PART II
Other issues surrounding the speaker buying process
Bookshelf vs. Floor standing speakers
Some argue that a bookshelf type of speaker is the way to go. They'll argue that you get better performance at the same price point with a bookshelf simply because of the additional cost to build and store a bigger box. They will also argue that they're easier to position in your ultimate listening area. If the room is small, the bass output from a floor standing speaker could very well be too much and give you a boomy low end.
Those in favor of floor standers will counter that the additional cost of a floor standing speaker can be offset with the cost of speaker stands needed for a bookshelf. They will also argue that, generally speaking, the floor standing speakers sound "fuller" especially with today's homes tending to be very open and with high/vaulted ceilings. In a similar setting, the mid-bass could be lacking with a bookshelf speaker.
I won't tell you which theory is correct -- I'm just not that smart/courageous!
How many to buy
This is another issue that is plagued with often heated/extreme opinions. Given that, I'll go ahead and throw out mine. Even with movies, a good 2-channel system will sound better (and therefore be preferred) than a mediocre 5-speaker system. The difference is even more pronounced when listening to music. If you were on a budget, I'd be inclined to start with a 2 channel (or 2.1) system. Then, as funds permit buy the surround speakers and lastly, the center channel.
Center Channel
A lot of the typical center channel speakers are laid out in a horizontal manner. This can create some undesirable sonic issues including a problem called lobing. Some (passionately) argue that you should have the same speaker for (at least) the front three speakers and that you have the speaker vertically (as opposed to horizontally) aligned. The problem here is that a vertically aligned speaker has a low WAF and can sometimes be problematic to set up. However, a regular bookshelf speaker makes a better center channel than a so-called center-channel speaker with a mid-tweet-mid arrangement. If you’re getting floor standing speakers, then try to choose one that has a bookshelf speaker in that model line. It might be a problem getting just one extra speaker for the center, but if you’re going with a 6.1 system you could use the extra one in the back.
Rear Surrounds: Mono or Di-pole?
My experience has been that properly setting up a di-pole surround speaker is much more problematic than a direct radiating (i.e., regular) speaker, so I generally recommend direct (mono) speakers for surround duty.
To Sub or Not to Sub
Some will claim they don't want a subwoofer in their system because it includes an additional crossover (where one speaker driver stops and another begins) to the system that degrades the overall sound of the system. They'll also argue that there is a lot of music out there that DOES NOT include much information falling below, say, 40-60Hz and that their speakers are rated to go down to 60Hz or 50Hz anyway.
I would counter that, although a speaker is rated down to 50Hz, the speaker probably won't do it well and will also put an additional strain on the speaker at the higher frequencies. Results will include more THD (distortion) and other degradations of sound quality. Also, a sub is almost MANDATORY for watching a movie.
Most members of the various AV forums will suggest that you buy one of two brands of sub:
SVS or
Hsu. Both offer outstanding value for the money. The reason these companies are such a "bargain" is that they sell only over the internet (at least in North America). Of course, this requires a little bit of faith on your part, but trust us, you won't find a better deal anywhere else.
Cables: Speaker wire, interconnects, etc
There is a lot of snake oil in the world of A/V, none more apparent than in the "hi-end" cable industry. Some will claim HUGE improvements with some boutique brand of interconnect. I've actually read someone who seriously stated that the most important part of any system is the cables used. I'm a little (ok, a lot) skeptical.
Probably the most common/well known "hi-end" cable maker is Monster Cable. They do make quality cables; they're just overpriced -- by a lot. Once again, this is only my opinion. One internet company that I've heard that makes reasonable priced quality cables is
www.bluejeanscable.com. Another company I'd look at is
www.apature.com.
Electronics
Another area that brings out the passion in many A/V enthusiasts is the electronics in the sound system. Should you buy tube or solid state? Receiver or separates (i.e., pre-amp and amp)? How much to spend? What brands to buy? Etc, etc, etc. The following should NOT be construed as the "best" advice; it's simply my OPINION.
I recommend spending about 1/3 of the total budget on the electronics (including cables) for any particular system. Generally speaking, that means buying a solid-state receiver. Some of the brands that get mentioned most often around here include Denon, Yamaha, Marantz, NAD and Outlaw.
Do they sound different? Is any one better than another? The answer to the first question is "probably", the answer to the second question is "I don't know". Some have argued that the smaller brands (like NAD and Outlaw) sound better than the "big boys" at the same price point. Others will tell you any difference is negligible.
If I were to go out and buy a <$1,000 receiver right now, I'd probably be more concerned with the remote and relevant feature set of the receiver rather than purported sound quality of the unit. Some will hear a relevant difference, others won't. Once you get into the >$1,000 area of electronics, I think it makes sense to look into buying "separates". Outlaw Audio is an internet only company that has generated a great bang for the buck reputation. Other brands (albeit not all inclusive) that I would look at include:
- Rotel
- Parasound
- Bryston
- Adcom
Again, do NOT construe this as an endorsement or recommendation, simply as the brands that get mentioned most often.
As a final note, spending more money on your system will generally bring you better results; however, spending more brings diminishing returns. In other words, a $2,000 set of speakers will not sound twice as good as a $1,000 set of speakers. This law of diminishing returns is even more extreme with electronics and is a cliff dive with cables.
For those that fall into the "I just don't care, tell me what to buy", here is a one setup I'd recommend:
For ~$3,500:
- 5 Paradigm Studio 20 speakers
- SVS Sub (e-mail Tom V. at SVS for his recommendation based on your room and listening habits)
- With the remaining going to whatever receiver you like the feature set/remote of.