speaker decision

[texas1880]

after putting in a lot of research, i landed here. the science is on point. was considering KEF for LCR, but now am sure i will go ascend for endgame. currently i run some old facebook marketplace atlantic technology 1200s plus some new daytons(that are actually kinda nice) that sound amazing coming from a soundbar setup. was a lot of work wiring behind walls, etc, so that part is done, but i have constraints, as LR have to be wall mounted, as do surrounds. the center i have on a shelf.

all that being said, my endgame speakers seem to be the duo v2 LCR pair for LR. and a sierra EXv2 as center. was thinking of getting the sierra 1 v2 as a center FOR NOW, but i also want to get new LR, and was gonna go with the HTM 200 to save on the budget so the wife doesn't get suspicious.

question is, should i just get another HTM 200 as a center and when i go endgame upgrade then? will the sierra 1 v2 be a mismatch for the HTM 200s LR? or should i just go 340SE2 for a center? would like to save on the dough now, and 576 dollars for HTMs as LCR sound better to me.

i have a denon x1100w(80wpc)-not ideal, but it works, and i got it for 50$. i will upgrade to a 2800 at some point, or maybe even an arc or anthem. i needed proof of concept to the wife, and she got it after we watched on the system.

living room is 13x13x9(its an old philly rowhouse), and it has half open walls on two sides.

i have an RSL 10e sub

i have to put the LR and the surrounds on wall. no way around it.

i can spend probably 750 right now. next year i will spend another grand or so.

know that was long, but any help is appreciated.

[racrawford65]

Music? Home Theater? Both?
Have a sub? If not, I’d not use the HTM’s for the front 3. I use a pair for FLFR now, with a Luna Duo v2 at my house in Brazil, and there is a definite lack of bass. One of these days, I may bring my LXs down. The HTMs are great as surrounds. I’d maximize spend on center if you are mainly movies/TV. To save money now, you could get by with the HTMs for LR. When you have more money, get nicer LR and move the 200s to surround.

[SunByrne]

How big is the shelf for the center? Because if you have space for it, the Horizon is a truly awesome center speaker. That's a really serious endgame kind of center channel. I went from a Duo v2 as my center to a Horizon and it made a really substantial difference.

Honestly for HT usage I would go with Titan Duos and if you can't do a Horizon, an LX for center over the EXv2. Cheaper, too. Honestly if you have a sub, though, the difference between the LX and the S1V2 isn't really that big, either, especially if your primary application is HT. So for now I'd get a pair of HTM-200s and an S1V2 center, and then as racrawford said, later get a pair of Duos and move the 200s to surround duty. You always have the option of upgrading the S1V2 to an LX, but I don't think you'll really need to.

[texas1880]

mainly home theater, some music but music would just be jammin out in the house sometimes. not chaired up, enjoying a whiskey and a phonograph.

i do have a rsl 10e subwoofer. its fine for now, until i can get a hsu or rythmik or PSA. i do think that's what ill do is get the HTMs for LR for now, and get a sierra 1 V2 as center. then upgrade to the LCR duo's later when i can. thanks! not much on here about using the HTMs as LR, but they'll probably blow the 15 year old atlantic tech bookshelves out of the water. and the new sierra center will hopefully make the 40 dollar dayton c40 look bad too. that's all i really want.

[texas1880]

How big is the shelf for the center? Because if you have space for it, the Horizon is a truly awesome center speaker. That's a really serious endgame kind of center channel. I went from a Duo v2 as my center to a Horizon and it made a really substantial difference.

Honestly for HT usage I would go with Titan Duos and if you can't do a Horizon, an LX for center over the EXv2. Cheaper, too. Honestly if you have a sub, though, the difference between the LX and the S1V2 isn't really that big, either, especially if your primary application is HT. So for now I'd get a pair of HTM-200s and an S1V2 center, and then as racrawford said, later get a pair of Duos and move the 200s to surround duty. You always have the option of upgrading the S1V2 to an LX, but I don't think you'll really need to.

the shelf is 12 inches by 24 right now, but i can replace the board easily. i just dont have the dough to drop on the horizon, and if i did, the wife might divorce me lol, so i gotta ease into it. i am leaning towards the HTMs as LR for now, and the s1v2 for center. i do have a sub, an RSL 10e. sounds great, actually. tbh going from a crappy no name sound bar to the 15 yo atlantic techs and some cheap daytons was astounding. i think the HTMs and the s1v2 will suffice for now. next year i'll get the duos and call it a day for awhile.
the only thing holding me back right now is i have a best buddy who works for a dealer and can get me KEF for half off. was gonna do a Q6 center for 400.
you think the sierra would do better than the Q6?

[SunByrne]

the shelf is 12 inches by 24 right now, but i can replace the board easily. i just dont have the dough to drop on the horizon, and if i did, the wife might divorce me lol, so i gotta ease into it.

Sure. But the answer is it might be an option for later.

the only thing holding me back right now is i have a best buddy who works for a dealer and can get me KEF for half off. was gonna do a Q6 center for 400.
you think the sierra would do better than the Q6?

Generally speaking, I like KEFs—if Ascend (and Philharmonic) weren't around, my house would probably be full of KEFs. $400 is a nice price to be sure, but the S1V2 measures better and it's not that much more. I'd only get the KEF center if you were also getting KEFs for LR.

[racrawford65]

Agree with SunByrne - I'd not mix brands, particularly on the front 3.

Since you have a sub, I think you'll be fine with the HTM as LR until you save up for the upgrade.

Let me see - buy Horizon, wife files for divorce, if she didn't get 1/2, may not be a bad choice (at least I'd consider it). LOL.