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so many choices, yet so little to demo

What's a person to do? I'm in the market for new speakers. I go to few mid end stores (within 100 miles) and listen to Monitor Audio, PSB's and Golden Ear. Of course all are different stores. Then I come here and find another 25 brands that aren't carried in my state, no less area.

That being said I surely will not ask for a recommendation and I'm fairly confident that I am not the first to have this issue. And honestly, I don't believe that I ever read a BAD speaker review and comparisons always end up saying the two are really close. Useless to the average person.

My market range is for a 5 speaker HT setup that I will use for audio as well. I have an Onkyo PR-SC885 pre/proc driving an Emotiva UPS-7 (7ch @ 125W each) . My price range is 1700-2500. I feel that I really need to hear them before I lay down the money and knowing the markup need to get a deal. That combo is nearly impossible, deals are usually only on the internet (B- stock, demo, several years old)and the mid end stores want list price and don't carry any of the above.

I know many internet dealers allow returns but there are so many caveats attached. So I don't view that as a solution.

Shall I limit myself to only those brands I can demo in my area? How have you guys/gals addressed this?

Thanks in Advance
wzakaras

Showing 2 responses by shakeydeal

shakeydeal
979 posts
 
So you are buying FIVE speakers for 2500.00?

And you will be using Onkyo/Emotiva to drive said speakers?

First of all let's get this one out of the way. Any system combining HT and music duties must be configured to optimize one or the other. One or the other can sound very good, but whichever one is the "other" will sound only fair.

If HT is more important to you, buy five matching speakers and set them up in the room to enhance the video experience. The pre/pro/7 channel rig will be great for movies, and only marginal for music.

If music is more important and you are set on that budget, buy the best speakers you can for L+R and spend only a fraction on the other three. Then set up the main speakers where they sound best for two channel music (this will NOT be where they sound best for car crashes, off screen dialog, etc....). And ultimately you would want to delegate your signal processing to something other than the Onkyo/Emotiva combo.

So you have some choices to make, and along with those choices will come compromises.

Shakey
shakeydeal
979 posts
 
The very fact that the L+R speakers should closely flank the screen for the best HT performance prohibits their ability to image correctly for two channel audio. Not to mention that the screen is probably close to the wall, and the speakers should be several feet into the room for best audio performance.

Yeah, it might sound pretty good for both situations. But only one can be ideal.

I stand by that.

Shakey
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