Hello,
A friend recommended me to this forum for 'sound' advice on anything hifi.
I'm based in the US currently and on a tight budget, looking to upgrade my front speakers in a 5.1 setup. I have a Denon 1507 AVR (75 w) with an Oppo 980H as source. The 5.1 speaker setup consists of JBL speakers (Northridge series)with a 10 in. JBL sub. The setup is allright for home-theatre use but is miserable for music.
I now have a little bit saved up and wanted to upgrade my current front speakers to something more musically oriented. The place where I stay does not unfortunately have any decent audition shops within driving distance for the speakers I have shortlisted. My musical tastes are quite general, from Indian classical to Jazz to Film music to Rock. So I wanted a speaker which is neutral to warm, with detail and resolution. I am not into heavy bass but I prefer a system which has some bass depth along with good timing and punch. However, more than that, I like a non-fatiguing midrange and treble.
Based on my budget and tastes, I have shortlisted the following speakers:
Floorstander:
Energy C-300 ($250 / pair)
C-300 Tower Speaker - Overview
User comments:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=16096916&highlight=300+speaker+review#post16096916
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=630450&highlight=300+speaker+review#post8162
Bookshelves:
Wharfedale Diamond 9.1 ($280/pair + $70 stands)
Wharfedale
Cambridge Audio S30 ($120 / pair + $70 stands)
Cambridge Audio S30 speaker review Hi-fi speaker review - from the experts at whathifi.com
Tannoy F1 Custom ($270 +$70 stands)
Tannoy Mercury Custom F1 Hi-fi speaker review - from the experts at whathifi.com
All these speakers are much below their normal prices because of various closeout sales and I have to act pretty fast to be able to purchase one.
I have read great reviews on all 3 bookshelves from AV magazines. I have also heard good things about the C-300 from friends as well as user reviews, which describe it as a 'neutral to warm, laid-back' speaker.
What I would like advice on is the following:
1. Are the 9.1s really that good that it is worth spending $100 more (with stands) as opposed to going for a floorstander? And in general, if the floorstander is good, is it worth paying extra for the stands and bookshelf?
2. Has anyone owned/heard/reviewed the C-300 or C-500? I know Energy is a reputed company and their RC and Veritas series are well received.
3. Is the S30 at $120 a good bargain? It normally goes for $220 odd. What will I lose (apart from low freq) when compared to the other two models.
4. Tannoy seems to be fav for WHiFi. Has anyone listened to it personally and liked it?
My listening room is 10 ft x 9 ft but I am not looking for loud, room filling speakers. Rather I'm looking for budget, musical speakers that I can be happy listening to for the next 3-4 years without feeling the need to change or crib about them. Your inputs are appreciated since I will only have them as a benchmark. If I had more time, I may have taken a day off to go out of town to auditon the models but distance and time are against me here.
Thank you again for all your advice and help.
~Rs.
A friend recommended me to this forum for 'sound' advice on anything hifi.
I'm based in the US currently and on a tight budget, looking to upgrade my front speakers in a 5.1 setup. I have a Denon 1507 AVR (75 w) with an Oppo 980H as source. The 5.1 speaker setup consists of JBL speakers (Northridge series)with a 10 in. JBL sub. The setup is allright for home-theatre use but is miserable for music.
I now have a little bit saved up and wanted to upgrade my current front speakers to something more musically oriented. The place where I stay does not unfortunately have any decent audition shops within driving distance for the speakers I have shortlisted. My musical tastes are quite general, from Indian classical to Jazz to Film music to Rock. So I wanted a speaker which is neutral to warm, with detail and resolution. I am not into heavy bass but I prefer a system which has some bass depth along with good timing and punch. However, more than that, I like a non-fatiguing midrange and treble.
Based on my budget and tastes, I have shortlisted the following speakers:
Floorstander:
Energy C-300 ($250 / pair)
C-300 Tower Speaker - Overview
User comments:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=16096916&highlight=300+speaker+review#post16096916
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=630450&highlight=300+speaker+review#post8162
Bookshelves:
Wharfedale Diamond 9.1 ($280/pair + $70 stands)
Wharfedale
Cambridge Audio S30 ($120 / pair + $70 stands)
Cambridge Audio S30 speaker review Hi-fi speaker review - from the experts at whathifi.com
Tannoy F1 Custom ($270 +$70 stands)
Tannoy Mercury Custom F1 Hi-fi speaker review - from the experts at whathifi.com
All these speakers are much below their normal prices because of various closeout sales and I have to act pretty fast to be able to purchase one.
I have read great reviews on all 3 bookshelves from AV magazines. I have also heard good things about the C-300 from friends as well as user reviews, which describe it as a 'neutral to warm, laid-back' speaker.
What I would like advice on is the following:
1. Are the 9.1s really that good that it is worth spending $100 more (with stands) as opposed to going for a floorstander? And in general, if the floorstander is good, is it worth paying extra for the stands and bookshelf?
2. Has anyone owned/heard/reviewed the C-300 or C-500? I know Energy is a reputed company and their RC and Veritas series are well received.
3. Is the S30 at $120 a good bargain? It normally goes for $220 odd. What will I lose (apart from low freq) when compared to the other two models.
4. Tannoy seems to be fav for WHiFi. Has anyone listened to it personally and liked it?
My listening room is 10 ft x 9 ft but I am not looking for loud, room filling speakers. Rather I'm looking for budget, musical speakers that I can be happy listening to for the next 3-4 years without feeling the need to change or crib about them. Your inputs are appreciated since I will only have them as a benchmark. If I had more time, I may have taken a day off to go out of town to auditon the models but distance and time are against me here.
Thank you again for all your advice and help.
~Rs.
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