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
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.
Ever think about Tekton? Great reviews. Made in USA. Great price. Long wait time. 
My nephew just got the Definitive Technology BP-9080's with the remainder of the 9080 series for center channel and surrounds.  No need for a sub as the tower speakers have built-in powered 12" subs.  The 9060''s have contain 10 "powered subs.  One of my sons also has a Definitive Technology home theater set-up but with a soundbar, separate subwoofer and smaller surrounds.  I highly recommend that you go with the 9060's.