Choosing between floorstanding speakers

[Slick5150]

I'm looking to replace the front speakers in my 5.1 setup. I currently have a set of Velodyne Front Frow CH-5 speakers (they don't make them anymore) which are nice, but I'd like to get some floorstanding speakers instead. I was looking in the $125-$150 range (each) for the fronts, and found both the Klipsch SF-1 and Polk Monitor 50 speakers at $129 shipped. I've heard pretty good things about the Polk Monitor line but never actually heard them. Klipsch I've heard quite a bit and have always found to have a good sound to them.

Any thoughts on which way to go there? Or a different recommendation in that price range? They'd be getting hooked up to my Onkyo TX-SR705 receiver.

Thanks

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Are you going to get a center to match as well?

 

[Slick5150]

Yep

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Well if you've listened to the Klipsch ones and like them, it's hard to argue with that. Klipsch's higher frequencies can be annoying for some people. This may only become apparent after listening to them for a while though (or with specific source material). As long as you know that doesn't apply to you, then go for it.

You can often get better bang for the buck from bookshelf speakers. If you have the CH-5s up front before, does that mean you have stands already? There are some pretty nice $300/pair bookshelf speakers that would be nice options as well. Is the move to floorstanders a looks thing... or something else?

 

[Slick5150]

Yeah, its a looks thing. I do have stands for the CH5s, but I don't really like how they look in the room, so I figured going with floorstanding speakers would suit me better.

 

[Slick5150]

Yoyo - ARe you familiar with the Polk Monitor line? I've heard the R50s and thought they sounded ok, but not great. Are the monitor's a big step up? Or, ignoring the asthetics of bookshelf vs floorstanding speakers, am I better off sticking with the Velodyne's over the Polks or Klipsch?

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: Slick5150
Yoyo - ARe you familiar with the Polk Monitor line? I've heard the R50s and thought they sounded ok, but not great. Are the monitor's a big step up? Or, ignoring the asthetics of bookshelf vs floorstanding speakers, am I better off sticking with the Velodyne's over the Polks or Klipsch?

I haven't heard the Polks, that model of Klipsch, or the Velodynes

 

[Slick5150]

Heh. Well ok then. I suppose I should probably just leave well enough alone. The Velodyne's do sound great so I really have no reason for getting rid of them other than I don't like having the stands.

 

[Exterous]

Originally posted by: Slick5150
Heh. Well ok then. I suppose I should probably just leave well enough alone. The Velodyne's do sound great so I really have no reason for getting rid of them other than I don't like having the stands.

I have heard those Polks, however I haven't heard the other speakers so its hard to do a comparison. I'll just say that they sounded 'ok'. Nothing wrong with them, but nothing stood out as excellent either

 

[Slick5150]

Thanks. That's kind of what I was figuring. Seems to me that you have to get to Polk's rti series before you move above the "ok" quality and into something really nice. I'm bummed because I see Fry's was clearancing out the RTi 8 line for $130 each late last year. That's a very good price on those.