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Gear / Technical Help => Playback Forum => Topic started by: Shawn on April 02, 2006, 09:23:21 PM
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So I'm looking for an affordable 5.1 surrond speaker and I was thinking of going with Klipsch Synergy Series Quintet II. I can get a set reasonable priced add a subwoofer and get a nice setup. I'm really over whelmed by all the choices and was wondering if Anybody has any experience or want to share their thought on these.
They'll be used mainly for TV/DVD stuff, but they will see some use for CD/SACD/DVD-A stuff.
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So I'm looking for an affordable 5.1 surrond speaker and I was thinking of going with Klipsch Synergy Series Quintet II. I can get a set reasonable priced add a subwoofer and get a nice setup. I'm really over whelmed by all the choices and was wondering if Anybody has any experience or want to share their thought on these.
They'll be used mainly for TV/DVD stuff, but they will see some use for CD/SACD/DVD-A stuff.
Affordable is a subjective term... Define affordable to you, what budget you want to work with?
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under $400
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The new X series stuff from av123.com wil sound far better.
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too bad they are about twice as much as my spending limit.
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You can get a pair and a sub, or two pair, and you leave the centerchannel and sub for later. Why are you wanting 5.1 at curiosity? My advice, get the best 2 channels you can afford and add surround later. Is your goal to listen to your music or your movies or both? What percentage of each?
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music and movies probably about equal usuage, but I could live without surround if it were only gonna be used for movies. The reason I want surround is that I am starting to get into DVD-Audio and want a decent system for playback. I am also working on obtaining a 24/96 4 channel rig and was thinking of trying some surround stuff on my own tapes, and it would be nice to be able to listen to them in 5.1.
Honestly I agree with your philosphy to a certain exten about getting the best two channels I can now.
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All DVD-A and SACD releases have (at least) a 2-track mixdown, if not a seperate 2-channel mix. Given that you have only two ears, and that 2 properly designed and positioned speakers give a very realistic image, two channels are really enough.
Yes, if I had all the money in the world, I would buy a surround setup- but I don't. Put your money into a good 2-channel rig...
-Noah
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I have the money, and I don't have surround because I think it adds about nothing to my aurul experience. About a year and a half ago, I had surround and eneded up ditching the rear channels. The amount of information that gets passed to the rear channels is next to nothing and doesn't sound all that great anyway. Often, it is two channel stuff replicated and panned. I also got the feeling that I needed a room about double the size of my current living room to enjoy it. Buy the best two channels you can, and go from there. You wil be much happier. As far as DVD-A, I listen to quite a bit of dvd-a and have never listened to the surround portion of the disc.
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If I were looking for a cheap deal on speakers for a 5.1 system, I'd consider these for my front main (or rear) speakers:
http://shop3.outpost.com/product/3241451
I have a 5.1 system, but have been upgrading my 2 channel playback recently. I have some multi-channel DVD-A and SACD discs that sound fantastic, but the vast majority of my listening is from a 2 channel source. Movies in 5.1 are pretty cool, in my opinion. However, the surround tracks make up only a small portion of the entire soundtrack. So, I've concluded that good front speakers for 2 channel listening are very important, but cheap stuff is fine for the surround speakers. I've never been impressed with any of the digital surround settings (jazz club, rock concert, etc.) on my receiver, except for the "six channel stereo." The other day I did some A/B comparisons between 2 channel and 6 channel (only 5 in my system because I don't have a rear center speaker) and I liked the 6 channel playback a lot. The soundstage was much wider with all of the speakers playing.
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Ah, yes then there is 7.1. I have a pretty high end klipsch set-up and love it. But I would agree throw your money on two good fronts first then build around the two speakers. I started with two Klipsch Quartet's then added a a Klipsch C-7 center channel, then three pairs of Klipsch Quintets to fill in the sound and a Klipsch 12 inch power sub. I find myself mostly listening to 7.1 for music. 7 channels X 120 watts + power sub = an amazing full sound. Just my .02
Clint
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Ah, yes then there is 7.1. I have a pretty high end klipsch set-up and love it. But I would agree throw your money on two good fronts first then build around the two speakers. I started with two Klipsch Quartet's then added a a Klipsch C-7 center channel, then three pairs of Klipsch Quintets to fill in the sound and a Klipsch 12 inch power sub. I find myself mostly listening to 7.1 for music. 7 channels X 120 watts + power sub = an amazing full sound. Just my .02
Clint
worth a read: http://news.designtechnica.com/talkback103.html
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These would work for rear speakers and also for your front center.
http://shop3.outpost.com/product/3452183
3 of these plus 2 of the Polk for the front will only cost $200, which leaves you with enough for a cheap subwoofer, tax, and shipping.
You can't expect 6 speakers for $400 to sound as good as high end equipment, but I bet this setup will sound pretty good for the money.
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Thanks for all the info guys. I am now thinking of just going with 2 channels. I was looking at some Mordaunt-Short models last night and they look amazing and the reviews are favorable. I'd like to find a place to test them out, but they seem hard to find in the USA. Also looking at some kilpsch RF-25 or RF-35. They would probably be easier to find to test out.
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Wise move. Speakers that cost $50 or even $100 are nothing more than a disservice to music. Sorry, it has to be said.
Here's another option...the Rega R-1 stand mount. They retail for $495/pair. They're 90 db efficient so they'll play with anything. They rarely come up on Audiogon, unlike their CD players. This stereotimes review is pretty rosy. Here are the last two sentences from the review...
The Rega R1 becomes my new budget reference speaker. In addition of its ability to get the fundamentals of music right, it adds clarity and resolution, and an ability to lay out a vivid and coherent 3-dimensional stereo image. In small room applications, what more could you want?
http://www.stereotimes.com/speak121305.shtm (http://www.stereotimes.com/speak121305.shtm)
If you live in or around a major city, there's probably a dealer within driving distance from you. Rega is pretty popular budget hi-fi company. They made their name on turntables.
Chris
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Go used! You'll get far more bang for your buck.
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I was in a similar boat last year. I had around a grand to put on speakers, but couldn't decide whether to go with a low end 5.1 setup or a (fairly) decent stereo pair.
I ended up with a pair of Klipsch F-3s and absolutely couldn't be happier. They sell for around $850 a pair so above your budget I know, but I'd recommend them to anyone regardless.
I love the Klipsch sound...
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Go used! You'll get far more bang for your buck.
I was looking over at Audiogon. There's not much in the way of used speakers under $500. There is a pair of VSA VR-1 standmounts for $650. There's also a set of Neat Petite mk III's available for $650, which is a total steal considering their current $2000 msrp. If I was buying a stand mount, the Petites would be on my short list.
Chris
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I was looking over at Audiogon. There's not much in the way of used speakers under $500.
That's true, the gear on A'gon is usually $$$. In this case, I was thinking more along the lines of local shops. People trade in speakers all the time in their search for "the sound".
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I love the Klipsch sound...
Word. I run Klipsch Heresy II's and I think they are sick as hell. I find them to be very detailed. The only issue I have is that they don't go very low in the frequency range, but that's nothing a little Velodyne couldn't help... 8)
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I love the Klipsch sound...
Word. I run Klipsch Heresy II's and I think they are sick as hell. I find them to be very detailed. The only issue I have is that they don't go very low in the frequency range, but that's nothing a little Velodyne couldn't help... 8)
Just the name "Heresy" alone makes up for anything they might be lacking in the lower octaves... :P
Side note:
For under $400 check around and see if you can find a set of Boston Acoustic CR85's, inexpensive, but highly impressive for the big sound you can get out of a sub $300/pr of bookshelf speakers. 7" mid drivers and a nice neutral transparent presentation, but they can rock! :drummer: :guitarist:
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I have the money, and I don't have surround because I think it adds about nothing to my aurul experience. About a year and a half ago, I had surround and eneded up ditching the rear channels. The amount of information that gets passed to the rear channels is next to nothing and doesn't sound all that great anyway. Often, it is two channel stuff replicated and panned. I also got the feeling that I needed a room about double the size of my current living room to enjoy it. Buy the best two channels you can, and go from there. You wil be much happier. As far as DVD-A, I listen to quite a bit of dvd-a and have never listened to the surround portion of the disc.
I can understand where you're coming from about 2 channel audio in surround, but DVD-A and SACD with the dicrete rear channels sound awesome
I listen to the downward spiral in 5.1 surround, and every channel is used fully. The 5.1 mix just simply blows away the 2 channel