Mike2099
Auditioning
- Joined
- Oct 7, 2006
- Messages
- 3
- Real Name
- Michael
Hi everyone,
For the past few years I've used a Kenwood HtiB, but now I have enough money to start upgrading, starting with the fronts. I'm willing to pay about $400 for the pair (but of course cheaper would be better if the sound is still great).
I can't claim to be a huge audiophile, but I've spent the last few days reading, and have come up with the following list of possibilities, though you can feel free to add others (I realize many of the MSRPs are well above $400, but I'm going by the prices I've been able to find on eBay and Froogle):
Aperion Intimus 532-LR Bookshelf
Ascend HTM-200
Ascend CBM-170 SE
Axiom M3 v2
Boston Acoustics VR2
Boston Acoustics VR-M50
Energy RC-10
Infinity Primus 360
Infinity Beta 20
Klipsch RB-61
Klipsch RF-10
M&K K-15
NHT Classic Two
Orb Audio Mod2
Polk R50
Polk RTI 6
I'm living in a dorm room, so it's not very big, somewhere around 11x10 feet. I'll be out of here in a year, though, so my next room should be a little bigger, though I don't imagine I'll have enough money to get anything too much larger for a while.
I currently have a Kenwood VR-407, but I'll be upgrading my receiver a little while after I get my new speakers (I'll probably spend $300-400 on the receiver too).
I'll be using these speakers for something like 85% music (alternative, pop, easy listening, rock, electronica), and a little movies and games. Also, although I often like listening to music quite loud, it's important that they sound good and clear at low volumes for late night listening.
By the way, the only speakers on that list I've been able to audition are the Orbs, and they sounded incredible to me. But I have no idea if any of the others are better (I would assume so, since they're all significantly physically larger), since so much of the terminology used by speaker manufacturers is confusing to me.
As you can see, I've put both bookshelfs and floor-standing speakers on my list. Bookshelfs are probably easier, but I guess I'll go with floor-standing ones if they're a lot better, and they'll probably be easier when I move into a new room since I won't have to get speaker stands.
Currently, on my room's long wall, I have my desk pressed up against the wall in the left corner, then my computer, then my TV immediately to the right. There's definitely room for a floor-standing speaker to the right of the TV, but for the left I'd have to move my desk over to create space.
Thus, the left floor speaker would kind of be crammed between the wall on one side and the desk on the other, which probably isn't great for sound, but I could try to move it out so it's almost poking out the end. I currently have my left bookshelf on the desk.
By the way, as you might have surmised, the left speaker will be almost right in front of me, while the right will be on the other side of the room, if that makes any difference.
I'd really appreciate any help and advice you guys can give in my selection process.
Thanks very much!
-Michael
For the past few years I've used a Kenwood HtiB, but now I have enough money to start upgrading, starting with the fronts. I'm willing to pay about $400 for the pair (but of course cheaper would be better if the sound is still great).
I can't claim to be a huge audiophile, but I've spent the last few days reading, and have come up with the following list of possibilities, though you can feel free to add others (I realize many of the MSRPs are well above $400, but I'm going by the prices I've been able to find on eBay and Froogle):
Aperion Intimus 532-LR Bookshelf
Ascend HTM-200
Ascend CBM-170 SE
Axiom M3 v2
Boston Acoustics VR2
Boston Acoustics VR-M50
Energy RC-10
Infinity Primus 360
Infinity Beta 20
Klipsch RB-61
Klipsch RF-10
M&K K-15
NHT Classic Two
Orb Audio Mod2
Polk R50
Polk RTI 6
I'm living in a dorm room, so it's not very big, somewhere around 11x10 feet. I'll be out of here in a year, though, so my next room should be a little bigger, though I don't imagine I'll have enough money to get anything too much larger for a while.
I currently have a Kenwood VR-407, but I'll be upgrading my receiver a little while after I get my new speakers (I'll probably spend $300-400 on the receiver too).
I'll be using these speakers for something like 85% music (alternative, pop, easy listening, rock, electronica), and a little movies and games. Also, although I often like listening to music quite loud, it's important that they sound good and clear at low volumes for late night listening.
By the way, the only speakers on that list I've been able to audition are the Orbs, and they sounded incredible to me. But I have no idea if any of the others are better (I would assume so, since they're all significantly physically larger), since so much of the terminology used by speaker manufacturers is confusing to me.
As you can see, I've put both bookshelfs and floor-standing speakers on my list. Bookshelfs are probably easier, but I guess I'll go with floor-standing ones if they're a lot better, and they'll probably be easier when I move into a new room since I won't have to get speaker stands.
Currently, on my room's long wall, I have my desk pressed up against the wall in the left corner, then my computer, then my TV immediately to the right. There's definitely room for a floor-standing speaker to the right of the TV, but for the left I'd have to move my desk over to create space.
Thus, the left floor speaker would kind of be crammed between the wall on one side and the desk on the other, which probably isn't great for sound, but I could try to move it out so it's almost poking out the end. I currently have my left bookshelf on the desk.
By the way, as you might have surmised, the left speaker will be almost right in front of me, while the right will be on the other side of the room, if that makes any difference.
I'd really appreciate any help and advice you guys can give in my selection process.
Thanks very much!
-Michael