Legacy, RBH, OR Monitor Audio 5.1 set-up? Huge $$$ decison that I do not want to regret.

******** I ADDED THE RBH REFERENCE LINE TO THIS THREAD, AS THOSE ARE NOW A CONSIDERATION AS WELLL**************

Folks, I really apologize for posting so much regarding my speaker selection. The issue is that there are so many out there, that it is difficult to make a decision, and I do not want to have any remorse, especially when spending this kind of money. To make a difficult situation even harder, there are no locations nearby (within a 200-mile radius) that I can audition all of the speakers that I am interested in.

I really enjoy a nice midrange/mid-bass with clear crystal bring highs. I guess that in the audio world I favor brighter more in your face speakers. The speakers will be installed in a relatively small den (14 x10 with 8-9 feet ceiling). Pictures of the den are below (speakers are all gone).

I am using a Denon 4311 as the amplifier and sound processor. Will this receiver provide enough power for what I am seeking, or will I need an external amplifier? If not, would the Emotiva XPA-5 be a good amplifier to drive the system? The system is hooked up with an Oppo DBP 103 and Sony XBR 929 55-inch TV. The power conditioner is a Panamax M5300 PM. Speaker cables are Audioquest Type 2 and HDMI cables are Audioquest Cinnamon series. The bass is handled by an SVS PB12 +2 (one subwoofer box with two 12-inch woofers).

I like a lot of mid-bass/midrange that can blend in with the sub and not leave a gap in the frequency response. I like to listen at loud volumes with no distortion with very bright, detailed, and clear highs. The system will be used for around 50% music and 50% TV and movies, but I LOVE musical speakers, and really crave loud and clean bright high frequencies with a tight and punchy midrange. If not, the bass of the SVS dominates the arena.

Based on the above criteria, what would you select from the systems listed below:

1) Monitor Audio GX300 towers, GX350 center, RXFX surrounds

OR

2) Legacy Classic HD towers, Silverscreen center, and Deco as surrounds

OR

3) RBH Reference SX-8300/R towers, SX-661C/R center, SX-44/R surrounds (WILL NOT BE ABLE TO AUDION THESE, AS RBH HAS NO DEALERS WITH INVENTORY)

By reading the specs on the RBH, it appears like they are power hungry, and operate at a lower sensitivity, almost making an external amp a ncessity? The 6300/R towers would suit my needs a lot better, but they are out of cabinets until next year.

The MA’s are rated at 8 ohms while the Legacy at 4 ohms. The Legacy’s also have a higher rated sensitivity. Does this mean that they will play louder with less amplification, even at 4 ohms? Will the Denon 4311 handle 4-ohm duties?

I had the opportunity to listed to the Monitor Audio GX 300 towers and fell in love with the midrange and highs. I just wish that it had another 6 ½ inch driver. They are rated to operate as low as 30 hertz and go all of the way up to 60K in the high end. I have NOT had the opportunity to listed to Legacy as of yet.

PS: I was also considering the Aperion Grand set-up, but they are out of the surounds until next year. I do not believe that they are in the same league as the ones mentioned above?

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Edited by addictaudio - 11/13/12 at 5:17pm

Anyone?

Thanks guys for the replies. Per my past, I was able to audition the GX300 towers, but NOT the entire 5-speaker set-up that I am looking for, as the dealer had non in stock. Mind you that I had to drive 220 miles each way to a dealer that had any stock of the MA GX series. So this is as good as it gets for an audition. Now for the Legacy, I will have to travel 220 miles each way or so as well to audition them, but as with the MA dealer, they ONLY have the Legacy Classic HD towers in stock, and do not have the center or surround channels. So I will have to base my decision basically upon listening to the towers for both brands.

For now, my question is which of the two set-ups are better speakers, regarding the quality and build, and materials used for the cabinets, speakers, tweeters, crossovers, etc...? Has anyone auditioned and/or seen the models that I am interested in person?

Thank you for letting me know that the Denon will provide the power needed to drive either set-up. FYI, the towers will also be biwired, as I will only be running a 5.1 set-up. For those asking for the size of the rooom, please see the two pictures and description in the 1st post.

PS: Chris, what are the contradictions in my desires? Seriously though, I re-read my post and saw none? Am I asking for two much from the set-up? Do I need to compromise somewhere?

Oh man. I followed my installers recommendation already, and the wires are already ran through the walls and such, so I have no choice now. Are there any drawbacks? Should I remove the wires that are already ran through the walls and through the wall plates, or leave it as is? Prior to the project, and upon my inquries to some speaker manufacturers, most of them did recommend the biwiring.

Thanks:) Not sure if I described "in your face" correctly either, LOL. They just felt forward, clear, and bright. I listened to Phil Collins DVD last farewell tour in France and to Andrea Bocelli's Blue Ray live in Tuscany. So you feel that the Denon 4311 supplies enough power? I became tempted with Emotiva's holiday sale. The XPA-5 is now $769, and the XPA-3 is $599.00. Really good prices, but of course I do not want to waste money if the separate amplifiers will not make the speakers sound any better or provide any additional benefits. One issue though, per the pictures, is that I do not have any visible room for the amplifier, as the audio/video rack is full. I guess that I could improvise if need be for an external amplifier.

Please fell free to opinionate on the choices. I know that sound is subjective, but perhaps you could comment on the quality of the materials of the drivers, frequency response, ribbon tweeters, cabinets, 4 ohm versus the 8 ohm in relation to how the Denon will handle the load. I was told that the Denon will get really hot with 4 ohm speakers? The dealer that I auditioned the MA GX300 (8 ohm) was only using a 100 watt per channel Marantz to power the towers, center, and surrounds. After 10 minutes or so of auditioning them at higher levels, the receiver was getting too hot and shutting down. I hope that the 4311 does not do the same.

Wow, so you were powering your system with the Bryston, then sold the amplifier, and now you power the system just with the Denon 4311? May I ask why you got the amp. and then sold it? Did you have the 4311 before you got the amp, then got the amp, and then realized that you did not need it? Which Salk's do you have?

/\ /\ /\ Clear as water now;-) folks, I please need some input, especially if you have any experience with these speaker models.

/\ /\ Thanks. Believe me, I have searched the entire internet and read most if not all reviews out there. I will experiment without an external amp at first, and can always add one later, if necessary. My main issue is that I do not have the room fir an amplifier on my rack.

OMG, someone just posted a video on Youtube of the Legacy Classic HD on a two-channel set-up. I know that one should not audition or judge speakers via computer speakers, but these sound awesome. Just listen to that high end on these. Below is a link to the video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVeJLWg-BGc

Thanks JD. What subwoofer(s) are you running with the system? Do you have the 300's set to large, LFE plus mains?

PS: I revised this thread to now include RBH Reference SX line of speakers. The 1st post was revised accordingly with additional information. Please re-read if you have patience:) Sorry for the inconvenience:D
Edited by addictaudio - 11/13/12 at 5:18pm

whatever the above retail for, but my choices have boiled down to those three above possibilities.

Any more input or opinions, especially from those that own or have auditioned the brands and models that I have listed above?

Hi Brian, out of my research and auditioning, those are my only three options. I have my personal reasons as well for narrowing them down to the options that I afformentioned on my 1st post on this thread. Thank you for your understanding.