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Noob - need advice buying Front/Center Speakers

post #1 of 14
11/20/12 at 6:57pm
Thread Starter 
So I'm pretty much a noob when it comes to speakers. I have a 10 year old Sony all in one 5.1 set, but some of the speakers are on their last legs. I want to upgrade the Front 2 and Center Speakers, with the Surround and Sub later. I also have a Pioneer VSX-818V receiver, and will upgrade to 7.1 probably in 2ish years. We use our speakers for 95% Home Theater use and 5% music.

Here are the speakers I'm looking at:

Pioneer SP-FS52 & SP-C22
Klipsch KF-28 & KC-25 (Advantage: KF-28s are 50% off at Best Buy $225/each for Black Friday)
Polk TSi500 & CS20
HTD Level THREE Front/Center (Disadvantage: Shipping is $378 to Alaska)
Aperion 5T/5C (Disadvantage: Shipping is $178 to Alaska)

I don't want to "settle" per se with half off speakers at Best Buy...I know the KF-28/KC-25 are specially made for sale at Best Buy. I don't mind paying $1500 for 3 speakers...and I like the Aperion/HTD 30 day trial.

Any suggestions? I can't listen to the speakers at Best Buy, at least the one here doesn't have a Home Theater room like most other Best Buys. Thanks much!!!
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post #2 of 14
11/21/12 at 12:29pm
I'd skip the HTD. The shipping just destroys their value. Same with Aperion. You're looking at $400 down the drain if you don't like them.

Do Crutchfield and Amazon ship free to AK? I live in Hawaii so nearly all my stuff comes from them.

If they ship free, look first at Crutchfield. Their 60 day policy is awesome as is their customer service. Amazon has a 30 day return policy. Not sure about return shipping if it's for "I just don't like it" reason.

Lots of great speakers from both. For $1500 from either place you could get a very nice set of speakers. Check out the Yamaha NS series on Amazon.
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post #3 of 14
11/21/12 at 12:41pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kini62 View Post

I'd skip the HTD. The shipping just destroys their value. Same with Aperion. You're looking at $400 down the drain if you don't like them.

Shipping can add up smile.gif > however, the HTD is 102 lbs per pair - while the Aperion is
57 lbs per pair. A difference there in cabinet build for sure. >> One should weigh all
options before reaching a final decision.
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post #4 of 14
11/21/12 at 4:29pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by zieglj01 View Post

Shipping can add up smile.gif > however, the HTD is 102 lbs per pair - while the Aperion is
57 lbs per pair. A difference there in cabinet build for sure. >> One should weigh all
options before reaching a final decision.

Good to see you on multiple forums! I'm still debating...honestly ANYTHING is better than what I have now.
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post #5 of 14
11/21/12 at 4:34pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuck525 View Post

Good to see you on multiple forums! I'm still debating...honestly ANYTHING is better than what I have now.

I tend to be around.smile.gif
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post #6 of 14
11/21/12 at 6:24pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by zieglj01 View Post

Shipping can add up smile.gif > however, the HTD is 102 lbs per pair - while the Aperion is
57 lbs per pair. A difference there in cabinet build for sure. >> One should weigh all
options before reaching a final decision.

But add $400 to the HTD and you can get better speakers for the same or less with some of the free shipping options. Plus if you don't like them you're stuck with them. Which is why I order from Crutchfield and Amazon.
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post #7 of 14
11/21/12 at 6:36pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kini62 View Post

But add $400 to the HTD and you can get better speakers for the same or less with some of the free shipping options. Plus if you don't like them you're stuck with them. Which is why I order from Crutchfield and Amazon.

Maybe yes and maybe no, HTD makes some really nice speakers. However, I agree
one should explore all options, even Amazon and Crutchfield.
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post #8 of 14
11/21/12 at 10:10pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kini62 View Post

But add $400 to the HTD and you can get better speakers for the same or less with some of the free shipping options. Plus if you don't like them you're stuck with them. Which is why I order from Crutchfield and Amazon.

Any suggestions then from crutchfield/Amazon? Again I'm up for ~$1500 for 2 floorstanding and 1 center speaker
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post #9 of 14
11/21/12 at 10:29pm
The Boston A360 is a nice one to look at
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_065A360B/Boston-Acoustics-A-360.html?tp=185

And, the A225C center channel
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_065A225CB/Boston-Acoustics-A-225C.html?tp=189

However 1 each A26 standing-up, would make a good center channel
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_065A26B/Boston-Acoustics-A-26.html?tp=186

Also NHT Absolute Towers
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_228ATB/NHT-Classic-Absolute-Tower.html?tp=185

And Center Channel - Absolute or Classic TwoC
http://www.crutchfield.com/fg_12100_FFBrand%7cNHT/NHT-Center-Channel-Speakers.html?tp=189&avf=N
Edited by zieglj01 - 11/21/12 at 10:40pm
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post #10 of 14
11/21/12 at 10:40pm
Thread Starter 
I havent looked too much into Boston Acoustics. Better then a Polk RTiA7 combo for home theater use? I don't really have an opportunity to sit down and listen to these speakers in person so I'm pretty much relying on posts from uses like you guys for recommendations. Our 2 Best Buys in Anchorage don't have the home theater room to listen to different speakers.
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post #11 of 14
11/21/12 at 10:50pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuck525 View Post

I havent looked too much into Boston Acoustics. Better then a Polk RTiA7 combo for home theater use? I don't really have an opportunity to sit down and listen to these speakers in person so I'm pretty much relying on posts from uses like you guys for recommendations. Our 2 Best Buys in Anchorage don't have the home theater room to listen to different speakers.

Better tends to be subjective -
However, I do not prefer anything Polk, from their RTi series on down. Boston makes
good speakers, and they will seriously pancake your Sony speakers.

Another option is PSB T5
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_760IMGT5B/PSB-Image-T5-Black-Ash.html?tp=185

And, C5 center
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_760IMGC5C/PSB-Image-C5-Dark-Cherry.html?tp=189
Edited by zieglj01 - 11/21/12 at 11:03pm
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post #12 of 14
11/22/12 at 12:19am
Thread Starter 
I like the looks of Boston Acoustics...plus one of my close friends has the A 250 series...and he loves them (just heard back about his input). Will that 225C have the power with a listening distance of 12ish feet?I'm assuming if our stock Sonys are doing okay then like you said the BAs would be a HUGE improvement. Thanks!
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post #13 of 14
11/22/12 at 6:53am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuck525 View Post

I like the looks of Boston Acoustics...plus one of my close friends has the A 250 series...and he loves them (just heard back about his input). Will that 225C have the power with a listening distance of 12ish feet?I'm assuming if our stock Sonys are doing okay then like you said the BAs would be a HUGE improvement. Thanks!
If you are around the 12 ft distance, the Boston center should be fine and will not
easily faint, The Bostons are made to take some power.
Edited by zieglj01 - 11/22/12 at 7:38am
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post #14 of 14
11/23/12 at 12:47am
I'm not sure if you're set on floor-standing speakers for the fronts, but I recently bought a pair of MartinLogan Motion 4s as fronts (surround/center will be upgraded shortly - likely Motion 2 for surround and Motion 6/8 for a center due to budget constraints), which I'd recommend taking a look at. From the "Best Buy" offerings, I did audition the Polk TSi300 (in my listening environment), as well as the Pioneer FS52 (in store - so I suppose take that with a grain of salt). I'm very happy with the Motion 4s, and while the price may be a bit more than what you're after, I'd strongly recommend considering them. From a shipping standpoint to AK, I suppose it's less of a "risk" considering shipping to and from would be much less than floorstanders.

I know these speakers have a questionable rep on AVS (unless I haven't read enough Audio threads...), but I personally feel that after listening to the Kef equivalent (among others) in a dedicated HT dealer environment that they're high performers in the price category that the Pioneer or Polk would fall under.
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