|   Speaker choices - $400 Cdn range | Guardian
Apr 10, 2003 9:09 PM | | That's roughly $250-300 USD per pair btw.
I want bookshelves now, which will eventually become my surround speakers but for now will be mains. 60% music 40% HT.
So far I've looked at Paradigm Monitor 3's, PSB Image 3's, and some Klipch which I can't remember the model of off-hand. I'm going to have a look at some B&W tomorrow. Any other suggestions? |
| re: Speaker choices - $400 Cdn range | RGA
Apr 10, 2003 10:16 PM | | The B&W DM303 is better than the two you've listened to so far IMO...so is the new Energy C1 which should be ~399.00
Also, Try Wharfedale if you can. |
| re: Speaker choices - $400 Cdn range | Jeffrey N
Apr 10, 2003 11:25 PM | | Go to Bay Bloor Radio, they seem to have a wide range of brands. Listen to as many as you can find in your price range that attract you. Pick something you like. Then try to get them to sell it to you for a reasonable price. If you can't get it for your price and Bay Bloor, you will at least have decided on what you want, and you will likely be able to find it elsewhere for less.
Jeffrey N., Toronto |
| re: Speaker choices - $400 Cdn range | adioster
Apr 11, 2003 12:02 AM | | buy the signet's on ebay right now. can't be beat at that price. |
| What Signet ? Could'nt find them... | AudioJunkie
Apr 11, 2003 6:27 AM | | . |
| What Signet ? Could'nt find them... | adioster
Apr 11, 2003 10:46 AM | | sorry, they were there a day or two ago. they'll be back soon, don;t worry. read the signet reviews at ecoustics.com and audioreview. great speakers using seas drivers. |
| re: Speaker choices - $400 Cdn range | bjkramer
Apr 11, 2003 4:42 AM | | Try the Axioms http://www.geocities.com/bjkramerny/. Use the Axiom link. I have the m22's which are more expensive but the m2's deliver the same precise sound and the m3's deliver a beefier sound with a bit less clarity than the m22 or the m2. The m3's are $387 cdn in the factory outlet. I bought mine as factory outlet. Also have the vp150 and the qs8 surrounds. Love my new speakers. |
| re: Speaker choices - $400 Cdn range | Paul L
Apr 11, 2003 6:21 AM | | Yes, add the Mission M71 to the list. Where are you in Canada?
Paul Lam
P.L.C.Lam Consulting Inc. |
| re: Speaker choices - $400 Cdn range | Guardian
Apr 11, 2003 7:26 AM | | Thanks for all the replies guys.
I'm in Brantford, ON, which is about an hour southwest of Toronto.
I'll definitely have a listen to those B&W's today.... as for the Energy's, I didn't really like them the last time I listened to them... but if one of the stores I'm at happens to sell them I'll probably check them out again. |
| re: Speaker choices - $400 Cdn range | spiffnme
Apr 11, 2003 10:03 AM | | A pair of Axiom M3's were just posted on Ebay today. Item # 3018321503
I have the M22ti and VP150 from Axiom and LOVE them.
Craig |
| re: Speaker choices - $400 Cdn range | RGA
Apr 11, 2003 7:30 PM | | It's alright not to like the Energys. They have a metal tweeter that that has a lot of, pardon the pun, Energy.
Depending on what you didn't like about them, then this may help guide you away from several others. For instance I find the Energy a little forward and a tad bright...if you found the same I would cross, Paradigm, Axiom, JBL, Polk, The Mission M50 line(The 71 line with a softer high frequency though is very good as Paul noted). Now this is not just as simplistic as the metal driver...it's the general kind of sound that many speakers are offerring to to the mid-fi masses that are geared for Britney Spears and make meal out of Mahler. The Mission M70 series may in fact be a little of the opposite and actually offerred the mid-fi market a speaker that actually made music instead of the ear piercing shrill mess offerred by ohhh just about everything else in the price range. Sadly their M50 line has copied the shrill mess of the competition and is even worse than most of them IMO.
The B&W 600 series...offers a mix between the two extremes...it is by no means perfect...but they can rock as well or better than most and their tweeter is less agressive than most others(though not totally refined they still sound wondrous for the money). The Enrgy C series IMO is not as good musically, though I give them a few extra points on a technical level...They make me say wow at their price point(and provided their in a small/medium room) and they are less agressive than many.
But in the end I want to be able to play Acoustic Alchemy and get the sense that I'm hearing two acoustic guitars and not some other instrument, and I don't want to be irritated by Chopin's Piano Nocturnes because the tweeter can't produce a piano correctly. I also want Sarah McLauchlin's Surfacing album to fill the space and her voice to be clear and neutral with the deep bass to sound full deep and rich and not sound thin and/or hollow. Some may not perceive that and that's fine...I do. B&W 600 Series would be my first choice in the price range. The M70 line and the B&W 300 Series would be number 2. And I would want to at least listen to Wharfedale before anything. |
| re: Speaker choices - $400 Cdn range | Guardian
Apr 11, 2003 8:26 PM | | Those B&W that you list seem to be VERY expensive around where I live...
I had a good long listen to some Energy C1's ($399 Cdn) and while they were definitely more impressive than the Paradigm's I heard yesterday, I still don't think they had quite the same balance as the PSB Image 3T's, which I have found for $430...
Future Shop sells Athena I believe, and the one near me has a separate listening room for them so I'll check those out. I'll see if I can find a Mission dealer around here as well. |
| re: Speaker choices - $400 Cdn range | RGA
Apr 11, 2003 9:14 PM | | Oh I have been thinking in US - yes then they are expensive in Canada. The C3 is the Energy Ace.
I would try and find Wharfedale if you can before you decide. They have been referred to as the cheap B&Ws and are made by the ultra High End Company Quad. Quad has made some of the best gear over the last 4 decades+
Wharfedale is a budget minded product. http://www.iagamerica.com/index.htm
There are some reviews of speakers in your price range at the bottom of this page...You have to roughly double the price for Canadian Funds...and add about $50.00. http://www.hifichoice.co.uk/review_list.asp?category=SPK&subcategory=LSPKS&Scrollaction=2
For $400.00CDN...a Standmount...the DM 303 is king of the heap. IMO nothing is even close(They gave it European Loudspeaker of the year and they are right IMO)...the Acoustic Energy but nobody sells the brand here anymore. Wharfedale I have not heard and that is why I mention them...MAYBE they are up to snuff and can save you a bit of cash. PSB makkes a good competant product too mind you...better than many. http://www.hifichoice.co.uk/review_list.asp?category=SPK&subcategory=LSPKS&Scrollaction=2
This site also got the 602.5S3 right...it's the worst speaker in the 600 line for sure. BTW...I have many of their 4 and 5 star reviews...many times I have liked the 4s over the 5s...so I would not just assume you'll like a 5 star over a 4. Generally the speakers which get 3 are a waste of time to audition.IMO |
| re: Speaker choices - $400 Cdn range | 46minaudio
Apr 11, 2003 12:41 PM | | Also look at Monitor Audio and Athena.If you can see if the dealers will allow you to take some home and compare them in your room. |
| re: Speaker choices - $400 Cdn range | musicman1999
Apr 13, 2003 4:56 PM | | do your self a favour and listen to jmlabs chorus series.
recently purchased a set of chorus 706 bookshelves after extensive auditions.these were $600 canadian but were clearly better than the b&w,infitity,polk,and others in that range.mine are matched with a marantz reciever and sony sacd and the tunes are sweet. |
| re: Speaker choices - $400 Cdn range | RGA
Apr 13, 2003 8:30 PM | | Ahh no...they are not clearly better...in your opinion they are and that's fine.
Though I do agree with your recommending the Chorus line...I like them very much...They're on par with the B&W DM 601S3. Both are very good depending on your taste. Polk is not too bad either...they have the disadvantage of being sold in horrible outlets with horrible ancillary equipment and in horrible rooms.
Jm Labs and B&W are step up from most dreck out there...both of them have proven to build some of the best cost no object loudspeakers going. When you get to this level it's a matter of taste...as neither produce that etched kinda sound - though both the 600 series and the Chorus line are still a little rough around the edges...still for the money, both would make my top 4-5 brands to check out. |
| re: Speaker choices - $400 Cdn range | musicman1999
Apr 16, 2003 3:42 PM | | points well taken,especially about the polks.but it was not just my opinion,there were three of us all with respectable ears,the same music,quality rooms and quality equipment and less than one hour apart,in fact the b&w had ba bit better gear.all of us noticed a clear difference.i did not mean to infer i thought the b&w were not good speakers,they clearly are.but in the end everyone must decide on their own.i am very happy with my labs,i have marantz power and sony sacd and they work well together. |
| re: Speaker choices - $400 Cdn range Canadian PSB | RickT
Apr 13, 2003 5:30 PM | | Absolute number one RULE - do not buy anything withour hearing it - no matter how good the deal might seem on e-bay or wherever. Fact is that most speakers are "good" now but they also have their own character and if you enjoy the character great, if you don't then no matter how little you paid they are way too expensive!!
Having said all that PSB are a Canadian company and make some great speakers - I have the PSB Intro LR's - their smallest speakers - and coupled with a subwoofer make a great sound. Now I use them for rear speakers with Quad 11L's for music and main speakers but the PSB's were very good for the price and for your money you would get higher level PSB speakers - just try them. |
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