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(Persona Non Grata) wrote in message . com...
Hello,

I've been shopping for a new set of speakers and a receiver, an
upgrade from (virtually) nothing. This is primarily for music.

Given that your main interest is music, then unless you have
surround-sound software (such as DVD-A and SACD discs) and a DVD-A or
SACD player, you might not want or need to get a Dolby receiver and
surround-sound speakers.

What do you plan to listen to that would require surround-sound
hardware?

There's nothing wrong with using surround-sound hardware to listen to
stereo CDs and other stereo sources, and Dolby Pro Logic can enhance
stereo playback. However, if you don't really have any surround-sound
software and hardware that you plan to listen to a lot, you might want
to get:

* Dolby receiver (such as the Denon) and use it in stereo mode. I'd
recommend a Dolby receiver, not a stereo receiver, because Dolby
receivers are priced low and will allow you a future upgrade path.

* Pair of stereo speakers.

Again, assuming you're mostly going to be listening to stereo sources,
there's nothing wrong with going with a surround-sound system. And you
may find you like the synthesized surround-sound effect Dolby Pro
Logic can provide for stereo sources. But if your sources are mostly
stereo, you could just go with a pair of stereo speakers.

Assuming most of your sources are stereo, try listening to them
through Dolby Pro Logic with surround-sound speakers at your dealer.

The
dining and living rooms are all in one 28' x 11' space (no wall)
although I intend to set them up as part of the 16' x 11' piece. The
receiver is most likely going to end up being Denon AVR-1603. I can't
decide on the speakers. I auditioned Energy Take5+1, Klipsch Quintet
and Definitive ProCinema 60 by playing a bass-heavy and then an
ambient electronic track. Energy offers the best value while
Definitive had the best sound (to my ears).

I suggest you buy the speakers that sound best to you, especially
given that the best-sounding speakers to your ear only cost $100 more.

Klipsch didn't deal with
bass very well but it was auditioned in a very noisy environment so I
might give it another listen. On the other hand the ambient on Klipsch
sounded terrific -- all the minor details were very crisp.

I am going to listen to Paradigm Atoms and PSBs next.

Here are some numbers:

Energy Take5+1 (3 pieces+ S8 sub): $500
Custom Energy package: S8.2 sub, XL-C100 center, Take2.2 fronts: $656
incl. tax
Definitive ProCinema 60 (3 pieces+sub): $600

Based on price alone I am leaning towards Paradigm Atoms for fronts
and CC-170 center around with a powered sub, assuming the Atoms will
perform as advertised. I am also considering a non-Paradigm sub,
either HSU VTF-2 ($500), SVS 25-31PCi ($500 no tax) or Energy S8.2
($270 incl tax) or S10.2 ($470 incl tax). If I go with a lower-priced
option, it would be

Energy S8.2 sub: $270 incl tax
Paradigm Atoms (1 pair) + CC-170 center : approx $400 retail.
Total: $670.

If I buy Paradigms from a dealer, I can probably negotiate 10-20%
discount on Atoms to drop it to around $600-630. As you all can see
the prices for 4 packages are very much in the same ballpark.

Which package would you get?

I haven't heard them all, and have never been able to hear them in the
same room at the same time, so I can't say. What matters is what
sounds best to you. All the brands you mention produce decent
speakers.

I'd also consider a pair of larger stereo speakers as an option, or
you could just go with a front pair of speakers and a subwoofer from
the speakers you mention above. Then if you wanted to add rear
speakers, you could do that later.

I might consider a pair of PSB Alphas ($250 or so a pair) and a
matching PSB subwoofer. These are bookshelf speakers and (in general)
bookshelf speakers are capable of sounding better than the mini
speakers you mention above. Mini speakers, because they produce so
little bass, can sound pretty thin and be harder to get sounding
decent with a sub.

But what matters most is what sounds best to you.

Thanks,

PNG