Speakers for music listening on a Denon 2112

Energy RC-10s
Hsu Research HB-1
Wharfedale Diamond 10.1

for a sub, try a hsu research stf-1 or stf-2.

I have the Cambridge S30s and Energy RC-10s and like the RC-10s much better.

Just a suggestion, but why the 2112? Unless you need the additional features, the Denon 1612 would work very well for a 2.1 channel system, and it can be had for $200 right now from Amazon and Buy.com because the 1613 just came out. Hometheater.com gave it an excellent review, and they measured it's 2 channel output as 118 watts, and over 70 watts for 5.1. That would give you much more to put in your speakers and sub, which is where you'd get the most sound quality benefit using your budget.

I have used the Ascend Acoustics CBM-170 SE in my home theater for the past 5 years or so, both for movies and music, and I think that it still outperforms any other bookshelf speaker in its price class (that I've heard).

Impressed with the denon

2112 has MultiEQ XT/upscale conversion/More inputs. I'd probably go with the 1712 over the 1612 just for the XT.

That's beside the point... The HSU HB-1 are wondeful speakers for music. You'll be extremely happy that you purchased. If you do purchase the HB-1, they'll give you a CD to help calibrate your system manually to your particular ear.

Energy RC-10s are comparable to the HB-1, you cannot go worth with either.

HB-1 can also be used in a HT setup without any problems.

Thanks for posting this. I had no idea how conservative Denon's numbers were.

You would get a little SQ benefit from the 2112 over the 1612. But I would choose the 1612 and push the edge of my budget on speakers and sub, rather than pairing the Cambridge S30s with the 2112.

For speakers, I agree with the Energy RC-10s, HSU HB-1s, and Ascend Acoustics CBM-170 SEs. And right now for this weekend only, the Energy S10.3 subwoofer is $199 with promo code EMCYTZT1533.

Put a Stethoscope on the 1612 or the 2112 receiver, then you tell
me which sounds better. Speaker tastes vary - however, this is a
subjective review from a Cambridge owner - it still comes down to
you, and you alone.
http://www.amazon.com/Cambridge-Audi...owViewpoints=1

The Energy sub would be a good option to look at.

The review states the Wharfedales are better than the Cambridge.

Yes the reviewer preferred the Wharfedale overall - they are a
popular speaker. I have too many speakers - and maybe some
day I will hear them. Due to limited space - I will have to find
a new home, for my modded S30 - the audio train moves on.

It was reccomended in post #10
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...=1fs7a420cqtzz

The S10.3 IS perhaps the best budget subwoofer for music for under $300. You aren't going to find anything as good at a store for under $300. Store subs are MSRP are a rip off for what you get.

Bose all the way

a.this is the worst suggestion, ever.

b. you provide no support regarding item "a".

c. quit trolling Mr. 4 post count.

d. you are obviously a bose rep, judging by your other pro-bose posts.

Based on the reviews and anecdotes I've read, I find the Cambridge S30 rather intriguing--I'll have to listen to it myself one of these days to see (or rather hear) what it's all about. It's extremely impressive that Cambridge was able to achieve such good sound using such a basic crossover, and to get such bass performance out of a small package at this price point--whoever designed those drivers could rightfully pat themselves on the back until they're sore.

That said, it should be noted that with small size comes some limitations. If you like to play music or movies loud, then the bass and maybe even the mid-bass performance of the S30 is not going to hold up. I don't own one, but I just can't see how a small midwoofer can push out loud bass without major excursion capability (except for near the bass reflex tuning frequency), which would be evident in the size and/or shape of the driver's surround (I would think), and the S30 midwoofer's surround looks pretty ordinary. If I'm wrong then let me know, but you can't get around physics.

Then there is the manufacturer's unqualified sensitivity rating of 90 dB, which as an efficiency rating that most people would expect, seems way too high for a small speaker tuned to such a low frequency--in every other speaker I know of, even far more expensive ones, something has to give with these parameters, and in this case it should be efficiency. If the sensitivity were, for example, measured at a single frequency at which the impedance is, say, 4 ohms, and the speaker was measured in quarter-space (i.e. in a corner), then the sensitivity rating could theoretically be inflated by as much as 9 dB total over a 1 watt in full-space (i.e. anechoic) measurement. It's probably not off by that much, but at the same time it's unlikely to be 90 dB by most measures.

Don't take this as a putdown of the S30 by any means--I'm just saying that despite its impressive capabilities, it's still a small speaker in some fundamental respects, and this should be taken into account when comparing it to other speakers (many of which suffer from the inconvenience and ugliness of larger size in order to gain some capabilities of their own).

By the way, it is interesting that the reviewer on Amazon considers the two most objectively accurate speakers of the bunch, the Behringer B2030P and the Ascend CBM-170 SE, both studio monitors (although the CBM was designed for audiophiles and home theater as well), to be "sterile and lifeless" (more than a few people say this about monitors in general, for some reason). I've listened to them both (especially the CBM, as I own a set), and I totally disagree, as they sound very lively to me when the material is, but of course we all hear differently and would form different opinions on top of that anyway. Ultimately, only your own ears can tell you what you like.

Thank you for your comments, and I respect them. They do not play like
90db sensitive speakers. Placing the tweeter on top of the woofer like
that, works well with the stock crossover. The woofer cone is bigger than
your average 4 1/2 inch > they are more like a 5 inch one - however, not
5 1/4 inch. They have useable bass close to 60 hz - you will not get the
bass impact of bigger speakers - however the bass is tight and controlled
and really musical. The speakers are 9 inch tall and 9 inch deep. When I
first got them, I gave them a shake-down with no sub > with movies like
Iron Man 2, The Day that the Earth Stood Still, and Knowing. In a 12 x
20 room without mancave volume, they can do good - however, the sub
is always reccomended and they can go somewhat louder - if you desire
true mancave volume, then pick another speaker. They do still remain my
favorite budget speaker and I am still OK, when people do choose another
speaker. The Cambride/Mordaunt Short owners, do good work.