Hey guys, I am hoping that you may be able to offer me some advice and possibly direction.
I am looking to upgrade my speakers in a system that serves double duty (2-channel/home theater)
I currently have a Rotel RSX-1057 driving 4 NHT SuperZeros, a SuperCenter with a NHT SW2Pi sub.
While it is a dual use system, I would prefer to focus on creating a system that I will love to listen to music on and be happy with for surround sound/HT.
Let me describe my current setup in detail and try to articulate what I do not like about it.
Rotel RSX-1057
4 NHT SuperZeros (Left, right and surrounds)
NHT SuperCenter
NHT SW2Pi sub
Pioneer Elite 50 inch plasma
Panamax M4300-EX Power Conditioner
Sony BDP-S360 (got tired of waiting for the Oppo BDP-83)
The plasma sits on a dedicated piece of furniture in the room with the left and right main SuperZero flanking it, SuperCenter below. I have never loved to listen to music on the system. I think it may be combination of the SuperZeros lack of bass and improper setup on my part. I know they are not in ideal position for proper imaging relative to my seating position. Also, I am running 15 year old junk "by-the-foot" cable for the speakers.
I remember going over to an acquaintances house a few years ago and listening to his system and hearing things on the CDs that I brought that I had never heard before. I want the detail and sound stage and sense of air his system created. If its important , he had an older Bryston amp, Martin Logan electrostats with a big Definitive Tech sub and a older Meridian CD player.
I have started to look at some new speakers ( focusing on the mains for now), however I have a couple of limiting factors.
1. The space for the center channel speaker is small ( I do not have much available height ) the largest speaker I can fit is 6inches high X 22inches long.
2. Wife factor in the design and style of the speakers.
3. I have 2 very young children and home and the system is in the main great room of the house. The reason the children are a limiting factor is two fold. I feel that part of the existing issue is that mains are not far enough apart (about 5 feet) for my listening distance (about 10 to 12 feet) to get proper imaging. I would like to solve this by using some heavy fill-able stands and mounting/securing the speakers to the stands to prevent any tiny hands from toppling them over). Since accidents may happen and I could end up needing to replace something, I would hate to spend a ridiculous amount of money until the kids are older and understand that they cannot touch the stuff.
I have been considering the NHT Classic Threes and the Dali Ikon 2s since they both make center channels that will fit my available space. I have not had the chance to go listen to either yet, but plan to start that process this week.
My questions are the following. Do you thing that I will be able to achieve my goal of creating a really great system with the Rotel and the NHTs or the Dali Ikons? I am also looking for other speaker recommendations for small stand mountable bookshelves that will serve double duty in a 2-channel and surround system....remember the matching CC needs to fit in my available space. And lastly, I currently use the Sony Blu-Ray player and run the optical out into the Rotel....is this OK, or do I need to add a high quality stand alone CD player to achieve my goals?
Thanks
Steve
Hey guys, I am hoping that you may be able to offer me some advice and possibly direction.
I am looking to upgrade my speakers in a system that serves double duty (2-channel/home theater)
I currently have a Rotel RSX-1057 driving 4 NHT SuperZeros, a SuperCenter with a NHT SW2Pi sub.
While it is a dual use system, I would prefer to focus on creating a system that I will love to listen to music on and be happy with for surround sound/HT.
Let me describe my current setup in detail and try to articulate what I do not like about it.
Rotel RSX-1057
4 NHT SuperZeros (Left, right and surrounds)
NHT SuperCenter
NHT SW2Pi sub
Pioneer Elite 50 inch plasma
Panamax M4300-EX Power Conditioner
Sony BDP-S360 (got tired of waiting for the Oppo BDP-83)
The plasma sits on a dedicated piece of furniture in the room with the left and right main SuperZero flanking it, SuperCenter below. I have never loved to listen to music on the system. I think it may be combination of the SuperZeros lack of bass and improper setup on my part. I know they are not in ideal position for proper imaging relative to my seating position. Also, I am running 15 year old junk "by-the-foot" cable for the speakers.
I remember going over to an acquaintances house a few years ago and listening to his system and hearing things on the CDs that I brought that I had never heard before. I want the detail and sound stage and sense of air his system created. If its important , he had an older Bryston amp, Martin Logan electrostats with a big Definitive Tech sub and a older Meridian CD player.
I have started to look at some new speakers ( focusing on the mains for now), however I have a couple of limiting factors.
1. The space for the center channel speaker is small ( I do not have much available height ) the largest speaker I can fit is 6inches high X 22inches long.
2. Wife factor in the design and style of the speakers.
3. I have 2 very young children and home and the system is in the main great room of the house. The reason the children are a limiting factor is two fold. I feel that part of the existing issue is that mains are not far enough apart (about 5 feet) for my listening distance (about 10 to 12 feet) to get proper imaging. I would like to solve this by using some heavy fill-able stands and mounting/securing the speakers to the stands to prevent any tiny hands from toppling them over). Since accidents may happen and I could end up needing to replace something, I would hate to spend a ridiculous amount of money until the kids are older and understand that they cannot touch the stuff.
I have been considering the NHT Classic Threes and the Dali Ikon 2s since they both make center channels that will fit my available space. I have not had the chance to go listen to either yet, but plan to start that process this week.
My questions are the following. Do you thing that I will be able to achieve my goal of creating a really great system with the Rotel and the NHTs or the Dali Ikons? I am also looking for other speaker recommendations for small stand mountable bookshelves that will serve double duty in a 2-channel and surround system....remember the matching CC needs to fit in my available space. And lastly, I currently use the Sony Blu-Ray player and run the optical out into the Rotel....is this OK, or do I need to add a high quality stand alone CD player to achieve my goals?
Thanks
Steve