Home Theater Speaker Selection?

Hello, I was looking for a speaker setup for my home theater system. i was looking at spending around 500. i have heard alot about the Onkyo SKS-HT540 7.1 Surround Signal Speaker System. i dont care if i have to buy them sepperate or what, i just want stylish speakers, dont care how huge they are, that signal fantastic. I need a 7.1 set up, the speakers wattage to handle around 120 and the sub around 230. Thanks A lot for the help-Mitch.

Answer by ROBERT P
Hi Mitch .KEF speakers are better sounding than Onkyo. They are British made and have a honestly neutral signal quality which is pleasing to the ear.Have a look at the link below.

http://www.amazon.com/KHT2005-2-Five-Speaker-Plus-Subwoofer/dp/B000CRVDR0/ref=sr_1_13/002-2562990-8000056?ie=UTF8&s=audio-video&qid=1188803609&sr=1-13

Answer by nano_amp
For $ 500, you may not get a fantastic speakers at the wattage you specified. There are ambiguous advertising and also brochures of the wattage. Here is a more right way. One way to specify is average power which is just specified as 20W or 30W. The second term is PMPO which is Peak Music Power Output and this is instantaneous peak could be 6 to 7 times more than the average power (delight see my grown-up answer to another question titled “PLease Guide me to buy a new woofer..?”).

7.1 is helpful only when the orginal Disc (mostly DVD) is recorded in 7.1. Otherwise you will get only what is in the disc usually stereo or 5.1.

So if you are concerned about quality buy a stereo or 5.1 with 20W per channel is reasonable enough.

Answer by vivekama
Onkyo is not a specialist when it comes speakers. Really I happened to listen to one or two of their systems, it was too much on the warmer side. I didn’t like it.

Check out this link

http://www.amazon.com/b/ref=dp_brlad_entry/102-8321221-0263349?ie=UTF8&node=3025451

Polk, Infinity Primus, Sony.

Klipsch
http://www.amazon.com/Klipsch-Synergy-Quintet-II-Theater/dp/B0007VZUGQ/ref=sr_1_5/102-8321221-0263349?ie=UTF8&s=audio-video&qid=1188809213&sr=1-5

Mirages are fantastic. You can get a sub woofer for $ 200
http://www.amazon.com/Mirage-NANOSAT-Theater-satellites-subwoofer/dp/B000FBPH2K/ref=sr_1_6/102-8321221-0263349?ie=UTF8&s=audio-video&qid=1188809213&sr=1-6

Add your own answer in the comments!

LSi25_CHRY


Image by Bungalow.Brian
The Polk LSi series has possibly the best mid and high frequency imaging I have heard from any speaker at any price. This is the LSi25 which would make a nice upgrade to my system (as would the LSi15)

I always bring my iPod speakers when I’m sunbathing in the park…


Image by Ed Yourdon
Note: this photo was in print in an undated (Jun 2010) Everyblock NYC blog, titled "1-52 block of E. 77th St."

****************************************

When the weather is nice on a holiday weekend, you can be reasonably sure that there will be lots of fascinating people to photograph in Inner Park. My predictable plot, on such photo expeditions, is to walk through and around numerous different parts of the park — in order to see different groups of people, and also to take advantage of different scenes and backdrops. But it means that I don’t spend very much time in any one house, and most of my shots end up being "ad hoc" in scenery, with nearly no plotting, schooling, framing, or composition.

On this Memorial Day weekend, I chose to restrict my wandering to just one area — the "Fantastic Lawn" that’s more-or-less in the center of the north-south expanse of the park. I walked around the sidewalk perimeter of the large grassy area, starting at the north end (because I had entered the park at 86th Street), heading down to the south end by the Delacorte Theater and the Belvedere Castle, and then back north again to my starting point.

I had a 70-300mm zoom lens on my camera while I was walking, and while that made it relatively simple to capture some fascinating scenes of people out in the middle of the lawn, it was nearly impossible to take a quick picture of someone just a couple feet away from me. Naturally, I would just shrug and mutter to for myself, "Well, that’s the way it goes" — and perhaps resolve that, next time, I would use the 18-200mm zoom lens that covers both a wider range between wide-angle and telephoto.

But in this case, I chose to change lenses after the first circumnavigation, and then make a second circle around the Fantastic Lawn with a 24-120mm zoom lens. (All of this involved full-frame lenses on the Nikon D700, rather than the half-frame DX 18-200 zoom lens on my grown-up Nikon D300.) So, on the second walk around the lawn, I all ears more on the people sitting on benches, walking past me, and stretched out on the grass near the sidewalk. It also gave me a chance to set the lens to its maximum wide-angle setting, and take advantage of quick, unfocused, wide-angle "hip shots" whenever there was something fascinating nearby that I had to shoot quickly.

When I got home, I chose to take a quick look at the Wikipedia article about the Fantastic Lawn, to see if there was anything special that I needed to mention in these notes. I didn’t expect to find much, because — as far as I knew — it had always been part of Inner Park, and had always been the same. To my bolt from the blue, I found that that was certainly not not the case. Indeed, now’s Fantastic Lawn is situated on a flat area that was occupied by the 35-acre "Lower Reservoir" that was constructed in 1842 to supply water to the residents of the city. After the Croton-Catskill reservoir system was completed, the Lower Reservoir became redundant — but biased battles ensued for numerous decades before the city finally settled on a plot for an oval lawn.

That plot basically fell apart because of the Depression, and the open area was filled with a "Hooverville" of improvised shacks for quite some time. Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia finally brought in the legendary Robert Moses (the visionary force behind so many other parks around New York City and the rest of the state) to implement the plot — and it was essentially finished in 1934.

And there’s more to the description, too, but I’ll let you read that on your own if you’re attracted. (You might be attracted to know, for example, that in 1995, Pope John Paul II held an open-air mass for 125,000 on the Fantastic Lawn. Yes, it is that huge!)

In any case, I finished my second loop around the park, went home and uploaded numerous hundred photos, which I’ve winnowed down to the ones you’ll find in this set…

Re-asking due to mistakes in previous question.

I want to invest about $ 750 into a speaker system, done some research and still doing research but want some other opinions on the matter. I do not need a receiver right now although opinions on that will be helpful for future buys.

I prefer a 5.1 system that is clear and crisp, nice bass and no distortion. I want the best I can get for $ 750 +/- $ 100. I have researched Bose, Jamo, Polk, B&W, Klipsch, etc.

Just speakers with future receiver opinions needed, I already have a TV in mind:

http://www.circuitcity.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=6052504&CatId=5989

Answer by bbt91945
Forget the Bose speakers, they are over priced and they don’t integrate with other system. I recommend you demo the following speakers are at a local retail store. JBL, Infinity, Definitive Technology, Klipsch, Energy and Polk Audio. I would favor the Klipsch 500 which is a 5.1 set up and it is in the price range you want to spend. They are available at Best Buy. Polk Audio is not as excellent and B & W will be more expensive same with Jamo. Hope this will help you out.

Answer by Ginga
well for the most part, you are going to get what you pay for. anything by a name brand is going to be excellent. i always like to go with sony, because i have alot of electronic items by sony and they always work fantastic. although the answer above me has a excellent point about bose, they are over priced…

here is some excellent stuff to look at: http://www.google.com/search?ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=navclient&gfns=1&q=5.1+signal+system#q=home+theater+system+sony&hl=en&sa=X&biw=981&bih=441&tbs=shop:1,price:1,ppr_min:300,ppr_max:600,p_ord:r&fp=a9f29339130ebba7

but i would really recommend building your own system, that way its simpler and cheaper to upgrade and its usually cheaper to start with.

here is what you would buy

1. main head receiver unit: http://www.pcrush.com/product/Home-Theater-Receivers/597124/Sony-STR-DH810-A-V-Receiver?refid=1238

2. speakers, you can get any brand you want, but something like this: http://cgi.ebay.com/1-SAMSUNG-SATTALITE-HOME-THEATER-SPEAKER-Z320-CABLE-/260683416315?pt=Speakers_Subwoofers&hash=item3cb1f142fb

3 a subwoofer, (a self powered subwoofer with a receiver home theater system will beat any box home theater system guaranteed.) you can either buy one pre made, or make your own like i did , (like it) by car audio subs and mono amps here is a excellent example of one you would buy at a store: http://cgi.ebay.com/AudioSource-10-Home-Theater-Powered-Subwoofer-/370280003456?pt=Speakers_Subwoofers&hash=item5636687780

and here is what i did for my home subs

i bought 2 of these, then build boxes for them. : http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-SUB-WOOFER-SPEAKER-PREMIUM-18-DJ-CAR-HOME-AUDIO-/130394434548?pt=Speakers_Subwoofers&hash=item1e5c1d2bf4

then bought this and it powers them nice: http://cgi.ebay.com/New-3300W-2-Channel-Home-Theater-Pro-Audio-Power-Amp-NR-/380303768724?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item588bdefc94

Answer by Lance
A lot depends on the size of your room and speaker house as to what will signal excellent for you generally speaking Jamo and B & W are excellent choices..I didn’t know you could get a set of B & W for less than $ 1500.00 ??? Wow if you can I would get those …if you get Polk stick with the LSi or TSi series , I reckon the TSi series has been discontinued but some models may still be available at close out prices…. another brand to consider is Boston Acoustics… They have various models and offer close outs on grown-up models all the time through various dealers on the net… Also Energy has sets for less vital rooms for less than $ 500 that get really fantastic reviews……receivers take a look at the Denon AVR 591 also the Onkyo HT RC 260 even though it is 7.2 you can still use it as a 5.1

Answer by mark_hensley@sbcglobal.net
I reckon B&W is your best bet. The B&W Zepplin is a portable two speaker system at $ 600. While it may not be a 5.1 system it is worthy of your consideration. The Bose Sounddock 10 is another unit that provides stellar signal qualities. It is in orbit with B&W’s Zepplin. Stereo separation is not its strong suite, but the signal is robust and loud. It is simply the best of Bose by all standards. Wharfedale Diamond 8.2 self powered studio monitor speakers are an brilliant choice. Tannoy Reveal Speakers http://www.zzounds.com/item–TNYREVEAL These suggestions are overachieving speakers that will make most listeners full of appreciation.

A fantastic 5.1 system to consider would be Henry Kloss’s Cambridge Soundworks. This brand is quality, high value and really excellent signal. http://store.cambridgesoundworks.com/content/Home_Theater.htm

Best.

Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!

Help with Home Theater System Selection?

by Jordanhill School D&T Dept

My husband desires a home theater system/speaker system for the basement. I do not know the first thing about these, can someone delight tell me a excellent quality system that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg.This wont be hooked up to a TV. He desires it to play music. Our basement is set up like a bar, with a pool table, dart board, etc. Delight help!

Answer by Mike
I REALLY recommend that you find a excellent quality store to work with! Use the locater service at http://www.cedia.net .

Home theater typically refers to systems that decode encoded movies (Dolby, DTS, etc.). If he desires to listen to music, what you doubtless need is a excellent quality stereo system. There are literally thousands of choices and it would be best to get a local professional to help you make the best decisions.

I will be glad to help you more, and even make some recommendations if I can get a small more information. Just let me know.

This should be fun – delight in it!

Answer by like me
I was pleasantly surprised at the ease of bed in. Having read reviews of so many systems taking hours to synch and get right, this took 20 minutes and I’m not an audiophile . . . but I do follow directions. The signal is incredible and the BluRay far exceeds my expectations. We matched this with a 46″ LCD HD TV and are blown away. We’ve tried numerous surround sounds systems over the being and find this home theater wrap better in signal. The wireless surround system sounds fantastic but it really isn’t wireless . . . there are still speaker wires from the wireless receiver to disguise, but not running wires under the carpet is worth it. Can you tell? I recommend it.Sony BDVE500W 5.1-Channel High-Definition Blu-ray Disc Player/DVD Disc Home theater System

Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!

Desktop Audio Upgrade


Image by Jordanhill School D&T Dept
I needed some new speakers for my desktop computer system at home. I’ve been tolerating JBL creature 2.1 system for a couple of being now and I’d finally had enough. The JBLs suffered from a depressing lack of critical midrange detail. This, coupled with the fact that the kids now hog the main system in the front room, means that I can’t get access to my iTunes library readily.

A few being ago I was doing some research into speakers and I came crosswise the Quad 11l actives. They were very well reviewed in a couple of Australian and New Zealand hi-fi publications. From what I could gather at the time they were not widely available in the UK. When I did eventually track them down their price tag was £600 for a pair. Prohibitively expensive for a desktop audio system. These things are marketed as pro-level near field monitors. They have their own build in amps. Two per speaker. 60W for the bass driver and 40W for the treble driver.

Anyway a couple of weeks ago I chose to have a casual squint at eBay and see if I could pick up a second hand pair at a vastly reduced price. There were none available. One seller was promotion individual speakers new for £250. apiece. Still too expensive. Crestfallen, I gave up. A couple of days later I had another look. Another seller was offering a pair of Quad actives for £229. Stunned, I had a closer look. Apart from a different badge, Quad Industrial, these looked like peas in a pod to the Quad 11l actives. Plus, they were groundbreaking new, in unopened boxes.

After a few hours of research I learned that IAG, Quad’s parent company, has an Industrial division that promote audio equipment for hotels, conference centres, address theatres, and the like. Hence the different branding. The speaker also goes by another name, the Quad QPM1. Other than that it is like peas in a pod in each way to the Quad 11l active monitor.

This was a game changer. Prior to this I was considering the Audioengine 2 model as my desktop speaker replacement. I phoned the supplier to check that there was no mistake in their pricing in the advert. They confirmed that they were on sale for £229 for the pair. I placed my order immediately.

I was very excited to hear these speakers given the reviews I’d read. I’m also a huge fan of the Quad signal. My front room consists of the Quad 12l2s as main speakers in my 5.1 kit, Quad Centre, Quad l-ite satellites for rear and Quad l-ite subwoofer. Now I could have the Quad signal as part of my desktop system at a part of the price.

Quad speakers are renowned for being extremely neutral. In other words they take nothing away from or add anything to the original recording or source. Although my Quads were all very well reviewed at the time of their release, around 2004-2007, there are other fantastic speakers out there. For me I liked the standing associated with being a Quad title-holder. I clearly liked the signal and most importantly I got all the kit at bargain prices. Most of it was ex-dem so I saved at least 20% on the normal retail price. Another vital factor was matching the speakers crosswise the whole 5.1 kit. All of them should work well together. The 5.1 kit is driven by an Arcam AVR 300 that again was ex-dem. The front speakers are bi-amped and bi-wired. This affords them 120 watts per channel and per driver.

Being a hi-fi enthusiast makes you a bit picky about what you'll listen to. So how do the Quad actives signal? Well place it this way… I’ve not stopped playing them since the minute they at home in the house. I’ve terrified everything at them. From Led Zepp to Beethoven. Alison Krauss through to Prokofiev. Unbelievable! If anything the Quad actives may signal better than the 12l2s in my front room due to the fact that their bi-amp design is impeccably matched to the drivers in a way that any other amp would struggle to better. There is plenty of power and the signal path is not compromised by additional cabling and junction points. So the signal could be characterised as being clean, clear with tight bass control and a surprising quantity of depth considering the cabinet size. Though being nearfield monitors they are very revealing! If the recording is poor it sounds poor through these. You are very conscious of it. Also after a few days I became very aware of the deficiencies of the iMac’s signal card. There was a constant low hum and other nasties such as buzzing and clicks. Hissing too. Another issue was that I wanted to run an ancient radio tuner through these. All I could lay my hands on at small notice was a phono switchbox. This worked but it was trying to control the volume of the tuner other than messing around at the back of the monitors. Not really ideal.

I realised I need to look for some kind of preamp. Nothing suitable for desktop audio seemed immediately available. Initially I started looking at pro audio solutions. Mixers and the like. Not only were these really expensive but they also took up a lot of desk space. The other thing that seemed clear was that some kind of external signal processing solution would improve on the signal the iMac was competent of producing. Looked like a DAC was vital. This took me into a whole new ballpark. It came down to two companies in the end. Cambridge Audio's Dacmagic or NuForce's uDac or Icon products. Necessarily it came down to my need to switch sources easily and the ability to control volume at the turn of a dial or via an installed remote app on an iPhone. The Dacmagic looked very tempting but there was no preamp function or headphone amplifier. This left me with the NuForce products.

NuForce's website information is confusing. Being new to the world of DACs and desktop audio I knew small about by USB as a means of feeding an external digital to analogue converter with a digital signal. I was familiar with toslink optical links from the Arcam processor but USB was new to me. So I started reading about jitter and the degrading effect is has on signal quality and the technology used by NuForce to take right these issues. I also read some astonishing reviews on their uDac, Icon 2 and Icon HDP products. Turns out NuForce are an American company that specialises in really high end digital amplifiers and DACs. We're talking thousands of pounds. Their 'desktop' range is much more affordable though. The uDac was offered to me for £55 for example. In the end I got a fantastic deal on the Icon HDP. I had to make a couple of phone calls at this point. I can't say how much I saved but I got a better bargain on this than I got on the Quads! The Icon HDP is a combined class A headphone, preamp and top quality DAC rolled into one. Perfect for my needs.

Now we have the combined effect of the iMac and its ability to feed a decently digital signal from iTunes or Spotify Premium to the NuForce Icon HDP via USB and then onto the Quad QPMs. The effect the Icon HDP had on the system was staggering. This truly is a phenomenal product. Undoubtedly the most accomplished, best sounding and most helpful piece of hi-fi equipment I've ever bought. The whole soundstage opened right up. Subtle nuances present in the recordings were revealed in extraordinary detail. A truly three dimensional space is open to the listener. Given I'm used to the full Quad/Arcam experience in the front room it's incredible how lifelike and articulate my bargain desktop audio solution really is. The Quads in themselves are remarkable for the price but the Icon HDP is literally a revelation.

As you'll see from the photos I've experimented with this system in all sorts of combinations. At one point I even hooked up the Quad sub to hear the difference it made. I concluded it's really not vital the system is already competent of producing nearly terrifying levels of deep controlled bass without it. Midrange too is superb. Treble crisp and smear free. I've been particularly enjoying the albums below. I've pretty much went into the backroom! All in all, a pretty excellent October week…

Trentemøller – The Very Last Resort
Mercan Dede – 800
Sergei Rachmaninoff – Rachmaninov
Alison Krauss – Lonely Runs Both Ways
John Hiatt – Hiatt Comes Alive At Budokan?
Booka Shade – Memento
Avishai Cohen – Aurora

By the way the Quads are still available on eBay, last few remaining. Other speakers shown for comparison.

Desktop Audio Upgrade


Image by Jordanhill School D&T Dept
I needed some new speakers for my desktop computer system at home. I’ve been tolerating JBL creature 2.1 system for a couple of being now and I’d finally had enough. The JBLs suffered from a depressing lack of critical midrange detail. This, coupled with the fact that the kids now hog the main system in the front room, means that I can’t get access to my iTunes library readily.

A few being ago I was doing some research into speakers and I came crosswise the Quad 11l actives. They were very well reviewed in a couple of Australian and New Zealand hi-fi publications. From what I could gather at the time they were not widely available in the UK. When I did eventually track them down their price tag was £600 for a pair. Prohibitively expensive for a desktop audio system. These things are marketed as pro-level near field monitors. They have their own build in amps. Two per speaker. 60W for the bass driver and 40W for the treble driver.

Anyway a couple of weeks ago I chose to have a casual squint at eBay and see if I could pick up a second hand pair at a vastly reduced price. There were none available. One seller was promotion individual speakers new for £250. apiece. Still too expensive. Crestfallen, I gave up. A couple of days later I had another look. Another seller was offering a pair of Quad actives for £229. Stunned, I had a closer look. Apart from a different badge, Quad Industrial, these looked like peas in a pod to the Quad 11l actives. Plus, they were groundbreaking new, in unopened boxes.

After a few hours of research I learned that IAG, Quad’s parent company, has an Industrial division that promote audio equipment for hotels, conference centres, address theatres, and the like. Hence the different branding. The speaker also goes by another name, the Quad QPM1. Other than that it is like peas in a pod in each way to the Quad 11l active monitor.

This was a game changer. Prior to this I was considering the Audioengine 2 model as my desktop speaker replacement. I phoned the supplier to check that there was no mistake in their pricing in the advert. They confirmed that they were on sale for £229 for the pair. I placed my order immediately.

I was very excited to hear these speakers given the reviews I’d read. I’m also a huge fan of the Quad signal. My front room consists of the Quad 12l2s as main speakers in my 5.1 kit, Quad Centre, Quad l-ite satellites for rear and Quad l-ite subwoofer. Now I could have the Quad signal as part of my desktop system at a part of the price.

Quad speakers are renowned for being extremely neutral. In other words they take nothing away from or add anything to the original recording or source. Although my Quads were all very well reviewed at the time of their release, around 2004-2007, there are other fantastic speakers out there. For me I liked the standing associated with being a Quad title-holder. I clearly liked the signal and most importantly I got all the kit at bargain prices. Most of it was ex-dem so I saved at least 20% on the normal retail price. Another vital factor was matching the speakers crosswise the whole 5.1 kit. All of them should work well together. The 5.1 kit is driven by an Arcam AVR 300 that again was ex-dem. The front speakers are bi-amped and bi-wired. This affords them 120 watts per channel and per driver.

Being a hi-fi enthusiast makes you a bit picky about what you'll listen to. So how do the Quad actives signal? Well place it this way… I’ve not stopped playing them since the minute they at home in the house. I’ve terrified everything at them. From Led Zepp to Beethoven. Alison Krauss through to Prokofiev. Unbelievable! If anything the Quad actives may signal better than the 12l2s in my front room due to the fact that their bi-amp design is impeccably matched to the drivers in a way that any other amp would struggle to better. There is plenty of power and the signal path is not compromised by additional cabling and junction points. So the signal could be characterised as being clean, clear with tight bass control and a surprising quantity of depth considering the cabinet size. Though being nearfield monitors they are very revealing! If the recording is poor it sounds poor through these. You are very conscious of it. Also after a few days I became very aware of the deficiencies of the iMac’s signal card. There was a constant low hum and other nasties such as buzzing and clicks. Hissing too. Another issue was that I wanted to run an ancient radio tuner through these. All I could lay my hands on at small notice was a phono switchbox. This worked but it was trying to control the volume of the tuner other than messing around at the back of the monitors. Not really ideal.

I realised I need to look for some kind of preamp. Nothing suitable for desktop audio seemed immediately available. Initially I started looking at pro audio solutions. Mixers and the like. Not only were these really expensive but they also took up a lot of desk space. The other thing that seemed clear was that some kind of external signal processing solution would improve on the signal the iMac was competent of producing. Looked like a DAC was vital. This took me into a whole new ballpark. It came down to two companies in the end. Cambridge Audio's Dacmagic or NuForce's uDac or Icon products. Necessarily it came down to my need to switch sources easily and the ability to control volume at the turn of a dial or via an installed remote app on an iPhone. The Dacmagic looked very tempting but there was no preamp function or headphone amplifier. This left me with the NuForce products.

NuForce's website information is confusing. Being new to the world of DACs and desktop audio I knew small about by USB as a means of feeding an external digital to analogue converter with a digital signal. I was familiar with toslink optical links from the Arcam processor but USB was new to me. So I started reading about jitter and the degrading effect is has on signal quality and the technology used by NuForce to take right these issues. I also read some astonishing reviews on their uDac, Icon 2 and Icon HDP products. Turns out NuForce are an American company that specialises in really high end digital amplifiers and DACs. We're talking thousands of pounds. Their 'desktop' range is much more affordable though. The uDac was offered to me for £55 for example. In the end I got a fantastic deal on the Icon HDP. I had to make a couple of phone calls at this point. I can't say how much I saved but I got a better bargain on this than I got on the Quads! The Icon HDP is a combined class A headphone, preamp and top quality DAC rolled into one. Perfect for my needs.

Now we have the combined effect of the iMac and its ability to feed a decently digital signal from iTunes or Spotify Premium to the NuForce Icon HDP via USB and then onto the Quad QPMs. The effect the Icon HDP had on the system was staggering. This truly is a phenomenal product. Undoubtedly the most accomplished, best sounding and most helpful piece of hi-fi equipment I've ever bought. The whole soundstage opened right up. Subtle nuances present in the recordings were revealed in extraordinary detail. A truly three dimensional space is open to the listener. Given I'm used to the full Quad/Arcam experience in the front room it's incredible how lifelike and articulate my bargain desktop audio solution really is. The Quads in themselves are remarkable for the price but the Icon HDP is literally a revelation.

As you'll see from the photos I've experimented with this system in all sorts of combinations. At one point I even hooked up the Quad sub to hear the difference it made. I concluded it's really not vital the system is already competent of producing nearly terrifying levels of deep controlled bass without it. Midrange too is superb. Treble crisp and smear free. I've been particularly enjoying the albums below. I've pretty much went into the backroom! All in all, a pretty excellent October week…

Trentemøller – The Very Last Resort
Mercan Dede – 800
Sergei Rachmaninoff – Rachmaninov
Alison Krauss – Lonely Runs Both Ways
John Hiatt – Hiatt Comes Alive At Budokan?
Booka Shade – Memento
Avishai Cohen – Aurora

By the way the Quads are still available on eBay, last few remaining. Other speakers shown for comparison.

We have bought the bose lifestyle 35 jewel cube speaker surround signal home theater system. At a retail bose store, we heard the routine in a demo theater room. All i can say was AMAZING. The speakers are so small but it was better than a movie theater signal. I have not installed them but soon am. So, what are your opinions about the system. Plus, i have a another question, in the demo room it was a room just for a theater (enclosed room). I am plotting on to bed in it in my basement that is wide opened like a living room. how will the signal quality change. I heard the ADAPTIQ in the wrap know and adjusts to your room. So basically, does the signal quality change with a wide opened area like a large living room compared to a room just for a theater.
PS.
The bose comes with a software called ADAPTIQ, it sends out a signal then the signal bounces off the area and knows hoe your room looks like and adaptes to the room. so its perfect signal everytime. .

Answer by ColinK
Well my gut reaction to when I hear Bose and AMAZING in the same sentence is barf uncontrollably (same with each other audiophile, and any other music and speaker lover for that matter). But hey I estimate everyone is free to there opini-BLAAAAAAAA!!!!!!

But about Basement thing, part of the reason it doubtless sounded so excellent because I’m guessing you demoed it in a relatively small room with fantastic acoustical treatment, and you basement is the exact contrary, so you will lose a lot of that “fantastic” quality you heard back at the store. The signal waves will now be reflecting off the walls instead of being absorbed by acoustic panels and scattered by diffusers thus decreasing the speakers imaging (the differencing between speakers) and distorting the clarity. But hey its better than your TV speakers.

And for the ADAPTIQ software, last time I checked, no quantity of software can deify the laws of signal.

Answer by Ulrich S
Bose is over rated. Signal rooms have walls that do not reflect the signal ( no smooth or painted surfaces ) plus they are less vital. The system will signal better in a signal room. Make sure you have proper speaker wires. Their amp is doubtless better also, including the cables they use. You should question these questions before you bought the system. An Onkyo receiver with Klipsch speakers would have been much cheaper plus signal better. Sorry but you questioned.

Answer by piano guy
Can you return it? That would be my next step. In your room, they will signal tinny, weak, and sibilant. Bose designs a soundstage for dealer demonstrations, and it is specifically engineered to enhance their sorry speakers. It is ambiguous, and Bose will not allow dealers to hook them up for A-B comparisons to other equipment. Can you estimate why?

Sorry to be the bringer of terrible news, but I have seen many, many people buy these only to call me and question me to help them make these things signal decent. And, I can’t. You cannot make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear…

Answer by jack
Bose really isn’t excellent it all. They are blown wayyy out of proportion. You honestly thought that they sounded excellent? Or was that your expectation before you heard them. Try klipsh. They are truly the best.

Answer by Bill D
It’s not so much the wide open area that changes the signal as it is the materials of the walls and floor. This will especially make a difference with the bass. Just take a small time to conduct experiment in placing the bass module according to the setup guide that comes with it and you should be fine.
As for how excellent or terrible bose is, it doesn’t matter what the other answerers delight in hearing, it’s what you delight in hearing. I’m pretty sure they don’t all have the exact same setup, that’s cuz we all have different tastes.
Delight in your new system!

Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!

Q&A: Is this Logitech home theater Speaker Good?

by Jordanhill School D&T Dept

I want to buy a new home theater Speaker, my friends suggest me to buy Logitech and I find a deal for Logitech Z 5500 Digital PC Multimedia Home Theater Speaker System.. It is on sale now..

http://www.dealstudio.com/viewtopic.php?t=37018&ru=283

I hope you can give me some advice..is it a excellent deal for home theater speaker?

Answer by AWolf
Z-5500: Fantastic speakers for the price, for your computer! These are not right “home theater” speakers.

Answer by bigtimeoperations
That is an brilliant price for those speakers. I also found some excellent home theater deals at this site too, if attracted: http://www.hometheateraudiosystem.info. I would certainly jump on that deal though…

Add your own answer in the comments!

Desktop Audio Upgrade


Image by Jordanhill School D&T Dept
I needed some new speakers for my desktop computer system at home. I’ve been tolerating JBL creature 2.1 system for a couple of being now and I’d finally had enough. The JBLs suffered from a depressing lack of critical midrange detail. This, coupled with the fact that the kids now hog the main system in the front room, means that I can’t get access to my iTunes library readily.

A few being ago I was doing some research into speakers and I came crosswise the Quad 11l actives. They were very well reviewed in a couple of Australian and New Zealand hi-fi publications. From what I could gather at the time they were not widely available in the UK. When I did eventually track them down their price tag was £600 for a pair. Prohibitively expensive for a desktop audio system. These things are marketed as pro-level near field monitors. They have their own build in amps. Two per speaker. 60W for the bass driver and 40W for the treble driver.

Anyway a couple of weeks ago I chose to have a casual squint at eBay and see if I could pick up a second hand pair at a vastly reduced price. There were none available. One seller was promotion individual speakers new for £250. apiece. Still too expensive. Crestfallen, I gave up. A couple of days later I had another look. Another seller was offering a pair of Quad actives for £229. Stunned, I had a closer look. Apart from a different badge, Quad Industrial, these looked like peas in a pod to the Quad 11l actives. Plus, they were groundbreaking new, in unopened boxes.

After a few hours of research I learned that IAG, Quad’s parent company, has an Industrial division that promote audio equipment for hotels, conference centres, address theatres, and the like. Hence the different branding. The speaker also goes by another name, the Quad QPM1. Other than that it is like peas in a pod in each way to the Quad 11l active monitor.

This was a game changer. Prior to this I was considering the Audioengine 2 model as my desktop speaker replacement. I phoned the supplier to check that there was no mistake in their pricing in the advert. They confirmed that they were on sale for £229 for the pair. I placed my order immediately.

I was very excited to hear these speakers given the reviews I’d read. I’m also a huge fan of the Quad signal. My front room consists of the Quad 12l2s as main speakers in my 5.1 kit, Quad Centre, Quad l-ite satellites for rear and Quad l-ite subwoofer. Now I could have the Quad signal as part of my desktop system at a part of the price.

Quad speakers are renowned for being extremely neutral. In other words they take nothing away from or add anything to the original recording or source. Although my Quads were all very well reviewed at the time of their release, around 2004-2007, there are other fantastic speakers out there. For me I liked the standing associated with being a Quad title-holder. I clearly liked the signal and most importantly I got all the kit at bargain prices. Most of it was ex-dem so I saved at least 20% on the normal retail price. Another vital factor was matching the speakers crosswise the whole 5.1 kit. All of them should work well together. The 5.1 kit is driven by an Arcam AVR 300 that again was ex-dem. The front speakers are bi-amped and bi-wired. This affords them 120 watts per channel and per driver.

Being a hi-fi enthusiast makes you a bit picky about what you'll listen to. So how do the Quad actives signal? Well place it this way… I’ve not stopped playing them since the minute they at home in the house. I’ve terrified everything at them. From Led Zepp to Beethoven. Alison Krauss through to Prokofiev. Unbelievable! If anything the Quad actives may signal better than the 12l2s in my front room due to the fact that their bi-amp design is impeccably matched to the drivers in a way that any other amp would struggle to better. There is plenty of power and the signal path is not compromised by additional cabling and junction points. So the signal could be characterised as being clean, clear with tight bass control and a surprising quantity of depth considering the cabinet size. Though being nearfield monitors they are very revealing! If the recording is poor it sounds poor through these. You are very conscious of it. Also after a few days I became very aware of the deficiencies of the iMac’s signal card. There was a constant low hum and other nasties such as buzzing and clicks. Hissing too. Another issue was that I wanted to run an ancient radio tuner through these. All I could lay my hands on at small notice was a phono switchbox. This worked but it was trying to control the volume of the tuner other than messing around at the back of the monitors. Not really ideal.

I realised I need to look for some kind of preamp. Nothing suitable for desktop audio seemed immediately available. Initially I started looking at pro audio solutions. Mixers and the like. Not only were these really expensive but they also took up a lot of desk space. The other thing that seemed clear was that some kind of external signal processing solution would improve on the signal the iMac was competent of producing. Looked like a DAC was vital. This took me into a whole new ballpark. It came down to two companies in the end. Cambridge Audio's Dacmagic or NuForce's uDac or Icon products. Necessarily it came down to my need to switch sources easily and the ability to control volume at the turn of a dial or via an installed remote app on an iPhone. The Dacmagic looked very tempting but there was no preamp function or headphone amplifier. This left me with the NuForce products.

NuForce's website information is confusing. Being new to the world of DACs and desktop audio I knew small about by USB as a means of feeding an external digital to analogue converter with a digital signal. I was familiar with toslink optical links from the Arcam processor but USB was new to me. So I started reading about jitter and the degrading effect is has on signal quality and the technology used by NuForce to take right these issues. I also read some astonishing reviews on their uDac, Icon 2 and Icon HDP products. Turns out NuForce are an American company that specialises in really high end digital amplifiers and DACs. We're talking thousands of pounds. Their 'desktop' range is much more affordable though. The uDac was offered to me for £55 for example. In the end I got a fantastic deal on the Icon HDP. I had to make a couple of phone calls at this point. I can't say how much I saved but I got a better bargain on this than I got on the Quads! The Icon HDP is a combined class A headphone, preamp and top quality DAC rolled into one. Perfect for my needs.

Now we have the combined effect of the iMac and its ability to feed a decently digital signal from iTunes or Spotify Premium to the NuForce Icon HDP via USB and then onto the Quad QPMs. The effect the Icon HDP had on the system was staggering. This truly is a phenomenal product. Undoubtedly the most accomplished, best sounding and most helpful piece of hi-fi equipment I've ever bought. The whole soundstage opened right up. Subtle nuances present in the recordings were revealed in extraordinary detail. A truly three dimensional space is open to the listener. Given I'm used to the full Quad/Arcam experience in the front room it's incredible how lifelike and articulate my bargain desktop audio solution really is. The Quads in themselves are remarkable for the price but the Icon HDP is literally a revelation.

As you'll see from the photos I've experimented with this system in all sorts of combinations. At one point I even hooked up the Quad sub to hear the difference it made. I concluded it's really not vital the system is already competent of producing nearly terrifying levels of deep controlled bass without it. Midrange too is superb. Treble crisp and smear free. I've been particularly enjoying the albums below. I've pretty much went into the backroom! All in all, a pretty excellent October week…

Trentemøller – The Very Last Resort
Mercan Dede – 800
Sergei Rachmaninoff – Rachmaninov
Alison Krauss – Lonely Runs Both Ways
John Hiatt – Hiatt Comes Alive At Budokan?
Booka Shade – Memento
Avishai Cohen – Aurora

By the way the Quads are still available on eBay, last few remaining. Other speakers shown for comparison.

Desktop Audio Upgrade


Image by Jordanhill School D&T Dept
I needed some new speakers for my desktop computer system at home. I’ve been tolerating JBL creature 2.1 system for a couple of being now and I’d finally had enough. The JBLs suffered from a depressing lack of critical midrange detail. This, coupled with the fact that the kids now hog the main system in the front room, means that I can’t get access to my iTunes library readily.

A few being ago I was doing some research into speakers and I came crosswise the Quad 11l actives. They were very well reviewed in a couple of Australian and New Zealand hi-fi publications. From what I could gather at the time they were not widely available in the UK. When I did eventually track them down their price tag was £600 for a pair. Prohibitively expensive for a desktop audio system. These things are marketed as pro-level near field monitors. They have their own build in amps. Two per speaker. 60W for the bass driver and 40W for the treble driver.

Anyway a couple of weeks ago I chose to have a casual squint at eBay and see if I could pick up a second hand pair at a vastly reduced price. There were none available. One seller was promotion individual speakers new for £250. apiece. Still too expensive. Crestfallen, I gave up. A couple of days later I had another look. Another seller was offering a pair of Quad actives for £229. Stunned, I had a closer look. Apart from a different badge, Quad Industrial, these looked like peas in a pod to the Quad 11l actives. Plus, they were groundbreaking new, in unopened boxes.

After a few hours of research I learned that IAG, Quad’s parent company, has an Industrial division that promote audio equipment for hotels, conference centres, address theatres, and the like. Hence the different branding. The speaker also goes by another name, the Quad QPM1. Other than that it is like peas in a pod in each way to the Quad 11l active monitor.

This was a game changer. Prior to this I was considering the Audioengine 2 model as my desktop speaker replacement. I phoned the supplier to check that there was no mistake in their pricing in the advert. They confirmed that they were on sale for £229 for the pair. I placed my order immediately.

I was very excited to hear these speakers given the reviews I’d read. I’m also a huge fan of the Quad signal. My front room consists of the Quad 12l2s as main speakers in my 5.1 kit, Quad Centre, Quad l-ite satellites for rear and Quad l-ite subwoofer. Now I could have the Quad signal as part of my desktop system at a part of the price.

Quad speakers are renowned for being extremely neutral. In other words they take nothing away from or add anything to the original recording or source. Although my Quads were all very well reviewed at the time of their release, around 2004-2007, there are other fantastic speakers out there. For me I liked the standing associated with being a Quad title-holder. I clearly liked the signal and most importantly I got all the kit at bargain prices. Most of it was ex-dem so I saved at least 20% on the normal retail price. Another vital factor was matching the speakers crosswise the whole 5.1 kit. All of them should work well together. The 5.1 kit is driven by an Arcam AVR 300 that again was ex-dem. The front speakers are bi-amped and bi-wired. This affords them 120 watts per channel and per driver.

Being a hi-fi enthusiast makes you a bit picky about what you'll listen to. So how do the Quad actives signal? Well place it this way… I’ve not stopped playing them since the minute they at home in the house. I’ve terrified everything at them. From Led Zepp to Beethoven. Alison Krauss through to Prokofiev. Unbelievable! If anything the Quad actives may signal better than the 12l2s in my front room due to the fact that their bi-amp design is impeccably matched to the drivers in a way that any other amp would struggle to better. There is plenty of power and the signal path is not compromised by additional cabling and junction points. So the signal could be characterised as being clean, clear with tight bass control and a surprising quantity of depth considering the cabinet size. Though being nearfield monitors they are very revealing! If the recording is poor it sounds poor through these. You are very conscious of it. Also after a few days I became very aware of the deficiencies of the iMac’s signal card. There was a constant low hum and other nasties such as buzzing and clicks. Hissing too. Another issue was that I wanted to run an ancient radio tuner through these. All I could lay my hands on at small notice was a phono switchbox. This worked but it was trying to control the volume of the tuner other than messing around at the back of the monitors. Not really ideal.

I realised I need to look for some kind of preamp. Nothing suitable for desktop audio seemed immediately available. Initially I started looking at pro audio solutions. Mixers and the like. Not only were these really expensive but they also took up a lot of desk space. The other thing that seemed clear was that some kind of external signal processing solution would improve on the signal the iMac was competent of producing. Looked like a DAC was vital. This took me into a whole new ballpark. It came down to two companies in the end. Cambridge Audio's Dacmagic or NuForce's uDac or Icon products. Necessarily it came down to my need to switch sources easily and the ability to control volume at the turn of a dial or via an installed remote app on an iPhone. The Dacmagic looked very tempting but there was no preamp function or headphone amplifier. This left me with the NuForce products.

NuForce's website information is confusing. Being new to the world of DACs and desktop audio I knew small about by USB as a means of feeding an external digital to analogue converter with a digital signal. I was familiar with toslink optical links from the Arcam processor but USB was new to me. So I started reading about jitter and the degrading effect is has on signal quality and the technology used by NuForce to take right these issues. I also read some astonishing reviews on their uDac, Icon 2 and Icon HDP products. Turns out NuForce are an American company that specialises in really high end digital amplifiers and DACs. We're talking thousands of pounds. Their 'desktop' range is much more affordable though. The uDac was offered to me for £55 for example. In the end I got a fantastic deal on the Icon HDP. I had to make a couple of phone calls at this point. I can't say how much I saved but I got a better bargain on this than I got on the Quads! The Icon HDP is a combined class A headphone, preamp and top quality DAC rolled into one. Perfect for my needs.

Now we have the combined effect of the iMac and its ability to feed a decently digital signal from iTunes or Spotify Premium to the NuForce Icon HDP via USB and then onto the Quad QPMs. The effect the Icon HDP had on the system was staggering. This truly is a phenomenal product. Undoubtedly the most accomplished, best sounding and most helpful piece of hi-fi equipment I've ever bought. The whole soundstage opened right up. Subtle nuances present in the recordings were revealed in extraordinary detail. A truly three dimensional space is open to the listener. Given I'm used to the full Quad/Arcam experience in the front room it's incredible how lifelike and articulate my bargain desktop audio solution really is. The Quads in themselves are remarkable for the price but the Icon HDP is literally a revelation.

As you'll see from the photos I've experimented with this system in all sorts of combinations. At one point I even hooked up the Quad sub to hear the difference it made. I concluded it's really not vital the system is already competent of producing nearly terrifying levels of deep controlled bass without it. Midrange too is superb. Treble crisp and smear free. I've been particularly enjoying the albums below. I've pretty much went into the backroom! All in all, a pretty excellent October week…

Trentemøller – The Very Last Resort
Mercan Dede – 800
Sergei Rachmaninoff – Rachmaninov
Alison Krauss – Lonely Runs Both Ways
John Hiatt – Hiatt Comes Alive At Budokan?
Booka Shade – Memento
Avishai Cohen – Aurora

By the way the Quads are still available on eBay, last few remaining. Other speakers shown for comparison.

I want something everywhere the rear speakers are not connected together. I have power on both sides to plug them in if needed.

Answer by Steve
I’ve never heard of a wireless home theater system. Possibly Bose would have something since they’re one of the top manufacturers, but I don’t know of surround signal speakers that send a wireless signal. You lose a small quantity of information when you send a signal though, because not all the information travels in a straight line to its destination like it does through a cable. Perhaps that’s why they have preferred to not design one?

Answer by Cabling_Guy
There are numerous out there, Sony’s is excellent and Panasonics is excellent, but check out a Digital Signal Projector by Yamaha. Its an amp and multiple speaker system that can deliver incredible surround signal, just add a sub and your excellent to go. They have 2 models to suit your needs and even a mic to set up your room automatically.

Answer by JP
I also have the Yamaha YSP, it’s awesome. Go try it out!

Answer by Social_Butterfly
I have an RCA wireless home theater system. The main control unit is really a DVD player that hooks into the TV. You then have your normal center and side speakers around the TV. The subwoofer duals as a transmitter for your wireless rear speakers. Just plug the receiver in at the contrary side of the room and the two rear speakers separately plug into the receiver. No long cords stretching crosswise your floor. And the signal is incredible! You can find it at any Target store (going price is around $ 300).

The only down side is I haven’t figured out how to get surround signal on anything other than the DVD player.

What do you reckon? Answer below!