Folks,
I am planning to upgrade my current audio setup and looking for your guidance to pick the next set.
My use: mostly music but movies once in a while. For movies, dialogue clarity and fullness is important. Music - listen to popular, classic rock, pop, PInk Floyd, Led Zep, The Doors etc.
Current setup (5.1)
Harman Kardon AVR240
Front - Infinity Beta 40
Center - Infinity Beta C360
Rear - Infinity Primus 150
Sub - BIC F-12
New setup (5.1)
AVR - leaning towards Pioneer Elite SC-61 or SC-63.
Option 1: (approx. $1425)
Front - B&W 683
Center - B&W HTM61
Option 2: (approx. $680)
Front - Energy CF-70
Center - Energy CC-10
Questions:
1. Can I do better than Pioneer Elite if I am expecting to pay around $600?
2. Understand it's eventually my preference but how do the two speaker sets compare? I listened to them briefly (was in a hurry) and Energy sounded brighter and warmer. B&W were only marginally crisper. Given the price difference I am wondering if B&W is worth that much more? It also appeared that B&W needed more power. Not sure if I have the appetite to get an(other) amp.
3. Can I use Beta center C360 with any of the two options - Energy or B&W. If so I can save some dough.
4. What about F-12. Should/could I keep the sub? Not too crazy about deep bass. But I like the effect in action movies etc. How will F-12 pair with any of the options? For music, will it adequately support a 2.1 set up?
5. For rear, could I keep Primus? Suspect I will stick to 2.1 or front-center for music and 5.1 for movies. So rears are not that important.
My upgrade budget is about $2000. Sounds like Option 1 + SC-63 is about that much. Of course, option 2 saves me money!
Suggestions?
I am planning to upgrade my current audio setup and looking for your guidance to pick the next set.
My use: mostly music but movies once in a while. For movies, dialogue clarity and fullness is important. Music - listen to popular, classic rock, pop, PInk Floyd, Led Zep, The Doors etc.
Current setup (5.1)
Harman Kardon AVR240
Front - Infinity Beta 40
Center - Infinity Beta C360
Rear - Infinity Primus 150
Sub - BIC F-12
New setup (5.1)
AVR - leaning towards Pioneer Elite SC-61 or SC-63.
Option 1: (approx. $1425)
Front - B&W 683
Center - B&W HTM61
Option 2: (approx. $680)
Front - Energy CF-70
Center - Energy CC-10
Questions:
1. Can I do better than Pioneer Elite if I am expecting to pay around $600?
2. Understand it's eventually my preference but how do the two speaker sets compare? I listened to them briefly (was in a hurry) and Energy sounded brighter and warmer. B&W were only marginally crisper. Given the price difference I am wondering if B&W is worth that much more? It also appeared that B&W needed more power. Not sure if I have the appetite to get an(other) amp.
3. Can I use Beta center C360 with any of the two options - Energy or B&W. If so I can save some dough.
4. What about F-12. Should/could I keep the sub? Not too crazy about deep bass. But I like the effect in action movies etc. How will F-12 pair with any of the options? For music, will it adequately support a 2.1 set up?
5. For rear, could I keep Primus? Suspect I will stick to 2.1 or front-center for music and 5.1 for movies. So rears are not that important.
My upgrade budget is about $2000. Sounds like Option 1 + SC-63 is about that much. Of course, option 2 saves me money!
Suggestions?