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Topic: What speakers should we buy for both movies and music? (Read 6279 times) previous topic - next topic
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What speakers should we buy for both movies and music?

I know a fair amount about audio in general but I have not been able to use speakers without people yelling at me so I do not know much about them. My dad wants to buy some speakers to go with our fancy new TV. They must measure well because what most people think of audio equipment obviously means fuck all. We already have an ancient NAD amplifier which sounds great so there is no need to replace that.

-floor standing
-passive
-cheap
FLAC -> JDS Labs ODAC/O2 -> Sennheiser HD 650 (equalized)

Re: What speakers should we buy for both movies and music?

Reply #1 –
First question - where are you posting from? Pointless recommending something that isn't easily/cheaply available in your territory.

Re: What speakers should we buy for both movies and music?

Reply #2 –
A quick check of his user info shows that he is in Virginia.

Re: What speakers should we buy for both movies and music?

Reply #4 –
It's complicated.
Music is often two channel, while movies are 5.1 channels. So you need a system that can shift gears.
Kevin Graf :: aka Speedskater

Re: What speakers should we buy for both movies and music?

Reply #5 –
Meh. Two channels is fine.
FLAC -> JDS Labs ODAC/O2 -> Sennheiser HD 650 (equalized)

Re: What speakers should we buy for both movies and music?

Reply #6 –
I only have stereo (and a sub) for movie watching too. I used to have a pair of Polk Audio Monitor 70s that I got on sale from NewEgg, but I gave them away. We have movie nights at their place still and they're fun speakers, plenty of oomph. They may not "measure" well though.. Not too expensive, lots of good reviews.

Re: What speakers should we buy for both movies and music?

Reply #7 –
Opinions vary, preferences vary, and the published specs tend to be useless.

For speakers & headphones, I always recommend people to an audio/video store and listen for themselves.   You don't necessarily have to buy from that store, or buy that same day, but go take a listen and educate yourself about what different speakers sound like, and what you get in the various price ranges, and how big of a woofer you want, etc.
  
For "really serious" buyers, some higher-end shops will allow you to take home 2 or 3 different pair to audition them in the acoustics of your home.

Quote
Meh. Two channels is fine.
You might want to at least listen to some surround systems before making a final decision.   It's a different listening experience and it enhances movie watching.

Quote
They must measure well

-floor standing
-passive
-cheap
Good speakers are not cheap.    And most floor standing speakers are not cheap.   How well do they need to "measure", and how cheap?

Floor standing speakers are getting more rare and your choices will be more limited because most people don't have room for 5 or 7 of them in their home theater systems.   The trend is toward smaller speakers with all of the bass being reproduced by a subwoofer.    And, the trend with floor standing speakers is toward slim designs, sometimes with 2 small woofers instead of one big one.     Studio monitors also tend to be smallish (8-inch woofers or less), perhaps because of the proliferation of home studios.

Most home audio & home theater speakers are passive, except for the subwoofer.    Computer speakers are active and most modern studio monitors are active.

Re: What speakers should we buy for both movies and music?

Reply #8 –
Nah we don't want 5 or 7 speakers. Just two floor standing speakers. Good headphones are pretty cheap like $100-300 in my experience and anything beyond that seems to be a rip-off. Can you not get good speakers for a similar price? Listening in a store is certainly a good idea and we may have to do that.
FLAC -> JDS Labs ODAC/O2 -> Sennheiser HD 650 (equalized)

Re: What speakers should we buy for both movies and music?

Reply #9 –
Quote
Good headphones are pretty cheap like $100-300 in my experience and anything beyond that seems to be a rip-off.
Yes, you can get some very good headphones in that price range and you might even prefer the sound over a more expensive headphone.

Quote
Can you not get good speakers for a similar price?
I'd say no.  But, I guess it depends on your taste.    I'm not sure if you can even find  a pair of floor-standing speakers for $300.    Strong-accurate-deep bass requires a reasonably-large woofer and cabinet and a woofer that can handle a fair amount of power.  That costs money to build.



P.S.
A quick look at the Parts Express website and I do see some floor standers for around $150 each.   (Of course, I have no clue what they sound like...)

Re: What speakers should we buy for both movies and music?

Reply #10 –
The ones I suggested (version 2 though) are on sale again at NewEgg for $180 each. Less than $400 for the pair, maybe free shipping for an order that size..
 

Re: What speakers should we buy for both movies and music?

Reply #11 –
Quote from: DVDdoug on
I'm not sure if you can even find  a pair of floor-standing speakers for $300.    Strong-accurate-deep bass requires a reasonably-large woofer and cabinet and a woofer that can handle a fair amount of power.  That costs money to build.
Well, you can.  http://www.amazon.com/gp/bestsellers/electronics/3236453011/ref=pd_zg_hrsr_e_1_5_last

Those Polk speakers do have good reviews on Amazon. They are like $400 which might be OK.
FLAC -> JDS Labs ODAC/O2 -> Sennheiser HD 650 (equalized)

Re: What speakers should we buy for both movies and music?

Reply #12 –
Do you have a second-hand audio store anywhere conveniently near? You could get something pretty decent for a lot less than RRP that way.

Re: What speakers should we buy for both movies and music?

Reply #13 –
Quote from: Satellite_6 on
Quote from: DVDdoug on
I'm not sure if you can even find  a pair of floor-standing speakers for $300.    Strong-accurate-deep bass requires a reasonably-large woofer and cabinet and a woofer that can handle a fair amount of power.  That costs money to build.
Well, you can.  http://www.amazon.com/gp/bestsellers/electronics/3236453011/ref=pd_zg_hrsr_e_1_5_last

Those Polk speakers do have good reviews on Amazon. They are like $400 which might be OK.
Looking at that Amazon link, the Pioneers are designed by Andrew Jones, who does stuff for Pioneer from bargain speakers to megabucks TAD items. He seems to have a good reputation in the business.

Re: What speakers should we buy for both movies and music?

Reply #14 –
Quote from: JabbaThePrawn on
... designed by Andrew Jones, who does stuff for Pioneer from bargain speakers to megabucks TAD items.
Should be past tense.
Andrew Jones left Pioneer in the beginning of 2015 and is now leader of ELAC's speaker division in America.

Re: What speakers should we buy for both movies and music?

Reply #15 –
Some of the sort of speakers I'd consider, for a start:

http://www.cambridgeaudio.com/products/speakers/sx-60
http://ca.jbl.com/product-detail-new-jbl/studio270bk.html
http://usa.yamaha.com/products/audio-visual/speaker-systems/home-speaker-systems/ns-f150pn_/

These three entry level mainstream speakers are from credible companies and should be readily available to audition in your area. All are part of a 'family' so can easily be expanded to more channels later if you so desire,
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?

Re: What speakers should we buy for both movies and music?

Reply #16 –
Quote from: Speedskater on
It's complicated.
Music is often two channel, while movies are 5.1 channels. So you need a system that can shift gears.

I found a rather simple method.

I built my system in 2012 and I found that hybrid with a 2 channel stereo amp and a 7.2 channel AVR works best for me. I have only 7.2 speakers (the front speakers do double duty as stereo and FL and FR for 7.2). For the speakers there a dozens of brands you can choose from including KEF, Focal, B&W, Monitor Audio, Sonus Faber, Paradigm, PSB, etc. but if you are in the US I would strongly suggest looking at Salk Sound and Selah Audio.

The CD Player is connected to the Stereo Amplifier (Yamaha A2000). The Stereo amp is connected to the front left and front right speakers. These speakers are "full range" using dual 8" woofers, a midrange and tweeter.

The rest of my input devices (PS3, DVD, XBMC, Set box boxes, etc.) are connected to the AVR (Onkyo 3010). The AVR then drives the center and surround speakers as well as the active subwoofers. The front left and right channels of the AVR are connected to the Power Amp input of the stereo amp. The stereo amp hence drives the front left and right speakers.

I can hence use this system 3 ways:
a. Stereo
b. Movie Mods with all 7.2 channels on.
c. News Mode. When watching the news we don't need the full onslaught of 7.2 channels of sound so I turn the subwoofer amps and stereo amp off and only the center speakers and surrounds are operational.

hope this helps.

Re: What speakers should we buy for both movies and music?

Reply #17 –
Well, just listen to what speakers sound good to you.

I personally prefer B&W. I currently have B&W 603 s3 and 602 s3 speakers. I grew up with B&W's DM2a's around and never had the urge to look elsewhere.
But that doesn't help you. It's personal taste and you are on the other side of the world so you will find totally other brands there that I don't know about.

Re: What speakers should we buy for both movies and music?

Reply #18 –
Quote from: Satellite_6 on
Those Polk speakers do have good reviews on Amazon. They are like $400 which might be OK.
The Infinity Primus 363 are in that price range and sound like they measure (yes, 360, 363 same speaker). Which is why they beat stuff like Polk in blind tests. Of course you wont be listening blind, to just sound, so YMMV.

cheers
AJ
Loudspeaker manufacturer