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Looking to build my first serious home theater - which floor speakers?

post #1 of 13
1/8/13 at 10:44am
Thread Starter 
Hello!

I'm new to these forums, but not new to home theater. I used to work for Magnolia HiFi, and have a somewhat compotent understanding of high end audio and video. I've been out of the HT market now for about 4 years, to date my knowledge, Martin Logan had just released their first Motion Series spekers when I last lived in this world.

I'm buying my first home! I have a huge greatroom with 30+ feet vaulted cielings and a tile floor, so I'm certain the accoustics will be challenging. I enjoy both movies as well as music, and have no interest in surround sound. Below are my wants -

Two floor standing speakers. Enough bass to avoid needing a subwoofer. Enough range to avoid needing a center channel. Really, really good sound at both low volumes as well as high volumes. I need music to sound open and clear, with booming sound effects and clear speech in movies.

My budget? I'm comfortable throwing down up to $1000 each for these speakers, maybe a bit more if it's really worth the money.

Other great things to have - Speakers that are durable enough to stand up to a 1 year old potentially poking at them. Beautiful to look at.



If you amazing people could point me in a direction, I would greatly appreciate it. I've done some research online already, and realized that I don't really know whats the best in my price range. If I could spend more, I'd go for some Vienna Accoustic towers.

Thanks!
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post #2 of 13
1/8/13 at 5:59pm
You're going to want to add a sub, even mega buck speakers benefit from a good sub. A huge room's also going to require speakers with substantial output capability to cleanly deliver realistic output levels.

I think these fairly new JBL Studio 590's are a very good choice for your situation. They meet all of your criteria, except for the sub part, which as I already said no speaker is really going to meet that. Bass capability is very good though.

http://www.amazon.com/JBL-Studio-Dual-Floorstanding-Loudspeaker/dp/B0060IG3R0

Being that theyre sold by amazon, you could try them out for 30 days and return if you dont feel they fit your needs.

There are other speakers in your price range with built in subs, but they have a significant output disadvantage compared to the JBLs
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post #3 of 13
1/8/13 at 6:34pm
Polk LSi25's have 'subs' built in and enjoy a wide following and get great reviews. I've never heard them but have heard the LSI9's. Sounded quite good but I thought the tweeter was a bit harsh. Harman Audio has Infinity IL60s refurbished for a nice price. I've owned several models in the IL series - the 30's 40's and 50's. The 50's and 60's have subs built in like the Polk LSi25. The tweeter in the Infinity Interlude is still one of my favorites. Very natural sounding. The IL60s are based on the Infinity Intermezzo line from the 90s and have excellent reviews. I'm surprised that Infinity still have some around. You could spend way more than $688 each and not get the great sound quality of the IL60's. It comes with Infinity's patented RABOS system for adjusting the subs in the towers to get rid of booming noises common in tower speakers that need to be placed primarily for stereo listening. It works very well.
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post #4 of 13
1/8/13 at 6:42pm
check out definitive technologies powered towers. 8080 towers are top line newest. I ordered 8060's. check out their website. The older model 7001sc towers are on amazon for 999 a piece originally 2k a piece. cheers!
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post #5 of 13
1/8/13 at 9:12pm
I'll second deftech...I have a 2.0 system with the 8060-st's and they can fill a big room being that they are bipolar...give them a listen...wink.gif
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post #6 of 13
1/8/13 at 10:51pm
+1 on you might need a sub (at least for HT, not for music) no matter what speaker you get.

In addition to the JBL 590 you might also check out these speakers (they all have threads here in the forums):

Ascend Sierra Towers

Monitor Audio RX6 or RX8

KEF Q900
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post #7 of 13
1/9/13 at 3:43am
Quote:
Originally Posted by josh6113 View Post

I'll second deftech...I have a 2.0 system with the 8060-st's and they can fill a big room being that they are bipolar...give them a listen...wink.gif

I'll third deftech. Just like others have said, they are bipolar and provide excellent sound with built in powered 300w subwoofers. But, as someone else said, a sub should be included in your plans.
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post #8 of 13
1/9/13 at 8:54pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by jlpowell84 View Post

check out definitive technologies powered towers. 8080 towers are top line newest. I ordered 8060's. check out their website. The older model 7001sc towers are on amazon for 999 a piece originally 2k a piece. cheers!

How do the 7001SC's compare to the current 8060's?

What kind of receiver should I be looking at to get the most out of 8060's or 7001sc's?
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post #9 of 13
1/9/13 at 9:06pm
I haven't heard the 7001sc's but I'm assuming there 8ohms just like the 8060's...I run my 8060 towers with a pioneer elite vsx-60 90 wpc and mine sing.I'm only using 2 towers so I actually get 145 wpc running just 2 towers...they are easy to drive and have great sensitivity... 92db's...smile.gif...so any modest receiver would be fine.
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post #10 of 13
1/9/13 at 9:15pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by braddavis2004 View Post

How do the 7001SC's compare to the current 8060's?

What kind of receiver should I be looking at to get the most out of 8060's or 7001sc's?

I haven't heard the 7001sc's, but I own the BP8060ST's. I have a 14x26 room with vaulted ceilings and hardwood floors(mostly covered with an area rug)
For music I have no need for a sub, for movies a sub would probably be better...But for me, not worth the money...at least at this point in time.
Right now I have the built-in subs turned down to about 25% and, for me, there's plenty of bottom end. I am driving them with a Denon AVR-3313ci.
This setup is great for me, I would however, recommend listening to as many setups as you can in your price range....Let YOUR ears be the guide...
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post #11 of 13
1/9/13 at 9:25pm
Thread Starter 
I would need a 5.2/7.2/9.2 receiver to drive these right? Since each tower has an integrated sub, I would need to run the pre-out from the receiver to both towers. Will receivers output from both pre-outs while in 2 channel mode?
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post #12 of 13
1/9/13 at 9:46pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by braddavis2004 View Post

I would need a 5.2/7.2/9.2 receiver to drive these right?
5.1/7.1/9.1....use a Y to split the sub out would work...or a X.2
Quote:
Originally Posted by braddavis2004 View Post

Since each tower has an integrated sub, I would need to run the pre-out from the receiver to both towers.
Yes or No...You could use the speaker level inputs only set the speakers to large and let the speakers handle the crossover, or, use the sub out and set the speaker size to small and let the receiver handle bass management.
Quote:
Originally Posted by braddavis2004 View Post

Will receivers output from both pre-outs while in 2 channel mode?
I'm not sure, but my guess would be yes...
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post #13 of 13
1/11/13 at 3:40am
I use a Denon 2312 for my 8040's. It's a 7.2, but i run 5.1 out of it and zone 2, the other .2 is waiting for money and wifey to allow another sub. The sub out goes to the sub and the towers simply use the line in using it's own crossover for bass management.

Yesterday I went to play some music and freaked out because i heard so much less bass, still good, but not nearly AS good. My sub somehow got unplugged and i was simply using the towers for bass. IMHO, You need a sub with any system.
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