The best big-cinema-like HT speakers for >$500/pr???

If it's clarity you're looking for, Klipsch would be my first stop... maybe a bookshelf from the reference line. I would also look at Axiom and the HSU HB-1 MK2 as far as ID brands go. The HSU HB-1 MK2 in particular is a high-sensitivity horn design that still gets rave reviews for music as well.

Funny, but I have found the exact opposite. Getting music right is, in my opinion, MUCH harder than getting HT right. Everytime I have set up a multi-channel music system it has sounded great with movies. I believe that most, if not all, would agree. If the speakers you own sound fine for music then what, exactly, do you find that they do with music that they do not do with movies? Is it pure volume you are looking for? Is it that "slam" that is in the 40Hz range and below that is missing? What, exactly????

I would look at a pair of JBL L830's or if you want a pair you can mount on wall, L820.

I know exactly what you are talking about. A cinema(just like a home) has to be calibrated and setup correctly to sound its best. When it is done right, it is awesome. I did the same thing you did. Unfortunately the price for admission was higher. This is for performance to equal or exceed the theater. Small bookshelves won't give you that huge sound of the theater. People told me is was because of the room but it was not. It is the speaker and equipment. The room is very important(2nd most important) for sounding good but not for the big sound of the theater(in my room anyway.)

your room is small and square which is the worst for acoustics. have you considered maybe it's not the speakers that are problematic? have your run MCACC?

as to throwing power at it, how much power could you possibly need for a 10x10 room? all the speakers you have discussed are plenty efficient to produce ear-splitting volume in a room that size.

also, perhaps it's the sub that needs upgrading for better HT impact.

the RC-10's and Studio 20's are awesome speakers, so you certainly couldn't go wrong with them, especially for a room that size. but if you're looking for that high-impact HT sound the suggestion of klipsch may work better as some really like the horn tweeters for HT. maybe find a killer pair of used klipsch towers?

Yeah you want Klipsch. That kind of sound is their forte.

For over a year I have had very good experience with PSB T45, they do good for music and HT. Very efficient with 93dB sensitivity. Nice tight bass, but don't expect monster bass, leave this to your sub. Detailed and clear, not fatiguing, somewhat forward, which I like when watching movies, as it brings the action closer. You can find them new for $499.00 (maple only), or $515.00 (black). PM me and I will tell you where I bought them.

Not a fan of Klipsch, as I find them fatiguing when playing music.But, for movies I've found the RF series to be very good. If most of your time is spent watching movies, this is a must audition. You might want to audition the RF-35, which can be had new A-Stock for $499.00 pair. This speaker was built until 2006, and was the replacement for the RF-3, which was the #1 selling speaker in North America.

Those two, are a must audition.

Be advised that my suggestions are based solely on movie performance, and do not take into account your room conditions. For your room size I would seriously consider something smaller, like Klipsch RB-51, PSB B25, or HSU HB-1. I prefer the PSB, because it is front ported, and can be placed closer to the wall than the Klipsch or HSU. Add one of HSU excellent subs, like the STF-1, and your 10 x 10 room will become a great movie room. If the room is not carpeted, add an area rug, and install a couple of sound deadening devices in your walls and sound will improve.

If you want to really feel the movie and be deaf later in life, go for the RF-35; they will not dissapoint you. If planning to hear music every now and then, go for the T45's. Again take in consideration port location, as you have a very small room, and might not want to place the front speakers more than 6" to 12" from the wall.

Great for DJ's, auditoriums, and institutional use. Can play loud, just like Cerwin Vega, EV, Peavey, etc. Not the best sound quality. If you want to party hard, good speakers to have. When in college ('87 - '92) had a a pair of Peavey's in my college dorm room (from my High School DJ days), with a pair of Peavey CS800 amps, Technics 1200's and a DJ console and what a party.

JTR is a very good HT speaker, http://www.jtrspeakers.com/triple12.html - I believe that is what MK is using.

It is not about just playing loud. I would think the size of your sound should be dependent on the size of your screen(for movies). I want my dialog to sound like it is coming from the screen and not a speaker. When a musical score hits a loud note it has to be loud and fill the whole room with hair standing music. Not all great speakers do this. Many do one thing but not both and the ones that do both do it to a certain degree. It also depends on the equipment you have. If you have neutral to bright speakers and use neutral to bright equipment the sound at high levels will become too much and lose detail. I really believe in system synergy. I used Klipsch THX ultra 2 speakers and it was OK with Ada equipment. I then switched to McIntosh and the Klipsch came alive and were breath taken(I did mention this is for movies). I then put in M&K speakers(S-5000THX) and it was not quite as good until I matched them with Ada equipment. The JTR's loved the Ada equipment as well. My JBL's are huge sounding speakers but lack what I am looking for with my Ada(just a little less detail) but once again I am buying McIntosh since they matched well with horns before. I will see. I love horns for theater and when matched with the right equipment can sound great with music(I like planars the best for music). I like the idea of the HSU horn speakers for a cheaper way to get into horns. I have not heard them but you can always return them. If the HSU's are not what you are looking for I would say M&K's are great(oh wait, they are impossible to find now, that sucks). What horns do is make speakers sound much bigger than they are and makes that big presentation for film. You just need to find the right sound with them and your gear. The JTR's use a coaxial design and rather than a horn it uses a midrange woofer to get the same kind of effect. They are probably the best speaker I have heard for both theater and music so far. My goal is the ultimate theater so that is my bias.

That M&K S-125 system is incredible. Not only great for music but great for theater. I love M&K speakers and the S-5000 system is still in my top 3. I have a feeling once I get my mac equipment the JBL's will run away in a land slide for theater. Go audition those M&K's and see if they can give you what you need? If not, good luck. That system was $600 for one speaker and the S-85's surrounds were $400 each. Add an used amp from Ada for $300-$500 and will be in heaven. I have heard M&K on a reciever and it was still quite good.

I really only like certain PA speakers. I have loved the sound of my local cinema and that is how I discovered the screenarrays. I am not familiar with the sound of receivers but get one that is neutral with M&K's. Everyone says their gear is neutral, not true, listen for yourself.

I have a hard time recommending PA/pro gear in general unless you have a relatively large listening area and above average tools for eq correction. Depending on the choice you'll likely still need sub(s). You make a lot of sacrifices in exchange for the level of durability and high SPL output good pro units offer. I certainly don't see doing it right as a way that would allow for a $500 budget. It's just my opinion but I can't process PA gear making sense in a 10x10 or even a 12x15 room. You could definitely blow your ears out though.

My general opinion is that the (very nice) equipment you have should be sufficient to achieve a more up-front presentation with some tweaks to your eq, levels, and crossover settings. Running the sub a little hot (maybe working with placement) and using a higher crossover frequency than usual will give more impact (PA/pro speakers excel at 40-50Hz content which is a lot of the thumping range you might be looking for) and take load of your mains, allowing them to play a bit louder and still hold clear. Combine that with a little eq to tweak the high end and you might be all set with $0 spent.

I would definitely spend a lot of time with that before throwing money at what seems to be a perfectly suitable tool kit.

There's a big difference in PA (Public Address) and Studio Monitors... but both can have negatives in a home-theater environment. Studio Monitors would be a better choice, but make sure they're not near-field monitors... if they are, their frequency response will change when used in a far-field placement and likely become more boomy and less detailed/dynamic.

I don't have any direct experience... just a friend who worked as an assistant in a mixing studio and came across a pair of small powered studio monitors that sounded great as near-field computer speakers, but very boomy in far-field home theater listening.

The small studio monitors will not give you that big cinema sound. I have used a few and to get it the big genelec's are needed and costly. Now having said that you have a small room and some of these speakers may work in your room. The M&K system would be awesome. You can find cheap amps to power them(used Ada, parasound, etc...)

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