Cheap Home Theater front speakers...

[ZR]

There are a lot of bookshelf-type speakers that people us to replace smaller surround speakers, especially for the front pair. I'm leaning toward NHT SuperOne speakers. Does anyone have any experience with NHT speakers. Really good reviews, about $300/pr new but less used, and (sometimes) made in the USA! I currently have Cambridge Soundworks surround speakers that I think sound great right now but wondering if the front pair upgrade might make music, especially, sound better.

That pair would be my top limit for my current budget. So, I'm also looking at much cheaper speakers that seem to be getting better for less money. The speakers below are possible candidates that MAYsound better than what I have but I won't know until I try them. Some I looked at had 30-45 day free trials, but I forget which ones right now. The price on some below would mean very little lay out in cash for a possible improvement, or if it doesn't work I'll use them elsewhere and I'm not out much at all.

http://www.fluance.com/bookshelf-speakers

more cheapies...

http://www.av-express.com/AV-Catalog/Bookshelf-Speakers

Anyone hear these speakers or know anything about them?

[django49]

Your second link includes some Audioengine options.......Note that the ones listed are POWERED speakers. You might consider the A4 model which puts out great sound for a small speaker. I like those speakers a lot....Use them in the office with one of those Bluetooth Monoprice TUBE amps (screaming bargain, but that is another story).

I have yet to be disappointed with any Audioengine product.

[JohnnyB]

What's your current configuration--4-channel, 5-channel, 7-channel? Do you use a center front speaker? Do you use the system for both video and music?

Personally I'm not much of an NHT fan. Impressive in an audition, fatiguing (to my ears) for extended listening. For $300/pair, why not step up to a pair of Infinity Primus 364 floorstanders? They're being discontinued, so you can pick them up as low as $300/pair (the $149.95 is the per speaker price). Their footprint is only 8.25"w x 13"d, smaller than the base of a speaker stand for small speakers.

And here's a highly favorable Absolute Sound picky audiophile review. They routinely review 5- and 6-figure speakers. If they like this one (they do) it probably has a good overall sound. They especially mentioned that its radiation characteristics are very room-friendly and provide a large sweet spot for group (or family) listening.

[ZR]

7.2, yes center front. Thanks! Any others?

[JohnnyB]

2 hours ago, ZR said:

7.2, yes center front. Thanks! Any others?

So you're using two subs as well? Do you have one brand of speakers throughout or a mix? What are they?

[ZR]

Right now everything is Cambridge Soundworks. I think it was Henry Kloss working back in the day. I'm not sure how old they are now! The whole setup sounds good, but maybe it can sound a little (a lot? ) better. I'm looking for the best bang for the buck as budget will dictate my selection.

I listen to HT and music. 

Also, Onkyo is going to repair the receiver again. 

Thanks for the help!

No home speakers for sale anyone?

[TBP]

It's been a long time since I've heard them (and it was back when they were made in the US), but I recall the little NHTs being impressive but a little bright, and that they could be kind of finicky with amplification, which could make them strident.  

My favorite small, inexpensive speakers were PSB Alphas.  I have a pair from back when they were made in Canada, so I don't know how the new ones sound.  When I bought the PSBs I listened to quite a few small monitors and was prepared to pay quite a bit more, but the Alphas won out. They also seemed to tolerate different amplifiers and sources well, too. 

I also liked Paradigms and had a pair of larger ones, you know, back when they were made in Canada, too.  I remember Wharfdales being pretty nice as well, but I never owned a pair.  

As an aside, back when I was a struggling college student/musician I used to stop by audio shops to try things out, like the PSBs, and dream of someday being able to afford the nicer stuff, such as a pair of Snells that absolutely floored me (still the best speakers I've heard).  But when I was got to the point where I could buy fancy audio equipment, all those shops were gone (and Snell is out of business). 

But anyway, if you are fortunate enough to have an actual shop around, try out the PSB Alphas and Wharfdales if you can. 

[jettster]

12 hours ago, TBP said:

I also liked Paradigms and had a pair of larger ones, you know, back when they were made in Canada, too.  I remember Wharfdales being pretty nice as well, but I never owned a pair.  

They still are made in Canada (at least some of their line). My brother just got a pair of these a few weeks back.

http://www.paradigm.com/products-current/collection=reference/model=prestige-95f/page=overview

[TBP]

7 hours ago, jettster said:

They still are made in Canada (at least some of their line). My brother just got a pair of these a few weeks back.

http://www.paradigm.com/products-current/collection=reference/model=prestige-95f/page=overview

Cool, thanks. I didn't know that.  Have you had a chance to hear them?

[jettster]

15 hours ago, TBP said:

Cool, thanks. I didn't know that.  Have you had a chance to hear them?

Honestly, even aside from the major thread derailment and those being the polar opposite of what John was asking about, I'm hesitant to reply. Speakers are such a personal thing, like amps or whatever. One mans treasure, another mans trash type thing. I thought they sounded good but I wasn't blown away or anything. Even more so given the fact that just those speakers alone were close to what I have in my complete 5.1 system. (Receiver, sub, etc.) Maybe it's just a personal preference thing, if you like one type of speaker the others don't sound as good? I have a Klipsch reference series setup that I love. No doubt that they sound good though.

[TBP]

On 2/25/2016 at 6:32 PM, jettster said:

Honestly, even aside from the major thread derailment and those being the polar opposite of what John was asking about, I'm hesitant to reply. Speakers are such a personal thing, like amps or whatever. One mans treasure, another mans trash type thing. I thought they sounded good but I wasn't blown away or anything. Even more so given the fact that just those speakers alone were close to what I have in my complete 5.1 system. (Receiver, sub, etc.) Maybe it's just a personal preference thing, if you like one type of speaker the others don't sound as good? I have a Klipsch reference series setup that I love. No doubt that they sound good though.

I appreciate that and sorry for the derailment.   Back when I was a mastering engineer people told me about their audio equipment all the time and would wait for me to praise their choices, sometimes becoming upset if I didn't immediately tell them they made the best choice. This was before iTunes, during a time when what speakers you owned was a major point of pride. I avoided being negative about anyone's system, but that often wasn't enough, so I often told people I wasn't too familiar with something. (I wouldn't lie and say something was better than I thought, either).  At any rate, we can try to objectively judge speakers by things like low coloration and how well and clearly they throw a soundstage, but of course human ears can't really accurately judge a frequency spectrum (maybe unless well trained).  Anyway, time for the crane to put the train back on its rails.