I need tips, or perhaps a support group, in buying new speakers. I'm not sure how to effectively go about this. I've got a ~$2000 budget to upgrading from my 5.1 KLH set bought ten years ago for $250 when I was a poor grad student: obviously, anything will be a step up. (WAF is pretty broad, so I don't need teeny-tiny satellites.)
Whereas there's a good selection reviews online for TVs, Receivers and Blu Ray players, I'm finding very little on speakers. There's too many makes and models to be reviewed in any comprehensive way. Or perhaps the good reviews are in the print magazines, but since they're not online, I can't find them.
The stores are a mixed bag. We have two local boutique stores, which I'm visiting. But they have limited setups, usually in awkard, cramped rooms, are nothing like my living room. I had a nice demo at one high-end shop, but I'm standing up for it, because there's no chair for that demo section. The stores can't do A/B comparisons either: they have to unplug a speaker set, bring in new speakers from a different room, set them up, and continue the demo.
Where to start? How do you pick speakers? Where do you get review info? What about buying sound-unheard from an internet company? (e.g. Aperion or SVS)
I'll gladly take specific recommendations, but I'm as interested in meta-recommendations on the shopping process.
If it helps, my setup is:
Onkyo 707 receiver
Pioneer 5020 plasma
Living room is 15' (wide) x 16' (deep), with one side open to the kitchen & dining room.
Whereas there's a good selection reviews online for TVs, Receivers and Blu Ray players, I'm finding very little on speakers. There's too many makes and models to be reviewed in any comprehensive way. Or perhaps the good reviews are in the print magazines, but since they're not online, I can't find them.
The stores are a mixed bag. We have two local boutique stores, which I'm visiting. But they have limited setups, usually in awkard, cramped rooms, are nothing like my living room. I had a nice demo at one high-end shop, but I'm standing up for it, because there's no chair for that demo section. The stores can't do A/B comparisons either: they have to unplug a speaker set, bring in new speakers from a different room, set them up, and continue the demo.
Where to start? How do you pick speakers? Where do you get review info? What about buying sound-unheard from an internet company? (e.g. Aperion or SVS)
I'll gladly take specific recommendations, but I'm as interested in meta-recommendations on the shopping process.
If it helps, my setup is:
Onkyo 707 receiver
Pioneer 5020 plasma
Living room is 15' (wide) x 16' (deep), with one side open to the kitchen & dining room.