Home Stereo Speakers (again)

  • Thread starter Thread starter tyler657recpro
  • Start date Start date
tyler657recpro

tyler657recpro

Member
I'm still lookin for new home stereo speakers, and I have it down to two different models, both from JBL. I'm trying to decide between the Studio Series S38II (calling this a studio series is a friggin joke), and the Northridge Series N38II. The S38 is 250 and the N38 is 280. Both speakers are essentially the same, with the exception of the tweeters. The one in the S38 is a 1" pure titanium dome tweeter, and the one in the N38 is a 3/4" titanium laminate dome tweeter. And the cabs vary slightly. The S38 is a bookshelf speaker and the N38 is arranged in a floorstanding variation.

Basically, I like the floorstanding part, but is there a huge enough difference in these speakers to warrant going with the bookshelf model. I've listened to the N38's at Best Buy, and from what I could tell from the absolutely wonderful listening environment, was really nothing. They didnt sound bad. They don't carry the S38's there anymore tho.

So does anyone have either of these or someway to make a comparison between the two?

They will be used with a Denon DRA-395 reciever.
 
I have'nt shopped for Stereo speakers in a long time but what I've always heard is that floor speakers tend to have more low end response because the floor becomes part of the acoustics. Ive never liked bookshelf units with the exception of monitors.
 
Ya know what's funny, is they actually refer to this thing as a monitor. (S38) And it's nowhere near flat. It says something like, "bring the wonderful sound of studio monitors into your home" or something like that. I find it hilarious. But that's not what I'm expecting out of them, so it's not really a problem. I guess my main concern is the difference in the tweeters. Maybe they'll sound the same. Who knows. Anyone else?
 
NS-10s are called monitors, and they're nowhere near flat either!
 
I like the titan's a lot. But I probably need a sub. I think I looked at em before briefly, but I dismissed them for that reason. I can't afford the matching sub. i have like 350 i think i could get to spend. the speakers are like 177.43 USD plus s&h and I have to find a dealer. so let's say it ends up being 190. that leaves 160 for a decent sub. I could get a refurbished pioneer SDW1K for 150 bucks w/shipping. I have no idea how shitty it is tho. There's also a polk audio PSW250 for 160.80. And then a JBL PB10 for 190. I might be able to swing that. Or should I hold off and deal with only the titans until I can afford the matching sub? ...OR how much are the focus one's? I dont think I'd need a sub for those. Maybe I would.
 
Try the Paradigm "Mini Monitor"...it's a great little speaker with good bass extension...I'm pretty sure you can get a pair for less than $350.
 
alright, it turns out there's a dealer just down the street from me. so i went over and took a listen. i absolutely love em. i also listened to the b&w dm303, and i think i like that one better. I'm gonna have to go back because i didnt have a whole lotta time.

it seems that I have come into some extra money, about 400 bucks, so i can get a matching sub. unless there's something better i can get with 750 bucks??
 
I went out and bought a sub from Costco! It's has a 12-inch woofer, and it's about $100. It does the job for me.

My home stereo setup:

Main Speakers: Titans - $175
Center Channel: Paradigm - $175 (don't remember model #)
Surround Speakers: Atoms - $125
Sub: KLH 12 inch - $100

Total: $575

Can't think of any better way to spend $575 on a better setup. :D
 
whattaguy said:
I went out and bought a sub from Costco! It's has a 12-inch woofer, and it's about $100. It does the job for me.

My home stereo setup:

Main Speakers: Titans - $175
Center Channel: Paradigm - $175 (don't remember model #)
Surround Speakers: Atoms - $125
Sub: KLH 12 inch - $100

Total: $575

Can't think of any better way to spend $575 on a better setup. :D
Click to expand...

Man, i need to talk to that guy. They're sellin the titans for 220. I don't need surround, so i wanna invest it all into main speakers. I might choose the pioneer one instead of the pdr10, which is 350 instead of 160. But who knows. I'd rather have something that matches. the b&w's are 300 and the sub for those is 340. Ill probably stick with the paradigm.. like i said, i need to go back and listen again with my own music. all i had was their little demo thing to listen to. so it was hard to tell.
 
Don't whimp out on the sub. I haven't heard the Pioneer, but most of the cheap subs sound terrible...might be fine for rumbling and explosions in movies, but the cheap ones will fail miserably when trying to reprodue clean/controlled bass for music. I'd say either stick with the Paradigm sub (Which I have heard), or check into SV Subwoofers. SVS are probably the best bang for the buck subs out there...even better than some costing many times more.
 
Those SV subs look nice, but a bit out of my range. I went and listened to the pioneer one, and I'd have to agree that cheap subs really suck. I'm probably going to go with the paradigm pdr-10.

Does anyone have a preference between B&W DM303 + ASW300 combination and the Paradigm Titan + PDR10? The price difference isn't really much of an issue. I think it's like 100 bucks different or something.
 
I don't think you can go wrong with either combo in that price range. The Paradigm sub has a 10" driver vs the B+W with an 8", so the Paradigm might dig a little deeper, but don't go by that...see which combo sounds best to you. Have the dealer set them both up for you, and you decide.

FWIW, I still think you should check out the "Mini Monitor", and save your dough to get either the PS-1200 or PW-2200 sub later. I've owned both the Titan and Mini-Monitors, and the "Mini" is a huge step up IMHO.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top