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Accurate speakers for a verity of genres?

Hello guys – I’m looking for L/R speakers to fill a 15x15 room – the budget is <4K (new/used). I’m not much of a PC user and was recommended by a good friend of mine to post here for advice.

I don’t have subs yet, so wanted something that could extend into the mid 30’s if needed. I will get subs next year so it’s not a big deal. My background is in music (have a degree from NYU) and come from a family or producers. Being that the speakers will be in my living room, I want something nice looking, and also capable of home theater usage and powered by a receiver.

I’m pretty young (under 26) and my musical tastes are leaning towards the more compressed side. Pop and some rock if I’m feeling casual, house or funk if I’m reminiscing and “real” hip-hop if I’m looking for stories or lyrical material. All mood dependent. I’m ‘classically trained’ and very critical in many genres’ being exposed to them my entire life though. Unfortunately, I do not listen classical music in my home although I do respect it. My instruments of choice are typically percussion based rather than string based and I really like both hard hitting bass and rolling basslines - but clean bass. Never boomy despite the musical choices.

Some examples of the types of music I listen to

Common – The People http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7B2VgRShew
The Roots – Boom http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyLEgfp4b-k
Nicolay and Kay – As the world turns http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Q-apEQa8Vg
Geoffrey Oryema – Piri Wango Iya http://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PL4F21FAD18930ECDC&feature=player_detailpage&v=HIoY_7qCOHk#t=68s
Afefe Iku – Mirror Dance http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ja1LS1AkN-Y&feature=related
Sigur Rios- Festival http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=RpKOawpMtsk#t=309s
Nosaj Thing – Aquarium http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPfDjZAct-0
LP – Iridescent http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLYiIBCN9ec&ob=av2n
James Blunt - I’ll take everything http://www.youube.com/watch?v=LX9sn5aAp_8
Sublime – Santeria http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEYN5w4T_aM&ob=av2n
Metallica – Unforgiven ½ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GoTcb6vtGEo
Alicia Myers – I want to thank you http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9wGnnwBc9M
Jackson 5 – Hum Along and Dance http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xRcmIDj2cc
Level 42 – Starchild http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SOpYmMyo1FM

Strange eh? I enjoy an accurate sound, that isn’t harsh in the upper band. Perhaps I have sensitive ears nowadays. I know to appreciate flat req response, and smooth off-axis response, great crossovers, etc. Now the question is – Where do I begin looking? Thanks for your time!!!!
bthought
mateored
258 posts
 
I think the PSB's are a good recommendation for your music. Judging from your musical taste, I think you are looking for a very crisp, tight, punchy sound, which the PSBs are good at. I have to say, though, that although you won't see too many people recommending them on this forum, one of the best speakers I ever heard for that type of sound was a pair of JBL studio monitors in a recording studio I visited a number of years ago. They didn't sing like some of the "audiophile" speakers, but they were really crisp and clean and very forward, without being too brash. Of course, all of our experiences are informed by the circumstances, and I might be romanticizing the JBLs, but I remember them as a very pleasing experience. On the other hand, they weren't anything I'd want to put in my living room.

What about B&W's or Revels? There's a pair of Aerial 8's on A'gon right now for $1,350, which seems like a great deal.
deadlyvj
66 posts
 
KEF LS50
It got good reviews this Munich HiEnd!
New release, takes the concept and design of the KEF blades, point source speakers. Integrate with subs for the low end!

http://www.kef.com/html/en/showroom/flagship_hi-fi_series/LS50/overview/
bthought OP
15 posts
 
Comparing SVS or Rhythmic 12 subs, which offer the best upper band performance? I will roll off the bottom (<25hz end so not really concerned there. More concerned with clarity in the mid to upper bass-area
martykl
3,578 posts
 
The Rythmiks offer a damping control which allows (a little) control over how "tight" the bass response is. When set for highest damping, the response in the sub's upper regions is (pardon the pun) tight as a drum. One test number that is sometimes used to measure this is called "group delay" and the Rythmiks can be set to perform very, very well on a group delay test.

However, going for max damping/minimum group delay is not really the point. The idea is that you can match the damping characteristics of the Rythmik subs to the main speaker's behavior at the crossover point. If your main speaker is a little less damped at the point you've chosen to x-over to the Rythmiks, you can dial the subs back a bit.

It has worked very well for me and IME is useful in getting a seamless and clean "hand-off" to the subs.

Yes, there is a trade-off. The Rythmiks can't quite produce the clean output of the (larger, ported) SVS subwoofers below 35hz. If you're using a pair of subs - strictly for music - in anything smaller than a palace, I doubt that you'll ever miss the capability. However, if they're going to do double duty for home cinema, then you do have a real choice to make.

I can't really comment on the SVS, other than to note that they test very well and are held in high regard by many of the subwoofer geeks on this board.

Marty
bthought OP
15 posts
 
HT is definitely a factor although I would be limiting freq below 35hz for now.
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