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Best bookshelf speakers for movie watching?

post #1 of 21
Thread Starter 
Starting a home theater system. I have a denon Reciever and a set of cheap insignia speakers. I am starting off slow, I want to build a 7.1 system in the next few years. First I want to find a good set of Bookshelf front L/R speakers. They will be used mostly for watching movies, a little bit of video games and music. I am about to buy a $2,300 TV, so I'm slowly building a home theater system. I am looking to spend no more then $500 on a pair of speakers, hopefully less than that. I'll be living in an apartment, so probably a 10x10 or 12x12 living room. Any recommendations?
post #2 of 21
Quote:
Originally Posted by superman55x View Post

Starting a home theater system. I have a denon Reciever and a set of cheap insignia speakers. I am starting off slow, I want to build a 7.1 system in the next few years. First I want to find a good set of Bookshelf front L/R speakers. They will be used mostly for watching movies, a little bit of video games and music. I am about to buy a $2,300 TV, so I'm slowly building a home theater system. I am looking to spend no more then $500 on a pair of speakers, hopefully less than that. I'll be living in an apartment, so probably a 10x10 or 12x12 living room. Any recommendations?

Energy rc-10s! +matching center!(if they are still on sale at vanns). Hsu hb1 mk2s (or their enthusiast package) are good too
post #3 of 21
Those HSU HB1's are a pretty good deal for HT with 90+ db sensitivity and smooth on/off axis response.

http://www.hsuresearch.com/reviews/StereomojoReview.pdf
post #4 of 21
Whatever bookshelves you got make sure it's 89dB+ sensitivity. Accuracy isn't as important.

Ascend CBM-170SE looks good as well.
post #5 of 21
Quote:
Originally Posted by Veda View Post

Whatever bookshelves you got make sure it's 89dB+ sensitivity. Accuracy isn't as important.

Ascend CBM-170SE looks good as well.

I got a pair of them last month and they sound amazing to me. Very smooth sounding speaker, and when turned up, don't sound bright or ear piercing. I was watching Incubus-Live At Red Rocks on BD in 2-channel lossless with one of my Athena AS-B1's on the right channel and a CBM-170SE on the left. While both had nice midbass, the CBM-170 had more impact in the bass notes of the kickdrum as well as the bass guitar. Brandon's voice came across very smooth, and they had a nice midrange.
post #6 of 21
Quote:
Originally Posted by Veda View Post

Whatever bookshelves you got make sure it's 89dB+ sensitivity. Accuracy isn't as important.

I disagree with that. OP is in a very small room. Sensitivity is always ideal, but it isn't the #1 criteria.
post #7 of 21
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jay1 View Post

I disagree with that. OP is in a very small room. Sensitivity is always ideal, but it isn't the #1 criteria.

In that case then... Get the Ascends since it's probably the most accurate bookshelf around that price range. Check out the freq response graph...
post #8 of 21
Thread Starter 
Thanks, I ended up buying the Energy CR-10's now, what is a good center speaker for less then 200?
post #9 of 21
When you bought those Energy you were planning to use the matching center from the same Energy line right?
post #10 of 21
Quote:
Originally Posted by superman55x View Post

Thanks, I ended up buying the Energy CR-10's now, what is a good center speaker for less then 200?

Is that a typo? Did you mean the RC-10s? The cr-10s http://www.vanns.com/shop/servlet/it...38/energy-cr10 are good for surrounds as dipole/bipole but the wrong speaker to get as mains.
post #11 of 21
Yes, I hope you meant RC-10s. If you did get RC-10s try to squeeze $50 more out of your budget and get the RC LCR center, you wont regret it.

http://www.vanns.com/shop/servlet/it..._c=site_search
post #12 of 21
Quote:
Originally Posted by Veda View Post

In that case then... Get the Ascends since it's probably the most accurate bookshelf around that price range. Check out the freq response graph...

The most accurate loudspeaker isn't always the most pleasant to listen to.

Always audition.
post #13 of 21
Thread Starter 
Ok, so it's been about 8 months since I bought these, and I have been using them for about 3 months, the RC-10 left and right speakers. I haven't bought a center speaker yet, and I am looking to purchase it in the next month or two. The one that was mentioned above is the RC LCR Center Speaker which has greatly increased in price. Now I am looking for a different one because of the price range. I'm looking to spend no more then 200 on the center speaker. But if there is one that is 10 times better for a little more, I am willing to go up. It would be a plus if it could fit in a 7 1/2 inch (height) X 13 inch(side to side) shelf. I am building an entertainment center and I would love for it to fit in the area I am building. If not I might be able to make adjustments. Any advise on what speaker to buy and where would be greatly appreciated. I watch Blu-Ray movies and video games mostly, a little bit of music.
post #14 of 21
Damn, I was gonna suggest Klipsch Rb-61 ii.
post #15 of 21
Quote:
Originally Posted by superman55x View Post

Ok, so it's been about 8 months since I bought these, and I have been using them for about 3 months, the RC-10 left and right speakers. I haven't bought a center speaker yet, and I am looking to purchase it in the next month or two. The one that was mentioned above is the RC LCR Center Speaker which has greatly increased in price. Now I am looking for a different one because of the price range. I'm looking to spend no more then 200 on the center speaker. But if there is one that is 10 times better for a little more, I am willing to go up. It would be a plus if it could fit in a 7 1/2 inch (height) X 13 inch(side to side) shelf. I am building an entertainment center and I would love for it to fit in the area I am building. If not I might be able to make adjustments. Any advise on what speaker to buy and where would be greatly appreciated. I watch Blu-Ray movies and video games mostly, a little bit of music.

You really need the center to match the front speakers. There may be a lower line center that is still timbre matched, or maybe you can find one used, or wait for a deal. I think it will be hard to find a decent center less than 13 inches wide, I'd do some research and modify your plans... and with that sooner is always better.
post #16 of 21
Quote:
Originally Posted by Veda View Post


In that case then... Get the Ascends since it's probably the most accurate bookshelf around that price range. Check out the freq response graph...

You might wanna check out HTM's measurements of NHT's Absolute Zero.
post #17 of 21
Thread Starter 
Would the absolute Zero as a center speaker go well with my RC-10's as Left and Right Front speakers?
post #18 of 21
Would recommend you don't switch brands between your fronts and center. Maybe pick up a single RC-10 if you can or the matching center.
post #19 of 21
Maybe I am in the minority here, but I really dont think a slightly mismatched center makes any difference for movie watching. I have never noticed a difference between when I had 5 matching monitors, or when I have had them mismatched. Now I wouldnt want a Klipsch center with B&W LT/RT's maybe, but if they are anywhere near close, you will not notice. For music, it is another story, but I dislike multi-channel music anyway, so the center does not come into play.
And you have a wonderful set of mains there, I have the RC-10's also, and currently using a Polk center, which I have no problem with.
John
post #20 of 21
If you don't want to go with an Energy center the Absolute Zero could work, but to my ears it is noticeably brighter than the RC-10 (I've owned or auditioned both in home). The Cambridge Audio S50 might be a better match. (I haven't heard any of the Polk centers in a long time.)

Have you considered looking for a used RC-LCR or another RC-10 used? In the Energy Owners thread there are several posts mentioning three RC-10's as good solution (esp. when the RC-LCR's became hard to find).
post #21 of 21
If you can not find the RC center for a good price - then look for
the former C sreies, C3 center channel.
Look on Ebay
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Energy-Connoisseur-C-C3-Center-Channel-Speaker-MINT-c-c3b-1-/181053191431?pt=Speakers_Subwoofers&hash=item2a279c7507
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