I am looking for a second surround sound set up for my living room. It
will not be the primary movie viewing location. It will be used
occasionally for movies and to listen to music (primarily CDs) in the
living room (12'x15').

I have looked at packages like the Acoustic Research HC5 and JBL SCS
150si. I am trying to keep this purchase under $300. I am looking for
the best sound that my dollar will buy in this price range.

Can anyone lend any experience with either of these 2 products? Can
anyone suggest a comparable solution for my needs.

Thanks, in advance.

Scott

Supposedly the Omages (see audioasylum.com and avsforum.com and search) are
a new upstart. I have a set and would recommend it for your price range.
Also the Athenas have something about that price range, I think.

Jeffrey

"M. Scott Hipkins" wrote in message
...
I am looking for a second surround sound set up for my living room. It
will not be the primary movie viewing location. It will be used
occasionally for movies and to listen to music (primarily CDs) in the
living room (12'x15').

I have looked at packages like the Acoustic Research HC5 and JBL SCS
150si. I am trying to keep this purchase under $300. I am looking for
the best sound that my dollar will buy in this price range.

Can anyone lend any experience with either of these 2 products? Can
anyone suggest a comparable solution for my needs.

Thanks, in advance.

Scott

"M. Scott Hipkins" wrote in message ...
I am looking for a second surround sound set up for my living room. It
will not be the primary movie viewing location. It will be used
occasionally for movies and to listen to music (primarily CDs) in the
living room (12'x15').

I have looked at packages like the Acoustic Research HC5 and JBL SCS
150si. I am trying to keep this purchase under $300. I am looking for
the best sound that my dollar will buy in this price range.

Can anyone lend any experience with either of these 2 products? Can
anyone suggest a comparable solution for my needs.

Web sites with reviews:

consumerreports.org (or read magazine at library)

Some dot coms with user reviews:

audiogon

audioreview

amazon

circuitcity

epinions

For example:

http://www.epinions.com/search/?subm...h_vertical=all

http://www.epinions.com/elec-Audio-C...tic+resear ch

Also search newsgroups and web via Google.com.

But most importantly, go to stores, take some of your CDs or DVDs with
you, and buy only what looks and sounds good to you.

I haven't heard the AR system, but some of the JBL systems I've heard
with the tiny satellite speakers sounded good, although I've only
heard them at places like Best Buy, where's there's often so much
other noise in the store that it's hard to get a good listen. If you
buy from a place like that, make sure to get return privileges, in
case whatever you buy doesn't sound good at home.

Another thought: instead of getting a small surround-sound system, you
could buy a pair of decent bookshelf speakers for about $300. You
wouldn't have the surround effect, but you would have speakers that
would probably sound better with CDs and music. B&W, PSB, and many
other companies make nice bookshelf speakers for $300/pair.

Thanks, in advance.

Scott

Neil wrote:


Another thought: instead of getting a small surround-sound system, you
could buy a pair of decent bookshelf speakers for about $300. You
wouldn't have the surround effect, but you would have speakers that
would probably sound better with CDs and music. B&W, PSB, and many
other companies make nice bookshelf speakers for $300/pair.

USED. Same advice. You can get a small pair of towers or something
like Tannoy MX2 or B&W601 or simmilar if you shop around used(normally
in the $400-$600 range per pair).

I forgot a link:
http://cgi.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cl.p...oni&1073706081

$350 for a pair fo B&W 602s. Honestly, the 601s(~250 used)
would work as well, but these are large, decent sounding
speakers.

http://cgi.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cl.p...oni&1073649293
Out of your budget, but typical used prices. These are
*large* speakers.

http://cgi.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cl.p...oni&1073423845
The 6 inch versions. $300 obo. Figure $250, or about 40%
of new.

No need to buy new.

Joseph Oberlander wrote in message ink.net...
Neil wrote:


Another thought: instead of getting a small surround-sound system, you
could buy a pair of

To clarify, I was referring to new speakers here...

decent bookshelf speakers for about $300. You
wouldn't have the surround effect, but you would have speakers that
would probably sound better with CDs and music. B&W, PSB, and many
other companies make nice bookshelf speakers for $300/pair.

USED. Same advice. You can get a small pair of towers or something
like Tannoy MX2 or B&W601 or simmilar if you shop around used(normally
in the $400-$600 range per pair).

Actually, if I were the OP, I might go the used route myself, but I've
been around audio and been reading audio magazines for decades, and I
already know what I like and what prices to expect. I suspect the OP
might not be in that position, or maybe he's looking for a
surround-sound system as a gift, and he might not want to go with used
gear for that or other reasons, and needs to stick to the budget he
stated. Anyway, I'm glad we worked some creative/alternative options
into this thread.

If I was the OP, wanted to go stereo, and had a $600 budget, I might
be tempted to try a pair of the Athena towers sold at Best Buy that
both Stereophile and Sound & Vision magazine liked so well. The only
catch is that there's so much racket at my huge local BB that I can't
really hear the Athenas well enough to have any ideas about their
sound quality and I would be extremely reluctant to buy speakers I
can't hear first. I'd probably buy speakers from a dedicated home
audio or home AV store where I could hear and judge before I buy.

Neil wrote:

If I was the OP, wanted to go stereo, and had a $600 budget, I might
be tempted to try a pair of the Athena towers sold at Best Buy that
both Stereophile and Sound & Vision magazine liked so well. The only
catch is that there's so much racket at my huge local BB that I can't
really hear the Athenas well enough to have any ideas about their
sound quality and I would be extremely reluctant to buy speakers I
can't hear first. I'd probably buy speakers from a dedicated home
audio or home AV store where I could hear and judge before I buy.

The Athenas are virtual clones of the Mirage FRX line(same parent
company owns Energy, Mirage, and Athena, iirc) - good solid budget
speakers that have rubber surrouinds and decent wiring posts and
so on.

If you can stretch your budget to $700 you can purchase a new Bose
Acoustimass 6 system.

Or you can look for a used Acoustimass 10 system on eBay and probably
meet your budget.

The Bose sound really wonderful and remember, Bose spends more on
research each year than most all other companies spend on their combines
advertising budgets.

Spend your money on the company that makes the best speakers.

There will be many flames over this recommendation, so at least go to a
Bose dealer and give them a listen before you make up your mind.

Just remember many people in this group hate Bose because of their
success and the fact they make such damn fine speakers.

And why support a foreign company like Athena when you can buy American?

The Big Cheese

Joseph Oberlander wrote:
Neil wrote:

If I was the OP, wanted to go stereo, and had a $600 budget, I might
be tempted to try a pair of the Athena towers sold at Best Buy that
both Stereophile and Sound & Vision magazine liked so well. The only
catch is that there's so much racket at my huge local BB that I can't
really hear the Athenas well enough to have any ideas about their
sound quality and I would be extremely reluctant to buy speakers I
can't hear first. I'd probably buy speakers from a dedicated home
audio or home AV store where I could hear and judge before I buy.


The Athenas are virtual clones of the Mirage FRX line(same parent
company owns Energy, Mirage, and Athena, iirc) - good solid budget
speakers that have rubber surrouinds and decent wiring posts and
so on.

The small speaker package produced, by hand, at Dana Audio sound
pretty good!

The guy who makes them used to be a physics professor at the
University of Tenn in Knoxville. He formerly sold speakers under the
name EMS. They were also well thought of here in DC. He cares a lot
about phase coherence, if I remember right.

They have been favorably reviewed in $sensible $ound Magazine and
other places (I forgot where else).

The two "front" speakers cost about $200 a pair. They are really nice
on voice and classical. If you are into hiphop, then these might not
be for you though. Their bass would certainly need a sub for that.

On Tue, 11 Nov 2003 01:32:14 GMT, "M. Scott Hipkins"
wrote:

I am looking for a second surround sound set up for my living room. It
will not be the primary movie viewing location. It will be used
occasionally for movies and to listen to music (primarily CDs) in the
living room (12'x15').

I have looked at packages like the Acoustic Research HC5 and JBL SCS
150si. I am trying to keep this purchase under $300. I am looking for
the best sound that my dollar will buy in this price range.

Can anyone lend any experience with either of these 2 products? Can
anyone suggest a comparable solution for my needs.

Thanks, in advance.

Scott

wrote:

The small speaker package produced, by hand, at Dana Audio sound
pretty good!

The guy who makes them used to be a physics professor at the
University of Tenn in Knoxville. He formerly sold speakers under the
name EMS. They were also well thought of here in DC. He cares a lot
about phase coherence, if I remember right.

They have been favorably reviewed in $sensible $ound Magazine and
other places (I forgot where else).

The two "front" speakers cost about $200 a pair. They are really nice
on voice and classical. If you are into hiphop, then these might not
be for you though. Their bass would certainly need a sub for that.

Q: does anyone know whether the sub is any good? The speakers have
a couple of minor problems, IMO, though.

1: 1/2 inch tweeter is a bit wimpy, considering the 1 inch version
is a dollar or two more his cost.

2: Sealed cabinet designs are my favorite, but 63hz isn't low enough
for most decent music. If he wanted to go with this type of design,
he should have gone for a $250-$300 tower. I've heard some sealed
cabinet towers that while they only went down to 35-40hz, were very
nice to listen to. Too bad "small" is all the rage now.

I wonder how these sound vs Trotsky's speakers? Lol. Probably
amazingly close considering the components cost about the same
to make.(Greg's inability to source his parts cheap enough like
the big firms is his own problem)

In article k.net,
Joseph Oberlander wrote:

wrote:

The small speaker package produced, by hand, at Dana Audio sound
pretty good!

The guy who makes them used to be a physics professor at the
University of Tenn in Knoxville. He formerly sold speakers under the
name EMS. They were also well thought of here in DC. He cares a lot
about phase coherence, if I remember right.

They have been favorably reviewed in $sensible $ound Magazine and
other places (I forgot where else).

The two "front" speakers cost about $200 a pair. They are really nice
on voice and classical. If you are into hiphop, then these might not
be for you though. Their bass would certainly need a sub for that.

Q: does anyone know whether the sub is any good? The speakers have
a couple of minor problems, IMO, though.

1: 1/2 inch tweeter is a bit wimpy, considering the 1 inch version
is a dollar or two more his cost.

2: Sealed cabinet designs are my favorite, but 63hz isn't low enough
for most decent music. If he wanted to go with this type of design,
he should have gone for a $250-$300 tower. I've heard some sealed
cabinet towers that while they only went down to 35-40hz, were very
nice to listen to. Too bad "small" is all the rage now.

I wonder how these sound vs Trotsky's speakers? Lol. Probably
amazingly close considering the components cost about the same
to make.(Greg's inability to source his parts cheap enough like
the big firms is his own problem)


If these are the Dana 1s, they are seriously colored and uncompetitive
with newer designs from PSB, etc.

Dana formerly manufactured in Austin.

Stephen

Joseph Oberlander a écrit :

wrote:

The small speaker package produced, by hand, at Dana Audio sound
pretty good!

The guy who makes them used to be a physics professor at the
University of Tenn in Knoxville. He formerly sold speakers under the
name EMS. They were also well thought of here in DC. He cares a lot
about phase coherence, if I remember right.

They have been favorably reviewed in $sensible $ound Magazine and
other places (I forgot where else).

The two "front" speakers cost about $200 a pair. They are really nice
on voice and classical. If you are into hiphop, then these might not
be for you though. Their bass would certainly need a sub for that.


Q: does anyone know whether the sub is any good? The speakers have
a couple of minor problems, IMO, though.

1: 1/2 inch tweeter is a bit wimpy, considering the 1 inch version
is a dollar or two more his cost.

The site speak about french tweeter. I can see exactly because the
picture are very small but this could be :
1/2 inch Audax TW010F1 cost $8.35 at madisound
1 inch Audax TM025F7 cost $20.55 at madisound


2: Sealed cabinet designs are my favorite, but 63hz isn't low enough
for most decent music. If he wanted to go with this type of design,
he should have gone for a $250-$300 tower. I've heard some sealed
cabinet towers that while they only went down to 35-40hz, were very
nice to listen to. Too bad "small" is all the rage now.

It seems to be very difficult to go down to 35-40hz in a sealed box with
a 6.5 inch driver. I guess this is why they also propose a low cost sub
woofer (which is not ugly as Trotsky one).


I wonder how these sound vs Trotsky's speakers? Lol. Probably
amazingly close considering the components cost about the same
to make.(Greg's inability to source his parts cheap enough like
the big firms is his own problem)

Lionel wrote:

Joseph Oberlander a écrit :

wrote:

The small speaker package produced, by hand, at Dana Audio sound
pretty good!

The guy who makes them used to be a physics professor at the
University of Tenn in Knoxville. He formerly sold speakers under the
name EMS. They were also well thought of here in DC. He cares a lot
about phase coherence, if I remember right.

They have been favorably reviewed in $sensible $ound Magazine and
other places (I forgot where else).

The two "front" speakers cost about $200 a pair. They are really nice
on voice and classical. If you are into hiphop, then these might not
be for you though. Their bass would certainly need a sub for that.



Q: does anyone know whether the sub is any good? The speakers have
a couple of minor problems, IMO, though.

1: 1/2 inch tweeter is a bit wimpy, considering the 1 inch version
is a dollar or two more his cost.


The site speak about french tweeter. I can see exactly because the
picture are very small but this could be :
1/2 inch Audax TW010F1 cost $8.35 at madisound
1 inch Audax TM025F7 cost $20.55 at madisound

That's a bit extreme. The TM025F7 is a much higher class tweeter.
(though I'd expect a Scanspeak or Seas to put it to shame) The 34mm
tweeter looks interesting, though. That's quite a bit larger than
most you normally see.

The Scanspeak D3806/8200 is interesting, at 1.5 inches. Anyone heard
this in person?


2: Sealed cabinet designs are my favorite, but 63hz isn't low enough
for most decent music. If he wanted to go with this type of design,
he should have gone for a $250-$300 tower. I've heard some sealed
cabinet towers that while they only went down to 35-40hz, were very
nice to listen to. Too bad "small" is all the rage now.

It seems to be very difficult to go down to 35-40hz in a sealed box with
a 6.5 inch driver. I guess this is why they also propose a low cost sub
woofer (which is not ugly as Trotsky one).

Well, naturally, it would require a 7 or 8 inch woofer, or use a 3-way
design. Big towers don't seem to be the rage, though.