2.0 Speaker set up help

There are a zillion options for speakers but I'll throw some options that aren't the popular B&W, Wharfedale, etc. crowd.

1. Internet Direct: Best retail bang for the buck new is with ID companies like Aperion, AV123, Axiom, and Ascend Acoustics. Their business model allows them to charge much, much less than store models and the quality of the components used and overall design for your budget is hard to beat (new).

2. Monitor Audio: They had these at my local Magnolia (not the Best Buy in-store version, the actual Magnolia). I demo's them for a half an hour. They are waaaay good for the money. Well built, warm tonality, and well-regarded all around. I was very impressed. They haven't penetrated the US market as much as the other UK brands but it's not for lack of quality.

3. PE RS621/Recession Destroyer kit: Two of the many kits PE offers. The Recession Destroyer are Towers designed by Curt C. over at the PE forum. He is one of the resident gurus and a phenomenal speaker designer. You will not find a single negative comment about his designs. In this case you'd have to put the cabinets together and do a little screwing, etc. But for the money, no way you will approach the sound quality. Period.

The RS621 is much, much easier. Just screw in the drivers, glue in the crossover, ta da. It's worth it because the RS28A tweeter and RS150 woofer used are some of the lowest distortion drivers you will find at ANY price. You will not get sound quality like that for under $1k new. And not with a piano finish and 3/4" thick cabinet. It will take you all of an hour to put together.

Anyways, not the usual suggestions, and maybe no bragging rights, but *real* fidelity for your money.


good luck

w

I'll offer my take as well. This is just MY opinion after reading the above.

1. Internet Direct. While there are makers that offer lots of good speakers direct, I always take exception to that idea that they are always better value. Wishuliu mentions Axiom. I drank the "ID is better value" Kool-Aid until I heard some Axiom speakers myself. The midrange was honky, the highs were tizzy, generally a below average sounding speaker, even though you get a lot of "box" for your money. Who's to say that that the ID company isn't pocketing the profits for themselves that the middleman would have taken normally? And lastly, since speakers on a whole (even ID) are marked up incredibly high, there is often room to bargain. On retail brands, you can negotiate at least, less so with direct brands. I've never paid more than 75% of MSRP, sometimes as little as 50% of MSRP on retail brands, and when you do that, you can find some phenomenal sounding retail speakers for the price. So you have to compare on a case by case basis. Ascend makes some good ones, but not every ID company is going to offer sound quality is automatically better. Fortunately a few will allow you to try them in your own home without risk (which is great as long as you are actually comparing them to something else at the same time)

2. Monitor Audio: the strange thing is that every time I've heard Monitor Audio, I found them on the clinical and slightly bright sound, not warm at all, even their Gold Reference line. I think they tend to tune them for a more bright british sound, and I find their balance a bit too tipped up to be enjoyable. I might give them a try again but my only local dealer dropped them as something they carry, not sure why but I guess they weren't a big seller?

I find it strange that you mention that you heard the 686 and like them but for some reason shy away just because the dealer offered you a decent discount? As I said, lots of speakers have very high margins. Most speaker brands you can negotiate 25% off at a higher volume store by politely asking. B&W 6xx series is B&W's biggest seller. As a 686 owner myself, I'll say there is nothing wrong with that choice if you like the sound. I paid more for mine and have no regrets for music listening. They have a slight bit of midbass emphasis, and a tad tizzy in the highs, but still not a deal breaker.

I will throw in my normal recommendation. For $300, you can get a pair of NHT Absolute Zero speakers which are great little micro monitors. They won't have the depth of bass the 686 have, but they are great for desktop use. Sealed design, with tight bass, and excellent imaging and neutrality.

So there you have it, another opinion in the mix.

Ah, well so it goes. Just offering different options than the usual run of the mill (I'm a diy man, myself). Each brand has it's own sound. Yes, supposedly axioms are bright, Ascends are neutral, AV123 more warm and laid back. The good thing about the ID's is they all have free 30 day trials so you can return if you don't like them.

Ugh, I didn't like the NHT's when I heard them, both their monitors and towers.

Oh well, different strokes...

different strokes for sure, that underlies the importance of hearing it for yourself rather than just taking advice blindly

im in a similar situation. i have a pair of grado hf2s and westones for working out travel, and im quite pleased. after doing a lot of research on speakers, i went with the usher s-520. i also had an aperion 5.1 setup which i loved, but ended up parting with during a move.

anyway, i am looking for an amp to drive my speakers. i have a NAD but its temporary, and im feeding it from my headphone out on my computer, and im wondering if i should just buy a headphone dac/amp with a line out to the NAD or if getting something different would have better sound.