from klipsch and infinity and the sounded horrible. Any suggestions, recommendations, or deals would help.

[psonic]

My freind your off to a good start in audiophile land if you have such a budget. I strongly caution you against internet speakers and all the rave reviews you see for them. See they have to have these reviews so to survive as a company so for all we know many of them could be produced by the company itself. Many Axiom owners compare them to speakers like the Paradigm Titan and Monitor series...these are at best mediocre; you can do much better for $600. See, ALL speakers have good reviews, so reviews are somewhat meaningless. You have to listen yourself. Look for reviews on $50 speakers you'll see good ones, etc. Shop your local hifi shops and listen to what is in your price range, and as many as possible. Also listen to speakers costing $1k-2k, this can give you a good reference to judge the others by.

Now for my recommendation, see if there's an Energy dealer in your area...you won't be dissapointed...the C-5 with a with the excellent 1" aluminum tweeter and dual 6.5in woofers goes for $599-699 depending on the dealer, call a few and go audtition if they perhaps have a display model you can get for <$500, they may even negotiate down close to that for an in-box pair. There are also some online vendors that I've seen selling them under $500 on ebay from time to time. I have spent considerable time with that speaker, it is a steal in that price range. A subwoofer is not required w/ this speaker as you'll see in the reviews below, it has very good bass extension. Enjoy and listen to as many speakers as you can before deciding...and again be very cautious with speakers you cannot listen to first against other speakers.

http://www.energyloudspeakers.com/c...akers1_c-5.html

http://www.energyloudspeakers.com/p...ur_reviews.html

http://www.energy-speakers.com/deal...er_locator.html

[JSE]

I would second the C-5 from Energy. I auditioned them a little over a year ago and was very impressed. I think the asking price was $650 when I listened to them. You should be able to find them for $600.

Also, you might consider Vandersteen's 1C. They are about $750 new and would work well with Jazz. Some people don't like the Vandy sound but I found it very detailed. However, they do not have the same bass extention like the Energy C-5.

Take your time and look around but definitely go listen to the Energy. The Athens AS-F2 is also a very nice speaker for the money. You can't go wrong with either.

JSE

[ericl]

I had the image 4t for a while, nice speaker. I'm thinking of putting together a surround sound system with the image line,

-Eric

[soundslike]

Thanks guys for the tips on energy c-5s. Unfortunatley the closest energy dealer is 280 miles away (figures)! i've gone through and tested everything at circuit city, best buy, and ultimate electronics. The only thing I have heard in my range that I liked was the athenas and one of the bipolar models from def tech. I've got one true hi-fi store left to shop. Its really frustrating trying to find a balanced speaker in this range. Thanks also for the reminder about online companies posting reviews, was not sure if much of that happened on this site.

[chimera128]

I like the Energy speakers as well (listened to a few before I got my current speakers but can't remember the model numbers). If you like the sound of Definitive Technology speakers you should be able to get the BP10Bs for around the price range you are looking at. I got the ones I use for surrounds for $660. They have enough performance in the bass department where you could hold off on a sub for a while. I used them for mains while I lived in an apartment (neighbors weren't very happy with me =D) and they handily outperformed my satellite/sub combo I was using before on both movie and music reproduction (I was using a Promonitor100/prosub100tl combo). If you go for a listen make sure they have the speakers set to "LARGE" otherwise they won't reproduce as much as they can. The best way to negotiate on the speakers is to find a store that isn't a chain like Ultimate Electronics. They are (usually) more willing to move on speaker prices. I know Ultimate Electronics usually runs a 10% add off of DefTech products so you could use that as a starting point for your negotiations.

[laspino]

My freind your off to a good start in audiophile land if you have such a budget. I strongly caution you against internet speakers and all the rave reviews you see for them. See they have to have these reviews so to survive as a company so for all we know many of them could be produced by the company itself. Many Axiom owners compare them to speakers like the Paradigm Titan and Monitor series...these are at best mediocre; you can do much better for $600.

This is just an incorrect statement. I own ACI Sapphires and they're very fine speakers, strongly supported by their company and excellent value for the money. You're doing audio newbies a terrible disservice by spewing this garbage.

Anyone who does due diligence will be able to find some excellent bargains via internet sales and be allowed a decent time to review them at home.

My own recommendations for $600 are to get a pass on floorstanders and get a pair of bookshelves like Quad 11Ls or ACI Emeralds. If you must have floorstanders I'd look at something by Wharfedale Pac-Evos, PSB, Paradigm or Infinity. Good luck.

[ToddB]

You might also want to look into the Ascend Acoustics bookshelf speakers. They're a mail order company, and they offer a 30-day trial period.

[psonic]

This is always an inexpensive option for you, JBL Northridge E80 3-Way floorstander $150 p/spk. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...696047-0849757

I have not heard them, though.

[psonic]

This is just an incorrect statement. I own ACI Sapphires and they're very fine speakers, strongly supported by their company and excellent value for the money. You're doing audio newbies a terrible disservice by spewing this garbage.

Anyone who does due diligence will be able to find some excellent bargains via internet sales and be allowed a decent time to review them at home.

My own recommendations for $600 are to get a pass on floorstanders and get a pair of bookshelves like Quad 11Ls or ACI Emeralds. If you must have floorstanders I'd look at something by Wharfedale Pac-Evos, PSB, Paradigm or Infinity. Good luck.

Bargains? There are bargains at circuit city! Why buy something you cannot listen to and compare to good sounding speakers in a shop? The axioms have gotten good reviews on this site and a few others. What is the relative value of these reviews when not compared to Energy, Dynaudio, B&W? They are simply ordered and joe consumer is happy. Would you think joe consumer, who buys them, is happy and gives a good review is a discerning and experienced audiophile? One who bought them because they are better than Energy, Dynaudio, B&W? I would venture to say the average Axiom owner ordered them based on money back gaurantee and all the good reviews. And with little else to go by, except maybe hearing some inept best buy speakers, was happy and kept them plugged into his receiver.

The fact is, these internet bargains really aren't all the bargain they seem like. Look around at local shops and there are good speakers priced right near or below the Axioms. Most of the names we have offered have a model to compete with each model in Axioms line.

So if you can take the same $600 locally and compare equivalent models from Energy, Kef etc., is it a great bargain anymore to buy unheard from the internet? I don't think so...

And go through all the reviews as I have (Axiom), because I was curious too, when I was shopping for a floorstander. I wound up listening for a month or so everywhere I could go, ended up buying used Dynaudio Audience 60's. Point is the reviews make comparisons to speakers like Paradigm monitor series, which I feel is a weak speaker with all there is to offer out there.

I have nothing against auditioning them at home if you can afford to ship them back to Canada, or auditioning at a local owners home - if you can by all means do it. My whole thing is go out and listen to as much as you can, including some expensive reference speakers (to give you a measuring stick), and be very cautious with reviews as most all speakers have good reviews and that these reviews are relative to who is buying them only. I.E., home theater joe (who has seen nothing but best buy stuff) buying his Axiom or Infinity for movie affects, and who is very happy with them does not mean I will be happy with them in my 2ch stereo setup under careful scrutiny. Buy what sounds the best, the speakers will be around to reward you for a long time.

I also wanted to add to the original poster - you may want to add Dynaudio to your list, the 60 / 62 is excellent and is commonly seen on audiogon.com for under $600. You can listen to them first if a Dynaudio dealer is nearby. This is a world-class speaker... it is a bassy floorstander that do a small / medium room without a sub. It performs closer to speakers costing $2k, than those costing its list of $1200. Just an Idea...others around here like speakers I have not had opportunity to hear such as Magnepan, Von Schwiekert, and Audio Note. Point is you may be able to get a more expensive speaker used. There is a lot you can do with $600 these days in used HIFI, take your time...

[laspino]

Bargains? There are bargains at circuit city! Why buy something you cannot listen to and compare to good sounding speakers in a shop? [snip other commentary]

You missed the point by a mile. If price points and not quality AND price were the goal then CC would suffice. Your words were that you'd warn anyone against internet speakers and the reviews for them. I've explained you can order most of these speakers- Axiom, ACI, Onix, Taylors etc for at home trials. In addition the quality of service, drivers etc can be verified via discussions with users on several forums on the 'net- which is what I did. Due diligence.

The fact is, these internet bargains really aren't all the bargain they seem like. Look around at local shops and there are good speakers priced right near or below the Axioms. Most of the names we have offered have a model to compete with each model in Axioms line.

You're fixated on Axioms while my remarks were more general. My ACI Sapphires have Vifa 7" woofers, Scan Speak tweeters and a excellently crafted cabinets. They retailed for 1200 at the time. Any retail purchased speaker with similar drivers, cabinets etc., would- even with discounts- not be touched for much under $2000. Compare similar quality built Totems and B&W 805s [I was] and the ACI's are wonderfully priced bargains which match the Totems and outperform the B&Ws. I also own Quad 12Ls bought through a retailer at a steep discount [demos] for $600. A great deal indeed, but demos aren't a dime a dozen.

So if you can take the same $600 locally and compare equivalent models from Energy, Kef etc., is it a great bargain anymore to buy unheard from the internet? I don't think so...[snip other commentary]

Of course you might find some EQUIVALENTLY decent Energy's or KEF's, but you'll have to look, and the dealer will be selling them at cost or loss. That's the nature of the economics of electronics. Energy, KEF etc., have a middle-man, transporation costs, inventory fees and mark ups that direct orders like Axiom do not have. I live a major metro area, DC. Even here finding Energy's or KEF's at a hefty discount ain't easy. ACI Emeralds, which got me buying from ACI, were internet priced at $700. Small two way monitors which would outperform my fine Quads. Taylors, ACIs, Onix, etc; Again you're doing a great disservice to anyone by 'scaring' them away from internet speakers.

[RGA]

There are no real advantages to buying from internet only companies - B&W and Paradigm etc may have a middle man - but they also build in far far higher quantities which more than makes up for a small guy cutting out the middle man. BUT, those companies don't make up for it becuase they also spend multi millions in advertising and becuase it's solely about turning a buck they want to use the cheapest possible parts they can humanly get away with.

I would certainly take a chance on Internet companies if I didn't have to pay for shipping - I mean absolutely ZERO cost to me - often you have to pay shipping one way - BACK if you don't like them.

Axiom is often compared to Paradigm - That to me isn't a particularly good thing unless you like Paradigm - if you do Axiom is a lot cheaper - so go for it. That is all you really need - if a LOT of people indicate that a specific Internet speaker sounds a lot like X brand available in stores - and you LOVE X brand but it's too much - maybe you make the gamble.

Lots of speakers use excellent drivers and cabinets and don;t sound very good. The original Snells are considered by many to be some of the best spekaers ever built and use crappy drivers and cheap cabinets - and they charged a LOT of money back then for them - but it was the overall design that won the day and Snell managed to stay in business all these years(with worse speakers since). Even though "since" they use much better drivers parts and cabinetry.

[brigrizzme]

Ears are like eyes, they're all different. Your ears are better than mine. Here are my suggestions:

I would strongly avoid buying anything available at Best Buy, Circuit City, etc. You do not want your speakers to mask your music. On Audiogon you can find vintage Rogers speakers around your price range. I also recommend Spendor.... and of course Magnepan.

[bboy1234]

One Word!!!!!!!! ATHENA