Thoughts on my speaker selection?


Upgrading from Klipsch R-26F. 90% home theater use in a living room. Most interested in JBL 590 andRevel F36. Secondary interest in B&W 603 and KEF Q950.

Thoughts on these?

  • Model
    Price 1 Price 2 Price 3 Price 4 (per speaker price)
  • Definitive Technology BP-9060
    $442 $456  
  • MartinLogan Motion 60XT
    $606 $519 $582
  • KEF Q950
    $642 $616 $835 $534
  • JBL 590
    $1,000 $500 $440 $308
  • Revel F36
    $750 $884 $809 $583 ($583*3, includes 2 F36 + 1 C25 center)
  • Paradigm Premier 800F
    $781  
  • SVS Ultra Tower
    $879 $750  
  • Bowers & Wilkins 603
    $1,000 $800 $679
  • Revel F206
    $1,050
  • Power Sound Audio MTM-210T
    $1,175    
  • Ascend Sierra Tower RAAL Ribbon Tweeter
    $1,449    
pluhhmm
pluhhmm,

I’m really not familiar with most of the speakers you listed, but whatever you decide it is best that you use a Center speaker by the same manufacturer and same line as your main speakers.
All the best.

JD

A good set of well matched speakers (that you like/love) will serve you well. The other stuff like your ht receiver, dvd/Blu Ray player and tv will come and go as technology evolves.

Around 25 years ago I bought my first home theater system. I blame my neighbor Richard for my audiophile addiction. He had a pair of Klipsch La Scala’s. When he wanted to sell them and "downgrade" to a pair of Heresy speakers, I wanted to buy them. I was 15. I had the money. Parents said no. Sorry about the trip down memory lane. Back to the ht system. I got a Sony 5.2 Prologic receiver, a Klipsch 8" sub, a pair of KG 1.5 speakers and a matching center for under $1000. Would have been around $1300 if I got matching rear speakers.

My wife was getting "concerned" about the cost. The salesman asked if I had a pair of speakers at home that I could use for rear speakers. He literally said anything that could make noise would work. Low pressure salesmen and a family friendly environment. We did our shopping with a 4 year old in tow. This place had the lion king playing on their av displays.

So 25 years later, one receiver upgrade, at least 5 dvd players, two Blu Ray players, three TVs and two VCRs I kept the original speakers. After the second move I did replace the rears with ceiling speakers.

The trick to matching LCR speakers is having the same or very similar drivers. I was going to suggest the Zu Audio Souls for $2600. I now know they are out of your buget. I am putting this out there for other people following this. The matching speaker is their Cube for $500 each. The Cube would make a nice surround speaker, but you would need a subwoofer or two.

To sum it up: You could buy 5 Cubes for around $2500 and use the subs you have. You could go with the Soul/Cube for around $3100 and use what you have subs and rears. A pair of Souls and three Cubes would run around $4100. Zu Audio does offer a 60 day in home trial.

Why the Souls and not the Omens? Simple math. A pair of Omens is $2200, a pair of Omens bookshelves is $1800 and an Omen center channel is $1200. $5200 total. Although you don’t have to buy them all at once.

Based on your present Klipsch speakers, and your budget, I would recommend searching for a used pair of Sonus faber Venere 2.5 or 3.0 speakers. I owned the 2.5's and upgraded to the Sonetto V's. Great speakers.