I need new Bookshelf Speakers

[adwilk]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
Nice deal indeed :thumbsup:

EDIT: btw, having "bookshelf speakers" in your title is pretty funny now.

Yeah, i found some humor in that as well. thing i found though, as you go up in the Klipsch reference line, the effeciency goes up..... the smaller the speaker i got, the more power it would have taken to make them move. So i figured i could spend the money on bigger speakers instead of smaller ones and another amp. I cant believe how much i've learned in the past few days about this stuff and a lot of it was from everybodies input and links on here. I really appreciate all the help... off to get the rest of them!!!

 

[Salvador]

NHT's are very inefficient and they are a little cold and dry sounding for my taste. I never cared for them.

What are the sonic characteristics of your Onkyo receiver? Warm and fat or bright and thin? I would try and pair a set of speakers to your amp to try and balance the sound.

What kind of price range are you looking at? Do you plan on using good speaker stands? What kind of cabling are you using?

 

[Salvador]

As for speaker brands to look at, I wouldn't ever leave out any of the Canadian bargains like Energy, Paradigm or PSB. B&W makes a great little speaker as well. I don't know how they do it considering that they are a British company. Most Brit speakers are really pricey. I have a pair of ProAc's that I love, but they certainly aren't cheap and I would NEVER pair them with a receiver.

 

[Salvador]

Klipsch are fine if you're into the sound of a live rock show. I used to have a pair in college. I find them to be a bit too aggresive for my tastes now though. Also, I wouldn't recommend them if you want a realistic soundstage. They're like club speakers or what you'd find in a movie theater. That's not all bad. Klipsch speakers are also probably the most efficient speakers on the market, so you could probably power them with a transistor radio. I would highly recommend against them though if your receiver sounds bright and thin. You need to have some warmth with the Klipsch's.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: adwilk

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
Nice deal indeed :thumbsup:

EDIT: btw, having "bookshelf speakers" in your title is pretty funny now.

Yeah, i found some humor in that as well. thing i found though, as you go up in the Klipsch reference line, the effeciency goes up..... the smaller the speaker i got, the more power it would have taken to make them move. So i figured i could spend the money on bigger speakers instead of smaller ones and another amp. I cant believe how much i've learned in the past few days about this stuff and a lot of it was from everybodies input and links on here. I really appreciate all the help... off to get the rest of them!!!

But I thought you got that massive receiver for the power it could deliver?

 

[adwilk]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Originally posted by: adwilk

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
Nice deal indeed :thumbsup:

EDIT: btw, having "bookshelf speakers" in your title is pretty funny now.

Yeah, i found some humor in that as well. thing i found though, as you go up in the Klipsch reference line, the effeciency goes up..... the smaller the speaker i got, the more power it would have taken to make them move. So i figured i could spend the money on bigger speakers instead of smaller ones and another amp. I cant believe how much i've learned in the past few days about this stuff and a lot of it was from everybodies input and links on here. I really appreciate all the help... off to get the rest of them!!!

But I thought you got that massive receiver for the power it could deliver?

I was amazed at how much power it really took to create enough output to reach reference level spl. Most receivers wont do this with a bookshelf!!!

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: adwilk

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Originally posted by: adwilk

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
Nice deal indeed :thumbsup:

EDIT: btw, having "bookshelf speakers" in your title is pretty funny now.

Yeah, i found some humor in that as well. thing i found though, as you go up in the Klipsch reference line, the effeciency goes up..... the smaller the speaker i got, the more power it would have taken to make them move. So i figured i could spend the money on bigger speakers instead of smaller ones and another amp. I cant believe how much i've learned in the past few days about this stuff and a lot of it was from everybodies input and links on here. I really appreciate all the help... off to get the rest of them!!!

But I thought you got that massive receiver for the power it could deliver?

I was amazed at how much power it really took to create enough output to reach reference level spl. Most receivers wont do this with a bookshelf!!!

Careful on your ears.

 

[adwilk]

I'm not gonna play it this loud all the time, just knowing that i can makes it exciting...

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: adwilk
I'm not gonna play it this loud all the time, just knowing that i can makes it exciting...

WHAT?????



EDIT: Turn it up!

 

[EricR]

Add another strong vote for Paradigm.

I've invested many thousands of $$$ into my main audio system and really love it.

Yet I'm still regularly impressed by my budget system in the family room (10 year-old Paradigm bookshelfs, driven by a 30 year-old Sony reciever).

The sound is quite decent, they don't try to do what they can't, and (unlike my main system) they aren't very picky as to placement in the room.

EricR

 

[adwilk]

Originally posted by: EricR
Add another strong vote for Paradigm.

I've invested many thousands of $$$ into my main audio system and really love it.

Yet I'm still regularly impressed by my budget system in the family room (10 year-old Paradigm bookshelfs, driven by a 30 year-old Sony reciever).

The sound is quite decent, they don't try to do what they can't, and (unlike my main system) they aren't very picky as to placement in the room.

EricR

How is the overall tonal quality? Are they exciting or more mellow? What's the "image" like? Would you consider them a monitor or more universal. I'm thinking i want another set of speakers. I want some that sound like i'm hanging out in the middle of a concert hall instead of always in the front row of a rock concert. I promise there is nothing better for movies than the Klipsch, but i want to get another receiver and some monitors (B&W) for my study...

 

[Salvador]

Originally posted by: adwilk

Originally posted by: EricR
Add another strong vote for Paradigm.

I've invested many thousands of $$$ into my main audio system and really love it.

Yet I'm still regularly impressed by my budget system in the family room (10 year-old Paradigm bookshelfs, driven by a 30 year-old Sony reciever).

The sound is quite decent, they don't try to do what they can't, and (unlike my main system) they aren't very picky as to placement in the room.

EricR

How is the overall tonal quality? Are they exciting or more mellow? What's the "image" like? Would you consider them a monitor or more universal. I'm thinking i want another set of speakers. I want some that sound like i'm hanging out in the middle of a concert hall instead of always in the front row of a rock concert. I promise there is nothing better for movies than the Klipsch, but i want to get another receiver and some monitors (B&W) for my study...

Anything is more laid back compared to Klipsch. The Paradigm's do a good job at being neutral and they might be more to your liking than some other brands if you're used to Klipsch speakers. Another brand to look at is PSB. Very similar. I think that the PSB's are a tad more agressive though tonally. B&W's would probably be the most neutral of the three. They make a fantastic entry level bookshelf speaker. I can't remember the model numbers now. It's also a bargain and that's surprising considering that the Canadian companies have a BIG advantage in exchange rate when selling to the US market.

 

[seanp789]

I've personally used some small bookshelves of B&W, Phasetechs and PSB.

Musically I prefered the B&W's a little bright around 8Khz just got them for christmas.

The phasetechs and psbs i tried were a good 7 years old. They were handled power well and the phasetechs really kicked out some bass but for music i still found them not to be my top preference.

I would highly recommend you find some very dynamic CDs and go test some speakers at your local highfi shop
from what ive found on the net. companies like Energy, Klipsch, infinity and a host of others are well known for home theatre. musically try looking at Maggy's 550 (not bookshelf), B&W 600 series 3 or XT2s, Revel M12 or M20, Wharfdale 9.1s, etc... Velodyne makes some great closed port subs.

Pretty much all the bookshelf speakers will need to be paired with a sub for bass extention


The ascends have the benefit of a 30 day trial. Most people really like them but most of those people (steortyping here) also do not have a wide sampling range to draw their conclussions from. www.stereophile.com is a good source for hi end speaker reviews.

 

[adwilk]

I I'm not dissapointed with the Klipsch, they are exactly what i went in the store to buy. I'm definitely keeping them. I want a pair on the exact end of the spectrum now though... I still like the idea of being able to build a pair, but no matter what i do, i dont think i could match the tonal quality of some of the high end monitors, which is what i'm after now... But i think with time, maybe i could come up with something. For my study, i'm thinking i just want a stereo receiver, i'm thinking onkyo again, any other suggestions??

 

[adwilk]

Originally posted by: EricR
Add another strong vote for Paradigm.

I've invested many thousands of $$$ into my main audio system and really love it.

Yet I'm still regularly impressed by my budget system in the family room (10 year-old Paradigm bookshelfs, driven by a 30 year-old Sony reciever).

The sound is quite decent, they don't try to do what they can't, and (unlike my main system) they aren't very picky as to placement in the room.

EricR

Whats in your main system???

 

[sdifox]

Originally posted by: adwilk

Originally posted by: EricR
Add another strong vote for Paradigm.

I've invested many thousands of $$$ into my main audio system and really love it.

Yet I'm still regularly impressed by my budget system in the family room (10 year-old Paradigm bookshelfs, driven by a 30 year-old Sony reciever).

The sound is quite decent, they don't try to do what they can't, and (unlike my main system) they aren't very picky as to placement in the room.

EricR

Whats in your main system???

question is not for me, but I'll answer anyway

Room: Dedicated HT/computer room, ~300Sq Ft
Pre-Pro: Marantz 9000
Amp: Outlaw 750
Main speakers: Definitive Technology BP2000TL
Centre speaker: Definitive Technology CLR2000
Surround speakers: Definitive Technology BP10B
DVD-A player: Panasonic RP-82S, Pioneer DV-515
Cable: Scientific Atlanta digital cable box
CD Changer: Technic SL-MC4 60+1
MD Recorder/CD Changer: JVC XU-301
Display: Sony 29" Trinitron from 1990
Consoles: X-Box, Dreamcast

Source Material (all legit)
CD:~300
DVD:~1150
DVD-A:34

 

[sdifox]

Originally posted by: adwilk
I I'm not dissapointed with the Klipsch, they are exactly what i went in the store to buy. I'm definitely keeping them. I want a pair on the exact end of the spectrum now though... I still like the idea of being able to build a pair, but no matter what i do, i dont think i could match the tonal quality of some of the high end monitors, which is what i'm after now... But i think with time, maybe i could come up with something. For my study, i'm thinking i just want a stereo receiver, i'm thinking onkyo again, any other suggestions??

Music only? then I would go with something like a Bryston B-100SST (or the B60SST) or a Marantz PM7200. Onkyo stereo is not all that great.

 

[adwilk]

Originally posted by: sdifox

Originally posted by: adwilk
I I'm not dissapointed with the Klipsch, they are exactly what i went in the store to buy. I'm definitely keeping them. I want a pair on the exact end of the spectrum now though... I still like the idea of being able to build a pair, but no matter what i do, i dont think i could match the tonal quality of some of the high end monitors, which is what i'm after now... But i think with time, maybe i could come up with something. For my study, i'm thinking i just want a stereo receiver, i'm thinking onkyo again, any other suggestions??

Music only? then I would go with something like a Bryston B-100SST (or the B60SST) or a Marantz PM7200. Onkyo stereo is not all that great.

Okay, thats good to know...

I've been searching on sites about building speakers... whats a compression driver and why are some subs built with a woofer and radiator that looks like woofer... what do these things do? Pros and Cons???

 

[sdifox]

Originally posted by: adwilk

Originally posted by: sdifox

Originally posted by: adwilk
I I'm not dissapointed with the Klipsch, they are exactly what i went in the store to buy. I'm definitely keeping them. I want a pair on the exact end of the spectrum now though... I still like the idea of being able to build a pair, but no matter what i do, i dont think i could match the tonal quality of some of the high end monitors, which is what i'm after now... But i think with time, maybe i could come up with something. For my study, i'm thinking i just want a stereo receiver, i'm thinking onkyo again, any other suggestions??

Music only? then I would go with something like a Bryston B-100SST (or the B60SST) or a Marantz PM7200. Onkyo stereo is not all that great.

Okay, thats good to know...

I've been searching on sites about building speakers... whats a compression driver and why are some subs built with a woofer and radiator that looks like woofer... what do these things do? Pros and Cons???

http://www.klone-audio.com/

this guy builds lots of stuff so maybe his site would get you started. passive rad is just a speaker without the coil nor the magnet. Thinking is to use the back compression to emit a bit more bass.

http://www.diysubwoofers.org/prd/

http://www.diysubwoofers.org/

compression driver
http://www.webref.org/acoustics/c/compression_driver.htm

 

[alcoholbob]

Sounds like the NHT's did nothing for you, and they are pretty neutral. Maybe you want something with a little jazzier high end?

If you want speakers that have more "prescence" (or often called brighter speakers), you want to look at tonally neutral speakers with a slightly tipped 2-5KHz. This is called the "prescence" zone, where human hearing is the most sensitive as it is the frequency range of the human cry ("laid back" neutral speakers will almost always have a flat or dissapating off-axis measurement in this zone, and brighter "neutral" speakers have a flat or rising off-axis measurement here). B&W, Thiel, Klipsch, Axiom are some examples of companies that are slightly tipped up here. Bright speakers are not the same as harsh speakers, which are often discribed as either ghosting/after-image spectral decay effects, or excess higher frequency energy--upper harmonics usually from 10KHz all the way up to 23KHz aluminum tweeter peaks.