Don't you love speaker/audiophile threads? I do. So I am in need of replacing my rear surrounds. Something happened and one doesn't work anymore - no biggie, they were old. Anyway, I am not looking for the real deal right now because I want to wait a year or so until we move into a new house and I know the setup/config. After that I will either use my Axiom M bookshelves as rears or something else. So just for now I need a lower priced pair to throw in the back. I would like 200 or under, 100 or under would be gravy. I was thinking about the Insignia bookshelves because I know they are built pretty well but my wife has some kind of philosophical stance against them because Best Buy used to sell them for so cheap and now has upped them to 80 something just because people realized they were quality. So I either need a really good natural bargain or need to get a crazy deal. Right now the Onix X-Is is on sale for 165/pair...anyone know a better option?
I went to Circuit City and bought a pair of bookshelf speakers (about 10 inches tall) for I believe $50 total. They are for the gameroom for when I play the 360 so i didn't need anyting spectacular, but they are pretty good though I don't remember the brand. Speakers are WAY over-priced though.
You can get the MMGW's which mount on the wall for $299 a pair. It's over budget, but worth a thought. Also, check out the usual "budget" audiophile brands: Fluance SX-6 (buy direct from manufacturer for $119) Paradigm Cinema ADP (go for a little over $100) NHT SuperOne Xu ($188) Or you can also look for classic refoamed used speakers on ebay or craigslist: Boston Acoustics A40, A60 (under $100 - GREAT speakers) Baby Advents (a true classic that will hold there own with anything - under $100 - but some think they are ugly) Or you can just buy more Axioms - those are nice too.
I think you can get infinity primus for very little money on ebay and they got a really good ratings from stereophile.
Don't you own a pair of MMG's? I have been curious about them as front towers. Is it true that they have a very limited "sweet spot" and can be a bit messy outside of that area? Man, I got to play with some Sonus Faber towers and they are nice (and expensive).
Yes, I do own a pair of MMG's. They would be fantastic as front towers. Now it is a fact that the sweet spot is small when compared to conventional cone drivers, so they are not what you would call "party" speakers. However, there are measures you can take to expand the sweet spot: Buying custom stands that raise them at right angles, placing the tweeters on the outside, room treatments, placement, and plenty of high current amplification will help a lot. I use mine for stereo listening primarily, but they may be even better as home theater mains. Since they are dipoles, and I have them angled in to my listening position, the cinemtic sound effects seem like they are originating from down the hall! Just mate a good sub with them. I have never heard Sonus Fabers, but I'm sure they are great. The McIntosh dealer that posts at audiokarma.org is always reccomending those.
if this is definitely short term, wouldn't it be smart to consider higher quality used equipment? just a thought.
My listening is heavy on stereo, but I am more and more getting into DVD-A recordings or high quality DVD performances for music, so I definitely have to consider whatever towers I get within a 6.1 system. I am definitely a music over movies person, though. I have always liked the idea of having Maggies, though, and the price is certainly good. What sub do you use with them? The tweeters on the Sonus Faber towers are crazy. Unique design and great range. As for this thread I decided just to go really cheap for now and get a pair of Polk 150's on sale for $49 (normally $99). We may move as soon as a year and then I can make my real decisions. Thanks to all for their help.
My suggestion is to pick a budget and then go listen to small bookshelf speakers that fit that budget (maybe Paradigms?). That way when you re-do the entire system (with Maggies!) you have a cool little pair of speakers for another room. BTW, I have Maggies in my living room but my HT is composed of Monitor Audio Silver speakers up front, PSB Alpha's in back and a Velodyne sub. I think you should generally have the same speakers all around but sometimes things just don't work out that way!
I had a surround sound system a couple of years ago. For the fronts and rears, I used Monitor 30s by Polk Audio. I thought they were great.
I have been happy listening to music without a sub, but they are essential for HT applications. You will have to audition many subs to find one that can keep up with the Maggie's lightning fast planar magnetic drivers. I have listened to Hsu Research, M&K, REL and Martin Logan subwoofers mate very well with MMG's. You just have to stay away from the ported, boomy subs.
