New system advice (1 Viewer)

[Marcel_D.]

I decided that a whole new system would benefit me a lot more than just a couple upgrades. Keeping it around $3k Canadian here is what I have picked out:

Center - Swan Diva C3
Mains - Swan Diva 5.1
Surrounds - Swan Diva 2.1
Sub - SVS PB10-NSD

Amplifier - Emotive LPA-1
Pre-Amp - Emotive LMC-1

If anyone wants to suggest some changes I'm all for it. I also live in Canada so I'm sure shipping will be murder. It would be nice if anyone knew about a Canadian store that sells high quality speakers and stuff like that.

 

[Alon Goldberg]

Hi Marcel, where are you located in Canada? Here in Vancouver I frequent a half dozen hifi stores, with a wide range of options in your price range (Paradigm, B&W, Monitor Audio, KEF, Totem, etc).

If you're shipping from the States, expect to 1.5 to 1.6 the US price (GST, PST, duty, brokerage fees).

The Canadian dealer for SVS is Sonic Boom Audio, so you can certainly ship locally

 

[Marcel_D.]

Edit...

 

[Marcel_D.]

I live in a pretty bad spot when it comes to purchasing products online - a small town in Saskatchewan. Seems everything comes from BC, Ontario or the US. I've been looking for some Canadian alternatives to save me some trouble. I've rounded it down to these lineups:
Paradigm Monitor
Athena LS
Energy C
Monitor Audio BR or RS.

Keeping the SVS sub. Still looking for an amp or good receiver though.

 

[Stephen Hopkins]

Unless the Monitor line has changed a good bit in the past few years then I'd say the Swans are a noticeable step up. I went from 5SE MK3s, 3SE MK3s, and Mini MK3s (all predecessors to the Monitors) to Swans 4.1s, 2.1s, and C3 and the difference was very noticeable. I also thought the SE MK3s were a good but smoother than the Monitors that replaced them due to a soft vs. metal dome tweeter.

It also looks like the Monitors now include what used to be the lower-end performance line (Atoms, Titans). Merging the two lines doesn't necessarily mean it's getting worse, but I'm not sure it's what it used to be.

Since you are in Canada and you'd pay ALOT for postage from the states, have you considered that the Paradigm Reference line might be in your budget? Even if it were 2 pairs of Studio 20s, a CC590, and the PB10NSD I think you'd be better off than something higher up the Monitor line (especially if HT is your goal). Considering a 15% discount as being pretty common you should be able to do Studio 20s front and back, CC590, and PB10 for not much over your $3k Canadian budget.

 

[Ennsio]

I would second the recommendation of the Reference line of Paradigm over the Monitor line. Paradigm studios are a considerable step up from the sound of the monitors in my experience (I've demoed both in the last few months), and your budget is high enough to suggest you want a quality speaker with a great sound.

I have the Athena LS's that you also mention (the bookshelf version). They are a great budget speaker, which suits my needs for now, but with your budget I would go higher end to get the upgrade in sound that you are looking for.

What part of Saskatchewan are you in? Are you near Saskatoon or Regina so that you could go demo some speakers there? I'm in Calgary and there is a great Paradigm dealer here. I see Saskatoon and Regina also have dealers. There is also a Monitor Audio dealer here, but I have not visited them yet.

If you wanted to go with Paradigm Studios but want to lower your budget, you could get Paradigm monitor line speakers for your surrounds (either Atom Monitors, Mini Monitors, ADP 190 or 290) instead of another pair of Studio 20s and that would save some money for your amp and receiver. That's what I would like to eventually do.

 

[Marcel_D.]

I'm only 2 and a half hours from Regina so that would be the best place for me to audition and buy some speakers.

Good to know that the Studios are a noticeable step up from the Monitors. I'll be sure to audition them when I can. Only thing is that my $3k budget also needs to include a receiver so two pairs of Studio 20s and the center is a bit on the expensive side.

 

[Ennsio]

That's why I suggested getting cheaper surrounds, such as the monitor line for monopole or dipoles. Including a sub and a receiver in that $3k does make it tight for Paradigm studios. The Paradigm dealer that I visit has a Studio CC490 on clearout for $700, which would save some money. The 490 is discontinued now, so the cheapest paradigm reference center channel offered otherwise is the 590 which is $1000.

If you want to contact them, here's their website: http://www.sounds-of-music.com/