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Speaker shoot out! (1 Viewer)

Wiredin

Grip
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Nov 11, 2009
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Luke
Alirghty, ordered up my new receiver (onkyo tx-sr707) today. got rid of most of the limitations of space. Now it's time to get down and order some speakers.

I've done a lot of auditioning in the last two weeks.

I'm still very limited in funds, as I got a little less than I thought, but I'm thinking of going a bit more piece meal than originally intended. Mostly because after demoing the Soundstage, KEF C1, JBL, Energy, and Mirage systems I'm hearing way to much flub and want cleaner, clearer sound. So I've narrowed it down to two.

Here is where I'm torn, all the solutions sound bloody amazing, but each one has pro's and cons'

System 1:
Kef IQ10 book shelve fronts
Kef IQ2c center channel
Kef Kube 2 8" sub

I can get the above system shipped for $800 CAD (give or take a few bucks) from accessories for less. This system seems to be the most efficient at lower volumes, The clarity and fullness of sound at these lower volumes seems to be the best that I've heard so far. The sub isn't overly powerful or earth shaking, but helps enhance the bottom end enough to give me some whoomp.


System 2:
Paradigm Atom Monitor bookshelf fronts
Velodyne Impact10 sub
Paradigm Cinema 330 center

According to the local dealer she can get me this pacakge for $800 CAD. I don't have to wait for shipping (which is awesome) and its a local dealer, which means local support, which I'm huge on. The Paradigm Atom's sound bloody fantastic. Like, unbelievably fantastic. But... they sound so amazing when their getting a decent amount of power. At lower volumes they seem to get lifeless and lose all the clarity that they have when the amps turned up and pushing some juice. They are also a lot bigger than the KEF's and will require stands, which my wife don't want, but she's in LOVE with the sound.


I demoed both using the CD of Eric Claptons "One more Car One more Rider", specifically "Key to the highway" for the acoustic sound stage that song as, and "Cocaine" for the full band and sonic spectrum.


The problem was, that the shop I went to go listen to the Paradigms, while friendly, seemed lazy to sell me some speakers. They would only hook the Atom's up for me (not even letting me demo the Cinema series which was more what I went in there for), and even then they wouldn't hook up the sub or the center channel. Their reasoning is that the fronts are the most important (obviously) and will make up most of my decision. The rest will either work or not once it's in my room and they will give me 60 days to make sure they are right for me.

They also put the audio through a McIntosh MCD301 CD player, McIntosh C2300 tube preamp, and McIntosh MC405 power amp... which I'm sure really made those Paradigm's shine!



I'm really really torn between the two systems. My home theater is going to be doing so much that I need it to be able to handle music from blues to hard, heavy rock, movies from comedy, action, and dramas, to video games from RPGs, racers, and first person shooters.

The KEF's seem to be better for low volumes, where the majority of our listening would be. And still sound fantastic turned up!

The Paradigm/Velodyne system is more bang for the buck, and better sound once turned up...which I won't be able to do for at least 3 years (our goal for a new home thats not multi-dwelling)

Really in the end it's only for the low volume efficiency that I'm waivering. So I need to know from others... how are the Paradigms around the volume level that most people listen to their TV at before they go home theater and crank the thing!


I know it's a long post. But I'm really torn here. If I didn't have to online order the KEF's I wouldn't have an issue as I could just go in and buy both systems and return one with the fantastic return policies of my local dealers. The KEF's are just 3x more expensive at my local dealer...
 

Al.Anderson

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Al
I hate to do this to you, but since you mentioned you're looking for clearer, cleaner sound, I feel I have to suggest Axioms. I got the M3v2 for my son and I like them so much I'm going to get the M22v2s for myself (today actually). They have a very since sounding, but very clean crisp sound.

The only "problem" with them in my opinion is you really should use a sub. My son's stereo setup sounds great, but with the additon of a sub would be outstanding. (His birthday, don't tell him.)
 

David Willow

Babbling Idiot
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Dave
Definitely check out the Axioms. They are Canadian as well, so you may get them a bit cheaper than here in the U.S. Also look at SVS for subs. They have a Canadian outlet as well.

I would start with the M22's and the VP100. Then save some money and grab the cheapest SVS (around $400-500).
 

John Garcia

Senior HTF Member
Joined
Jun 24, 1999
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NorCal
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Take a look at the Ascend Acoustics CBM-170SE. Very clear and detailed and probably in your price range, though I don't know how shipping will affect that. The Ascends are better than the Axioms, though the Axioms are not bad either. To compare to the M22 you would need to look at the Ascend CMT-340 though.

PSB is another Canadian speaker brand that you might want to consider.
 

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