What do you guys think of these speakers (1 Viewer)

[Allen Longcor]

I've started some threads recently looking for speakers that offer great sound for a great value. I think I have narrowed my choices thanks to your help. The speaker companies that are in the running for my next HT upgrade are Axiom, Diva, Monitor, and Polk.
Now here is my plan: upgrade my current setup slowly. My first move will be to buy the bookshelves of whatever speaker company I decide on and replace my mains. Depending on how tight money is, I will also buy the matching center channel. Then, when I have enough I will buy the towers and move the bookshelf speakers to the back for surrounds. Right now I have some old Eosone speakers, so pretty much anything I choose is going to be better than those.
Here are the potential setups I am thinking about:
Diva Setup
Diva 2.1 ($400)
Diva C3 ($500)
Diva 4.1 ($700)OR Diva 6.1 ($1300)
Axiom Setup
M22ti ($400) OR M3ti ($275)
VP150 ($350)
M60ti ($800) OR M80ti ($1100)
Polk Setup
LSi 7 ($479)
LSi C ($349)
LSi 15 ($1049)
[/b]Monitor Setup[/b]
Silver 3i ($460)
Silver Center 10i ($430)
Silver 5i ($790) OR Silver 8i ($1149)
What I'd like is your opinions on these models. I've read some threads on the new Polk line and the Divas, but not that much about the Axiom and the Monitors. I'm not really looking for conjectures about how they would stack up against each other, but what their strengths and weaknesses are. If you have demoed two or more against each other, though, I would love to hear how they compared.
The speakers will be used in a bedroom HT setup. My room is 10'X 11' with a couch in it, so it's pretty small. I will be using an Onkyo 595 for the time being. I'm not sure if that takes Polk out of the running because they are 4 ohm speakers and I dont know if or how well they will work with my receiver. I want to upgrade the speakers and then upgrade everything else. They will be used for movies, Dolby Prologic II music, 5 channel SACD, and 2 channel SACD. Any comments or even flames are appreciated.

 

[Lee-c]

PSB all the way around would make for a great setup, too. Stratus Silver-i's for mains and
Stratus Mini's for surrounds. They also make a center channel speaker.
http://www.psbspeakers.com/

 

[Jeffrey Forner]

Does the back of your receiver say that you can run 4 Ohm speakers? If not, then you may not be able to run the Polks like you want. I know that my Onkyo 575X (which preceeded the 595) can only take a 6-Ohm load.
I think your plan for the upgrade path is a good one, with the exception perhaps of getting the bookshelves first and then the towers. Why not just bite the bullet now and buy the more expensive towers? That way, you won't have to spend as much money down the road.
Another thing you'll want to consider is that if you look at the specials page over at AV123, you'll notice that you can get a set of 2.1s for free if you purchase the 4.1s and the C3. That's a savings of $400 on all five speakers.
As for my opinion, I own a set of Divas and love them, so it's obvious which way my vote will swing. If you're trying to get the most from your money, the 4.1 package is best way to go. The Divas sound as good as the others you're considering at an unbelievable price.
Happy shopping!

 

[Alexis]

the prices for the divas are pairs, the prices for the polk lsi's are each speaker, so you may need to rethink your plans. The tweeters on the Polk are the same ones on the $10k krell speakers.

 

[Allen Longcor]

The Polk prices are not taken off the Polk website, but from a Polk dealers website and those are prices per pair. It's MUCH less than the MSRP on the Polk site. I would really like to hear any opinions on the Monitor Silver line of speakers. They look very nice but I haven't heard anything about them.
J.Fo can you give specific strengths and weaknesses of the Divas? I've seen you post a lot of replies about the Divas so I'm sure you could help me out I would love to bite the bullet and start out with some towers, but I am a poor college student and my plan of upgrade would be the most logical for me. Perhaps listening to the bookshelves of the speakers I pick will give me a greater appreciation for the towers when I finally get them.

 

[Yiannis]

Allen: who is the polk web dealer you are talking about?

 

[Mark Austin]

The tweeters on the Polk are the same ones on the $10k krell speakers.

I know they are both ring radiators, but I was under the impression they are actually different tweeters.

 

[Allen Longcor]

http://www.acousticsounddesign.com./...inCatID=2&p=th
That's a direct link to the page with the Polk LSi line. Their center is on another page. Not sure if they are authorized to sell over the inet so buy at your own risk. Someone posted that on this board awhile ago.

 

[Russell _T]

I think both Polk and Krell use the Vifa XT ring radiator.

 

[Russell _T]

Allen
I'm not sure they are still on sale or not, but the 4.1's were $499.00 for a while, and that would make them less expensive than the 2.1's if you factor in a decent pair of stands. Call Sean over there, and he will let you know.

 

[Robertto]

LOL, I just went through the same decision process!
Here's is my original post.
http://www.hometheaterforum.com/htfo...threadid=71992
I demo'ed the moniters 3s 7s and 9s, B&Ws, and BA CR85s. I liked the m5s the most but opted for the m22s too many good reviews and felt like I wanted a little bit more high end, and the comparisons seemed to say that the m22s would do that for me. But I have a sub which will help with the lows.
Didn't see that in your set-up.
I will have them on Tuesday, and will post feedback and comparo to the moniters here.
Oh yea, running an 1802 Denon, fairly similar to your 595.

 

[Mark Austin]

I think both Polk and Krell use the Vifa XT ring radiator.

After checking with a local Polk dealer locally today, it is not the same Vifa driver that Krell uses. It's made by Vifa, but it's not exactly the same tweet.

 

[Fong]

i can only vouch for axiom, because its what i ended up with. i have not compared them to the other brands that you wanted to know, but i can say that they are very good. i own the m22s and the vp150. the m22's mids and highs are exceptional, though the bass is lacking (but its still tight). they match very well with the vp150 which sounds just as good. the low end of these speakers shouldnt be something to worry about if you plan on using a good sub. i havent heard the m60s because i dont believe in towers. i believe that bookshelves coupled with a good sub beats towers any day. but from what i've read, they are supposed to sound like the m22s, but with good bass output.

you didnt tell us what type of music you listen to. it might matter on some speakers. as far as the axioms go, imho they make every genre sound excellent...save the low end of course. voices sound real, and instruments have no coloration (that i can tell). they are bright, so if you like anything with cymbals, or anything that uses the tweeter, you will love these speakers as much as i do.

movies sound awesome, as one would expect. voices sound very good. the vp150 handles them very well. the axioms make a good recording sound great. everything sounds clear.

happy hunting

 

[Jeffrey Forner]

J.Fo can you give specific strengths and weaknesses of the Divas?

Sure thing! The best place to go for that would be to read this review I wrote a couple months after I got them. It should tell you everything you need to know about the Divas.

 

[Robertto]

Fong, any particular reason you went w/the 150 over 100?

Your post is not making the next 24-48 hours easy for me.

I am just glad I upgraded my sub last week from a crappy 8inch Aiwa to the SAWM40 Sony. I think that should compliment the 22s well. Even did the polyfil DIY mod and it sounds a hell of a lot better!

 

[Dan Hine]

Allen,
I would suggest not buying from Acoustic Sound Design. The minimum resale price as allowed by Polk is $749.95 each. They are either not an authorized dealer or could lose their dealership over this. It's up to you of course but it just makes me wonder what else they may be shady about.
In the price range you seem to be shooting for I would go with the Diva's. And that is coming from a Polk owner. The deal they have with either a free center or free surrounds (depending if you get the 4.1's or 6.1's) is killer. Plus they look really nice.
Regards,
Dan Hine

 

[Fong]

robertto,

the main reason i went with the vp150 is because it is (and does) have great lateral dispersion because it has a pair of tweeters surrounding the 3 woofers. im sure that the vp100 would sound just as good considering that it uses the same drivers in a MTM design.

heh the sawm40 does work nicely with the m22s, though i have to turn it down a bit for music (a bit boomy). i am also a very happy person with a polyfiled sawm40 : )~

 

[Robertto]

You have the SAWM 40 too!!! LOl, can't wait to get home, just found out the M22s are there!!! I hear ya on the boominess but poly helped out huge. I think I am going to have to replace my ctr sooner than expected!

 

[Fong]

heh what can i say? the sawm40 has served me well as an entry sub, but my hearing and tastes have evolved.
and have fun with your m22s! i loved them right out of the box, and they're still growing on me

 

[Gil D]

After checking with a local Polk dealer locally today, it is not the same Vifa driver that Krell uses. It's made by Vifa, but it's not exactly the same tweet.

I'll have to check, but I believe they only changed the faceplate.