Best Musical Home Theater Speaker

Von Schweikert VR2s ($2,500 pr.) for the fronts and VR1s ($1,000 pr.) for the center and rears.

You seem to indicate that music would be a priority in your listening.

I would like to suggest your considering the best 2-channel system you can obtain for the same money you would have otherwise spent on a surround sound system that would most likely be of significantly less sonic quality.

You may obtain a much higher degree of listening satisfaction with this alternative and will still enjoy the occassional movie just as much if not more than with a lesser surround system.

And you'll also spare yourself the clutter that a surround sound demands. i.e. additional speakers, cables, and amplifiers.

-IMO

Couple of things to add to the original post. My listening preference is rock, blues, acoustic guitar based tunes, some jazz.

Oh, yeah, and the wife would like that surround sound experience for widescreen tv viewing.

thanks in advance for the info.

nc2

Notcat2, I wouldn't discount the sonic superiority of a nice 2-channel system just yet.

If it's set up properly, with excellent equipment, and if you include a nice musical subwoofer, you will still get that 'widescreen' experience. Perhaps not to the exact same degree as having 5 speakers, but the quality of what you hear will most likely be substantially better via a better 2-channel system.

Comparing a lesser quality surround sound to a superior quality 2-channel system would be like comparing living in a nice apartment complex in the inner-city to a living in nice house in the suburbs.

Stupid analogy I'm sure as each has it's benefits. But it comes down to preferences, but there is a real quality trade-off for selecting one philosophy over the other. When you are talking the monies.

And going the 2-channel route (for now) does not prevent you from expanding to a surround sound system later if you think you still need it. The better 2-channel route now simply provides you a means of better quality now and later.

'Nuff said.

-IMO

Sometimes life is filled with too many "could haves" and "should ofs".

I could have built a GREAT two channel system and then built the home theater around it. But, I was once like you new to this blood sport and uninformed. So I got great home theater speakers (Definitive Tech Towers) but I didn't know they weren't outstanding music speakers. Good but not "really good". Over time I've upgraded all my electronics - Sunfire Theater Grand III, Sony E9000ES DVD/SACD, Denon DVD 3800, Audio Research LS 16 tube preamp with bypass, interconnects, spikes, cones, upgraded power chords, power conditioners/cleaners but all I got was better soundstage and slightly better sound than my original Denon AVR 5600 and early near top of the line Sony DVD player.

So, my friend, listen to the financially worn and technically exhausted at this site of dreamers/schemers and unfulfilled chasers of grand theater and music...get a good stereo set up and go from there.

Violins...fade...curtains.