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Def Tech Speaker Upgrade

396 Views 8 Replies 4 Participants Last post by auceny, Sep 5, 2019

JPNY

Discussion Starter · Sep 2, 2019

I was looking for suggestions on how to upgrade an older 5.1 setup now that I moved into a house from my previous set up in my apartment.

Current set up includes:

Receiver - Denon AVR -X4200W
Front / Rear speakers - Def tech ProMonitor 1000's
Center - Def tech ProCenter 2000
Sub - Def tech SuperCube 2000

My main focus is to upgrade the front's now for tower speakers and upgrade the center. I'd like to revisit the 7.1 Atmos Center at a later time considering in Ceiling speakers. After visiting Best Buy and listening to Def Tech BP 9040's, Martin Logan Motion 40, B&W's 603 Tower and 700 series, I have to say the B&W sounded the fullest of the bunch. The more research I read online however, seems everyone recommends to save your money, purchase Klipsch, SVS, or some other cheaper alternative. Crutchfield recommended PSB or Monitor Towers and I'm just looking for some insight based on others experience.

I wanted to keep the upgrade to under $5k and wanted to get some input. I would say the system will primarily be used for movies over music (90 / 10 % of the time).

Thanks for your help in advance.

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1 - 9 of 9 Posts

Russdawg1

· #2 · Sep 3, 2019

Yeah you pretty much nailed it.

Buy what you like though. It’s your ears that will be listening. I’m a fan of the Klipsch RP because they can be discounted and you can hear them easily at Best Buy.

ID brands are hard to hear but commonly have the best value.

Subs can also make a huge difference, and moving away from that supercube (which isn’t very super) can be a game changer.

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Hetfieldjames

· #3 · Sep 3, 2019

Yeah ID brands give great bang for the buck. Ascend Acoustics comes to mind.

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auceny

· #4 · Sep 3, 2019

Will it be used for movies or music?

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JPNY

Discussion Starter · #5 · Sep 4, 2019

@Russdawg1- that seems to be my biggest hold up, just figuring out the best bang for the buck. I may have to give the Klipsch a shot and compare them to the B&W. I agree the sub can be a huge upgrade as well, have that on my radar and keep reading things on SVS. That's next on my list.
@Hetfieldjames - I am obviously newer to the forums so had to google ID Brands. Do you use ID brands or more just a general note? I can do some research and see what brands are receiving great feedback (trying to narrow the field but probably will expand the options now, lol).
@auceny - primarily movies.

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Hetfieldjames

· #6 · Sep 4, 2019

No, I have Def Tech's but would like to at some point switch over to Ascend Acoustics. Dave, the owner and speaker designer is just awesome. Very upfront and honest. Send him an email and you'll see how honest.
I have SM 65 LCR and SM 55 surrounds. They are actually really, really great speakers but would like to try Ascend Acoustics. Pretty much the opposite of the huge speaker company Definitive Technology is.

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auceny

· #7 · Sep 4, 2019

Klipsch are hit or miss and it's personal preference. I liked the sound of mine before but they were fatiguing to my ears and I ended up going to Ascend Acoustics and now Power Sound Audio. Some of the main recommendations will be Ascend Acoustics 340 and 170, Power Sound Audio, Chane, RSL, HSU, HTD Level 3, and a few I'm forgetting. If you're talking $5k for the main speakers I would consider the PSA stuff for sure for movies. For subs you're looking at ported 15's or 18's of Rythmik, HSU, Power Sound Audio, SVS, Monolith, and again a couple I'm forgetting.

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JPNY

Discussion Starter · #8 · Sep 5, 2019

auceny said:
Klipsch are hit or miss and it's personal preference. I liked the sound of mine before but they were fatiguing to my ears and I ended up going to Ascend Acoustics and now Power Sound Audio. Some of the main recommendations will be Ascend Acoustics 340 and 170, Power Sound Audio, Chane, RSL, HSU, HTD Level 3, and a few I'm forgetting. If you're talking $5k for the main speakers I would consider the PSA stuff for sure for movies. For subs you're looking at ported 15's or 18's of Rythmik, HSU, Power Sound Audio, SVS, Monolith, and again a couple I'm forgetting.

Good information. Any reason for the switch from Ascend Acoustics to PSA? Thanks for the input though, currently Ascend and RSL have caught my eye. I will have to take a look at the rest.

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auceny

· #9 · Sep 5, 2019

JPNY said:
Good information. Any reason for the switch from Ascend Acoustics to PSA? Thanks for the input though, currently Ascend and RSL have caught my eye. I will have to take a look at the rest.

Have always heard the Ascend Sierras were suited a bit towards music (still really great for movies) and wanted to try something designed for home theater. The PSA are much higher sensitivity and have two 10" woofers compared to the Sierras single 5.25" woofer. I think the Ascend CMT-340's are designed more for home theater compared to the Sierras. If I was planning to only use them at low to medium volume in a say a living room I would have kept them but I'm listening at much higher volumes now that I'm in a house with a basement and the PSA can handle that much better.

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