Choosing sub and rear surround to match with Marantz 7300OSE

 

glogician
I'm looking for advice on picking powered sub and rear surround speakers. I just picked up a Marantz 7300OSE and have a pair of Klipsch front speakers (older KG3.5) and a Klipsch center channel (KV-1).

The two subwoofers I'm considering are the Klipsch RW-10 or Paradigm PS1000. Is it that important to match the subwoofer with the other speakers in the room?

As far as the rear channels, I'm also looking for recommendations.

The other sub question I had is related to wiring. If I am prewiring a room for speakers and sub, can I just run regular speaker wire for the sub and then solder on an RCA cable end? I plan on running 12 guage speaker cable.

Thanks in advance!
 

Hawk
glogician:

1. Very nice receiver. I haven't heard it myself, but I have heard the 7300 and was impressed. Yesterday, I read a review on this board from Alain, who posted his thoughts on the 7300ose and it sounds like a real winner.

2. Subwoofer: Since the subwwofer should only be putting out non-directional sonic information, it does not need to be "timbre matched" to the other components. However, I would rather see you check out the Hsu Research VTF-2 subwoofer for the amount of money you are suggesting you will spend. It costs $489 directly from the manufacturer and I believe it is a much better sub than either of the two you list. Check it out at www.hsuresearch.com

3. You can't really use standard speaker cable, 12 gauge or not, for the subwoofer. A sub connection is a line level connection and needs a shielded cable to work properly. Otherwise, it can be subject to RF interference. If it is a question of the cost, I have seen some pretty decent sub cables at Best Buy under the RCA and AR brand. Cost is less than $20. You don't need to pay an inflated price on a sub cable.

4. Rear surrounds: You can use nearly anything. What kind of budget do you have?
 

glogician
Hawk:

Thanks for your response! I appreciate the advice.

So far I am very happy with the Marantz. Decided to give it a listen after reading many favorable opinions on Marantz on this bbs.

I will check out the HSU sub. The other sub I've seen highly regarded on this site is the SVS line. How does the HSU and SVS compare?

Your comment on the subwoofer wiring makes a lot of sense. Those low frequencies would be susceptible to a lot of noise.

I'm looking at the 3-400 dollar range for a pair of rear surrounds. Do the "in-wall" speakers perform well when used as rear surrounds? These should be timbre matched, correct?

Thanks!
 

Hawk
glogician:

Hsu and SVS subs are without doubt the best subs for the money. They are very close in terms of abilities and sound quality, and both sell factory direct, thus saving the consumer some serious cash. I have shied away from the SVS because they were stuck on this concept of the cylindrical subwoofer case. They are big tubes that stand on end, some up to 46" tall. No way I get that one by my wife! Dr. Hsu also loves the cylnider as the ideal case for a sub, but he recognized market forces and started making traditional box type subs a couple of years back. Now, however, I understand SVS is making a traditional box or two in their subwoofer lineup, but I haven't heard it. I will only recommend products that I have heard and would like to own myself.

Rear surrounds do not need to be "timbre-matched" either, IMO, but it helps. The rear channels are really only for special effects, so it is not as important as it is getting the front three to match. However, the sound will be more seamless with matched speakers.

In-wall speakers I believe are best used as surrounds and not as mains. There are a number of good ones and almost all of the major speaker makers, including PSB, B+W, KEF, etc. make in walls along with their more traditional speakers, so you may want to check out the Klipsch website to see if they have in-walls. There are a couple of very fine in-wall specialist brands too, such as Speakercraft and Elan. I have heard a pair of Speakercraft in-walls that rival the sound quality from high-quality traditional box speakers (that comment, BTW, is heresy on this and most other forums, but it is true, nevertheless).

I think the issue for you is whether your listening position is close to the back wall. If it is, then in-wall speakers will not work well because you will be too far off-axis. Better to look into something like the PSB Image 10S, which is triangular in shape with a set of drivers firing in both left and right directions. Can be had for just over $400.

In the meantime, I will put some thought into this issue of your rear surrounds and get back to you.

Cheers!
 

glogician
Hey Hawk!

I decided on the SVS PB-1ISD. Can't wait until I can hook it up! Although I didn't get a chance to hear these first hand, after reading all of the reviews and praise about this sub, I decided to take a chance.

I started looking into the PSB rear surrounds. Looks like there are a few places in my area where I should be able to demo these. For the psb's, would you recommend DMC-electronics? Have you ever ordered the "B" versions? Is it typically just a minor blemish?

Thanks again for the advice!

glogician.
 

Hawk
glogician:

Great choice! I think you will be very satisfied with the SVS sub.

I think the deals at PSB are great and the blems are so minor that you really have to look hard to see them. The one time I was able to stop in and look, I had to be shown where the "blem" was to see it on some models! Certainly, that may not be the case with all of them, but of the ones I saw, the blemishes were very slight and hardly noticeable, if at all. I would also note that once a speaker has been in my home for a couple of weeks, I already have more "blems" than what these speakers have, so I don't consider it a big deal. So I do recommend DMC and their blems as a very good buy.

However, if you want new PSBs without the blems, try Kief's. You have to call, but get their phone # off of their website at www.keifs.com. Good luck!
 

glogician
Hawk:

Stilling researching for those rear surrounds. Have you ever listened to the QS8's from AxiomAudio?

Thanks!

glogician
 

Hawk
No. sorry!
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