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General discussion

HI-QUALITY SPEAKERS WHICH SOUND THE BEST

Feb 23, 2006 8:41AM PST

I just set up my Atlantic Technology 4200 5.1. system with Denon 3805 about a month ago and I luve um. Problem is I never heard j.b.l. ar any of the other top quality speaker systems. These A/T speakers sounded soooo great that I didn't even bother to check other great brands names SO would there be any real difference in sound quality when you compair j.b.l. a/t and the other top names LET THE WAR BEGIN. ha ha stewart

Discussion is locked

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Lots of variety
Feb 23, 2006 12:16PM PST

Without going high end on everybody here, I also install some reasonably priced gear too. Recently put small bookshelf type speakers in a system, we used BG, they have a ribbon type of tweeter, very sweet sounding. Big plus, only around 500.00(US) pr.

http://www.bgcorp.com/index.php

Now keep in mind this company also makes speakers that go way way up there in dollars. If you look at their product lines you want to see the Z series, these are the entry level, but very good speakers.
These are the speakers I have hidden under the 70" JVC in the pictures on my blog site, Z series from BG for the fronts, James cinema 10 subwoofer and exsisting in wall rears (this was an upgrade to an older system).

http://spaces.msn.com/members/
sirroundsound

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Many Are The Best
Feb 23, 2006 1:20PM PST

There really is no single answer to Stewart's question. There are so many outstanding brands of quality speakers many which are superb in sound and build quality.

Some are superb in sound but not applicable for us on a beer budget. Many of those with exotic designs place a very difficult strain on the amp and are always driven by high priced separates. Many of these are of very low impedence and also difficult to drive with the common A/V reciever.

Others like the original Altec Lansing, J. B. Lansing, and Klipsch could blow the walls down with 10 watts per channel. A neighbor of a freind of mine in the Seattle area specializes in super high quality horn speakers. He builds his own extremely expensive tube amps which are rated at 5 watts per channel! You can imagine how sensitive these speakers must be.

Getting back to speakers for us mortals, there are many, many fine brands and models of speakers in the reasonable range of $1000-$5000.

Much more important in my opinion is the most important component in any sound system: ROOM ACOUSTICS, and the proper set-up for ones system. I have seen friends with supposedly great speakers that sounded awful because they; placed the mains or surrounds in the corners or too close to the ceiling, placed bookshelf speakers on the floor, placed their speakers against the wall, had a severe problem with standing waves, had the sub crossover set way too high or low, had the speakers out of phase because the wires were reversed, center channels that did not match the mains and on and on.

Sometimes moving a speaker, especially a sub, even a few inches can make a big difference in sound. That is why I always now buy and recommend to my friends Sub/satelitte systems only. The big fullrange main towers, especially those with the built in subs, are a poor choice because usually they cannot be moved to improve on bass frequency anomalies. Subs (sometimes two) and satellites are much more flexible in placement for maximum sound quality.

Stewart happened to start with an excellent choice with the Atlantic Tehcnolgy's. Now who is going to volunteer to go over to his place and make sure they are placed correctly?

RR6 Happy

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MR. ROADRUNNER YOU ARE HA HA
Feb 23, 2006 1:42PM PST

Ok BOSS I have been moving these A/T for two months now and it sounds afful good I did run curtins down the side walls about 1ft. froom the wall because of the open kitchen area on one side that helped a lot. and yes I still have those old cerwin vega sat 6 speakers on the back wall. O ya question I am running my DENON 3805 in the 7.1 mode and most movies on d.v.d. no sound comes out of the rear speakers but when I watch blockbuster movies like Star Wars return of the sith the back speakers work awsome and totally involving. I thought the 2 rear speakers were a matrix of the souround speakers and would be on all the time but they are not So does the amp detect 7.1. and turn on the back speakers? thank you for all your help I really learn a lot from you and the other pros in this chit chat room, I only wish I had gotten in this home theater stuff when I was younger I'am now 68 horrible

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surprise, surprise...JBL's
Feb 23, 2006 3:27PM PST

If I plugged JBL anymore I would expect a residual check. Seriously these are big american speakers if you are tight on space, and dont enjoy moving 50lbs speakers stay away. However if you want to be "moved" by sound that surrounds you and takes you away, then I have found your speaker. The power of these speakers just cant be done justice in a satelite system. I enjoy all forms of music/movies, and these speakers come through. The best part is how hungry these speakers are, absolutly no distortion at the highest levels.

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Satellite Speakers.....
Feb 23, 2006 4:49PM PST

.....don't necessarily mean tiny speakers. They are speakers that do several things.

First they get the speaker enclosure off the floor and avoid the associated problems. The best of them go down flat to the 60-80Hz range while accomplishing this with relatively small drivers 6'' or so while avoiding the problems associated with the big box reflections, honky sounding midrange and muddy bass with standing wave problems that many of the big towers have.

Due to their reletively small enclosures they can be placed where the sound is the best, not just on the floor 4 feet on each side of the center.

The sub takes over at 80Hz or where the best crossover point is. Good subs have a massive amp, far superior to the one trying to drive the low bass that is in the receiver.

The satellites are usually a breeze for the amps in the receiver to drive. The decibel level that a speaker will achieve is determine by the sensitivity of the speaker and the quality and type of the drivers as well as the volume and type of the enclosure.

I helped a friend buy and set up a 5.1 system. It consists of 2 relatively small Klipsch speakers (about 15'' tall on stands) and voice matched center and surrounds. A 12'' Klipsch sub handle the lows (total about $1300 discounted...$2000 list). With a medium priced Yamaha receiver this system hits about 112-115db's of extremely clean sound in his living room.

You have great speakers with a superb heritage in your JBL's that I'm sure are excellent sounding, but don't underestimate a properly set up sat/sub system for pumping out the sounds.

RR6 Happy

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I was visualizing a smaller speaker
Feb 23, 2006 5:38PM PST

Very true points about having a good mid size speaker set up. They sound more like bookshelf speakers at that size. I was visualizing some boxed theater set up. But a set of klipsch sound great at any size, and they have never put out a bad speaker that I've heard. My JBLs are big speakers but are surprisingly acurate with a a 92dcb pick up.
Set-up can be a chore with full size speakers, but when you get it right...wow!
Also for larger rooms would you still go with smaller speakers? I feel that most problems associated with larger speakers comes from cramming them in a small room (they need room to make it happen)

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Isn't Past Your Bedtime?
Feb 23, 2006 6:50PM PST

techfiend, what the heck are you doing up at this time? I'm on vacation and having fun on the forum while I'm watching the Olympics and can sleep in tomorrow. My wife is happy because a Japanese female figure skater won the gold medal.

Yeah, you're right. As the room gets bigger the smaller speakers, all things being equal, have to work harder to put out the same volume. However, I stll prefer the sat/sub set up for the many advantages in my opinion. Now know that I like very flat response, the whole spectrum wide. Many people find it sort of "dry." To me it makes accoustic jazz and solo vocalist sound more natural.

But don't get me wrong. I understand the big beautiful boxes. I had a set of Altec Lansing's that were a "voice of the theater system" in a modified enclosure for home use. They weighed in at 105lbs each! When I heard Willy Dixon, a Chicago blues man at the Seattle Center open ampitheater he had my exact speakers in a black utility cabinet. They were the only two speakers for a blues band of about 6 guys.

They were like the pro JBL units, very efficient and super natural especially in the midrange. Great speakers.

Go to bed young man. Take care.

RR6

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I have been pluging JBL for over 40 years!!!!
Feb 27, 2006 3:25AM PST

And Sill NO CHECK!!!! But that dosen't keep me from enjoying mine. John

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Young At Heart
Feb 23, 2006 7:20PM PST

Sorry Stew, don't think I'm much help on the 6.1/7.1 switching. Although I have 7.1 in my living room receiver I only have a 5.1 speaker set-up and haven't read carefully the switching instructions. I think mine has some switch in the speaker set-up menu for the 6.1 and 7.1 designations. 6.1 ES discrete also comes in there somehow.

I hate to say it but you might have to break out the manual. Yes, they are both a matrixed 6th and 7th mono channel. Denon is usually not to confusing in their manuals. My Denon AVR 3200 manual is pretty clear whereas my expensive Sony ES manual is a wonder of confusion.

Take Care
RR6

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Obvious baiting attempt Stew!
Feb 24, 2006 3:49PM PST

Your speakers are probably pretty fine. Choosing options are now too darn late. Besides, if you thought you made a big mistake, you'd feel horrid! You had your chance to avail yourself personal auditioning from the great San Francisco area resources. Having said that, then consider the listening area you have probably has you locked into whatever acoustic situation you have to live with. The best Bay area listening opportunities have one thing in common - they are no way the same as your home listening area.

There are just a huge amount of supposedly really fine speakers out there to pick from if only one had nearly unlimited resources of time and financial ability.

Continue doing your thing, Stew...

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Check out Snell. Handbuilt high quality...
Feb 24, 2006 11:34PM PST

long lasting and well tuned. Not incredibly expensive. But speakers are the most subjective audio/video component to ever be invented because of the differing aural perceptions between people. One person is sensitive to one frequency and another person is sensitive to another frequency and so on. The only and surest way to get what is right for you is to audition speakers.

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What anout these asperions?
Feb 25, 2006 7:16AM PST

They are the number one speaker at the cnet audio pages. have any of you guys taken them for the free 30 day home test??

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SNELL are fantastic as are B&W, kind of esoteric......
Feb 28, 2006 1:34PM PST

(And if you have to ask the price..........)
Seriously take a listen to KLIPSCH and JBL systems.
ENERGY if you have local dealer.

river.