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Best 5.1 HT speakers for $4000?

3464 Views 56 Replies 17 Participants Last post by bbaskin, May 29, 2006

JeffNebraska

Discussion Starter · May 1, 2006

I know I'll probably get as many opinions as I do replies, but I'd love to get some advice on the best 5.1 package I can pick up for around $4000.

Yes, I will go listen to them, I promise. I just need some help getting started in order to even choose my stores.

These will be for 90/10 HT/music. Size does not matter.

Thanks all.

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1 - 20 of 57 Posts

jonathanb3478

· #2 · May 1, 2006

If I were you, I would go to www.selahaudio.com and check out what they have available. If I were you I would look very closely at a system consisting of a pair of 35F, a 35cc, and a pair of Hiddenite speakers. Talk to Rick over there, to see if he would suggest/construct different surrounds for those fronts. Also, consider upgrading the finish on the set to your favorite exotic wood, vs one of the standard finishes.

I would then mate them with a PB12-Plus/2 from www.svsound.com

I would then spend the remaining $400+ to take my significant other out for the weekend.

But then, that is just me

jonathanb3478

· #3 · May 1, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeffNebraska
I just need some help getting started in order to even choose my stores.

Well, Sacramento does not have the high end shop on every street corner that it seems the SF Bay Area has, but at least I am not far away. I bought a pair of B&W CDM-2SE bookshelfs from a dealer in San Jose when I was there on business, once.

Oh, and:

Good luck!!!

Nuance

· #4 · May 1, 2006

Check out the Paradigm Studio Series, the Monitor audio RS6's or RS8's, B&W, Vandersteen, Thiel (used on audiogon.com). And yes, you will get mostly opinionated suggestions, but then you can pick which you like the best.

I should have asked this first but, what type of sound do you prefer (bright, neutral/accurate, or warm)?

JeffNebraska

Discussion Starter · #5 · May 1, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nuance
Check out the Paradigm Studio Series, the Monitor audio RS6's or RS8's, B&W, Vandersteen, Thiel (used on audiogon.com). And yes, you will get mostly opinionated suggestions, but then you can pick which you like the best.

I should have asked this first but, what type of sound do you prefer (bright, neutral/accurate, or warm)?

I've seen the Paradigm Studios talked about a lot here, and that is probably the set I will be measuring others against. Although, I wonder how tough it will be for me to get Studio 60s (at least), a C570, surrounds and a Servo 12 for under $4,000.

The type of sound I prefer is either neutral or warm

firebook23

· #6 · May 1, 2006

I would have a listen to the :

PSB Speakers - Image T65 Tower Loudspeakers $1100
Image C60 Center $450
Image S50 Surround Speaker $750 pr
SubSeries 8 Subwoofer $1100

total : 3400+tax

I have some of these components, and i have not been disappointed.

happy listening

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Nuance

· #7 · May 1, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeffNebraska
I've seen the Paradigm Studios talked about a lot here, and that is probably the set I will be measuring others against. Although, I wonder how tough it will be for me to get Studio 60s (at least), a C570, surrounds and a Servo 12 for under $4,000.

The type of sound I prefer is either neutral or warm

Studio 60â€™s - $1600/pr

CC-570 - $850

ADP-470 - $970/pr

Total is $3420, on just the speakers, but you should be able to get 10-15% discount, especially for buying the whole package which brings it down to $3070 (10%).

A servo 12? I wasnâ€™t aware there was a 12. I know the 15 is $2200 bucks (wow). Did you mean a seismic 12? Are you dead set on a paradigm sub? For $1000 you can get a nice SVS subwoofer and then your budget would stay around 4K. I prefer sealed subs for music, but for HT ported is more fun.

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Nuz

· #8 · May 1, 2006

Magnolia HF carries Monitor Audio. Give em a listen and see if you like them. I hear they are blowing out the gold reference series to get ready for the gold signature series. I'm happy with my RS series...

Nuz

johndn

· #9 · May 1, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeffNebraska
I've seen the Paradigm Studios talked about a lot here, and that is probably the set I will be measuring others against. Although, I wonder how tough it will be for me to get Studio 60s (at least), a C570, surrounds and a Servo 12 for under $4,000.

The type of sound I prefer is either neutral or warm

I got my system for $3,700.00, all v.3, except the sub:

2 Studio 100's, cc-570, servo 15 v.2 and 4 mini-monitors. The sub was cosmetically damaged during shipping, so I would have paid $4,400.00 absent the damage negotiation. Either way, I think it's agreat sound for the money. Cheers.

Russdawg

· #10 · May 2, 2006

I paid a little over 4 200.00 dollars for.....

1 pair v3 Studio 100's

4 v3 Studio 20's

1 CC 570

Nuance

· #11 · May 2, 2006

Yeah, I think the studio 100's are little over budget since he needs sub as well, but the 60's are a very fine speaker. If you can get a real nice integration with the sub, you shouldn't miss the extra bass of the 100's.

BobDole

· #12 · May 2, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nuance
Yeah, I think the studio 100's are little over budget since he needs sub as well, but the 60's are a very fine speaker. If you can get a real nice integration with the sub, you shouldn't miss the extra bass of the 100's.

I agree. I have Studio 100s myself, but most of my listening is 2-ch stereo (without a sub). For movies I use a Paradigm PS-1000 (far from Paradigm's top of the line, but great in a small apartment). Studio 60s + a good sub will be great for HT.

JeffNebraska

Discussion Starter · #13 · May 2, 2006

I did mean the Seismic 12. My mistake.

I would love to get the servo 15, but I don't think I can nearly pull it off for $4k. It will be hard even with the Seismic.

I'm a little hesitant to change brands for the sub. If I'm getting Paradigm, I'd rather get all Paradigm. Wrong instinct?

BobDole

· #14 · May 2, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeffNebraska
I did mean the Seismic 12. My mistake.

I would love to get the servo 15, but I don't think I can nearly pull it off for $4k. It will be hard even with the Seismic.

I'm a little hesitant to change brands for the sub. If I'm getting Paradigm, I'd rather get all Paradigm. Wrong instinct?

Your instincts are correct, although, IMO, changing brands for the sub is much less problematic than changing brands for the center or the surrounds. Will you be using the sub for music or primarily for HT? For HT, even the lower-priced PW-2200 is excellent. As I said in a previous post, I use the PW-1000 (very cheap at $590) and love it. The SVS subs are supposed to be quite good (I haven't heard them myself but they are universally praised). Also, what about a used sub? You could probably pick up a used Servo-15 (which is indeed an awesome sub) for close to the price of a new Seismic 12.

richard11

· #15 · May 2, 2006

Since you are 90% HT, I would recommend M&K S-150 across the front, your choice of matching surrounds (tripole or monopole), and whatever's left in the budget on an SVS sub. This will absolutely kill for HT use.

JeffNebraska

Discussion Starter · #16 · May 2, 2006

Bump

95bcwh

· #17 · May 2, 2006

The very first set of "Mid-Fi" speakers I listened to were Paradigm studio consists of

Studio 100â€™s+CC-570+ADP-470+ sub (forgot the name)

I felt they did pretty well for Home Theater for a big room (30ft wide x 36ft long x 15ft height). Music-wise, the Studio 100 , being powered by a 2-ch Krell Integrated amp, didn't excite me.

Then I heard my neighbour's system (cheapest Axiom Epic Midi HT set placed in a small room 16ft wide x 24ft long x 12ft height) and I didn't feel that I miss anything from Paradigm Studio.

I am not encouraging you to buy Axiom, I don't quite like the music put out by the Axiom although I like the hometheater experience. With your budget, you can do better than the studios. You may want to look into ACI speakers, see the following thread where the guy compared the studio vs ACI vs Energy vs Rocket..

http://www.audiocircle.com/circles/v...=asc&start=100

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JeffNebraska

Discussion Starter · #18 · May 2, 2006

Interesting. I've not heard of ACI before.

Nuance

· #19 · May 2, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by 95bcwh
With your budget, you can do better than the studios.

Says you, but that is just your opinion. Could you please explain why you thought the "cheapest Axiom Epic Midi HT set" were as good or better than the Paradigm stuff instead of just saying you won't miss much? I am not bashing Axiom at all but think you should explain instead of the lack luster comment that you made. Most people at least explain why one was better than the other and how they went about deciding things.

To get back on topic, JeffNebraska, do you have any interest in the Internet Direct stuff? You can get a full package for 4K from:

**********

AscendAcoustics.com

Swanspeakers.com

AxiomAudio.com

AudioC.com

95cwh does bring up 1 good suggestion; ACI gets some very decent reviews.

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BobDole

· #20 · May 2, 2006

95bcwh,

I too am curious as to your experience with the Studios. I have a pair of Studio 100s driven by a Krell amp and I love them. There are, of course, much better speakers out there, but for the money the Studio series is hard to beat. You are, of course, entitled to your opinion, but I'm curious what is was you felt the Studios lacked compared to the "cheapest Axioms."

1 - 20 of 57 Posts

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