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When and Why is it time to upgrade your speakers ?

post #1 of 29
5/12/08 at 5:35pm
Thread Starter 
Reading these forums and others I was wondering when is it time to upgrade your speakers. I see people upgrading there speakers every 3 months or so. I also wonder why we do this. In five year I went from a cheap awia set to B&W 685's. I must admit I have the urge to upgrade to 683 or 703's but I don't know if it is really worth it . I still get actual goose bumps when I put on a cd. Does some of it stem from status symbol or what? Why do we strive for more and not just enjoy what we have? These are the questions now I would like to her from all of you.
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post #2 of 29
5/12/08 at 6:01pm
It's an illness. We all suffer from it here on this forum. You know, it's like a drug. At first a particular dose is enough but then later you need more. You constantly have to upgrade to be happy!

Monte
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post #3 of 29
5/12/08 at 6:09pm
It is time when you are sick and tired or your existing equipment and want better...Whether you can afford it or not...
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post #4 of 29
5/13/08 at 7:40am
I was going to say anytime you could afford it. But I can't afford it right now and am doing it anyway. My reason for upgrading is partly because I have a larger room now and my old speakers are just a bit too small and also because I have a new receiver and want speakers that will do it justice.

There seems to be a snowball effect for me... Ok, I have a bigger room and I am a foot further back from my TV, so I should get a new TV. Now that I have a new TV, I should get a high definition dvd player for it. Now that I have multiple HDMI sources I should get a receiver with HDMI switching. Now that I have a nice receiver I should get bigger and better speakers...
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post #5 of 29
5/13/08 at 7:55am
Quote:
Originally Posted by cmarkmyers View Post

... Ok, I have a bigger room , so I should get a new TV. Now that I have a new TV, I should get a high definition dvd player for it. Now that I have multiple HDMI sources I should get a receiver with HDMI switching. Now that I have a nice receiver I should get bigger and better speakers...

LOL!.........Now ain't that the truth. I just did this, and in that order too. It's a never ending cycle, but that's what makes it fun.
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post #6 of 29
5/13/08 at 8:12am
Is your hobby listening to music, or buying stuff?
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post #7 of 29
5/13/08 at 8:16am
I'd say I upgrade when my current gear just loses that wow factor that it once had. No sense in listening to gear that doesn't get your soul stirring any more. That's a huge part of the experience for me.
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post #8 of 29
5/13/08 at 8:19am
A lot of upgrades are due to buying something to get you by untill said person can
afford the equipment they really want I was quilty of this several times but now I
either wait till I can afford the piece i want or do without till I can because resale of
used gear is a bigger waste of income.
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post #9 of 29
5/13/08 at 8:21am
Quote:
Originally Posted by mcnarus View Post

Is your hobby listening to music, or buying stuff?

This is a very astute observation. I wonder about this myself. The search, the auditioning, the selection, setting it all up, are clearly part of the enjoyment.
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post #10 of 29
5/13/08 at 8:25am
Quote:


When and Why is it time to upgrade your speakers ?

When your wife gives you permission.
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post #11 of 29
5/13/08 at 8:50am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chu Gai View Post

When your wife gives you permission.

Bingo.
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post #12 of 29
5/13/08 at 9:03am
Quote:
Originally Posted by JCBoomer View Post

Bingo.

you can't upgrade your wife...
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post #13 of 29
5/13/08 at 9:14am
Quote:
Originally Posted by mcnarus View Post

Is your hobby listening to music, or buying stuff?

To answer your question...listening to music/watching movies. We recently moved into a new home and now I do have a larger room. We had an old Mitsu 60" rear proj. (non HD) which took a turn for the worst the first of this year. So I moved up to HD. Then got a blu-ray player. Replaced the old Pioneer reciever(had it about 10 yrs.) and got rid of the Bose AM-15. I'm not in the habit of just buying things, but my recent retirement now allows me more time to enjoy my music and movies, plus I was long overdue for upgrades anyway. So I now have:

Toshiba 65HM167
DirecTV HR-20 DVR
Panasonic DMP-BD30
Onkyo TX-SR605
HTD Level 2 towers, center, bookshelves, and sub

It's not the best system by far, but for the investment of roughly $3K, we are very happy with it all.
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post #14 of 29
5/13/08 at 9:15am
Quote:


I see people upgrading there speakers every 3 months or so. I also wonder why we do this.

its this or travel/golf/gambling Besides if my wife can spend 2-3K monthly then I can spend 2-3K monthly Isnt that what we call love and compromise!!!

My wife doesnt mind this but the boxes are piling up in the garage again.
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post #15 of 29
5/13/08 at 9:18am
Quote:
Originally Posted by devani View Post

you can't upgrade your wife...

Well,...actually you can. But that is more expensive than any hobby!!!
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post #16 of 29
5/13/08 at 9:22am
Quote:
Originally Posted by devani View Post

you can't upgrade your wife...

People have spare systems...
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post #17 of 29
5/13/08 at 9:23am
Quote:
Originally Posted by skootr View Post

Well,...actually you can. But that is more expensive than any hobby!!!



Don't get married, and you can upgrade you gear and GF's any time you like... its a win win situation, you can get all the gear you heart desires, and when you tire of this GF there is always another right around the corner...
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post #18 of 29
5/13/08 at 10:09am
When they blow out.
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post #19 of 29
5/13/08 at 10:42am
Quote:
Originally Posted by longfellowfan View Post

Reading these forums and others ... Why do we strive for more and not just enjoy what we have? These are the questions now I would like to her from all of you.

I think you answered your own question

For me, the fun of the hobby, hands (ears) -on auditioning and research of new-to-me equipment make it exciting. Reading through these forums on what others have or have heard can't help but stimulate the upgrade gland in us.
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post #20 of 29
5/13/08 at 11:36am
I've just "finished" my HT and for the time being I think I've settled into contentment with what it is. We'll see how long that lasts, but I hope to enjoy it up until OLED displays take off.
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post #21 of 29
5/14/08 at 11:57am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Raymond Leggs View Post

When they blow out.

The speakers or the GF..... ?
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post #22 of 29
5/14/08 at 12:04pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chu Gai View Post

People have spare systems...

Chu, you sly devil.

Now that's what I call an expensive hobby!
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post #23 of 29
5/14/08 at 2:07pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by lynx View Post

The speakers or the GF..... ?

Both!
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post #24 of 29
5/14/08 at 2:50pm
I only upgrade when my current equipment can't do what I really want it to do and there is no way around it besides replacing it. Therefore I have only replaced my receiver, DVD player, and TV. My speakers still rock and I intend to keep them until they no longer rock. Most people, not all, who upgrade speakers and amps constantly actually need to upgrade their room acoustics and/or placement.
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post #25 of 29
5/14/08 at 2:54pm
when the cone to frame surrounds finally rot off your old speakers. or, more realistically, when you just want to - because you can !
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post #26 of 29
5/14/08 at 3:06pm
Thread Starter 
I originally started this thread to see the buying habits of the members. It seems like some members buy speaker every month or so claiming that this pair is the best for what a month or so. With that in mind I went to my dealer today and listened to several pairs of speakers. First for background I own B&W 685's running off of a older Yamaha amp with a SVS PB-10 providing the bass below 80 hz. I also listen to all my music in 2.1 and my kick ass wife let me put up acoustic paneling and bass traps in our living room. I rate my system at a 9 out of 10 because there is always room for improvement. I have been looking a floor standing speakers for a dedicated 2.0 room with a amp and two speakers.
So my first pair I listened to was the B&W 684 , my dealer did not have the 683 or 703's in stock even for demo. I rate them at 5 out of 10. The top end sounded great and the mids were ok but the bottom end was not there at all.
Next up B&W CM7. A very nice speaker to look at but sounded muddy and had no low end at all also I even ask the dealer that we were in pure direct mode with no crossover and it was in pure direct.
Next was my pick the 704. Holy Cow this is a speaker. I rate them a 9.5 out of ten. The top end and the mids were just awesome. The bottom end was better but I think I would use a sub crossed over at 60 hz.
Finally we went to the $$$$$$$ room with the 802D's and the two biggest MAC mono amps I have ever seen. This was kick ass. I found no flaws at all except I could never pay that kind of money for speakers ever. Even if I was a millionaire that is just too much coin.
So after all this listening I am really happy with my set up that easily beat the 684 and the CM7. However I could see the 704 and maybe a SVS SB12 sitting in a room but did they sound $3000 good well yes but I love my current system and I have a small house so I think the bookshelves are the perfect size and I will be happy with my current system for many years to come hopefully 3 to 5 years if not longer unless I buy a bigger home.
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post #27 of 29
5/14/08 at 7:29pm
Longfellow, judging by the pics that you provide of your system, you need to first find a way to get your B&Ws down closer to ear level, not unless you listen to your stuff standing up. That is something you can do that will boost sound quality for no money. Second if you wanna buy speakers, you should buy some B&Ws for the center and surrounds to match the right and left which will boost performance of HT greatly. Now if you're way more of a music guy, I completely understand and everyone has their priorities. And trash the tube TV, it's a piece of sh!t. Just kidding, I have a XBR 970, I'm the one with the P.O.S
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post #28 of 29
5/14/08 at 7:34pm
If you can't get those front mains down to ear level, at least angle them down so that they are not firing above your head. Same thing with your center. Should help the imaging quite a bit.

But regarding the need to buy new speakers, I've had mine for over 10 years and I have no desire to upgrade...........................yet.
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post #29 of 29
5/14/08 at 8:26pm
get your system setup correctly (tweeters at ear level) and it will sound just like an upgrade in speakers, except for free (minus possible cost of speaker stands).

Simply setting up the system correctly with your listening position in a good spot and speakers not too close to boundaries will make vast improvements.
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