Hi yee wise folk. I am building a living room entertainment center. I have chosen an onkyo 805 as my receiver and I will soon invest ~$1,200 in a subwoofer cause I <3 good bass. I am now choosing my L/R speakers. It will mostly be TV and movies with maybe 20% music if the speakers make it interesting.

Budget is around $600 for the pair and keep in mind they will be powered by the 805 receiver. I may add a center or even surround at some point but probably not to start with.

At the top of my list for considerations are the Ascend Sierra-1s, CMT-340 SEs or the CBM-170 SEs (for $384/pair these could be the ticket). I am not as impressed with the feedback for the svs and x-series speakers. I have looked at the Revel Performa M20s and B&W 705 but those take me into separate amp world and i'm not going there.

thanks for your suggestions.

penny for your thoughts?

towers or bookshelf?

Paradigm Monitor 7's or Monitor Titan's are great, IMO.

Monitor Audio RS6

towers or bookshelf?

Paradigm Monitor 7's or Monitor Titan's are great, IMO.

Either one, I am flexible. Also, I will soon get a sub to handle the low end so the fronts don't need to be great in the LFE.

Do you have an idea of how the Paradigm Studio 20s compare to the Monitor 7s?

I have heard good things about the Silverline Minuets for a basic stereo setup. I could have gotten them for $400 from an authorized dealer. I ended up with the Monitor BR2, as I was looking to expand to a 5.2 system.

Magnepan MMG?

Just out of curiosity, why would the Revel and B&W speakers take you into the territory of using separates?

At the top of my list for considerations are the Ascend Sierra-1s, CMT-340 SEs or the CBM-170 SEs (for $384/pair these could be the ticket).

Good choice, I don't think a lot of the other suggestions fit into the 600$ mark though. The Sierra busts it, but the 340SE with shipping will make the 600$ mark. It's a great choice IMHO. Extremely hard to beat speaker package at the price point. I've not heard one which does it so far, given my criteria.

I'd go for 340SE over the 170SE. Well actually I did go for 340SE over 170SE :p After some research, seemed that the 340SE was a better speaker than 170SE, better bass, mids, soundstage, imaging, so for a few bucks might as well go with them if you can afford them. Not that 170SE isn't nice, supposed to be quite a speaker, but if the 340SE is even nicer... Btw, I had >1500$ speakers at the time (Totems), which got sold not long after I got the Ascends, the Ascends were just plain better imho. I was really surprised how good they were.

Btw, I now have both Sierras and 340SE, for HT the 340SE is a very good choice imho, they're suffering a bit from the little brother syndrome from the Sierras, but they're quite the speakers. And in that respect, I'm sure the 170SE are also suffering from the same brother syndrome vs 340SE. You could definitely start with a pair of 170SE, add a 340SE center later on, and potentially buying a pair of 340SE and move the 170SE to the rear.

Do you have an idea of how the Paradigm Studio 20s compare to the Monitor 7s?

Studio 20's are way better, especially since you are getting $1000+ of subwoofer to supplement them. Obviously the Monitor 7's will put out more bass, but the little Studios are no slouches, and your subwoofer will make up for any gap and then some.

It just depends, I guess, on if you want that big tower speaker sound.

IMO the treble/high-end on the Monitors is very fatiguing, the Studio line is much more refined. I actually liked the Monitor RS series better, however, but the RS6's bust the budget.

But if you're looking at $500-600 bookshelves definitely consider the Energy RC-10's as well. All of your choices are good, however, so the key is to go listen and see which one appeals to YOU.

Studio 20's are way better, especially since you are getting $1000+ of subwoofer to supplement them. Obviously the Monitor 7's will put out more bass, but the little Studios are no slouches, and your subwoofer will make up for any gap and then some.

It just depends, I guess, on if you want that big tower speaker sound.

IMO the treble/high-end on the Monitors is very fatiguing, the Studio line is much more refined. I actually liked the Monitor RS series better, however, but the RS6's bust the budget.

But if you're looking at $500-600 bookshelves definitely consider the Energy RC-10's as well. All of your choices are good, however, so the key is to go listen and see which one appeals to YOU.

I also agree the Studio 20's are significantly better, but the 20's will put you closer to $850, where as the 7's can be had for $650.

I also agree the Monitor's are somehwat bright. At high volumes they may even sound metallic.

I know that room and setup are EVERYTHING, but so far, I have never heard a speaker in the price class of the 170 SE with that wide of a soundstage, that kind of imaging, and being that clear.

I detected some mid-bass muddiness, or bloatedness, but this could have been very well due to close proximity to side wall boundaries, with a complete lack of acoustical treatments.

A big thumbs up. Going by these guys, Id happily and blindly try out some Sierras if I ever wanted a pair of music bookshelves.

Nothing to comment on the 170 as far as HT (dynamics/cranking). Only listened to several classical recordings.

monitor audio rs6

+1

I am in the minority, but I think that for HT you should start with the center. Most of the dialogue comes from the center. Listen to a 5.1 system and unplug the center and you will notice just how much of the sound track is played through the center. You can run the receiver in a mode that will play the center through the L/R, but when I tried it the sound and the experience was definitely not the same as having a good center speaker.

If I stick to my budget, I like the idea of starting with the 170 and moving them to the rears If I decide to go 5.1 (putting 340s up front).

If I drift, as so many have, I am liking these RS6 reviews. Is a sub important with RS6s and how is the RSLCR (center) of the RS6 series?

Looks like the RS6 bests the Studio 20s but does it best Studio 20s + sub.

thanks guys

Revel M12s

Revel M12s

I do admire Revels speakers. The only thing left to do is audition.

Any tips on comparing speakers from different stores? I know I'll have to go to at least 2 places to hear most of these. I'm thinking of asking that they hook the speakers i'm auditioning up to receiver power so I can get a fair comparison wherever I go to hear them.

Revel M12 is another excellent choice..together with RS6 & Studio 20, you should be able to pick one that you like the most..
All 3 speakers will need a subwoofer to get the best performance especially if you will use them in a HT setup..

+1

+2

You can usually find a good used pair for under $700

Finding a dealer in Massachusetts to demo these is harder than I thought. No sign of a monitor audio dealer (regional rep hasn't replied yet). The first Revel dealer didn't have M12s to demo and I'm waiting on word now from the 2nd. The paradigms though I got a positive response saying I could audition those so that's good at least.

In the mean time, any thoughts on 170 SE vs. M12s?

Finding a dealer in Massachusetts to demo these is harder than I thought. No sign of a monitor audio dealer (regional rep hasn't replied yet). The first Revel dealer didn't have M12s to demo and I'm waiting on word now from the 2nd. The paradigms though I got a positive response saying I could audition those so that's good at least.

In the mean time, any thoughts on 170 SE vs. M12s?

Where have you went to demo in MA?

Spearit Sound has alot of different options, and has a very knowledgable staff. Although I dont believe they carry Monitor Audio... I believe Audio Lab in Cambridge, MA carries Monitor Audiio though...

Wurlitzer Stereo usually has the best prices for Paradigm.

If you go with the RS6,S unless you have a really small room you will still need a sub.They also need about 100 hrs of break end.They sounded good without a sub,but sort of small,with a sub they can really fill even a large room. A 805 will push these speakers nicely.