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Best (floorstanding) speaker brand for home theatre system?
- Thread starter JMorton6
- Start date
I'm liking the look (and reviews) of these ones:
http://www.polkaudio.com/homeaudio/floorstanding.php#vm
http://www.polkaudio.com/homeaudio/floorstanding.php#vm
slashbinslashbash
Golden Member
Hard to get much better than the Paradigms you have. B&W is a standard choice, or if you're looking for something completely different, Martin Logan. But if I were in your shoes, I would just buy more Paradigms to fill out the set. If you want better low-frequency extension in your fronts, buy a pair of Monitor 11's for the fronts and use the 7's for the surrounds.
In the end, room response characteristics will overwhelm any colorations that come from the speakers. What really differentiates speakers are low-end frequency response, power handling, and efficiency. (I.e., how low they will go, and how loud they will go without distorting.) As long as they are competently designed and built, with high-quality components, there is little difference between full-range tower-style speakers. Sure, they may sound different -- they will all have their characteristic peaks and troughs, and a few timbral characteristics based on driver choices -- but assuming that they test at +/- 2dB from 54Hz to 20000Hz in an anechoic chamber (the specs for the Monitor 7's as listed on Paradigm's site), you will be extremely lucky, after processing and correction, to get +/- 6dB in that same range in an actual real-life room with furniture, floors, walls, ceilings, etc., and where you are actually sitting a realistic distance from the speakers. So don't sweat it too much 🙂
In the end, room response characteristics will overwhelm any colorations that come from the speakers. What really differentiates speakers are low-end frequency response, power handling, and efficiency. (I.e., how low they will go, and how loud they will go without distorting.) As long as they are competently designed and built, with high-quality components, there is little difference between full-range tower-style speakers. Sure, they may sound different -- they will all have their characteristic peaks and troughs, and a few timbral characteristics based on driver choices -- but assuming that they test at +/- 2dB from 54Hz to 20000Hz in an anechoic chamber (the specs for the Monitor 7's as listed on Paradigm's site), you will be extremely lucky, after processing and correction, to get +/- 6dB in that same range in an actual real-life room with furniture, floors, walls, ceilings, etc., and where you are actually sitting a realistic distance from the speakers. So don't sweat it too much 🙂
'Best' depends on a lot of different options: price, room size/layout/characteristics, your own ears
Best thing to do is to go audition speakers. For example - I don't like Polk or Klipsch speakers. Does that mean they are bad? Not necessarily. I really really like PSB speakers. Does that mean you will? No. (Although I would definately recommend a listen 😀)
A lot of Internet Direct stores will let you do free in home trials on speakers as well
Best thing to do is to go audition speakers. For example - I don't like Polk or Klipsch speakers. Does that mean they are bad? Not necessarily. I really really like PSB speakers. Does that mean you will? No. (Although I would definately recommend a listen 😀)
A lot of Internet Direct stores will let you do free in home trials on speakers as well
richardycc
Diamond Member
if you like the Paradigm Monitors, check out their Studio or Signature series. If you want to try a diff brand, check out B&W, Focal or PSB. Polk or Klipsch would be a downgrade, IMHO.
Drako
Lifer
Last edited:
Chapbass
Diamond Member
All depends on price range. Klipsch Ultra II's for example, not a downgrade IMO...Synergy series on the other hand....
Fallen Kell
Diamond Member
Depends on what Polk line you are looking at. Still not much out there that can touch 2 or 3 pairs of Polk SDA CRS+ or SDA 2.3 plus 2 pair CRS+....
alcoholbob
Diamond Member
Those Polks are definitely a step down. NHT Classic is another line that you might want to consider. They excel at home theater with their very linear dispersion.
Hayabusa Rider
Admin Emeritus & Elite Member
We really need more information. Imagine that I asked "what is the best car?" To give an intelligent answer you would have to know how many people would be riding, if you would be hauling things etc.
So...
What is your budget? What receiver or amp will be driving them? How big is the room? Are you able and willing to build your own? You will get thousand dollar performance for a couple hundred if you go that route.
The more you tell us the better the suggestions we can offer.
So...
What is your budget? What receiver or amp will be driving them? How big is the room? Are you able and willing to build your own? You will get thousand dollar performance for a couple hundred if you go that route.
The more you tell us the better the suggestions we can offer.
Hayabusa Rider
Admin Emeritus & Elite Member
We really need more information. Imagine that I asked "what is the best car?" To give an intelligent answer you would have to know how many people would be riding, if you would be hauling things etc.
So...
What is your budget? What receiver or amp will be driving them? How big is the room? Are you able and willing to build your own? You will get thousand dollar performance for a couple hundred if you go that route.
The more you tell us the better the suggestions we can offer.
So...
What is your budget? What receiver or amp will be driving them? How big is the room? Are you able and willing to build your own? You will get thousand dollar performance for a couple hundred if you go that route.
The more you tell us the better the suggestions we can offer.
Aharami
Lifer
which DIY speakers do you recommend? vi_edit told me about GR Research and I've been considering them. Apparently the guy behind it - Danny, is a very good speaker/network designer and was one of the guys behind many of av123's designs (or so I'm told). I've been considering them since I find people speaking very highly of Danny's speaker designs at their audiocircle forum. But I'd love to know of other DIY options as well.
Pghpooh
Senior member
Everyone has their own personal choice. I like these. http://www.ohmspeakers.com/productline.cfm
I bought a set of Micro Walsh Talls 6 years ago, added the center ch. and the big ole 12 inch sub woofer.
To me the sound is open, clear with no sense of where it is coming from. Meaning not directional like speakers with front firing tweeters that fade off as you move around.
The sub woofer is a mere 125 watts rms. I think it is a class "a" amp that drives it and the entire back of the speaker is all heat sink!! I like my bass and lows to be soft with a nice roll off. When the special effects of a movie kick in the speaker can put out spl's that will knock the china off of the stand in the dining room!!!
These speakers are going at least 8 to 10 hours a day without a problem.
Ohm has been around for decades! I know 2 so called experts who write articles on audio and one has a weekly column nationwide and they both own Ohm speakers. They also rate Peraidgm very high.
(just my 2 cents here)
I bought a set of Micro Walsh Talls 6 years ago, added the center ch. and the big ole 12 inch sub woofer.
To me the sound is open, clear with no sense of where it is coming from. Meaning not directional like speakers with front firing tweeters that fade off as you move around.
The sub woofer is a mere 125 watts rms. I think it is a class "a" amp that drives it and the entire back of the speaker is all heat sink!! I like my bass and lows to be soft with a nice roll off. When the special effects of a movie kick in the speaker can put out spl's that will knock the china off of the stand in the dining room!!!
These speakers are going at least 8 to 10 hours a day without a problem.
Ohm has been around for decades! I know 2 so called experts who write articles on audio and one has a weekly column nationwide and they both own Ohm speakers. They also rate Peraidgm very high.
(just my 2 cents here)
alcoholbob
Diamond Member
Danny likes "warm speakers" with a upper bass tilt--he calls that the "power band". If that's your cup of tea then they are a good match.
alkemyst
No Lifer
Klipsch IMHO make some of the best speakers and their older lineups offer great value.
I picked up a set of Quartets and an Academy back in 1997. Prior to that I had new Definitive Technology BP20's. CLR1000 and BP10's.
I like the sound of the Klipsch better. They make real theatre gear as well.
You can get a set of Quartets for $300 (shipping is a bitch though as they weigh a lot)..the Forte II and Chorus II are even nicer (but the Chorus approachs 89lbs each and are mammoth). The Reference line up is really nice too and more 'modern' looking.
Plus they are extremely efficient.
Check out community.klipsch.com
I picked up a set of Quartets and an Academy back in 1997. Prior to that I had new Definitive Technology BP20's. CLR1000 and BP10's.
I like the sound of the Klipsch better. They make real theatre gear as well.
You can get a set of Quartets for $300 (shipping is a bitch though as they weigh a lot)..the Forte II and Chorus II are even nicer (but the Chorus approachs 89lbs each and are mammoth). The Reference line up is really nice too and more 'modern' looking.
Plus they are extremely efficient.
Check out community.klipsch.com
alkemyst
No Lifer
The Icon's aren't mentioned much on Klipsch forums though...I think that was there break to get into Magnolia @ Best Buy.
My dad was looking at the RTi Polks since they are changing over to a new line just using better cabinets and the same speakers/electronics.
He ended up doing a set of Black Klipsch Chorus II's and an Academy. The Chorus II's we picked up locally. The Academy and then a second one in Oiled Oak that better matched his entertainment center came from Klipsch forums and ebay...
Not counting the extra speaker now he is in under $1000. The sound is just awesome. He was sold on my lesser Quartet/Academy setup, but my room is a closed 20x16x7 his is much more gigantic / open floor plan and with 10 or 12' ceilings.
My dad was looking at the RTi Polks since they are changing over to a new line just using better cabinets and the same speakers/electronics.
He ended up doing a set of Black Klipsch Chorus II's and an Academy. The Chorus II's we picked up locally. The Academy and then a second one in Oiled Oak that better matched his entertainment center came from Klipsch forums and ebay...
Not counting the extra speaker now he is in under $1000. The sound is just awesome. He was sold on my lesser Quartet/Academy setup, but my room is a closed 20x16x7 his is much more gigantic / open floor plan and with 10 or 12' ceilings.
cheesehead
Lifer
I don't like Klipsch products. While waveguide/horn tweeters can be very good, from what I've heard, the ones Klipsch makes just aren't that great. While they do offer the potential for enormous SPL, they're very tricky to do properly, and newer designs can work much better.
That said, if you want a superior alternative to the Klipsch stuff, consider Earl Geddes' designs. They're big, they're expensive, and they're honestly not that pretty, but they do measure very, very well - and can produce more sound than just about anything else.
http://www.enjoythemusic.com/diy/0309/gedlee_abbey.htm
Or you could take a look into the speakers I'm selling. 😀
That said, if you want a superior alternative to the Klipsch stuff, consider Earl Geddes' designs. They're big, they're expensive, and they're honestly not that pretty, but they do measure very, very well - and can produce more sound than just about anything else.
http://www.enjoythemusic.com/diy/0309/gedlee_abbey.htm
Or you could take a look into the speakers I'm selling. 😀