Under $500 Speaker Review

Ya know, I just gotta wonder why there is no UB6? Especially as there is a Debut 2x6.5" tower?
In other ELAC news, I laughed to see their Black Satin models carry "BS" in the model number. Kinda like how Chevrolet was trying to sell the Nova (="No Va"="No Go") in Spanish markets

 

Yes: BS is a very poor choice for a product marketed in USA

 

I find it interesting that there is a presumed, and promoted at times, mutual exclusivity between the two markets. As if somehow a speaker can't excel at both music and movies.

 

I would suspect AV HT is a larger market than hi-fi???

 

Have had the Wharfedale 225's for only a couple of days, but this is my experience as well. They are definitely somewhat colored and warmer, but I'm really enjoying the sound they put out. They also are not fatiguing at all, likely because they are softening some of the brightness you are hearing in a more accurate sounding speaker. So far, I'm very happy with them in my small listening space.

 

Being a Uni-Fi owner (F5's and a C5), I can verify that they drive easily and fully using either a 125 W/ch MArantz AVR (SR7010) and/or a 60W Bob Latino ST120 tube amp. An NAD amp switch allows me to choose and I prefer the tubes for 2-ch (of course!).

 

They're rated at just 85db, so that's on lower end of sensitivity; at a given power level it would not be as loud as some other speakers being discussed. Plus they're floor speakers, which is a whole different animal than desktop bookshelf. Still, my fav right now is rated 86.5 and I find it sufficient for my needs.

 

Great speaker when listening for pleasure, absolutely.

 

HT speakers aren't allowed to sound good, didn't you know that's in the rules?

 

RE: Under $500USD.
The Klipsch RP series is on clearance right now. I was able buy the bookshelf RP-160m for $439USD/pair Piano Gloss. The RP-150m even less.
Klipsch has the RP2 line out now, hence the discounts. I just have the 160's for straight 2.0 stereo listening. The updated model basically cosmetic.
Caveat: room placement ca be tricky; once you find it, they are fantastic. Used YPAO EQ assist. Love 'em.