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my own "little" speaker quest - Page 4

post #91 of 125
1/15/09 at 6:44am
Thread Starter 
So you think the set from Paradigm would be a big step back? I thought it would be more of a sidestep from what I've read.

I loved the sound. But honestly, I really liked the sound that I had before with my little rocket tykes from av123. I want something that sounds good to really good and looks great. The sierras just didn't fit with the overall look of my room.

Thanks for the Polk RTi A7 suggestion!

Anything else? Perhaps Def Tech.
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post #92 of 125
1/15/09 at 7:06am
Paradigm is a very good company. but you really need to go listen for yourself and see what appeals to you.
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post #93 of 125
1/15/09 at 7:14am
Thread Starter 
I hear you and I fully intend on doing so. I was just surprised to hear that all the options I posted were thought to be a step backward in SQ. I didn't know if that was the opinion of one or the opinion of many.
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post #94 of 125
1/15/09 at 8:44am
If you don't mind used then 311computer.net is selling off their demo Tannoy Revolution Signatures.

- front towers for $800
- centre for $400
- rear bookshelves for $700

(MSRP for this set is $4550)

I've never heard these, but they get rave reviews.

Or IndependentAudioVideo.com has the DC4 bookshelves, refurbed at $475 each. 5 would be slightly over your budget but would fit standing under your screen.
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post #95 of 125
1/15/09 at 9:03am
Quote:
Originally Posted by tpLouKY View Post

The sierras just didn't fit with the overall look of my room.

Did you have the piano black or naturals? What stands did you use?

I just heard a pair of MA RS6's and would suggest a listen.
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post #96 of 125
1/15/09 at 11:39am
Thread Starter 
they were piano black and sitting on their sides on a media cabinet (pic above)
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post #97 of 125
1/15/09 at 12:20pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ericm83 View Post



Those look really sharp paired with the stands, almost like an actual tower. I've seen the Sierra's on those stands in person and they look even better.

Quote:
Originally Posted by tpLouKY View Post

So you think the set from Paradigm would be a big step back? I thought it would be more of a sidestep from what I've read.

I do, yes. In my opinion you'd have to move into the Paradigm Studio line to get competitive with the Sierra's. Perhaps you could find some used Studio 60's or 100's on audiogon? Although, I doubt you'd be able to fit the entire 5.1 system into your budget if you went with the Studio towers. Bummer.

Well, like rydenfan said, listen to everything you can. Also, if you liked the AV123 speakers so much, why not give their ELT or x-series a shot?
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post #98 of 125
1/15/09 at 2:12pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by tpLouKY View Post

they were piano black and sitting on their sides on a media cabinet (pic above)

Sitting them on their side could have been another problem unless you had 3 of the Sierra centers. For them to sound proper the tweeter needs to be turned if you are laying them on their side. It is also best to have speakers away from any reflective surfaces. So for bookshelves putting them on stands and pulling the away from walls is ideal. If they must go on a cabinet make sure that they are pulled up to the front edge. I'm not sure you may have had them pulled forward, I just couldn't see the photo you posted above.

edit: I think Nuance might be on the right track to suggest looking at the used market. You can get some great deals on audiogon/ebay.
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post #99 of 125
1/15/09 at 2:38pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ericm83 View Post

Sitting them on their side could have been another problem unless you had 3 of the Sierra centers. For them to sound proper the tweeter needs to be turned if you are laying them on their side. It is also best to have speakers away from any reflective surfaces. So for bookshelves putting them on stands and pulling the away from walls is ideal. If they must go on a cabinet make sure that they are pulled up to the front edge. I'm not sure you may have had them pulled forward, I just couldn't see the photo you posted above.

+1. I missed the part about them laying on their sides. Unless you purchased three centers, this isn't ideal for sound quality. But you said you like the sound so... Anyway, I wish you the best on your quest.
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post #100 of 125
1/15/09 at 4:23pm
How about Totem? Someone is selling a 5 piece Forest for $3000. Perhaps they would split it up and be close to your budget. I've never heard them but they are on my short demo list when a 2 channel system comes around.

http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls....est---model-1-
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post #101 of 125
1/15/09 at 5:11pm
Thread Starter 
the sierras were all set up as centers and sounded really great.
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post #102 of 125
1/15/09 at 10:30pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by cschang View Post

Well, I think it depends on how small. Even a little toe-in with the speakers that close to the wall will still have a lot of reflection.

Draw a line parallel with the front speaker baffle and perpendicular with the side wall, and imagine how much toe-in you need to move that intersection a certain distance.

What if he put some acoustic panel at the reflection points along the side walls? Would that help? I ask because i will build a small HT room and consider to use floor speaker as well since i dont have any cabinet to begin with. I have considered bookselfs but stands cost too much for their functionality.
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post #103 of 125
1/19/09 at 4:08pm
Thread Starter 
I went to audition the monitor audio rs6's today. Long story short, I loved music on them (in 2 channel). Very clean, musical and loud. I was, however, quite disappointed once I went 5.1 and put in a bluray. The center channel (RSLCR) seem flat and anemic. Especially with voices.

I'm now beginning to realize how incredible the sierras sound. (I still have them.) I've been watching Ratatouille on Bluray and have been wowed again by their depth and purity.

So now I'm either going to be keeping the sierra's or raising my budget to get a front three with comparable sound to the Sierras. I have to get the Sierras back by the 26th to get a full refund. So I've got a couple of days.

Nuance and others have said the Paradigm Studio series would be a good direction to head. I may have to purchase the two mains first and wait a year or so for the center channel. I'm thinking 1500-2000 for the left and right towers. Any suggestions?

As always, your comments and recommendations are always appreciated!
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post #104 of 125
1/19/09 at 4:11pm
From your posts, I thought you sent the Sierras back already. Can you show a picture of what they look like in your room?
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post #105 of 125
1/20/09 at 10:44am
Thread Starter 
Sure thing...

With grills


Without grills


Closeup 1


Closeup 2
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post #106 of 125
1/20/09 at 10:47am
Thanks. I may be biased, but I like the look. Maybe the natural color would blend better with the room.
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post #107 of 125
1/20/09 at 12:42pm
Thread Starter 
After my strikeout with the RS lineup from Monitor Audio, I'm closer and closer to just sticking with this setup. It really does sound phenomenal. And the looks are growing on me. Anybody else have an opinion on either the looks of the sierras or a speaker I should check out?
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post #108 of 125
1/20/09 at 1:14pm
If you do stick with the Sierras, I would suggest contacting Ascend and trying their Q plugs.
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post #109 of 125
1/20/09 at 1:25pm
Thread Starter 
what do they do?
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post #110 of 125
1/20/09 at 1:26pm
Just curious: at what height are your speakers? Having the three speakers is great, especially if they are high enough, and you can really take advantage of surround music if you are interested.

I really like the look of your set-up.
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post #111 of 125
1/20/09 at 1:35pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by tpLouKY View Post

what do they do?

Here is the announcement with good info.
http://forum.ascendacoustics.com/showthread.php?t=3781
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post #112 of 125
1/20/09 at 1:39pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by mziegler View Post

Just curious: at what height are your speakers? Having the three speakers is great, especially if they are high enough, and you can really take advantage of surround music if you are interested.

I really like the look of your set-up.

Thanks. The midpoint of the speakers is right at 23".
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post #113 of 125
1/20/09 at 1:54pm
Wow the Sierras look great in your setup. They really compliment the clean and minimal look of your room! So if they sound great keep them.

How far away do you sit?
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post #114 of 125
1/20/09 at 1:58pm
Thread Starter 
The room is 12.5'x13.5'. The speakers and screen are on the 12.5' wall.

I'm roughly 9 feet away from the speakers. (And about two feet away from the back wall.) Still playing around with it a bit.
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post #115 of 125
1/20/09 at 2:02pm
That height will work well.

While the HTM-200s would work well for surround, a couple of Sierras on the Ascend stands would be phenomenal for 5 channel audio.

Either finish for the speakers should look really good in your room, but I would have leaned toward the natural finish like cschang.
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post #116 of 125
1/20/09 at 9:52pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by tpLouKY View Post

I went to audition the monitor audio rs6's today. Long story short, I loved music on them (in 2 channel). Very clean, musical and loud. I was, however, quite disappointed once I went 5.1 and put in a bluray. The center channel (RSLCR) seem flat and anemic. Especially with voices.

I'm now beginning to realize how incredible the sierras sound. (I still have them.) I've been watching Ratatouille on Bluray and have been wowed again by their depth and purity.

So now I'm either going to be keeping the sierra's or raising my budget to get a front three with comparable sound to the Sierras. I have to get the Sierras back by the 26th to get a full refund. So I've got a couple of days.

Nuance and others have said the Paradigm Studio series would be a good direction to head. I may have to purchase the two mains first and wait a year or so for the center channel. I'm thinking 1500-2000 for the left and right towers. Any suggestions?

As always, your comments and recommendations are always appreciated!

Well, in that case, check out the Salk SongTower's. I've heard nothing better under $3500, and if you are considering the ribbon tweeter version (out of your budget), I've heard nothing better in the midrange department under $5000 (because I haven't head the HT3's yet ). Just my $0.02. I am an owner, so you can call me bias. Heck, we're all bias concerning what we own.
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post #117 of 125
1/20/09 at 10:01pm
I'll just say again, you could throw circa 1988 Cerwin Vega's in that room and it would still be beautiful!
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post #118 of 125
1/21/09 at 1:09pm
Thread Starter 
It's official. I'm sticking with the sierras. They just sound so good. For the price, I'm absolutely blown away. Watched Casino Royale on bluray and listened to some great music today. Thanks so much for all of your help guys. I really appreciate it. On my own, I would have been absolutely hopeless.
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post #119 of 125
1/21/09 at 1:26pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by tpLouKY View Post

It's official. I'm sticking with the sierras. They just sound so good. For the price, I'm absolutely blown away. Watched Casino Royale on bluray and listened to some great music today. Thanks so much for all of your help guys. I really appreciate it. On my own, I would have been absolutely hopeless.

nice choice, Sierra is on my list as well. Did you get all 5 of them?

Where is the sub?
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post #120 of 125
1/21/09 at 1:39pm
Thread Starter 
just 3. the back two are htm 200se's. the sub is currently in the back where my wife likes it. (av123 mfw15).
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