Bookshelf Speakers for Vinyl AND Home Theater?

[Teej]

I'm a big proponent of 3.1 setups. Not super into surround as a concept, especially given the way music sounds is far more important to me than movies/TV. I listen to music almost exclusively in 2.1.

I pulled the trigger on that Polk S35 for my center channel. I'll report back when it comes in, probably next week. It's bound to be an improvement over the Sony HTIB center I use now, in any case.

 

[Bodyblue]

I like that slim S35....my CS10 sounds awesome but it is huge. I am sure it will sound super, far better than what you have now.

I dont like music on anything but two channel. I have a SACD player in my front system but dont use the surround for it at all. In our bedroom we just have a soundbar since we dont watch movies or TV shows that we want or care about surround on. When we watch our favorite shows like NCIS or Blue Bloods etc, we fire up the HT receiver and it is far more enjoyable than with just the TV speakers. For the morning news we just turn on the TV speakers.

 

[WaynerN]

If you want smaller bookshelf speakers, I certainly like the JBL Studio 230s. If you want to go with some towers, JBL 280 or 290s.

 

[soundboy]

NHT SuperOnes 2.1

https://www.nhthifi.com/products/10658-nht-superone-2-1?category_id=1964842-bookshelf-speakers

 

[Teej]

Those NHT's look nice. I feel like with speakers more than anything else it's all about distribution and getting your products into stores for people to hear to get sales. I've never heard of NHT, and I doubt I'll get to audition their product here in NOLA as I suspect we are a pretty small market.

 

[Teej]

The Polk S35 center channel arrived. I hooked it up and started playing around with it. Sounds excellent - a vast improvement over the HTIB center it is replacing. The biggest improvement is that is seems to bring out the various sound fields a lot more than I'm used to. I normally only use one or two specific sound fields, generally or just roll with Pure Direct. With the new center channel I have been spending a lot more time in specific sound fields, mostly "Concert" which I always found underwhelming with previous setups. Very pleased so far, and excited to keep experimenting with sound fields!

 

[Bodyblue]

The Polk S35 center channel arrived. I hooked it up and started playing around with it. Sounds excellent - a vast improvement over the HTIB center it is replacing. The biggest improvement is that is seems to bring out the various sound fields a lot more than I'm used to. I normally only use one or two specific sound fields, generally or just roll with Pure Direct. With the new center channel I have been spending a lot more time in specific sound fields, mostly "Concert" which I always found underwhelming with previous setups. Very pleased so far, and excited to keep experimenting with sound fields!

No days even commercials are produced for surround sound and are fun to listen to. Two channel cant hold a candle to it.

 

[Teej]

No days even commercials are produced for surround sound and are fun to listen to. Two channel cant hold a candle to it.

I run Pure Direct or various 3.1 sound fields for TV, Movies, and games. I agree that center is necessary for everything that isn't just music. I only use 2.1 for music, but the concert sound field (which makes good use of the center channel) is also pretty outstanding.

 

[twiiii]

If you want to get by with a smaller HT receiver unit where you don't need big power I'd use Klipsch Herseys. You'll have to use subwoofers for both the HT and Stereo mode, but 50 watts a channel is all you should need. I think the Hersey's are smoother than the RF series, though they are twice to 3 times as big but they do require less power. Then if you want to use the smaller RF series for the surrounds you can. But here again the 50 watts a channel should be adequate. sub woofers are another story. I heard some pretty good Klipsch subs, but prefer others. What's neat about the Hersey model is you can find pre-owned models for a real steal. They might need crossover caps and tweet updates or repairs, but you will come out way ahead. I had series 1 for over 30 years I powered with a MC 2505 in the master bed room and they were great. They are now monitor speakers in a large church choir room. I replaced them with Built in wall speakers. But for clarity the Herseys were the clear winner. I'm just saying what I would do!!!

 

[Bodyblue]

If you want to get by with a smaller unit where you don't need big power I'd use Klipsch Herseys. You'll have to use subwoofers for both the HT and Stereo mode, but 50 watts a channel is all you should need. I think the Hersey's are smoother than the RF series, though they are twice to 3 times as big but they do require less power. Then if you want to use the smaller RF series for the surrounds you can. But here again the 50 watts a channel should be adequate. sub woofers are another story. I heard some pretty good Klipsch subs, but prefer others. What's neat about the Hersey model is you can find some pre-owned models for a real steal. They might need crossover caps and tweet updates or repairs, but you will come out way ahead. I had series 1 for over 30 years I powered with a MC 2505 in the mastered room and they were great. They are now monitor speakers in a large church choir room. I replaced them with Built in wall speakers. But for clarity the Herseys were the clear winner.

Heresys are not the size of a modern bookshelf speaker like the OP was asking about. And did you see where he already bought some front speakers?

 

[bluemooze]

I use three Pioneer SP-C21 center channel speakers in my HT setup for LCR. The left and right ones are upright on stands, with their tweeters at the same height as the horizontal center one. Sounds great and provides a completely seamless HT sound field. Good luck.

 

[Teej]

I really want to audition all these. I REALLY love the speakers I bought, but I'd be open to picking up alternatives if they are significantly better and using the BA's in another application.

Problem is I have no means to audition all these speakers; and if there's one thing I've learned from this hobby, it's that you should never buy speakers without hearing them first. I'm pretty well limited to what is available on display in and around the New Orleans metro area which is not a lot.

It's cool, though. My current setup has rekindled my love for active listening. I'm thrilled.

 

[Erik Tracy]

I really want to audition all these. I REALLY love the speakers I bought, but I'd be open to picking up alternatives if they are significantly better and using the BA's in another application.

Problem is I have no means to audition all these speakers; and if there's one thing I've learned from this hobby, it's that you should never buy speakers without hearing them first. I'm pretty well limited to what is available on display in and around the New Orleans metro area which is not a lot.

It's cool, though. My current setup has rekindled my love for active listening. I'm thrilled.

If you can buy used, then the risk is low on losing money.

Try a set out, and if you don't like them - flip 'em back for the same price. I've done that with lots of speakers and components.

Best part; I got to try stuff out on my system in my house.

 

[GD70]

I really want to audition all these. I REALLY love the speakers I bought, but I'd be open to picking up alternatives if they are significantly better and using the BA's in another application.

Problem is I have no means to audition all these speakers; and if there's one thing I've learned from this hobby, it's that you should never buy speakers without hearing them first. I'm pretty well limited to what is available on display in and around the New Orleans metro area which is not a lot.

It's cool, though. My current setup has rekindled my love for active listening. I'm thrilled.

Getting to hear other speakers and systems can be difficult. Two other ways besides your local audio shop is to seek out AKers in your general area, and two, go to any AK meets within a 3 hour drive. It's well worth it! I live in northern westchester county NY, and drive three plus hours to Massachusets for the Frankenfest meets. Worth every minute to get there, have a great day hanging with fellow audio heads, get to demo and listen to great gear, and there's always a ton of stuff to buy, sell and trade.

My wife and I were down to NOLA last April for a week and had the best time! Love it there and plan to go back. The nonstop music on the streets and clubs was outstanding. Every musician we heard were fantastic! One would think with such a music rich area, there would be a lot of audiophiles with great sound systems.
Anyway, glad to hear you already made a big improvement in your system!
Cheers, Glenn

 

[BattleBrat]

Looking at upgrading speakers and not sure how to proceed. The speakers I have now are the left and right front speakers and center channel from a Sony Home Theater in-a-box I bought in 2008, so this upgrade has been a long time coming.

They are connected to a less-than-a-week-old Sony STRDH770 receiver and a Polk powered subwoofer. I also have a Technics SL-Q202 connected via a Schiit Mani. This is in the living room where it also functions as a home theater (my budget audiophile setup for music is in the man cave).

The 10-year-old Sony speakers sound okay, but I know they could sound a lot better particularly when listening to music (which I usually do in one of the 2-channel music settings, but I like to mix it up). I've been looking at the Elac B6 Debut and the Wharfedale Diamond 220's, but I'm willing to spend a little more. Before I throw money at this, is this an upgrade I can even do?

Long question short: are most bookshelf speaker pairs meant to function as a standalone system without a center channel and separate powered subwoofer? Or should I be looking at speakers that are meant to be in a multi-speaker configuration? Or am I overthinking this?

Thanks!

JBL Studio 230's?

 

[Bobbyjack]

99.999999999% of TV and movies that are encoded for 5.1etc sound better with a center channel. 2 channel can sound ok, but they simply cant and dont sound better than with a center. If one is not watching shows encoded for surround sound then it is no big deal but few, if any, are. A center channel is better if matched, BUT, as long as they are close then that is better than no center channel.

I have never heard the BA speakers you got, but I am not surprised they sound better than the Elacs. The Elacs are some of the most over rated speakers. I fully expected to be blown away by them when I heard them for the first time a few months ago and they sound, wait for it.....ok. My old Polk RT25i sound better to me and my Polk TSX110s sound about the same as the Elacs. Add to the fact that the Elac are searingly ugly just made my disappointment even worse.

Like a poster above says, the center does most of the front duty (as it should) for shows encoded for surround (3.1/5.1). Since I far prefer two channel for music, I have two systems in the front room, one for music and one for surround. I placed the big center low and angled it up and even though the front main HT speakers are mounted low it sounds fine because the dialog etc from the front channel comes from the center. I have rear surrounds and a sub by the couch. I know not everybody wants two systems but it was best for me. Almost every system has some compromises so dont worry about not having a fully matched system.Sony receiver was one I was thinking about getting, it is a solid choice for HT.

I had the same idea in that the primary function of my sound room was for true stereo but didn't want to add speakers for the 5.1 surround. I ended up with a switch that toggles my stereo speakers to front surrounds when in HT mode. Works great! (nice choice in receivers BTW )