Upgrading front speakers on my 5.1 system - potential problems ?

[stevee1966]

I currently have a home cinema setup consisting of a Denon DVD-1930 player and a Denon AVR-1507 amp with Tannoy EFX 5.1 speakers. I'm looking at getting something better in the speaker department for listening to music. If i were to replace my 2 front Tannoy speakers with something like the Monitor Audio BR2's or the B+W 685's to achieve better audio, what effect would it have on the whole 5.1 cinema experience ? Would the rest of my Tannoys, ie centre, surround and sub woofer, all become lost in the bigger sound of the replacements ? I realise that i can utilise the second front connectors of my Denon amp for the additional speakers to be used when playing cd's but i'm lacking space, and would prefer to ditch my front Tannoys totally if i were to buy a better pair of speakers. Any opinions ?

 

[Anonymous]

At least stick with the same loudspeaker manufacturer, that way you're more likely to get a more homogenous sound from your system as a whole. Tannoy fronts will more likely match the tonal balance of the rest of your speakers. To do otherwise would be classic home cinema heresy. Unless you buy the MA or B&W's with an eye to quickly upgrad the rest of your speakers to the same range

 

[Andrew Everard]

I'd suggest you think Tannoy for the front speakers if you want the best match, but if you go for something different then you should at least buy a centre speaker to match the front left/right speakers you decide on. So if you go Monitor Audio you should also buy a Monitor Audio centre to match, and so on.

The surrounds are less important in terms of matching, as they carry relatively little information in a surround set-up.

But my major concernt would be whether it's worth an upgtrade of the front speakers with a receiver as modest as the AVR-1507 and the DVD-1930 as the music source. If you really want to get more out of the system with music, I think a more wholesale upgrade would be in order - otherwise you could spend a chunk of cash on the new speakers and still be disappointed.

 

[stevee1966]

Thanks for the advise. My original thoughts were that i'd look at the possibility of buying the Marantz 6002 cd player and amp and put these with either the Monitor Audio BR2's or maybe B+W 685 or 686's.

I then thought to save some money that i would just go for better quality speakers to use with my current cinema system, though from responses this may not be the best option. Please could someone give some advise on the following :-

1. That the B+W's or the BR's will wipe the floor with my Tannoy EFX Style speakers ?

2. The B+W 685's will be better than the 686's, which in turn will be better than the BR2's ?

3. I've seen the above speakers at £380, £280 and £180 respectively. Does the quality of the better speakers justify the price range difference ?

4. The Marantz 6002 combination will be better than my current Denon one ?

I know that the golden rule is to try before you buy, but living in South West Wales there isn't really much choice in Audio suppliers with listening rooms. I have a Richer Sounds in Cardiff (50 mile away) and i know they stock the Marantz 6002's but not any of the speakers i'm considering.

 

[stevee1966]

well ???

 

[Gerrardasnails]

[quote user="stevee1966"]Thanks for the advise. My original thoughts were that i'd look at the possibility of buying the Marantz 6002 cd player and amp and put these with either the Monitor Audio BR2's or maybe B+W 685 or 686's.

I then thought to save some money that i would just go for better quality speakers to use with my current cinema system, though from responses this may not be the best option. Please could someone give some advise on the following :-

1. That the B+W's or the BR's will wipe the floor with my Tannoy EFX Style speakers ?

2. The B+W 685's will be better than the 686's, which in turn will be better than the BR2's ?

3. I've seen the above speakers at £380, £280 and £180 respectively. Does the quality of the better speakers justify the price range difference ?

4. The Marantz 6002 combination will be better than my current Denon one ?

I know that the golden rule is to try before you buy, but living in South West Wales there isn't really much choice in Audio suppliers with listening rooms. I have a Richer Sounds in Cardiff (50 mile away) and i know they stock the Marantz 6002's but not any of the speakers i'm considering.[/quote] 1. Definitely 2. Couldn't tell you. 3. That is up to the listener really. 4. Definitely.