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Building first HT w/ used speakers:$1k Chane/Airmotiv, $2k DefTech/GE, $3k Revel/ML?

500 Views 9 Replies 7 Participants Last post by BufordTJustice, Sep 2, 2019

uberwag

Discussion Starter · Aug 31, 2019

This is more of a fun, general thread to get people's input on perspective value across a range of options to help me evaluate some paths

I've been bouncing around a lot for different speaker options, and I enjoy finding good used quality to maximize my experience - fortunately, there are a lot of great options out there! Will be setting up a dedicated theater room for mostly HT (mix of TV, Netflix, BluRay), and I've gotten the typical analysis paralysis. My biggest concerns are whether I will have appreciation for spending more money on a system if I haven't yet experienced something cheaper, and trying to get feedback on forums/reviews is hell to decode, but there are really highly regarded used options out there that make me want to buy up even initially vs starting in a spot that I will eventually move on from anyway. I want something that I can enjoy, and I don't have the highly tuned ears of an audiophile and won't be spending much time listening to 2-channel music and comparing the imaging of one set vs another. Area of focus, if any, is going to be on really strong dialog reproduction (have a SO that struggles with that, and that will make her happy)

Room: 24'x17'x8', carpeted
Source: Yamaha 2085
Setup: will be a 5.x.4, maybe 7.x.2.
Subwoofers: TBD but will be one or two quality sealed subs. Not included in the budget ranges described
Atmos/in-ceiling: will probably end up getting something quality but not necessarily matched to the LCR since I realize those may change (and that the Atmos speakers need less timbre matching than the LCR)

Options:
Less than $1k
Chane 5.4/2.4/1.4 5-channel surround available for less than $1k
Emotiva Airmotiv T1/C1/E1 5-channel surround available for $700 - (this has been my choice for a week, but work travel and hurricane prep in Florida has put a damper on it, and made me think I should ask the forum)

Around $2k
DefTech 9060s, CS9060, SuperCube2000 and Atmos add-ons (which I would sell and buy surrounds - going to go in ceiling regardless) for $2k
GoldenEar Triton 7s (4 total) and center channel X for about $2000
GoldenEar Triton 3+, center channel XL for about $2000 (would need rears, about $300 for sat3's)

Closer to $3-3.5k
Revel F208s for $2k and would then need a center and surrounds, which would be another easy $1k - this stood out because of how vaunted the Revel's are
Martin Logan 60XT and 30XT for $2400, would be able to get surrounds for $300
Also a set of Focal Aria 948's for around $2500, but the center and surrounds in the Aria line would be expensive, and seems like the Revel's are considered better.

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gajCA

· #2 · Aug 31, 2019

uberwag said:
This is more of a fun, general thread to get people's input on perspective value across a range of options to help me evaluate some paths

I've been bouncing around a lot for different speaker options, and I enjoy finding good used quality to maximize my experience - fortunately, there are a lot of great options out there! Will be setting up a dedicated theater room for mostly HT (mix of TV, Netflix, BluRay), and I've gotten the typical analysis paralysis. My biggest concerns are whether I will have appreciation for spending more money on a system if I haven't yet experienced something cheaper, and trying to get feedback on forums/reviews is hell to decode, but there are really highly regarded used options out there that make me want to buy up even initially vs starting in a spot that I will eventually move on from anyway. I want something that I can enjoy, and I don't have the highly tuned ears of an audiophile and won't be spending much time listening to 2-channel music and comparing the imaging of one set vs another. Area of focus, if any, is going to be on really strong dialog reproduction (have a SO that struggles with that, and that will make her happy)

Room: 24'x17'x8', carpeted
Source: Yamaha 2085
Setup: will be a 5.x.4, maybe 7.x.2.
Subwoofers: TBD but will be one or two quality sealed subs. Not included in the budget ranges described
Atmos/in-ceiling: will probably end up getting something quality but not necessarily matched to the LCR since I realize those may change (and that the Atmos speakers need less timbre matching than the LCR)

Options:
Less than $1k
Chane 5.4/2.4/1.4 5-channel surround available for less than $1k
Emotiva Airmotiv T1/C1/E1 5-channel surround available for $700 - (this has been my choice for a week, but work travel and hurricane prep in Florida has put a damper on it, and made me think I should ask the forum)

Around $2k
DefTech 9060s, CS9060, SuperCube2000 and Atmos add-ons (which I would sell and buy surrounds - going to go in ceiling regardless) for $2k
GoldenEar Triton 7s (4 total) and center channel X for about $2000
GoldenEar Triton 3+, center channel XL for about $2000 (would need rears, about $300 for sat3's)

Closer to $3-3.5k
Revel F208s for $2k and would then need a center and surrounds, which would be another easy $1k - this stood out because of how vaunted the Revel's are
Martin Logan 60XT and 30XT for $2400, would be able to get surrounds for $300
Also a set of Focal Aria 948's for around $2500, but the center and surrounds in the Aria line would be expensive, and seems like the Revel's are considered better.

Of all those choices I'd lean towards Chane to be honest.

If music were a big part of the equation stepping up to Revel would be worth it.

I'm a sealed subwoofer fan myself so here are solid choices under $650 each, getting two would be ideal. And for in ceiling Atmos Polk in ceilings would do just fine.

5 years 500watts =13w16h17d= 50 lbs 10" [20hz] $500 MONOPRICE MONOLITH MTS10 THX

3 years 300watts =14w14h16d= 58 lbs* 12" [18hz] $539 RHYTHMIK L12

5 years 500watts =14w15h17d= 35 lbs 12" [19hz] $649 SVS SB2000 outlet, (extension from Sound & Vision)
* = shipping weight

These are a bit more money.

2 years 600watts =18w18h18d= 65 lbs 12" [20hz] $857 HSU ULS15, (extension from Audioholics review)

5 years 500watts =15w20h21d= 62 lbs 12" [20hz] $880 MONOPRICE MONOLITH MTS12 THX

3 years 600watts =14w28h16d= 98 lbs* 2 X 12" [18hz] $899 RHYTHMIK L22

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pase22

· #3 · Aug 31, 2019

uberwag said:
This is more of a fun, general thread to get people's input on perspective value across a range of options to help me evaluate some paths

I've been bouncing around a lot for different speaker options, and I enjoy finding good used quality to maximize my experience - fortunately, there are a lot of great options out there! Will be setting up a dedicated theater room for mostly HT (mix of TV, Netflix, BluRay), and I've gotten the typical analysis paralysis. My biggest concerns are whether I will have appreciation for spending more money on a system if I haven't yet experienced something cheaper, and trying to get feedback on forums/reviews is hell to decode, but there are really highly regarded used options out there that make me want to buy up even initially vs starting in a spot that I will eventually move on from anyway. I want something that I can enjoy, and I don't have the highly tuned ears of an audiophile and won't be spending much time listening to 2-channel music and comparing the imaging of one set vs another. Area of focus, if any, is going to be on really strong dialog reproduction (have a SO that struggles with that, and that will make her happy)

Room: 24'x17'x8', carpeted
Source: Yamaha 2085
Setup: will be a 5.x.4, maybe 7.x.2.
Subwoofers: TBD but will be one or two quality sealed subs. Not included in the budget ranges described
Atmos/in-ceiling: will probably end up getting something quality but not necessarily matched to the LCR since I realize those may change (and that the Atmos speakers need less timbre matching than the LCR)

Options:
Less than $1k
Chane 5.4/2.4/1.4 5-channel surround available for less than $1k
Emotiva Airmotiv T1/C1/E1 5-channel surround available for $700 - (this has been my choice for a week, but work travel and hurricane prep in Florida has put a damper on it, and made me think I should ask the forum)

Around $2k
DefTech 9060s, CS9060, SuperCube2000 and Atmos add-ons (which I would sell and buy surrounds - going to go in ceiling regardless) for $2k
GoldenEar Triton 7s (4 total) and center channel X for about $2000
GoldenEar Triton 3+, center channel XL for about $2000 (would need rears, about $300 for sat3's)

Closer to $3-3.5k
Revel F208s for $2k and would then need a center and surrounds, which would be another easy $1k - this stood out because of how vaunted the Revel's are
Martin Logan 60XT and 30XT for $2400, would be able to get surrounds for $300
Also a set of Focal Aria 948's for around $2500, but the center and surrounds in the Aria line would be expensive, and seems like the Revel's are considered better.

For TV/HT exclusively, I'd go Chane all the way. Very efficient, great detail and clarity along with great dialogue intelligibility. It's an excellent value /performance option and would actually do quite well for music. For HT use you'll want to get ported subs due to higher output below 35hz where all the good stuff is. Dual HSU VTF-3 MK5's would work wonders in that room. You could also go with dual VTF-2 MK5, but wouldn't do less than that.
http://www.hsuresearch.com/products/vtf-3mk5HP.html
http://www.hsuresearch.com/products/vtf-2mk5.html

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RayGuy

· #4 · Aug 31, 2019

Bottom line, only your ears can make the value/$ decision. Listen to all the options, choose based on taste and budget. Save a few bucks for room treatments.

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uberwag

Discussion Starter · #5 · Sep 1, 2019

Thanks all. Has a few PM's as well noting that the Revel's would be a good deal if I could make that work. Has anyone compared the f206/f208 to the Chanes/Airmotivs for HT use/dialogue reproduction? Very different tweeters there, would be really interested in that feedback.

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aarons915

· #6 · Sep 1, 2019

I agree that the for Home Theater only, the Chane are a very good value, not that they won't play music nice as well. The F206/F208 are really nice speakers but the F208 is really overkill if you're using Subs anyway, I think they're more ideal for 2 Channel purists. The other thing to consider is the Center channel and surrounds, Chane makes good, affordable speakers for both while I would think it's going to be harder to find deals on Revel centers and surrounds and would be much more expensive.

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gajCA

· #7 · Sep 1, 2019

uberwag said:
Thanks all. Has a few PM's as well noting that the Revel's would be a good deal if I could make that work. Has anyone compared the f206/f208 to the Chanes/Airmotivs for HT use/dialogue reproduction? Very different tweeters there, would be really interested in that feedback.

Anecdotal so take it for what its worth.

Ascend Acoustics owners who own both the expensive RAAL tweeter Sierra speakers and the more less expensive 340s have found that when swapping them out for movies the difference is minimal but for critical music listening the additional investment is worth it.

The 340s are very good music speakers as well so not putting them down at all but they are $500/pair new while Sierra 2s are $1500/pair.

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BufordTJustice

· #8 · Sep 2, 2019

uberwag said:
Thanks all. Has a few PM's as well noting that the Revel's would be a good deal if I could make that work. Has anyone compared the f206/f208 to the Chanes/Airmotivs for HT use/dialogue reproduction? Very different tweeters there, would be really interested in that feedback.

@yanks1 owned some Revels and Chane A3rx-c's at the same time. Two generations behind current Chane stuff, but i bet he'd chime in.

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yanks1

· #9 · Sep 2, 2019

I’m here!! Love my current front Revel F206s; but as BufordT mentioned I had Chane mini towers a few years ago & loved them. Great bang for the buck, but if money no object I’d go with Revel like I did;

But...for blue-collar $$ get the Chanes... they are an Excellent value & love their technology w/the split-gap woofers that punch beyond their weight

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BufordTJustice

· #10 · Sep 2, 2019

yanks1 said:
I’m here!! Love my current front Revel F206s; but as BufordT mentioned I had Chane mini towers a few years ago & loved them. Great bang for the buck, but if money no object I’d go with Revel like I did;

But...for blue-collar $$ get the Chanes... they are an Excellent value & love their technology w/the split-gap woofers that punch beyond their weight

I believe i helped talk you into those F206's, right?

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