Your best bet is to use your ears...locate a pair of the speakers and listen to them...better yet, listen to them with the amplifier that you are buying. Klipsch may not be the best bet with Onkyo...the Japanese electronics have a bit of high frequency bias and the Klipsch speakers, being very sensitive, might emphasize the bias. The Spicas are definitely darker, and while they may work a little better with the receiver, you may be disappointed down the road and the resale value might not be as great as you might wish...if you desire to trade up. You might consider a pair of B&W 302s for a dorm room...these were $299 brand new (Stereophile budget component of the year in 2000), image well, and can be had at a fair price. Yes, you trade off some bass response, but your receiver will drive the 302s without breaking a sweat. When you can upgrade from the receiver, then make your investment in speakers. There is a good resale market for the 302s...you can nearly sell them for what you paid for them...providing you take care of them.
How to audition used speakers???
I'm looking for some nice used speakers for a second, very modest system. I'm looking, almost entirely, at used speakers, especially Spicas. I've bought equipment on Audiogon, but as far as speakers, I'm hesitant. How can I audition speakers that I want to buy used via eBay or Audiogon? Isn't buying speakers this way as good as rolling a die? I'm interested in these Spicas, but I've never heard them! Anyone have a pair that lives close to me (06830)?
Incidentally, what are good "classic" speakers?
Incidentally, what are good "classic" speakers?