Anybody here have opinion on home theatre speakers?

[Time2Kill]

I'm building a new house and we are having a small theatre room built in. It will have a 108" screen with a sony projector, but for the audio end of it, the guy is trying to convince me to use all acoustic research crap. For the front speakers, he wants to use AR1 free standing speakers, some AR center channel, and AR in wall speakers in the rear...Is this guy smoking crack or what? I'm figuring that this setup would suck ass.

Can somebody recommend some REAL home theatre speakers and some good subwoofers?

 

[N8Magic]

How much do you want to spend? What kind of setup? (6.1 or 5.1 or more?)

 

[Time2Kill]

<< How much do you want to spend? What kind of setup? (6.1 or 5.1 or more?) >>



It's wired for 6.1

Anywheres from 1500 to 3500 per free standing speaker....then I have a cubby hole under the screen that will house a 15inch subwoofer, and I would also need center channels

 

[N8Magic]

In terms of 15" subs, I personally have a Paradigm Servo 15, and it absolutely ROCKS the house and is very accurate for a sub of it's size. Texmaster can also attest to the greatness of this sub, as he has one as well. The only subwoofer I have heard that compares is the Sunfire True Subwoofer Signature.

As for the rest of the speakers, Martin Logan electrostatics are the BEST speakers I have ever heard. EVER. -----> EVER. <----- But, if you decide to get them, they take a lot of juice and will expose shoddy amplifiers.

 

[Cattlegod]

I like these by Klipsch ( i've never heard them just read specs etc. )
front speakers RF-7
sub RSW-12

they have some other versions there too.

 

[Adul]

dont buy bose.

 

[Deeko]

A friend of mine has a Mirage setup. Front speakers I know are about 3 grand a piece. That system is freakin nice...destroys my Infinity IL40's. I've also heard very good things about Paradigm.

 

[bizmark]

<< In terms of 15" subs, I personally have a Paradigm Servo 15, and it absolutely ROCKS the house and is very accurate for a sub of it's size. Texmaster can also attest to the greatness of this sub, as he has one as well. The only subwoofer I have heard that compares is the Sunfire True Subwoofer Signature.

As for the rest of the speakers, Martin Logan electrostatics are the BEST speakers I have ever heard. EVER. -----> EVER. <----- But, if you decide to get them, they take a lot of juice and will expose shoddy amplifiers. >>



no doubt Martin Logans kick ass and basically define everything that a speaker should be, but I don't think that they're ideal for home theater purposes. I would go with Paradigm, Atlantic Technology, B&W, M&K, Definitive, Legacy Audio...... IMO you *need* cone-based systems for home theater, not electrostatics. Then again, Martin Logan has recently come out with some designed for home theater --maybe they're great -- I've never experienced them in a home theater setup. It'd definitely be a 'different' sound though, and one that's probably not what the producer had in mind when mixing a movie soundtrack.

Also I don't think that the AR speakers are that bad. They're a lot cheaper than you're looking for, but I know that I personally would be more than happy with them, given my current financial status .

 

[yakko]

<< Anybody here have opinion on home theatre speakers? >>

Yes.

 

[Time2Kill]

<<

<< Anybody here have opinion on home theatre speakers? >>

Yes. >>



Care to share it?

 

[BDawg]

<< As for the rest of the speakers, Martin Logan electrostatics are the BEST speakers I have ever heard. EVER. -----> EVER. <----- But, if you decide to get them, they take a lot of juice and will expose shoddy amplifiers. >>



IMHO, if you're willing to get something that big, go after some Magnepans.

I have some Klipsches and I love them, but I think my next speakers will be Thiels.

 

[Mookow]

<<

<<

<< Anybody here have opinion on home theatre speakers? >>

Yes. >>



Care to share it? >>



nah, he just wants to nef

 

[mikebb]

My favs(in that $ range, for mains (just get matching surrounds/center)):

B&W Nautilus 804 or 803
Paradigm Reference Studio 100
Martin Logan Aerius or Ascent

 

[BeHeMOTH]

I don't know what your taste's are but my AR setup is sweet, they sound great better than JBL, Infinty, or polk and half the price. IMHO Seeing as your going to spend a S*%& load for them go all out Paradigm sub and god know's what else for 7k a pair?.

3K bought my whole setup and I can't even turn it up1/4 with out shaking my room and it's 15'x15' foot room in 5.1.


Just wondering from your post, have your ever heard AR's speakers? Their not BOSE.

 

[ATLien247]

<< It's wired for 6.1

Anywheres from 1500 to 3500 per free standing speaker....then I have a cubby hole under the screen that will house a 15inch subwoofer, and I would also need center channels >>



From $1500 to $3500 per speaker?! Man, I wish I had that much cash to throw around...

 

[GasX]

If you spend ANY time at AVS Forums you will read much about the Divas by Swans. Don't buy ANYTHING until you check them out.

The drooling starts here!

 

[Texmaster]

<< In terms of 15" subs, I personally have a Paradigm Servo 15, and it absolutely ROCKS the house and is very accurate for a sub of it's size. Texmaster can also attest to the greatness of this sub, as he has one as well. The only subwoofer I have heard that compares is the Sunfire True Subwoofer Signature.

As for the rest of the speakers, Martin Logan electrostatics are the BEST speakers I have ever heard. EVER. -----> EVER. <----- But, if you decide to get them, they take a lot of juice and will expose shoddy amplifiers. >>



Paradigms are GREATNESS N8Magic speaks only the truth

Souds like you are willing to spend the mula so I would highly recommend the Paradigm Reference Series. The 2 fronts of course being Studio 100s (1800 a pair)

B&W is also a great speaker with more emphasis on the lows than the highs in Paradigm.

Depending on your tastes, either of these speaker companies make an outstanding home threatre setup.

Legacy Audio is another outstanding company for speakers but they can really get up there, easily hitting 5000 a pair.

 

[Texmaster]

<< dont buy bose. >>



AMEN to that!

 

[ATLien247]

<< If you spend ANY time at AVS Forums you will read much about the Divas by Swans. Don't buy ANYTHING until you check them out.

The drooling starts here! >>



I was going to mention the Divas (on my own wish list), but then I noticed the guy's budget. Although Divas sound totally awesome for how much they cost, he can afford a better speaker. I would look at Martin Logan, Magnepan, Thiel, or B&W.

As far as subs, I've been personally considering SVS. A lot of buzz about these bad boys...

 

[Underclocked]

I have the Paradigm Reference 100s and a nice Paradigm center channel, Polk LS/FX for surrounds. Frankly, I'm not that impressed with the Paradigms but I think my room has problems. NO speaker seems to sound that good in that room. Too much fabric maybe. Then again, my hearing has gone - especially on the highs - isn't that great!!

Whut?

Hadn't seen those Divas before as I've been out of the loop in the stereo world for awhile. Nice looking speakers that seem to me to have borrowed from B&W designs. B&Ws are hard to beat IMHO.

Anyone have any of the speakers from Legacy Audio?

 

[Texmaster]

<< I have the Paradigm Reference 100s and a nice Paradigm center channel, Polk LS/FX for surrounds. Frankly, I'm not that impressed with the Paradigms but I think my room has problems. NO speaker seems to sound that good in that room. Too much fabric maybe. Then again, my hearing has gone - especially on the highs - isn't that great!!

Whut?

Hadn't seen those Divas before as I've been out of the loop in the stereo world for awhile. Nice looking speakers that seem to me to have borrowed from B&W designs. B&Ws are hard to beat IMHO.

Anyone have any of the speakers from Legacy Audio? >>



Wow thats interesting. I know speakers can be subjective but I LOVE my studio 100s. What kind of AMP do you have?

I agree with you about the room. That can make all the difference.

And Legacy ROCKS! But they are heavy on the wallet.

 

[Underclocked]

I've ran them from an Acurus 200x3 and currently have them running from a Carver 35x. About all my stuff does now is gather dust. Spend to much time on this PC to do much listening. The hearing loss truly sucks and that is probably the real reason for my less than stellar opinion of the Paradigms.
My son-in-law (one of them) has some Polk RT16 towers that I used to own. When I hear them they seem more enjoyable than the Paradigms. That has to be because they are brighter and compensate a bit for my hearing problems.

 

[Texmaster]

<< I've ran them from an Acurus 200x3 and currently have them running from a Carver 35x. About all my stuff does now is gather dust. Spend to much time on this PC to do much listening. The hearing loss truly sucks and that is probably the real reason for my less than stellar opinion of the Paradigms.
My son-in-law (one of them) has some Polk RT16 towers that I used to own. When I hear them they seem more enjoyable than the Paradigms. That has to be because they are brighter and compensate a bit for my hearing problems. >>



Well Carver makes great stuff. To each his own but if you want to sell them I'm sure you can get a good price

 

[EvilYoda]

Another suggestion for the Paradigm Studio line, the 100's would be amazing, and if you have that much money to throw around, definitely consider what other people have said, MARTIN LOGANS, B&W's, whatnot. Also, I guess with your setup that dual SVS's are out of the question? Darn.

You might to ask around hometheaterforum.com, as I've found them very kind and knowledgable. You can also find a lot of good things in their FS forum....maybe a nice tempest sub for your "cubby hole"

 

[Raincity]

If you have that much money to throw around, why are you only wiring for 6.1 ? There is alot of 7.1 media coming down the pike in the next few months. Personally I would be happy with some Swans or Paradigm ref's all around and two SVS's or maybee two Sonotubes in a private theater room. I would only go for Martins, Thiel, in a living room home theater where SACD/DVDA media would be involved also. Theater rooms are not the ideal location to listen to two channel or SACD/DVDA media after the sound treatments are applied to the theater walls. Also why Sony for the projector ? There are alot of better projectors out there than Sony my friend. Also who do you have coming out to do the ISF for you ?

Rain