[maul528]

I have an Onkyo TX-NR801 receiver & I'm looking to purchase front & center speakers. What are the main considerations I need to focus on? Ohms? Wattage?


I'm really looking for small, bookshelf like fronts that have some decent bass. I won't be adding a sub.

I currently have the option to buy a pair of Jamo 28 6 Ohm, 55 - 80 watt. They sound nice but not sure it can handle much bass.


I found this center channel on amazon, you think this would sound decent? http://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-NS-C225...1011943&sr=8-2 I need a small center for my set-up but I want the best sound I can get for size & money.


I will be grateful for any help, suggestions, ideas you can give.


Thanks.

 

[schroedk]

Honestly, the only thing you need to be concerned about is how they sound to you. Don't get caught up in ohms and wattage; they're of minimal importance for 98% of mainstream setups like you're considering.


Next, you need to provide a budget for us to reasonably help you in your quest.


Third, any bookshelf speaker will provide only modest bass, due to design limitations. If you want deep bass, you'll need a subwoofer. Even floorstanders with built-in subs can benefit from standalone subs, and many of those can reach down to 25Hz. I doubt the Jamo's will have anything useful below 65Hz or so, and there's a lot of bass in music and movies below that.


Fourth, I like Yamaha in general, but I've never been enamored with their speakers. Look around at some internet direct companies like SVS, Axiom, HSU, Outlaw Audio, AV123, etc., and see what they've got to offer in your price range.

 

[Pete7874]



Quote:
I found this center channel on amazon, you think this would sound decent? http://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-NS-C225...1011943&sr=8-2 I need a small center for my set-up but I want the best sound I can get for size & money.

You have some mutually exclusive requirements here. Small speakers (with tiny drivers) usually don't sound too good. Call me skeptical, but I can't see how 3" drivers (even if there are 4 of them) can properly reproduce dialog. And you won't even have a sub that could take over whatever this Yamaha can't reproduce. By the way, Newegg.com sells this yamaha speaker for $109 right now.


But you can't just pick up a center speaker from one company and expect it to match well sonically with the left/right front of another company. If you want Jamo mains, then you need to look for a matching Jamo center.

Quote:
I won't be adding a sub.

Seriously, if you're just going to have bookshelf speakers and no sub, you might as well forget the whole home theater idea. You'll be missing out on the best parts of the whole HT experience. If you insist on having no sub, then at least get some decent size floorstanders. They don't really take up more space than bookshelf speakers on stands.

 

[maul528]

Well, my set up is in a bedroom & isn't a dedicated theater room. I live in it too

I'd be willing to add a sub but nothing large.

I already have a PC, 40 inch TV, receiver, speakers, stand, two game systems, modem, router not including what I sit on & sleep on. So yeah, the smaller the better. I got a good deal on the receiver & I'm currently using a small Pioneer speaker as a center & I'm trying out the pair of Jamos my friend will sell me if I decide to buy.


I guess I could make room for a sub, somewhere.

I really don't have the room for tower fronts. I might could squeeze them in if I postion a small sub to the side or back but even then it's getting ridiculous for a bedroom.


I'm probably looking at spending around $200 for fronts & about the same on a center. I'm not trying to recreate a theater as much as getting decent surround for a bedroom for movies, games, & music. I know that $400 isn't much to work with for home speakers. I'd be willing to up to $500-$600 if the overall quality would be better. I also could buy 1 piece at a time?


I almost bought a sound bar & eliminated the receiver & everything else completely as I hate the heat the receiver throw off. I might still go that route but it would be nice to have real surround sound. Right now I'm using cheapo speakers for my surround speakers.

 

[avr5700]

I think you're a candidate for one of the better sounding home theater in a box (HTIB) systems out there. I know comparatively little about them, but there are many threads here to browse on the subject. Just off the top of my head, there are systems by Orb and Mission to name a couple (not sure about prices, but I think there are a few choices in the neighborhood of your upper limit).


Edit - The big drawback will be that most HTIB solutions provide few if any incremental upgrade path options...expect to replace it entirely in the event that you go that route at a later time.


Edit 2 - Have you considered just putting all the funds into a two channel setup and running synthesized 'surround' modes, including a phantom center?

 

[maul528]

Well, how much would I need to spend on speakers that would match well with this receiver?

 

[maul528]

I like the size of these... http://www.axiomaudio.com/m22.html#

 

[schroedk]



Quote:
Originally Posted by maul528 /forum/post/15450526


I like the size of these... http://www.axiomaudio.com/m22.html#

Those look nice, and there are a lot of axiom owners here that seem to like their speakers overall. Again, the low-end is not going to be there, so if you can find a way to work a sub into your room, it'll help immensely.


You may also consider something like this: http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/sp...s/224&cl=us,en


and put the Onkyo into storage or sell it.

 

[avr5700]

If you go the bookshelf route, you may find that front ported speakers are better options. For one, Home Theater Direct offers front porting on their bookshelves. With space issues, speakers almost always get shoved very close to a wall. Of course, that will 'enhance' bass response to some degree.

As for the bass, I'm a little reserved about the need for a sub right at the onset. Do you want your pant legs to move at your seating position or to feel like there is a weight on your chest or to discover which objects in your room have a sympathetic vibration in the 20-40Hz range? It's really fun, but to do it right, your entire budget would be spent on the one component. Playing devil's advocate, I'll just say that quite a few folks find the bass of a decent bookshelf (and especially of a decent floor stander) sufficient...not everyone is a bass head; just most in this forum, myself included.


If you are willing to demo and pay for return shipping, there are many options you could compare, as mentioned already.


All these options can really get out of hand...so I suggest you settle on your actual requirements for size and placement before you start buying. Measure things, pick preferred locations, get a good feel for how much space it will consume. This is endless fun, but also endless frustration if you end up with something that just doesn't fit your room.


The sound bar idea you first mentioned could be a good one too...that's a solution waiting for a problem...maybe your problem.

Edit - Apparently, I can't write a single post without editing! Do take note that with Axiom (and various others) you can buy 'B-stock' for a discount. Just be sure they offer the same trial period with that (Axiom does). I bought my Axiom's that way and found no external flaws at all, but maybe I was just lucky. Apparently Axiom has a significant wait on B-stock. Hmmm, and I always thought it deserved more than a 10% discount, but it's something.

 

[grunt11]

Have you considered using headphones? For that money you could get an awesome set of headphones. The ones I use have following specs - Frequency response: 16Hz-30kHz, ±1dB. THD:

 

[maul528]

I have considered head phones but I wear glasses & I didn't want a permanent imprint in the side of my head

If it wasn't for that I would probably already have some.

 

[grunt11]

I wear wire rimmed glasses reading glasses with my Sennheiser HD600 headphones and can't even tell they are there. On more than one occasion I've gotten up to grab something and forgotten I had them on until the cord yanked them off my head or pulled out of the amp. If you haven't it's worth finding a local dealer to try some out.

 

[jakewash]



Quote:
Originally Posted by maul528 /forum/post/15450526


I like the size of these... http://www.axiomaudio.com/m22.html#

The M22 is a very good speaker for the money. Some say that lack low end, but only compared to floorstanders, IMO. I have M22s and they can rattle the china as just as well as my M80s. If you find the M22s lack a little in the low end(many do) you can bump the bass settings up a little, a few db is all it takes. I have done auditions in my house with the M22s and people have thought I had a sub on, which I didn't. It really depends on the music and placement of the M22s. If they are close to a wall or corner loaded they can produce a very good bass line.

 

[maul528]

Okay, it's been awhile since my last post. I bought a new TV stand & I have a little more room to work with. A whole top shelf under the TV.

What about these? I would still have to add a sub.
http://www.crutchfield.com/App/Produ...4RSX3B&g=12700 $700.


Or... http://www.crutchfield.com/App/Produ...SS800C&g=12700 $800.

Seems like alot of $$$ for such small speakers.


Would it not be better just to buy like a $400+ Axiom center channel & purchase a piece at a time until complete?

 

[rick240]

You should go listen to those Klipsch, and you should find somewhere to audition the Axioms (their website has a place to find people in your area willing to have you come for an audition).


You should also go somewhere and listen to KEF iQ1 (L/R bookshelf) and iQ2 (centre), as you can buy these for $350 total from Vanns now.

 

[maul528]



Quote:
Originally Posted by rick240 /forum/post/15667505


You should go listen to those Klipsch, and you should find somewhere to audition the Axioms (their website has a place to find people in your area willing to have you come for an audition).


You should also go somewhere and listen to KEF iQ1 (L/R bookshelf) and iQ2 (centre), as you can buy these for $350 total from Vanns now.

I looked on the axiom website but couldn't really find out any info on auditioning. I click a link to it but.... nothing.

Would be nice to hear/demo them.

 

[rick240]



Quote:
Originally Posted by maul528 /forum/post/15667770


I looked on the axiom website but couldn't really find out any info on auditioning. I click a link to it but.... nothing.

Would be nice to hear/demo them.

Here's the link to the auditioning list. If there's no-one in your area on the list you can contact the company and they'll contact other customers in your area to see if they'd mind.


The Axioms M22 sound really good, but I needed front ported as I actually have mine in bookcases, and I really liked the KEFs (and I got pretty close to the same price as the current closeouts last June).

 

[Denophile]

major energy sale going on at sudioadvisor. the verfitas booksheves and center look really nice for the money. you could also get 3 polk lsi7's for that price used...nht comes to mind too. check audiogon too

 

[maul528]



Quote:
Originally Posted by schroedk /forum/post/15450596


Those look nice, and there are a lot of axiom owners here that seem to like their speakers overall. Again, the low-end is not going to be there, so if you can find a way to work a sub into your room, it'll help immensely.


You may also consider something like this: http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/sp...s/224&cl=us,en


and put the Onkyo into storage or sell it.

I will be considering this option.

 

[maul528]

Ok, I've considered this logitech speaker option but since I have a receiver already & I really don't want to give on sound quality too much I think I'm gonna just invest in some speakers.


Should I start with a center channel?