Topic: Speaker recommendations

[balou2]

Hey folks.  I'm looking to potentially upgrade speakers on my system.  I currently run a 5.1 Sony setup that is about 5 years old.  Sounds nice, but I think I can get more.

My set-up is as follows:

Toshiba Regza 50" LCD 1080p TV (purchased new last year)
Toshiba HDX-A2 HD-DVD player
Onkyo TX-SR875 Receiver

All components are connected via HDMI.  I'm looking for some recommendations on speakers.  Don't need 7.1 at this point, but definitely 5.1.

Price range <$500

Price range <$1000

[Javier Cinakowski]

How big is your room?

[balou2]

Room size is approx. 20' x 20'.  Maybe a little larger.  Fully square.  Set up like this:



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    opening to                                                              |
  dining room                                                               |
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               |                                                                Front
               |                           ####                            Door
               |        ----------------------------------------------------------
               |        |
                 Hallway


The ### is where the 50" TV A/V equipment will be.  I don't anticipate moving in to a larger area any time soon

[bl6216@yahoo.com]

new or used ? If you don't mind used try http://www.digitaltheater.com/



-Brian

[Nick's Picks]

epos.

[balou2]

I'm not familiar with Epos, Nick. 

I was looking at the Klipsch RF-62 speakers, but I really don't have a good knowledge of what's out there.  Any recommendations would be great.

[Nick's Picks]

The Epos line is a british speaker.   they sound awesome, for the $$.
full HT setups are not too expensive, which is why I mentioned them.
http://www.epos-acoustics.com/

[BC]

http://taperssection.com/index.php/topic,102585.0.html

[balou2]

these are seriously heavy speakers, Mike.
be careful.

That's funny.  Thanks for caring 

[phanophish]

The Epos line is a british speaker.   they sound awesome, for the $$.
full HT setups are not too expensive, which is why I mentioned them.
http://www.epos-acoustics.com/

I'll second Nick's EPOS recommendation.  I just picked up a pair of the ELS-3 monitors on Nick's & others recommendation for a simple playback system in the living room and really like them.  Obviously they aren't awesome on the ultra low end, but they sound great int he mids and highs and do a solid job down low. I picked mine up used for about $275 on Aduiogon and they look brand new.

[BC]

Price range <$500

Price range <$1000

In these price ranges I think you would also do well to check out Paradigm, PSB, and NHT. All make some very nice speakers at moderate prices.

some good reviews and measurements at www.stereophile.com, look on the left side of the page under reviews for floorstanding and bookshelf speakers.

Regarding the Epos recs, floorstander was very positively reviewed in a recent issue.

Happy listening!
Ben

[Nick's Picks]

I had a pair of the m12.2 monitors.  I put them side by side w/VR1's and liked the Epos better.
I eventually sold them and bought VR1s...and regretted it from the get go.

[Tim]

Nick - which ML's have you owned?

[Nick's Picks]

SL3's
and my current Sequal II's.

the SL3 was the replacement for the the sequal2. 
the SL3 was replaced by the Ascent. 
which begat the Ascenti
which begat the Vantage
And when the lord heard the music flowing from the 6' monoliths, she thought it was good, and never even asked what they cost.
and so it was written.

back to seriousness...
I have heard (lengthy listening and not "drive by" style) the Ascent, Ascenti, Vantage, Summits and a few of the cheaper, smaller models.  They are all awesome.  Nothing touches their mid-range / high end response that I've heard (w/o spending 5 figures).  The bass response on the passive models (the vantage has an active sub whoofer built in, new for ML as of a couple years ago w/this new generation) relies heavily on what amp you are driving them with.
I could never get the bass right w/my SL3s.  Sold them as a result.  The Sequals though...I dont need a sub  for them.  and its all about a shitload of HQ current from the Statos monoblocks that are feeding them.