$1500 speaker system?

January 29, 2009

To Doug Schneider,

I have $1500 to spend on a speaker set and would like your advice. I want to get something good, but I'm not sure that's enough money to spend. Or is it? I need your advice because I don't want to go wrong and want to use this setup for many years.

Ben Inoue

For $1500 you can get a pretty decent 5.1 setup from companies like Axiom, Paradigm, Energy, Aperion or PSB. These companies all seem to be offering some special speaker systems for hardly any money at all. However, let me give you another idea if you want to get something really good -- go stereo for the time being and add channels later. Essentially, buy a great pair of main speakers now with that budget you have and add a center and surrounds when you can afford more. What you can get for $1500 today will blow your mind without blowing your pocketbook. Furthermore, you might find listening to movies in stereo satisfactory because on most soundtracks the spaciousness that a two-channel system can provide is often good enough. And if the speakers you get are big enough to produce high output and really deep bass bass, you'll get close to the kind of full-range sound you get in a really big, expensive system. I use just two speakers often, particularly if I'm between review systems, and find it quite satisfying. It's actually going to be a subject for "Hometheaterphile," a column Randall Smith usually writes, but that I'm going to start contributing to from time to time with advice such as this....Doug Schneider

Integra processor questions

January 20, 2009

To Wes Marshall,

I thought your January 1 review of the Integra DHC-9.9 was very insightful and helpful (and well written). I am convinced that the '9.9 is right for my system, but I had just a few questions if you'd be so kind to address them.

I have a 60” Pioneer Kuro monitor, a five-channel Krell Showcase amp and Definitive Mythos ST, 10 and XL speakers and subwoofer. Is there any reason the Integra wouldn't be a good fit as the "brains" of my operation? I was also looking at a used Krell Showcase processor that would cost about as much but which I believe lacks many of the modern features and benefits of this unit.

I live in the Chicago area. Do you know of a dealer or merchant (online or not) that offers a good deal on the Integra 9.9? I haven't found an A/V dealer in my area that carries the unit.

Finally, do you know of any professional calibrators in the Chicago area whom I could reach out to once I've secured the unit?

John Brosnan

The Integra will smoke a Krell Showcase, both sonically and from a standpoint of convenience. The Integra will match your system very nicely. Here's a URL to Integra's dealers, including eight right in the city. I don't know how to check all the 'burbs; don't know the names. The dealer will do the calibrating. If not, pick a different dealer. Good luck....Wes Marshall

Room correction?

January 6, 2009

Editor,

In your opinion, is the Audyssey room-correction system as good as the Anthem Room Correction system? I have a home theater that will be used in a pretty bad room and feel like I should implement some type of equalization in order to minimize my placement issues. I have Energy speakers and an Outlaw amplifier right now, but I am considering buying separates.

Tim Robbins

I have used both Anthem Room Correction and Audyssey, and I’ve found them both to be effective. In my system, even with a room close to optimized, I heard and measured gains in linearity, particularly in the bass, with the Anthem setup. In a living-room-type space, I heard even greater improvements with the Audyssey system -- not because I think the Audyssey is better, but because the room was worse. So yes, I think the ideal environment to use room correction is where speaker placement is compromised and/or the room acoustics are simply poor. It is in these circumstances that room correction can work its magic most effectively. So given your “bad room” and “placement issues,” I’d say you’re the ideal candidate for a room-correction system. As to which one, if you’re considering the Anthem Room Correction, then you’re also considering one of their processors, which are simply top notch in every respect. I can’t recommend them highly enough....Jeff Fritz

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