I have read many of the threads here and have not come across one that seems to specifically address some of the thoughts and concerns. If there are threads that address my needs (even partially) links would be awesome. I am looking for advise (not only on brands and models, but things to consider that I have not thought of and things that I may not be looking at "correctly"), opinions (preferrably with reasons/explainations), and (especially) links to detailed specs and reviews. So, here it goes:
Background: I currently have an old Denon AVR-1803 (80W/ch). I was going to upgrade to an Onkyo 875 or 905, but given the issues that they have I think I will wait until the next line-ups are released and re-evaluate. I figure by waiting, that the top brands will work out some cliches, perhaps upgrade video processors, and include HD Radio at lower price points or at a lower price premium. I was leaning toward the upper Onkyo's because I wanted very good 1080p upscaling and all the other big names in the same price region only had the DCDi deinterlacers (480p max output) from what I could tell.
The current sub is a Def Tech Super Cube Reference. Some day I may upgrade to or add an Epik Conquest or something similar. I am happy with my SC reference, but after reading the craigsub rankings and other materials I am confident that better performing (less advertised/mainstream) subs exist at similar or lower price points. So knowing that I could have gotten more sub for the money when I took the plung for an expensive sub, I just want to make sure I get the "best" speakers I can for the money this time around. I'd prefer not to stay below $5,500 for 5 channels, but could go higher for the "right speakers". The room is fairly small at 13 x 19 x 8, but the back and left side are 50% open to other rooms, so effective size is probably much larger. 90% movie use and I don't normally stay in the room when playing music.
Desired speaker sizes and shape: I would like floor-standing mains (nothing too massive/wide though), the center can be almost any size or shape (including the same as the surrounds), and the surrounds (2 for now, 4 down the road) should be low profile and wall mountable (long and narrow is much preferred to boxy). Due to the amount of art on the walls I would like to mount the surrounds near the ceiling pointing down toward the seats. I was going to buy Def Tech Mythos STs and three Mythos Tens (C, LR, RR) based on all the rave reviews, but then got nervous that there was just too much hype about them. Paradigm seems to have some similar shaped speakers, but I have not been able to find any detailed reviews of them that included on and off axis frequency response. Specifically I was looking at the Millenia 300 & 30 speakers and also the Cinema 330 although I don't know what would be a good floor-stander to use as mains.
Desired speaker characteristics: I theorize that the more similar the components between all the channels, the more unified and consistent the sound will be (a strength of the Mythos ST & Ten line-up). I like the idea of well matched efficiency, frequency response (FR), dynamic range and characteristics, voicing, etc.. I would prefer fairly efficient speakers as I would prefer to stick with a mainstream AVR. With the room equalization feature of my *future* AVR I figure that ultra flat on-axis FR is not as important as having the best possible (similar to the front) off-axis FR to maximize the sound quality at each seat. I have concerns about the Mythos' off-axis performance.
I know I should audition the speakers, and I will try, but I don't think I have the patience or time to audition a bunch of brands and I'm not convinced I have the ear (yet?) to notice everything that I should to make it a really meaningful part of my decision process. Plus it seems unlikely that they will sound the same in store as in house and I don't care to be buying and returning a bunch of stuff. Heck, I don't *notice* any significant shortcoming in my current Sonys (SS-AV44 fronts, SS-CN305 center, and SS-SR305 surrounds). However I know new speakers will be far better and will probably teach me a lot about what good speakers sound like and can do. I did audition subs, but the tactile and perhaps easy to perceive nature of low frequency sound, I think, made that easy - my first real sub was an M&K V-76 - because I could perceive the power and detail.
Background: I currently have an old Denon AVR-1803 (80W/ch). I was going to upgrade to an Onkyo 875 or 905, but given the issues that they have I think I will wait until the next line-ups are released and re-evaluate. I figure by waiting, that the top brands will work out some cliches, perhaps upgrade video processors, and include HD Radio at lower price points or at a lower price premium. I was leaning toward the upper Onkyo's because I wanted very good 1080p upscaling and all the other big names in the same price region only had the DCDi deinterlacers (480p max output) from what I could tell.
The current sub is a Def Tech Super Cube Reference. Some day I may upgrade to or add an Epik Conquest or something similar. I am happy with my SC reference, but after reading the craigsub rankings and other materials I am confident that better performing (less advertised/mainstream) subs exist at similar or lower price points. So knowing that I could have gotten more sub for the money when I took the plung for an expensive sub, I just want to make sure I get the "best" speakers I can for the money this time around. I'd prefer not to stay below $5,500 for 5 channels, but could go higher for the "right speakers". The room is fairly small at 13 x 19 x 8, but the back and left side are 50% open to other rooms, so effective size is probably much larger. 90% movie use and I don't normally stay in the room when playing music.
Desired speaker sizes and shape: I would like floor-standing mains (nothing too massive/wide though), the center can be almost any size or shape (including the same as the surrounds), and the surrounds (2 for now, 4 down the road) should be low profile and wall mountable (long and narrow is much preferred to boxy). Due to the amount of art on the walls I would like to mount the surrounds near the ceiling pointing down toward the seats. I was going to buy Def Tech Mythos STs and three Mythos Tens (C, LR, RR) based on all the rave reviews, but then got nervous that there was just too much hype about them. Paradigm seems to have some similar shaped speakers, but I have not been able to find any detailed reviews of them that included on and off axis frequency response. Specifically I was looking at the Millenia 300 & 30 speakers and also the Cinema 330 although I don't know what would be a good floor-stander to use as mains.
Desired speaker characteristics: I theorize that the more similar the components between all the channels, the more unified and consistent the sound will be (a strength of the Mythos ST & Ten line-up). I like the idea of well matched efficiency, frequency response (FR), dynamic range and characteristics, voicing, etc.. I would prefer fairly efficient speakers as I would prefer to stick with a mainstream AVR. With the room equalization feature of my *future* AVR I figure that ultra flat on-axis FR is not as important as having the best possible (similar to the front) off-axis FR to maximize the sound quality at each seat. I have concerns about the Mythos' off-axis performance.
I know I should audition the speakers, and I will try, but I don't think I have the patience or time to audition a bunch of brands and I'm not convinced I have the ear (yet?) to notice everything that I should to make it a really meaningful part of my decision process. Plus it seems unlikely that they will sound the same in store as in house and I don't care to be buying and returning a bunch of stuff. Heck, I don't *notice* any significant shortcoming in my current Sonys (SS-AV44 fronts, SS-CN305 center, and SS-SR305 surrounds). However I know new speakers will be far better and will probably teach me a lot about what good speakers sound like and can do. I did audition subs, but the tactile and perhaps easy to perceive nature of low frequency sound, I think, made that easy - my first real sub was an M&K V-76 - because I could perceive the power and detail.