How do internet brands like Aperion compare to B&W and Martin Logan etc etc

[ProfJohn]

So I went to the BestBuy near me with the Magnolia video store inside and was surprised to find Bowers and Wilkens being offered for sale their now.

So I started with the bookcase speakers at $600 a pair and then went to the cheap towers and finally the 683 towers at $700ish a piece. (The $1000 a piece speakers weren't in the listening room)

The 683's sound amazing for music. You can clearly hear the progression as you go from bookcase to towers to better towers. However! I an not sure I want to spend $750 a piece for two speakers.

So I am wonder if anyone owns any of the nicer internet brand speakers and how those speakers would compare to a B&W or a Martin Logan speaker (which I head in the past)

I say Aperion because everyone says nice things about them and I can get their entry level tower for only $325 or move up to their midlevel speaker for $500 a piece or even get their fancy Verus Forte Tower for $500 a piece as well.

Add their $350 center channel and some in the wall rear and side speakers and a couple of subs and for $2k + price of sub I should have a kick ass home theater system, right?

So has anyone actually heard these speakers and can give me a first hand report on how they sound compared to the store brands? Is a $500 internet speaker as good as a $750 in store speaker? etc etc

 

[joetekubi]

No real answers for you, but one piece of immutable advice: It's your ears that must be satisfied. One person's need for headbanging metal sound won't satisfy the person who wants great classical music.
Aperion "looks" like they have good, honest engineering and good prices. I haven't heard them..... It says a lot that that they offer a 30 day eval. Most don't.
In general, you will pay (much) more for name brands such as B&W or Martin Logan.
I'd advise you go to more stores, spend a lot of time comparing $200 towers with $500 towers. Other highly rated brands for high quality sound and great value are Paradigm and PSB. Just don't ever buy Bose.

 

[DisgruntledVirus]

1: You must, must, MUST listen to a speaker to figure out if you like the sound profile or not. I've spent ~40 hours listening to different speakers and can tell you from experience that there are differences between them. If you can't listen prior to purchase, make sure you get one with an "in home" trial.

2: Look around in your area for dedicated home theater stores. Check out higher end speaker companies websites for local dealers.

3: If you're looking for ~$2k for 5.0 system there are many options out there. You can also ask companies if they do a discount (most near me do) for buying all at once.

4: Check out AVS audio subforum and read up on various brands in there.

5: Some other brands to look at are Focal/JMLabs, Paradigm, B&W as you mentioned, Polk, Totem, KEF, Jamo, Salk Sound, and others. Between those I listed, personally Focal, Paradigm, and B&W are the brands I enjoy. Focal 7xx series (726, 706, and the center), Paradigm Monitor series (Monitor 9, Monitor ADP-390, and a center), B&W 6xx series (684, 685, and center HTM61). All of those would be around $2k roughly.

6: Once you figure out what speakers you like, watch www.audiogon.com for used speakers. For example, Focal 8xx series 3.0 system that would retail for ~$2k is on there used $1600 (http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?spkrfull&1301501084&/Focal-816V-and-CC800V-chorus-8). A pair of B&W 683 for $1k (http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?spkrfull&1301263674&/B-W-683-cherry). Just do some searches on there if you're ok with used.

 

[kornphlake]

If you're after the best bang for the buck, DIY speakers offer a phenomenal savings over buying something in a store.

 

[vi edit]

If you're after the best bang for the buck, DIY speakers offer a phenomenal savings over buying something in a store.

Depends on your goals, needs, and how skilled and equipped you are. Sure you can build a cabinet and drop $1,000 in components in there and it will sound awesome. But can you get that same finished look that a retail product can have? In the DIY market by the time you account for tools, time, materials, and finishing there's a lot of hidden costs that people ignore or forget.

Subwoofers are much more forgiving in that they are relatively simple boxes and are usually meant to be simple black boxes you shove in a corner. Speakers on the other hand are a much more focal point and can be both form and function.

It's just all in what you want.

A good middle ground is going with a high quality kit and then contracting with a cabinet builder to make you either a fully finished cabinet or a flat pack. Then you get hand picked, high quality components and a cabinet made by a professional.

 

[GTaudiophile]

Am debating the B&W 683s and CM9s myself...as a starting point for a 2.0 setup.

 

[weez82]

Aperion offers free shipping and if you dont like them they will pay for you to ship them back and give you a full refund. Looks like a win-win right there.

 

[DisgruntledVirus]

Am debating the B&W 683s and CM9s myself...as a starting point for a 2.0 setup.

Just throwing out other options here, but you should check out:

Paradigm Monitor series (I believe the 9 or 11 is in that price point). Perhaps even the Studio level.

Focal 726's <-- one of my personal favorite sounding speakers (Although the 826/836 and 1038 Be sound even better)

 

[mshan]

They should have a price advantage because of their factory direct model, but especially at lower price ranges, it is a matter of how well a particular manufacturer voiced it's speaker (e. g. sins of omission, rather than commission) that will determine whether you are musically satisfied over the long term.

Home theater speakers don't seem to be as challenging, except in terms of absolute loudness and base extension / bass impact capabilities.

 

[queequeg99]

4: Check out AVS audio subforum and read up on various brands in there.

To echo this comment, you should find out if there are any AVSforum.com members in your area that have Aperions (or any other brand you're looking for) who are willing to let you listen to their systems. I think you'll find that many are more than willing to show off.

 

[CombatChuk]

I have a friend with the Intimus (5T towers, 5DB surrounds, and 5C Center)series and I love how the sound... They don't sound very bright, but has a nice mellow sound to them. I ended up ordering a 7 speaker Grand Verus (Two towers, Center, 4 bookshelves) set to for my 7.1 system and now I'm waiting impatiently...

Since they pay return shipping and in my dealing their customer service has been fantastic, try them out. You should want to listen to the speakers in your room before you by them.

 

[tyanni]

i have a psb system - image t45 fronts, image b15 rears, image c40 center. I love the sound, both for music and movies. I purchased them right when the new line came out, so I did get a great deal. But I would highly recommend listening to PSB.