Please help find good forgiving speakers

gevorg · « **on:** 20 Mar 2005, 03:34 am »

Hi all,

I'm looking for a pair of speakers that will mostly be playing TV material (satellite non-HD). Since my main source is not very good, I need speakers that will be forgiving to the sound and make the best of it. I like rich and warm sound, but not too warm. I don't care if they're floorstanding or bookshelves. My receiver will be Harmon Kardon HK-3480 (stereo, 120wattsx2), but its not final yet. Budget for speakers is under $800.
Any reccomendations or suggestions?

Thank You!

bubba966 · « **Reply #1 on:** 20 Mar 2005, 03:48 am »

Just recently installed 5 of these in a friends setup http://www.av123.com/products_product.php?section=speakers&product=39.1

Yeah, they're labeled as center channel speakers. But they work good all around.

So far I've listened to them with OTA TV broadcasts, FM radio, and a really cheap JVC DVDP. And so far they've sounded quite good on all materials. I'd say they fit what you're looking for rather well, and they're under $600 a pair. Not only do they sound good, they also look great. When my friend first saw them she remarked something to the tune of them being "damn sexy". Guess they passed the WAF test...

They (AV123) do have a circle here, as well as a forum at the AV123 site if you'd like more info on them.

Oh, and they've got a 30 day return policy if you don't like 'em.

Rob Babcock · « **Reply #2 on:** 20 Mar 2005, 07:25 am »

The Rosewood looks very nice. That looks like a lot of speaker for the money!

ss397 · « **Reply #3 on:** 20 Mar 2005, 07:50 am »

those speakers do look nice. did you mount them all horizontally? could you comment on their dispersion characteristics. i currently have bipoles at my side and backs and hve been thinking about changing to a book shelf or dual center arrangement especially on the sides.

rosconey · « **Reply #4 on:** 20 Mar 2005, 11:47 am »

what about the usher deal bill has going at response audio-
lots of good comments

Al Garay · « **Reply #5 on:** 20 Mar 2005, 04:59 pm »

Keep checking the for sale section. For example today's good deal:
http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=17753

If you don't mind doing a little assembly work, Dennis Murphy's CAOW1 or MBOW1 3-way would be tough to beat under your price. There are guys here who can make the finished cabinets for them and still be under the budget.

Mad DOg · « **Reply #6 on:** 20 Mar 2005, 05:05 pm »

bubba's av123 recommendation is an excellent one...

gevorg · « **Reply #7 on:** 20 Mar 2005, 07:36 pm »

bubba966,

The Rocket ELTse Center look very nice, but I'm concerned about these things:

1) Rockets are 6 Ohm, 87dB and rated for 25-150watts, but the receiver I'm planning to use is 120x2watts @ 8 Ohms and 150x2watts @ 4 Ohms.
Will Harmon Kardon drive 6 Ohm Rockets well?

2) Although this might be a stupid question, but is the "paper" midrange 2.5" decent? I just fear having something like the paper Bose speakers

3) Does AV123 makes speaker stands for Rockets ELTse that can be placed vertically? Anything else I need for the stands, since they're center channel speakers?

rosconey,
Which particular Usher speakers should I checkout?

Al Garay,
Used and custom build speakers are definetely a great value, but since this is my first HT upgrade, I prefer to have an option to return and just loose on shipping/restocking.

Thank you everybody for your help, this looks like a great forum to explore, I appreciate any feedback or suggetions!

bubba966 · « **Reply #8 on:** 20 Mar 2005, 07:55 pm »

Quote from: gevorg

bubba966,

The Rocket ELTse Center look very nice, but I'm concerned about these things:

1) Rockets are 6 Ohm, 87dB and rated for 25-150watts, but the receiver I'm planning to use is 120x2watts @ 8 Ohms and 150x2watts @ 4 Ohms.
Will Harmon Kardon drive 6 Ohm Rockets well?

I wouldn't worry about your HK driving them. At my friend's place they're being driven by a Pioneer VSX-1014TX-K, which is only spec'd at 110w @ 8 Ohms. And that's able to handle the ELT Cse's no problem.

Quote from: gevorg

2) Although this might be a stupid question, but is the "paper" midrange 2.5" decent? I just fear having something like the paper Bose speakers

Yes, the midrange is more than decent. It's not just straight paper like the Bose crap is. It's a paper composite. Probably not much different than the 12" paper composite drivers in my M&K subs.

Quote from: gevorg

3) Does AV123 makes speaker stands for Rockets ELTse that can be placed vertically? Anything else I need for the stands, since they're center channel speakers?

Yup. http://www.av123.com/products_product.php?section=speakers&product=41.1

I used those exact stands to setup the L & R speakers vertically at my friends place.

You don't need anything else. But you might want to use Herbie's Tenderfoot isolation feet under them instead of the rubber pads that come with the stands. http://herbiesaudiolab.home.att.net/footers.htm (they're the ones about 1/3 the way down the page and are $7.95 each, or $8.95 with PSA)

gevorg · « **Reply #9 on:** 20 Mar 2005, 10:40 pm »

bubba966, Thank you for the clarification! After all these weeks of frustration and searching, now I'm ready to buy.

One last thing, for stereo only, should I get the Pioneer VSX-1014 instead of Harmon Kardon HK-3480 (price aside)? Or there won't be much difference in my case?

bubba966 · « **Reply #10 on:** 21 Mar 2005, 12:27 am »

Quote from: gevorg

bubba966, Thank you for the clarification!

You're welcome.

Quote from: gevorg

One last thing, for stereo only, should I get the Pioneer VSX-1014 instead of Harmon Kardon HK-3480 (price aside)? Or there won't be much difference in my case?

The Pioneer 1014 seems to cost about $50-$75 more than the HK-3480. So the price isn't so different.

The most immediate benefit you'd have with the Pioneer over the HK is the Pioneer has an auto setup & calibration function to it. It's got a microphone that you place in your listening position, then it runs test tones and sets up your speakers (size, distance from listening position, dB levels) and EQ's them.

That alone is worth the added cost over the HK-3480.

The other thing is that the Pioneer will be more usefull later on. Should you ever decide to hook up a DVD player, the 1014 has DD, DTS, DPLII, etc. capabilities.

Should you ever decide that you want to add more speakers for a 3/4/5/6/7 channel setup, the Pioneer is 110Wx7.

The Pioneer also has a lot better video switching. The HK only has composite video, while the Pioneer has composite video, S-Video, & component video.

And you also don't mention if you have any type of digital output on your sat box. If so, you'd probably want to use that for audio, not the analog audio outs. And the HK doesn't have any digital inputs on it, the Pioneer has 5 digital ins.

Basically I see many reasons to go with a 1014 over a 3480, yet no real reason to go with the 3480 over the 1014.

And 'ya might not think you'll be upgrading anytime soon. I didn't when I first got into HT/Audio. I had a $1,200 DVD/LD player, and thought that a $500 receiver & $1,000 speaker setup would do me fine. A year & a half later I've got a $3,000 receiver & $5,500 speaker setup (and the DVD/LD player has been upgraded to a $6,000 DVDP & $5,000 LDP!

)...

gevorg · « **Reply #11 on:** 21 Mar 2005, 12:54 am »

I just thought that since HK is a dedicated stereo receiver it will have better sound quality than Pionner (or any other 5.1+ receiver at a same price range.)

Unfortunately, my satellite receiver has only composite audio outs. The DVD player has digital, but I barely use it.

I am planning to upgrade to full 5.1 system as soon as I move to a new home (in a year or two), and thats when I'll spends thousands on gear for the HT dedicated room.

Once again, thanks for all your help.

Al Garay · « **Reply #12 on:** 21 Mar 2005, 05:37 am »

For speakers, this is a screaming deal:

GR-Research Criterion finished in maple veneer cabinet, finished for $699 plus shipping.
http://www.creativesound.ca/index.html

Another great deal is the Diluceo for $999. Normally about $1600. These have a very refined sound for an audiophile and will work great for HT as I got to experience today while visiting Al Wooley's place (RAW Acoustics). Got a chance to hear very impressive results from the latest kits using Adire Extremis 6.8 (Exodus Audio and CSS will be caring these) and Adire WR125 (4.5" XBL almost full range woofer). These kits are almost ready for release. I think Al has the crossovers dialed in. And he was just using a Marantz mid-level HT receiver and an inexpensive Pioneer DVD player for source. No fancy DAC. Inexpensive 12gauge cable. The sound was very good.

Al

Rob Babcock · « **Reply #13 on:** 21 Mar 2005, 12:04 pm »

Geez, that is a bargain!

I wish I had an extra grand laying around; I've always wanted to hear the Diluceo's.