[bogiedr]

I have a dilema, wife says let's upgrade speakers for home theater . I know audio speakers, (2 channel stuff). Currently we have an inexpensive Yamaha boxed system. I am planning on using the Yamaha receiver for a bit, (5.1, dts, dolby surround and all the goodies), until I get a better understanding of this stuff. So I will replace the speakers, keeping the Yamaha sub for now. Can I use regular music speakers to mix and match fronts, surrounds and center? Should I stick to matched systems? If so, does anyone have any experience with Swan home theater speakers? I can get a great deal on a matched system, (minus sub). If not, what do you reccomend? Definitive Technology, Boston Acoustics, Mirage, Klipsch? Any experiences with Magnepan in a home theater set up? FYI, I listen to Von Schweikerts in my 2 channel system. I will appreciate your opinions as I am trying to learn! Thanks.

[John Casler]

What Swans?  DIVAS?

The DIVA series are a very good HT package for the price.  As well the finish is exceptional. 

I wouldn't consider them quite audiophile level for music, (compared to your Von Schweikerts) but they can offer good value.  You wife will likely love them after she sees them in your room.

[eclein]

I have a dilema, wife says let's upgrade speakers for home theater . I know audio speakers, (2 channel stuff). Currently we have an inexpensive Yamaha boxed system. I am planning on using the Yamaha receiver for a bit, (5.1, dts, dolby surround and all the goodies), until I get a better understanding of this stuff. So I will replace the speakers, keeping the Yamaha sub for now. Can I use regular music speakers to mix and match fronts, surrounds and center? Should I stick to matched systems? If so, does anyone have any experience with Swan home theater speakers? I can get a great deal on a matched system, (minus sub). If not, what do you reccomend? Definitive Technology, Boston Acoustics, Mirage, Klipsch? Any experiences with Magnepan in a home theater set up? FYI, I listen to Von Schweikerts in my 2 channel system. I will appreciate your opinions as I am trying to learn! Thanks.

Howdy- I was always told to try and get the Left, Right and Center to match so the tonal qualities and timber are the same across the front. The surrounds can be something different, I'm a JBL nut so I just have JBL's all around me but I use an Energy CC-5 center-it works well and was inexpensive. I would think if you can get a deal with Swan's to go for it, they have fine stuff, not Von Scweikerts but your not looking for that, your looking for a nice home theater experience. How big is your sub-size? Power? that will come into play for when the Starships explode or the Transformers go to battle...if you have a basic box system and plan on using that sub you may not get the results your looking for but I don't know sub size, etc. Good luck....If you go Blu-Ray you gotta check out Transformers, Inception....fun stuff!!!!

[JohnR]

It is good to have speakers across the front that are the same or similar - or at least to say, it can be distracting if they are sufficiently different. Are you planning to keep the HT separate from the 2-channel system?

You could ask your questions about Magnepan in home theatre in the Planar Circle, I think there was a thread there recently about that.

[Levi]

First you did not mention about your speaker budget.  Since you already know Von Schweikerts sound quality, I would suggest you get Von Schweikerts for the HT. 

No matter which speakers you get, the LCR (Left, Center and Right) channel speakers should be timber matched.  The rears are equally important but not as critical as the front three speakers.  Good luck, the chase is where the fun is.

[rollo]

 Just keep it simple for HT. Klipsh will resemble the VS character and the price is right.
When da brain has to focus on the image the sound IMO does not have to be state of the art. now if the system is used for both music AND HT then by all means go for the better speakers.
  I feel the Klipsh HT set up, will suffice.


charles 

[bogiedr]

Thanks for the replies! The HT will be separate from the 2 channel system. I did not think video needed to be VS quality, (thanks for validating my thought process), so I set the budget at 1 grand, give or take a couple of hundred bucs. Hopefully that helps you all help me set this thing right! 
Thanks again!!!
BogieDr

[bogiedr]

Happy new year everyone!
Went back to my Swann dealer and he gave us an exceptional deal on a set of M5000, (2 fronts, 2 rears, one center and no sub). The sound is pretty impressive, very open and imaging is excellent! I am using my Yamaha sub, (low end), and it is so so. While watching "Bring on the night" (Sting) on blu ray, the sub became veeeery muddy, muffled, you get it, it could not handle it. On movies such as Star Trek (the latest one on blu ray), again in certain scenes, (Kirk stealing the vette in Iowa) the sub is not keeping up wth the Swanns, I need a sub! Any reccomendations? Room is 18 by 21. I am thinking a mid level REL, or the pre loved route. I can get my hands on a Velodyne for cheap. I am open to all reccomendations!! Thanks all. Bogie

[ltr317]

Happy new year everyone!
Went back to my Swann dealer and he gave us an exceptional deal on a set of M5000, (2 fronts, 2 rears, one center and no sub). The sound is pretty impressive, very open and imaging is excellent! I am using my Yamaha sub, (low end), and it is so so. While watching "Bring on the night" (Sting) on blu ray, the sub became veeeery muddy, muffled, you get it, it could not handle it. On movies such as Star Trek (the latest one on blu ray), again in certain scenes, (Kirk stealing the vette in Iowa) the sub is not keeping up wth the Swanns, I need a sub! Any reccomendations? Room is 18 by 21. I am thinking a mid level REL, or the pre loved route. I can get my hands on a Velodyne for cheap. I am open to all reccomendations!! Thanks all. Bogie

You can't go wrong with one of the Hsu subs, which has speed and definition and the best value. 

[eclein]

Hey glad the Swans worked out for ya...congrats. Let us know what you finally get, I'm considering upgrading my sub.

[mhconley]

Happy new year everyone!
Went back to my Swann dealer and he gave us an exceptional deal on a set of M5000, (2 fronts, 2 rears, one center and no sub). The sound is pretty impressive, very open and imaging is excellent! I am using my Yamaha sub, (low end), and it is so so. While watching "Bring on the night" (Sting) on blu ray, the sub became veeeery muddy, muffled, you get it, it could not handle it. On movies such as Star Trek (the latest one on blu ray), again in certain scenes, (Kirk stealing the vette in Iowa) the sub is not keeping up wth the Swanns, I need a sub! Any reccomendations? Room is 18 by 21. I am thinking a mid level REL, or the pre loved route. I can get my hands on a Velodyne for cheap. I am open to all reccomendations!! Thanks all. Bogie

I recommend any version Paradigm Servo-15.  Watching The Last Airbender this past weekend I commented to my wife that our 11 year old Servo-15A was the best home theater purchase I've ever made.  Other speakers and components have come and gone but the Servo-15 remains.  It'll shake the entire room when movies call for it yet it remains fast and unobtrusive on music.  They're on Audiogon all the time.

Martin

[bogiedr]

I have an opportunity to pick up a Paradigm Seismic something or other at about half price, but how do I audition a subwoofer?  That is what I am now trying to figure out. Any suggestions? Thanks.

[eclein]

Now thats a thought? How do you audition one?...