Reccomendations for L/R/C upgrade (white speakers, $2-2.5k budget, preferably towers) and thoughts on viability of side surrounds?

[gfuentepr]

Hi All,

Hope you're all doing well. Less than a year ago I decided to make the jump from using my TV speaker to setting up a basic 3.1 channel system. I started with a budget setup Jamo S809s for LR and the Jamo S83 Center along with an Onkyo NR 6050 AVR.

Initially I was blown away with the change, but as time has gone by I feel the need to upgrade mainly do to the following gripes:
A. Dialogue can sometimes be unintelligible when watching movies or listening to music with a lot of bass.
B. The accentuated higher frequencies can be very fatiguing after extended listening
C. Sound quality can become quite horrible in scenes were there's a lot going on (e.g. fight scenes)
D. This was a budget purpose to try out before I was comfortable with the switch and would love the increase in audio quality

As such, I'm looking for recommendations for new white L/R/C with a budget of around $2k-2.5k for the set. I wanna stick to white as I want them to look aesthetically in sync with the living room. Also, would prefer tower speakers for L/R as well unless there were some very nice looking stands that complement the room. I have a sub that currently love and don't plan to change (RSL Speedwoofer 10s mkii).

A set I've considered is a pair of Kef Q550s or Q750s with the Kef Q650c, but not sure if there's something better in my criteria I might be missing that I might regret not getting.

I'd also like to know if it's possible, and would make sense, to add surround speakers on the sides. I don't want to move the sofa forward and the side surrounds would be much much closer than the front speakers. Also, if I added surround they would need to be connected wirelessly (wireless transmitter?).

Listening space measurements are as follows:
Distance of Front Center to hearing position: ~130 inches
Distance of left Side Wall to right Kitchen Cabinet: ~130 inches
Sofa length left to right: 90 inches
Distance between the back of Sofa to back wall: 5 inches

Attached are some photos of the listening space as reference.

Use is about 60% movies, 30% music, 10% videogames.

Would greatly appreciate your reccomendations!

 

[Dmaumau]

If I may, I would sugest the KEF LS50 Meta. I´ve heard the powered ones and they sound very, very well, beyound the price range.

 

[sweetchaos]

A set I've considered is a pair of Kef Q550s or Q750s with the Kef Q650c, but not sure if there's something better in my criteria I might be missing that I might regret not getting.

Kef Q series is a decent choice for your budget, if only Kef R series didn't exist.

I see Kef Q series as a compromise in performance. I see Kef R series as affordable end-game speakers for most people.

Kef just released R Meta, the current R series is on massive clearance sale.
R3 bookshelves is US$1700/pair (link)
R2C center is US$1300/each (link)
Both available in white.
Total of US$3k (or $500 over your budget).

Combine the R3's with dual subs, and you're flying.
Yes, get a second subwoofer ASAP, especially for your room size.

If you'd like more subwoofer options, see my 'subwoofer comparison' thread.

 

[gfuentepr]

Kef Q series is a decent choice for your budget, if only Kef R series didn't exist.

I see Kef Q series as a compromise in performance. I see Kef R series as affordable end-game speakers for most people.

Kef just released R Meta, the current R series is on massive clearance sale.
R3 bookshelves is US$1700/pair (link)
R2C center is US$1300/each (link)
Both available in white.
Total of US$3k (or $500 over your budget).

Combine the R3's with dual subs, and you're flying.
Yes, get a second subwoofer ASAP, especially for your room size.

If you'd like more subwoofer options, see my 'subwoofer comparison' thread.

Thanks. There's someone about a 4 hour drive from me selling a 4 month old R2C for $975 and a pair of R5s for $2,300. Could offer $3k for a bundled purchase. Are the R5s towers as good or better as the R3s? Would save me on buying stands and I much prefer the aesthetica of tower speakers.

Fortunately the RSL subwoofer is very powerful despite the room size. I actually have to lower it in the AVR by -3db (and set halfway volume in the speaker itself), probably due to how close to the wall the seating area is.

 

[sweetchaos]

re the R5s towers as good or better as the R3s?

R3 have 6.5" woofer, while R5's have dual 5.25" woofers.

Erin reviewed both:

Kef R5 Floorstanding Speaker Review

Kef R5 Floorstanding Speaker Review

www.erinsaudiocorner.com

and

Kef R3 Bookshelf Speaker Review

Kef R3 Bookshelf Speaker Review

www.erinsaudiocorner.com

Here's the frequency response comparison between the 2:

Easily compare loudspeakers measurements

www.spinorama.org

R5 seems to be less neutral (which is also visible by the preference score of 5.9 for R5 vs 6.5 for R3).

LFX (low frequency extension) is -6db at:
33hz for R5
35hz for R3
You won't notice a difference in terms of deeper bass.

Here's distortion at loud volume (around 95db @ 1m):
R3:

R5:

To me, that's basically on par with each other.

You have the data to decide one way or another.

Personally:
I don't think the R5 should exist, since they're too close to the performance of R3's.
Kef R7 on the other hand, have dual 6.5" woofers, which means they will play louder/deeper than R3's (and IMO, are worthwhile improvements over the R3).

A reason to consider R5's over the R3, is you want to save space, width-wise.
Dimension (H x W x D)
R3: 422 x 199.6 x 312 Cabinet only
R5: 1025 x 175 x 320 Cabinet only
That or you really need towers, above anything else, in which case, go for it.
But my opinion still stands, since I don't see much improvement over the R3's.

 

[Chrispy]

Thanks. There's someone about a 4 hour drive from me selling a 4 month old R2C for $975 and a pair of R5s for $2,300. Could offer $3k for a bundled purchase. Are the R5s towers as good or better as the R3s? Would save me on buying stands and I much prefer the aesthetica of tower speakers.

Fortunately the RSL subwoofer is very powerful despite the room size. I actually have to lower it in the AVR by -3db (and set halfway volume in the speaker itself), probably due to how close to the wall the seating area is.

Did you match the sub to the speaker levels? Just starting at 0 trim isn't particularly meaningful. 50% gain setting is often too high, but not familiar with the RSL particularly.

ps The speakers placement and your seat position also come into play as well as overall setup. It is somewhat a trend in some movies to not particularly provide clear dialogue, too. Those speakers aren't possibly the problem.