704 vs 705 + sub

[vsteel]

I have done some searches and I have seen some topics close to this but I wanted to lay out my particular situation for you all.

I am going to upgrade my current system. I have a Sony ES cd player, an Adcom 450 preamp.

I am looking at buying a Rotel RB-1050 power amp to drive my speakers. Now here is where I have my question. Would I be better off with a set of 705s and a Martin Logan Dyanamo sub or not buy the sub and get a set of 704s. (sub with the 704s is out of my price range)

This system will be used mostly for music and a little home theater (80/20). I listen to all kinds of music from hard rock to classical to country. They will be located in a large room 20X20. There will be no center channel speaker. I am also not normally the type to set right infront of the speakers at the sweetspot and listen, I tend to roam around a little though once in a while I do sweetspot it.

Is the sound reprodution going to be better with the sub? Price wise they both come out about the same, but again I can't afford the sub and the 704s. I did listen to the 705s and the sub at my local dealer and I thought they sounded great. He didn't have a set of 704s there though to compair it to. He did have a set of 603s there I listened to but they sounded a little muddy compaired to the 705s, though I am no audiophile by any means.

Any info/help you all can give will be greatly apricated.

[csuzor]

1st post, welcome!

The 704 is preferable to the 705 with sub for music, but probably not for movies, imho.

However, the RB-1050 will not be able to deliver the bass power required for the 704 to show their advantage to the 705...

So, with the RB-1050, get the 705 + sub, otherwise get the RB-1070 or RB-1080 or RMB-1075 with the 704. There are used RB-1070 around, with the 704 that would be well matched, and you can always get a sub later. Buying amps used, as opposed to new, poses very little risk, not much can go wrong with the RB series.

[vsteel]

Thank you for the reply.

I did some looking and found that the cost of the RB-1070 with the 704s are not that far off of the 705s by the time you eliminate the sub and the stands. All I auditioned the 704s with were the RB-1050 amp so I am going to go back with some of my favorite music and take another listen.

I did get to thinking too and thought that the music they had at the store I went to didn't have much in the way of full range. I am going to go back and take things like some heavy metal, some old Johnny Cash and something like the 1812 ovature and maybe some techno or somthing a long those lines. All I had at the time to listen to was the stores "Hotel California". while I do like the song I got to thinking its a very midrange song, or at the very least a song that might make the 705s stand out.

Back to the drawing board I guess, but I am going back more informed and for that I thank you.

[vsteel]

Well I listened to them and decided on the 704s. Sure I lost a touch of the very very low end, but I didn't have the gap between the sub and where the 705s seem to kind of give out.

The 704s and the rotel 1070 amp sounded sweet. Now I just hope its sweet enough to keep the wife happy.

[csuzor]

Good choice, and from your post I assume you got the 1070 as well? Match that with decent cables (dont ask me for advice here) and a good source, and you're set.

My wife has the 704s now, she loves them. 1 day I took them into my "area" (the garage!), and she screamed, she wanted them back, wouldn't have the kefs! They're the family a/v speakers now.

[dan87951]

Great choice! You can always add a sub later! What finish did you get them in?

[vsteel]

Yes I got the 1070 amp to go with them. I will be hooking them up to a sony ES CD player and a Adcom 450 preamp. I do have some good speaker cables but I need to look look into getting some interconects for the CD player to the preamp and the preamp to the amp. I am not sure though if they will make that much of a difference.

I got the speakers in the light cherry finish. I have hardwood floors and it will match well with those.

The amp I got in a all black finish. the rest of the components are all black so it should match well with them.

The place I got them should have them in by next week.