Speaker Opinions

[Shufflefield]

Howday all,

slowly getting a real HT going, picking up an Onkyo 674 tomorrow. The last piece of the puzzle is the 7.1 set.

Can anyone give me some opinions on the Klipsch Synergy (2's) set and the JBL Venue series? What about Polk? I am probably going to purchase at a local big box, but I have checked out some specialty shops and was going to audition the Energy C series, but it would take me quite a bit longer to save up cash for those...

[Scott]

Paging snodgrass23 to the white courtesy phone... :D

[snodgrass23]

I'm not real familiar with either of those speakers, but we can at least hone in on your tastes. Is this going to be only for movie use or are you going to use it for music too? If you are going to use them for music, will it be mostly background/party music or are you going to sit down with a glass of wine and enjoy a good CD and how great your CD sounds? If so, what type of music?

From there, how do you like your sound. Do you like it lively and dynamic or more laid back and smoother? Is bass output important, and is quality (music) or quantity (movies) of a higher preference?

In general, Klipsch speakers tend to be on the livelier more dynamic end (mostly because of their horn drivers). Some people love the volume, efficiency and effortless detail (which is usually good for movies) while others find them a bit "bright" or "sharp" to listen to for long periods.

Polks tend to be more middle of the road in character, but more laid back and smoother sounding in the treble than the Klipschs in general. Some people find it easier to listen to for longer periods of time, especially with music while others think they aren't as dynamic or revealing.

They are both fine brands and you will probably be happy with either, but if you want to really find out what you like, think about the questions I just posed and then go listen to both with that in mind. You'll probably gravitate immediately to one or the other. Let me know what you find out and I can give you more options if you'd like and we can fine tune the sound you like. Speakers are the most personal part of your system, if you take the time to listen before buying you'll enjoy the whole system that much more.

[Shufflefield]

Is this going to be only for movie use or are you going to use it for music too? If you are going to use them for music, will it be mostly background/party music or are you going to sit down with a glass of wine and enjoy a good CD and how great your CD sounds? If so, what type of music?

From there, how do you like your sound. Do you like it lively and dynamic or more laid back and smoother? Is bass output important, and is quality (music) or quantity (movies) of a higher preference?

I actually spend most of my time with the 360, so that will actually be the majority of the sound I hear through them. Movies will be a top priority as well, but I do listen to alot of custom soundtracks when trying to break 1million on Geometry wars.

When I do listen to music, I do listen intently, I do own quite a few concert DVD's and occasionally give them the glass of wine (well, captain and coke) treatment. To give you an idea of what I listen too - Pixes, Nirvana, Tool, Jane's Addiction, The Cure, Green Day, etc. Not alot of Bach, but you never know. Out of all those, I would have to say that the production values of any given Tool CD are going to be pretty close to a full orchestra with alot of layers and detail that you wouldn't expect from Rawk, and I do want to hear those details.

As for the movies I watch, if Star Wars sounds amazing I will be happy, I figure if Any of the holy trilogy can sound good on a system, anything else will too.

I would say I like my sound a bit livelier and dynamic, as for bass output, I do not like farty (best way I can put it) warbly bass. I want to feel it more like a quick punch to the stomach rather than something that rattles your bones.

I could piece it together, so I guess price isn't too much of a concern, though I do get impatient. I have good credit with HH, so that is how I was leaning after agonizing for a few months over this whole thing. Although I might be able to calm down enough and spread this out over a year or so, which is what it would probably take to piece together a system around 1.5 to 2k. Which is about what I think is reasonable to spend.

It will all be powered by the Onkyo 674, I started with that as my base since it handles all the inputs I need and want and seemed to have enough power. I was waiting on the Denon 2307CI which spec wise is nearly identical for 200 more than what I got the Onkyo for.*edit* I guess I mentioned this in the original post, oh well, welcome to office of redundancy department...

Thank you for your help Dr. Snodgrass.

[snodgrass23]

It sounds like the Klipsch should suit you well. I would start with finding a pair of front speakers that you like and then go from there on if you can afford the whole setup now or piece it together.

For bass, a lot of that punch you mention will come from the midbass which is mostly from your front pair. So, listen to the speakers without a sub before you buy them and make sure you like the impact they give you. Then you can pick out a sub that will augment what they have and bring in the lower notes.

[Shufflefield]

Well I auditioned fronts yesterday and listened to the Energy C series bookshelves and floorstanders as well as the Revel Concerta floorstanders and bookshelves. This is getting expensive, but after hearing the Revels, I am not really willing to look at much else. They were outfreakingstanding. The Klipsch, JBL's, and Polks are much cheaper, but it's impossible to really hear them in a big store like that. I suspect none of them could even come close to matching the Revels though. As a result of my crazy listening I think I am going to have to go very slowly to piece this thing together.

So Snodgrass, do you have any opinions on the Revels? In a proper environment is there anything cheaper that may come close?

[snodgrass23]

Are you looking at the F12 mains? Those are very nice and should definitely fit the bill. Where did you hear them? Especially for music, the other cheaper ones you mentioned wouldn't likely come close.

Thats a problem with speakers, you listen to a more expensive pair and end up falling in love. It's really better this way though, as you'll be happier in the long run and be confident you have the right speakers for you. Plus, by listening to the more expensive speakers, they tend to give you a better idea of what you really like as they have more personality than the cheaper ones.

It happened to me the first time I heard a pair of Martin Logans. I knew I had to have them eventually. It took a few years, but I have them now and am loving them.

[Shufflefield]

Are you looking at the F12 mains? Those are very nice and should definitely fit the bill. Where did you hear them? Especially for music, the other cheaper ones you mentioned wouldn't likely come close.

Thats a problem with speakers, you listen to a more expensive pair and end up falling in love. It's really better this way though, as you'll be happier in the long run and be confident you have the right speakers for you. Plus, by listening to the more expensive speakers, they tend to give you a better idea of what you really like as they have more personality than the cheaper ones.

It happened to me the first time I heard a pair of Martin Logans. I knew I had to have them eventually. It took a few years, but I have them now and am loving them.

Genesis Audio is the only local retailer, I originally went there looking for paradigm, but they were getting rid of paradigm to focus on Energy. I went back to hear the Energy C series, and wound up listening to all of them. The Revel's I am going for are the M12's, but yeah, I heard the F12's too. I intend to start with 2 M12's and the C12 for my front and center, and MAYBE move the M12's to the back when I go 7.1 and put F12's up front. Though I may wind up with 4 M12's, we'll see how the money goes. but for my money, I liked the clarity and seperation the M's provided on their own, bass can be the sole realm of the sub until I am done. Knowing me though, I won't resist the F12's if given the chance, or a good tax return. =)

Genesis is on Johnstown road in Gahanna, check them out, they have been nothing but helpful. I was in there for 2 hours yesterday and they knew I wasn't walking out of the store with anything yet, but they still went out of their way to show off everything they could, and they have nice rooms, and they told me that when I am ready they will work with me on the pricing and possibly the installation. When I have it all together I want to have a pro do the install and put faceplates on the walls and the whole 9. For now I will deal with my own sloppy cabling. =P

I gotta mention that I did audition the Revel Ultima series while I was there for fun. At 20k for a pair of fonts and each surround clocking in at 5k, I am not picking this set up any time soon, but oh my lord that was fun to test drive a room that probably cost 250k all said and done. We ran Tool's new disk through everything, and track 5 made me so giggly they must of thought I was "special".

[snodgrass23]

Sounds like you're on the right track. I think you'll be really happy with what you've chosen. The biggest difference with going to the F12 should be more of that punch you were talking about. Starting with the M12, I'd get a nice sub and then you can decide if you're happy with the bass as is or if you'd like that little extra impact in the upper bass region.

Yeah, I've been to Genesis many times. I actually live pretty close to them now. My favorite shop used to be Progressive Audio downtown. They are still really nice, but they used to have an amazing showroom.

I also highly recommend checking out Digital Interiors( http://www.diginteriors.com/ ) in the Dublin area. They have some really nice showrooms and the couple of salesmen I've spoken to there have been very knowledgable and extremely nice.

[hova]

what's the budget?

[nicholc2]

I purchased Axiom speakers recently and they are awesome. I'd highly recommend them. My $.02.