Looking to upgrade my towers


Hey there, so I'd like everyone's opinion here. I currently have mirage os3fs towers for my mains but they aren't really impressive with the sound they deliver. Music wise they don't sound very good at all in my opinion. So I've been looking at some different less costly options. Either some used psb silver I's or some used B&W DM603's. These would be for both music and movies. But I think a huge step up either way. What do you think? 

jmccl12
You would treat the passive the same as any preamp. The line outs on the passive would go to 2 channels on your amp. If you need to use those channels with your HT setup, get a passive with more than 1 input and switch back and forth between the 2.
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When someone wants a recommendation on a speaker that isn't too expensive but is still good, I always recommend the same ones. You can find Kef 104.2's, Vandersteen 2Ce's, B&W 802 (80's series) all for anywhere from $500 to $750. You have to make sure that the surrounds are all good but for that kind of money, you'll be pleased as these were all very good speakers. There's other as well, just can't remember them now. They'll sound completely different than your Klipsch, much more accurate though. 
Ok, I mean I noticed when I first had my mirage towers just running thru an old onkyo 809. I thought to myself "it must be the receiver unable to push them like they need to bring out their true sound. Maybe if I upgrade amplifiers" , so I did with no noticeable change in their voicing sound or overall performance. Thats why I thought like in most other cases, the weakest point will be highlighted and can then be fixed. Maybe it's just me but i really feel like the xpa should have no problems opening these up for bigger sound then I'm getting or maybe this is all they've got and I'm asking for too much from them. 
Either way, I appreciate the different points of view on this. 
That particular Mirage speaker I would consider a Lo-Fi to perhaps lower end Mid-Fi speaker. Imo, based on specifications it is a design incapable of delivering a HiFi experience. I strongly suggest you save up your money and move in an entirely different direction, i.e. a more traditional Bass/Mid/treble speaker versus a skinny tower with multiple tiny woofers and a cheap, light cabinet. It seems, based on your discussion, that you can hear the lack of quality, now you have to save up and discover much better. Don't be cheap; put more money into it, or else you will only trade one set of performance problems for another. 

Many people wouldn't care about the sound quality; it seems you may be a budding audiophile. If so, congratulations! You are earning your credits by owning different gear and learning what better sound is, and how to get it. I suggest you go to a very different approach, a tried and true one, by seeking a wider, heavier three way tower speaker with perhaps the traditional three drivers, bass (no less than 12"), Midrange, and Treble. 
You likely will be shocked at how radically different things will sound, especially in terms of cleanness, coherency and bass extension and dynamics. You really have not had good sound with these speakers relative to all the other options on the market. Simply because a speaker is a "bargain" does not make it sound anywhere near HiFi.  

Many years ago I was a poor student audiophile and I was tempted by all such cheap speakers, thinking they were really close to HiFi sound. Wow, did I have a lot to learn! It takes a lot more money spent and a lot better design/higher quality to have a lot better sound. The larger number of drivers tempts many, but often it is a cover for poorer quality parts in drivers and cabinets, crossover, etc. and  results in poorer sound. Those are just the facts of it, and I hope that you will move in a direction of more refinement over time, and find great satisfaction.  

Your conclusion, "...maybe this is all they've got and I'm asking for too much from them," is correct. There is a world of better sound based on better design and build quality available to you. I have no axe to grind against Mirage; it matters not the badging on the speaker, I would assess it the same regardless of brand.  

I hope I have not been too harsh, but until one knows for certainty that the speaker is the problem one will not move off of it, and could spend a lot of money hopelessly trying to get more out of it than it can provide. Imo moving to a passive preamp would be an utter waste with these speakers, and that comes from someone who has experience with fine passive preamps and owns a beautiful one.  :)