Wharfedale 9's vs JBL Venue Series for 1st Home Theater (1 Viewer)

[JJJAcres]

Hello, I'm new here, but have already spent a few hours in the archives...mind blowing...

I'm looking for speakers for a 1st time home theater setup...I purchased a Harman Kardon AVR-247 and need help in choosing reasonably priced, good sounding speakers.
Through my research & a price range of around $1,000 for the speakers, I've basically narrowed it down to:

1) Wharfedale - Diamond Series
2 x 9.1 - front
2 x 9.SR - rear
1 x 9.CS - center
1 x SW150 - sub

or

2) JBL - Venue Series
2 x Stage - front
2 x Balcony - rear
1 x Voice - center
1 x Sub 10 - sub

Problem is, I live way out in the sticks and don't think I'll be able to audition the speakers...good thing is, I'll probably never know the difference.

Any insight into making a blind choice between these 2 lines?

Should I just order a pair of fronts & try them out risking less money?

Other, possibly better choices I should look into?

Probably 80% home theater vs. 20% music listening.

Any help or just opinions will be greatly appreciated...

Thanks in advance,
JJJ

 

[Gary Shipley]

Hi James. I have JBL's and love them , so my suggestion is to go with them. I not familiar with the Wharfdales so I can't comment on them. The only thing I would do differently if I were you is to pass on the JBL sub. You can probably get a good sub in your price range from SVS and have a way better subwoofer. I know because I started out with a JBL PB12 and upgraded to the SVS PB12-Plus. The SVS blew away the JBL. I think the JBL's would be a great starter set for you and I don't think you would be dissappointed.

 

[JJJAcres]

Thanks for the info Gary...I found out last night that Best Buy (I know...) stocks the JBL's and there's one located about 50 miles from me so I'll probably make a trip this weekend to listen...

Where would I purchase the SVS sub? Online?

Anyone else care to offer an opinion...?

Thanks,
JJJ

 

[JJJAcres]

?

 

[JJJAcres]

Just looked up the SVS...seems to be $800'ish...is the JBL sub that bad?
I need to stay around $1,000 for the whole speaker setup including the sub...

 

[Gary Shipley]

James. It's not that the JBL is that bad, it just does not compare to the SVS. If you want to go with the JBL sub, I suggest moving up from the PB10 to the PB12. The only reason I suggested going with something other than the JBL is because of the problems they've had with the amps in them. Thats the reason I replaced mine. After about 3 years of use I started getting a thumping noise out of it, sooo, I moved on. That does'nt mean however you will experience the same thing. I'll just say if I were you, I'd plan on upgrading to something like the SVS a couple of years down the road. You won't regret it. As a matter of fact, you'll probably say to yourself, why did'nt I do this sooner! On another note, you can probably get the JBL's online a whole lot cheaper than at Best Buy. I'd suggest B&H Photo online. They've got a nice selection of the JBL's and the price is right. Keep me posted on what you do.