New Mains...HELP

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  • 07-02-2006, 04:47 AM
    likeitloud
    New Mains...HELP
    I've scraped together around $800 to spend on new mains for my H/T set up. The
    vintage monitors I have a good for music, but were never meant for H/T. They will go
    to a vintage system(stereo) next year. Being a member here for a couple months
    now, I've seen 4 speaker brands over and over, and though I've never heard them,
    they must be highly regarded; I've seen these within my budget;
    Paradigm Ref Studio 40
    Axiom 705
    B+W 805S
    PSB Image B25
    The following I have heard, and are on my list;
    Polk RTi6(Good soundstage)
    Athena AS-B2.2(Alittle "piercing" or overdone on the high side) but not bad.
    Wharfendale EV08 Monitor(Very Good)
    And a company I've not seen mentioned, I checked these out at magnolia audio, and
    they sound and look excellent, Any background on these would be helpful;
    Monitor Audio Silver Series RS1
    As we know, there's a ton of choices out there, it can get crazy. I'm glad I'm a member
    here to get the info needed. I'd like to "cut" this list to 4, and then we'll go for it. TKS
    FYI, The system has a SUB :13:
  • 07-02-2006, 06:31 AM
    shokhead
    Axzioms M50's are nice and the Polk RTi8 are nice. You should get a lot for 800. You could go Axiom M22 for mains and M3 and have your matching surrounds since you have a sub. Sweet setup. Just a center when you can.
  • 07-02-2006, 07:23 AM
    Florian
    I would move into a entirely different quality range by buying used. Here we go on the Flo Train to Musicville ;-)

    Anyways, i have no affiliation with the seller but did take 1hr of my time looking through Audiogon for ya-

    Listed not necesseraly in order

    Soliloquy 5.3 maple color
    http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls....ull&1156646002

    Dali Suite 2.8 full range
    http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls....ull&1156463044

    Swan Diva 6.1
    http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls....ull&1156344777

    Totem Staff
    http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls....ull&1156249565

    Snell acoustics C/V
    http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls....ull&1155655867

    Klipsch RF5
    http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls....ull&1155624096

    Thiel CS 3.5
    http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls....ull&1155487270

    Paradigm Studio 60 V2
    http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls....ull&1155412722

    Tannoy Saturn S8
    http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls....ull&1155332669

    Jm lab Cobalt 810
    http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls....ull&1154792768

    Apogee Slant 8
    http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls....lan&1156713038

    My recommendations are obviously for the Apogee (altoug you will want better electronics in the long run with them. My other choices would be the Thiel, Klipsch, Totems, Snell and Dali......

    Have fun

    :-)

    Addon: Actually i just looked into your equipment list, and IF you do buy something based on my recommendation your next step will be to upgrade the electronics. In that sense, dont buy the Apogee as there is no way they will even show 40% of what they can do on your current electronics. Its not ment in a bad way, but i dont think it would be a good match yet. You may wanna be carefull on the Thiels, Dali and Tannoys too since they are high in resolution.
  • 07-02-2006, 07:56 AM
    likeitloud
    Yea, since I am always on a budget (new baby, "family car"(yuck) for said kid), my
    hobbie has to kept low key for awhile. All my gear is used, or aleast a year old. I do
    need to improve the speaker issue. I'm gonna go thru your list, and see how things
    match, thanks for investing your time, thats why I love this place. Shok..thks, I am
    gonna give the polks another listen today, with some tunes I play alot.

    Pioneer VSX1015TX
    JBL Northridge E150 Powered Sub
    JBL 4410A Studio Monitors(Front)...Making A Change Soon.
    JBL Northridge E30(Surrounds)
    JBL Cinema Vison CVCEN50 Center
    JBL Northridge Satellites(Back Channel)
    Pioneer Elite DV45A DVDA/SACD
    Panasonic DVD F86K
    Sony RCD W500C CD PLAYER/REC
    AR Interconnects
    Cobalt 14G Wire
    Sanus Stands
    XBOX 360 (Just Added)

    As Long As My Brain And Fingers Work, I'm Cool...Edward Van Halen
  • 07-02-2006, 09:12 AM
    Florian
    How can i put this delicately, the speakers i posted a "different" then any Polks. They are a step above them, and i suggest that you go out to a High End store and a listen to some Tannoys, Thiels etc... now they will be way above your budget BUT, not too much used if you get lucky ;-)
  • 07-02-2006, 11:31 PM
    likeitloud
    Flo, thanks for the info, I looked at tannoy's when I started thinking about a change,
    but thought they were way out of reach, but I really like there precision 8 speaker, and
    at around $500 each, it's doable, I'm gonna look around for some used ones. Also,
    just an observation, Europe, really has some good looking, and sounding speaker
    companies out there, and canada for that matter. The quality in workmanship is
    way above U.S brands(That I have seen). With out being able to listen, to every
    speaker out there, I look at fit and finish of the cabinet, driver mounting, etc. I mean,
    for the most part it's not close. Thanks for the help (as usual).:)