Thread: Home Theatre Blues - Part 3: The right speaker system

The right speakers

In my previous article (Home Theatre Blues - Part 2: Things to consider while buying an AV Receiver), I set some parameters to look for while choosing the AV Receiver. In this article, I will explain the features to look for in a good speaker system.

(Note that I am neither an expert not an audiophile - so please expect some limitations. )

A complete 7.1 or 9.1 speaker system can set you back by quite a lot. For example, have a look at the following speakers:



These are one of the top of the line speakers systems - the KEF REF 207/2 400 W, 4-Way 5 Speaker System Bass Reflex Floor Standers.

Specs:
Frequency range: 40 Hz to 60 Khz
Sensitivity: 91 dB (2.83V/1m)
Driver Size: 2 x 10 inch LF, 10 inch LMF, 6 ½" MF, 1 inch Titanium HF
Magnetically Shielded: Yes
Weight: 66 Kg
Dimensions (HxWxD) : 1226x400x685 mm

The MRP of the above is a whopping Rs. 12,00,000 per pair.

It will be foolish to buy such expensive speakers unless you have a room to match.

The questions in mind are:

• Do I mix and match or should I go for a package?
• Will it suit my AVR?
• How far will it affect my pocket/bank?
• Will they suit my home or HT room?

The golden rule of speakers (or for that matter any AV equipment) is never buy anything on pure reviews or recommendations - have a live demo yourself. But also note that good speakers are demo'ed in a specially made HT room in the shop where accoustics are controlled, there are thick carpets and sound dampners, etc. In short, what sound incredible in the showroom may disappoint at the home. But these things cannot be helped.

To go back to the answers to the above questions first prioritize them. For example, in my case the form factor (size) was important. My HT room is small and I certainly do not have space for large speakers. So set your parameters.

• Impendence: For the typical 5.1 or 7.1 AVR of 100 W RMS per channel, first consider the output impedence. Most AVRs are rated for speakers of impedence 6 ohm to 8 ohm. And luckily over 95% of speakers have the same impedence. Nevertheless tell the showroom expert what kind of AVR you own or intending to buy. The expert will suggest the right matching speakers.
• Output handling capacity: This is really a no-brainer. Your speaker system should be able to handle at least the same power output of each channel. So if your AVR is 100W per channel, buy speakers rated to handle 100W at the very least. If budget permits, go for speakers that can handle 1.2 times the power (120W in this case).
• Size/Form factor: If you have enough space, there will be nothing like very impressive floor standing towers. But for those who are challenged by space, small dimensioned speakers will be the way to go.
• Budget: This is an individual factor. But my suggestion is don't compromise too much on speakers. Expect the speakers to cost at least Rs. 35,000. Although costlier is not necessarily better - and Bose is a prime example of this - they make average quality speakers but sell them at premium price.
• Packaged system or separates: A packaged system will be targeted towards the cost-conscious user and hence maybe slightly inferior in specs but unless you have a full 20' x 15' dedicated HT room, you can safely go for a packaged system.
• Brand: Do not go for brand alone. Once again Bose is an example. Bose is the art of marketing - everyone can learn from them. Their speakers are average but Bose has created an aura around its name and everyone (the general public) believes that Bose is the best. Nothing can be further from the truth. I can recommend the following companies that are way better than Bose:
  
  • Paradigm
  • Polk Audio
  • Energy Take
  • KEF
  • Q Accoustics
  • Wharfedale
  • B & W
  • Jamo
  • JBL

And most of the above have a packaged HT system in its line. I will highly recommend the following (in order of merit):
1.
KEF KHT3005SE - MRP around Rs. 95,000

2.
Wharfedale Diamond 10.1 - MRP around Rs. 68,000

3.
Paradigm CT110 5.1 system - MRP around Rs. 50,000.

4.
Energy Take Classic 5.1 - MRP around Rs. 40,000.

5.
Polk Audio RM 6750 - MRP around Rs. 30,000.

really awesome stuff J4K, really really good. You have just shown us AGAIN why you are such an asset to this forum.

Also, the Rs12lacs speakers have diamonds right ?
The Wharfedale Diamonds would look really sweet in a room big enough for them.

also, please link the send article to the third.

Damn, cant rep, this really deserves it though. For now manage with a thumbs up !

Thanks Rajan. You have made my day (or night ).

Have a look at this article also: Ten Biggest Mistakes of Speaker and Home Theater Shopping

p/s. 1. Note that the Wharfedale Diamond 10.1 package (for 68K) is not the entire as shown in the picture. It will be much less consisting of bookshelf sized speakers.

2. I am very critical of Bose - yet I am owner of a Bose speaker system.

No. It was not a mistake to purchase Bose. To me form factor was extremely important. Way back in 1998, there were no dedicated HT shops in India. So I had to purchase them abroad (Abu Dhabi, in my case). So naturally, I could not afford to buy large sized speakers. And Bose was the only manufacturer that made the right sized speakers.

great post @just4kix really good one.

Rep's added.

Thanks, deepmohan.

One thing that I definitely forgot to add ...

Speakers are of three (or rather four) types:

a) Woofers: speakers that respond to and yield low frequency sounds (bass) - typically from 200 Hz to 5000 Hz.
b) Squawkers or mid-rangers: speakers that respond to and yield middle frequency sounds - typically from 3000 Hz to 11000 Hz.
c) Tweeters: speakers that respond to and yield high frequency sounds (bass) - typically from 9000 Hz to 20000 Hz.
d) Sub-woofers: speakers that respond to and yield extremely low frequency sounds (bass) - typically from 20 Hz to 300 Hz.

All four speakers types are important for movies. Sub-woofers do not play a very active part in music.

Many people pay a lot of attention to bass or treble but invariably fail to give due importance to mid-rangers (sqawkers). This is where the problem may arise, especially for music lovers. Music, especially vocal, be it Indian classical or Western Pop/Rock or Bollywood (golden oldies or latest), is all about human voice. Human voice ranges from 3000 Hz to 12000 Hz, which is mid-range. If proper mid-range speakers are not chosen, the music system may sound unnatural - and this is the exact problem with Bose speakers.

Part 4 is now published: http://www.indiabroadband.net/home-a...ay-player.html (Home Theatre Blues - Part 4: Choosing the Blu-Ray Player)

Excellent Post Kix. I have a Paradigm system you probably saw.

It is Paradigm reference 20s with an Arcam amp. The sound is divine.
I just use it for music.

The home theater is Paradigm monitor 7s with a Marantz receiver. Well
that's what I had initially, I haven't set it up yet after I moved ;-)

-F

Originally Posted by Punch Farce

Excellent Post Kix. I have a Paradigm system you probably saw.

It is Paradigm reference 20s with an Arcam amp. The sound is divine.
I just use it for music.

The home theater is Paradigm monitor 7s with a Marantz receiver. Well
that's what I had initially, I haven't set it up yet after I moved ;-)

-F

Paradigm is a name unknown to the general public. The general public think about Bose and maybe Jamo, JBL, and a few others.

Paradigm makes very fine speaker systems. I did not get a chance to listen to your Reference 20s or the Monitor 7s (when I visited you). But I have heard very rave review about them.

Marantz, Yamaha, Denon, Onkyo, NAD and a couple more make excellent AV Receivers and amps.

My congratulations on having a fine system.

Good post helped me to get to know about other speakers brands and their configuration.

Dear Sir,
Would like to comment on the combination of DENON AVR 1312 with speaker set Boston acoustics Soundware XS-5.1 please ! Especially freq. response below 40 Hz.of 8" sub woofer.
Thanks for all your articles.Those are very informative & precious.They reflect Genuineness.

Originally Posted by ravibhambure

Dear Sir,
Would like to comment on the combination of DENON AVR 1312 with speaker set Boston acoustics Soundware XS-5.1 please ! Especially freq. response below 40 Hz.of 8" sub woofer.
Thanks for all your articles.Those are very informative & precious.They reflect Genuineness.

Denon 1312 is an entry level AVR. The Boston Acoustics Soundware XS-5.1 will pair well with this AVR.

The said Bostons are one of the tiniest speakers available in the market today. What is the price you are paying for them? They are good speakers. But if you have not purchased them, you should take a look at (and hear/audition) the competing models also such as:

a) Energy Take Classic 5.1
b) Klipsch HD Theater 500

And if you do not have a budget constraint or room size limitation, then check out Book shelf speakers also. These will sound much better.

Originally Posted by just4kix

Denon 1312 is an entry level AVR. The Boston Acoustics Soundware XS-5.1 will pair well with this AVR.

The said Bostons are one of the tiniest speakers available in the market today. What is the price you are paying for them? They are good speakers. But if you have not purchased them, you should take a look at (and hear/audition) the competing models also such as:

a) Energy Take Classic 5.1
b) Klipsch HD Theater 500

And if you do not have a budget constraint or room size limitation, then check out Book shelf speakers also. These will sound much better.

Sir,
Thanks for your early and positive response. Unfortunately, I have budget constraint. From this pt of view I wanna finalize 1312 & Boston XS 5.1. Denon 1312 costs for Rs. 23900/- & Boston @ 12500/-kindly provide your genuine guidance.Thanks once again.

My sincerest advice is listen/audition first. Listen to as many combos as you like. And when you audition, always test with a standard music CD. Do not test with an MP3 disc. Do not test with a movie blu-ray disc. if the CD sounds awesome, then everything else will.

Go ahead with what you really like.

Regarding budget, I can understand what you are going through. On this front, I will say this. You are spending Rs. 42,500 on AVR+spk. This is a lot of money. Hence you should be careful and when you do spend it, you should get your money's worth. Ask yourself, whether you will be tempted to go for an upgrade 2/3 years down the line? If yes, then do not spend this much. If not, then go ahead.

You should not feel after some time that I should have waited and spent some 10K extra and got this. Point is you should not regret your decision later ... else you should buy an ordinary Sony/Samsung HTIB (home theater in a box) worth Rs. 15/18 K. After some time, when you have more budget, you could spend on a better system. You will not feel sorry to chuck away the old system. You can resell it or move it to the bedroom.

But note that I am not criticizing Denon AVR-1312. It is a good AVR, albiet an entry level one. Compare it with, say Denon-1912. Check features and differences. See whether the extra features are worth the extra money, and so on.

Please check my very first article in the series. I spent a lot of time on choosing what I want. I am using more or less the same equipment that I purchased 10 years ago - just added new technology such as BD player and so on.

Originally Posted by just4kix

My sincerest advice is listen/audition first. Listen to as many combos as you like. And when you audition, always test with a standard music CD. Do not test with an MP3 disc. Do not test with a movie blu-ray disc. if the CD sounds awesome, then everything else will.

Go ahead with what you really like.

Regarding budget, I can understand what you are going through. On this front, I will say this. You are spending Rs. 42,500 on AVR+spk. This is a lot of money. Hence you should be careful and when you do spend it, you should get your money's worth. Ask yourself, whether you will be tempted to go for an upgrade 2/3 years down the line? If yes, then do not spend this much. If not, then go ahead.

You should not feel after some time that I should have waited and spent some 10K extra and got this. Point is you should not regret your decision later ... else you should buy an ordinary Sony/Samsung HTIB (home theater in a box) worth Rs. 15/18 K. After some time, when you have more budget, you could spend on a better system. You will not feel sorry to chuck away the old system. You can resell it or move it to the bedroom.

But note that I am not criticizing Denon AVR-1312. It is a good AVR, albiet an entry level one. Compare it with, say Denon-1912. Check features and differences. See whether the extra features are worth the extra money, and so on.

Please check my very first article in the series. I spent a lot of time on choosing what I want. I am using more or less the same equipment that I purchased 10 years ago - just added new technology such as BD player and so on.

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Thank you very much from the bottom of my heart. Really, money makes a big difference....