How much did your speaker system cost?

[hyghwayman]

My reason for asking this question is that my wife thinks I've lost my mind wanting to spend 1k for a 5.1 system from SVS (SVS SBS-01 5.1 system). I've been trying to up-grade from a HTiB Curtis speaker system 40w (one speaker per speaker) and a 40w powered sub for two (2) years now.
She also thinks there is no way a 1k speaker system will sound any different than say a $500.oo or even a $300.oo one . So if I could get some data and personal feedback from HTS members to show my wife just how little I'm wanting to spend to get good sound, maybe she'll understand and then again maybe not.

Thanks to all the reply,
hyghwayman

P.S. Sorry about the double post!

[yourgrandma]

Take her to a store to hear the difference. A thousand dollars is'n a whole lot to spend on a 5.1 speaker setup, and the gains at that price level for spending a little more are very large. Doubling your budget from 500 to 1000 does more than from 2000 to 4000, and way more than 2000 to 2500.

To answer the main question, I lost track of how much i have into my speaker system, but lets just say it's around 2k plus the sub, so $3000.

[atledreier]

I have no idea what the price would be in the states, but I've paid the equivalent of $30.000 for my speakers. So no, you're not crazy. I am!

[Funkmonkey]

I started out thinking that i would spend $1G for a 5.1 system, and then I listened to some speakers, and I realized that to get the sound I want I am going to have to spend a whole lot more. As of now, I am still auditioning speakers and am looking at spending up to $2000 for nice set of fronts. With the idea that later on I will be adding a center, sub and surrounds. I came to this approach by evaluating my listening habits. I like to listen to a good amount of stereo music, so that became paramount for me. Adding the other channels will be a bonus for movies, and I can use some speakers that I already own for surrounds until I get a matched set.
I have heard a lot of good things about the SBS-01 system.
Good luck, and you are actually quite reasonable in your budget.

[nova]

Don't recall for sure,... but the round number is $7450 for my main system 5 speakers and a sub. And just to show the extent of the madness,... my computer 5.1 speakers were $1940, of course they didn't start off there, but that's where they ended after the last upgrade of the main system.

[imbeaujp]

I think that my 2 sytems are now over 25k

[mazersteven]

Your over here too.

$5100

[tonyvdb]

My main speakers were $1800, the 4 surrounds were $1300 and my sub was $1200. My wife says I spent too much but as I bought it all before we were married it doesn't matter. I would most likely not be able to spend that much now but she agrees that the system sounds great.

[SLAYER]

H folks,
heres an idea, take her to the store to hear the diffeent systems then just tell her that you would need to spend 2 grand (retail) in order to come close to the svs quality at 1 measly grand.

[hyghwayman]

mazersteven wrote:

Your over here too.

$5100

and so are you, I found the Shack when doing research on speakers!

hyghwayman

[gnatnoop]

Probably about $3k.

Good luck with the little woman!

[MatrixDweller]

I spent about $2600 on my speakers and sub but I got them a dealer cost through a friend that worked at an AV store. If I paid regular retail it would have been well over $4K. Remember too that you can usually talk the dealer down to get a better deal. Their margins are usually above 25% and can approach 50% on speakers and electronics.

The wife is always the biggest factor. You just need to remind her that her fancy clothes or shoes and handbags or what ever else she takes pleasure indulging in is equivalent. My wife seems to like salon shampoo that costs 5 times as much as the regular stuff. It doesn't make any difference on my hair, but my wife insists that it does on hers.

You could use that sort of analogy but also have her listen to a good setup and also a poor one. Go to a specialty audio store that has a few dedicated rooms, bringing your favorite movie and/or CD, and have a listen. You'll be floored at how good home theater can sound. Then go to your local Sears or Target and have a listen to a HTIB. It would be the equivalent of using the best shampoo your wife could buy vs. dish soap.

Edit: I should add that I'm not done yet buying speakers. I plan on spending at least another grand on fronts and the same on a sub. I could spend another 2K on a projector and then I'll be set for at least another year...

[haste]

Polk CSM Center - $100
Polk Monitor 50 fronts - $315
Klipsch Synergy 12" powered sub - $370
Onkyo TX-SR605 - $425

Some Pioneer bookshelf speakers (rear surrounds) my girlfriend had - $0


Just barely above 1k, and it sounds good IMO.

[brent_s]

3 pairs of Polk RTi38s on closeout - $540 ($380/pair regular pricing at Crutchfield)
DIY Subwoofer - $410 ($105 DVC15, $25 MDF, $10 hammered paint, $20 misc, $250 NAD 2400THX)

No desire to upgrade - Priceless.

-Brent

[salvasol]

I agree with the suggestion of taking your wife to audition some speakers, but don't do it at Sears, Target, etc. is better if you can do it at a place that has a treated room (Magnolia at Best Buy, Circuit City or at any store that only sells audio and video ) ... hopefully she will realize that the 1K you're trying to use is nothing compared to the speakers at those stores.

If you're lucky and take your time looking around, you can find good deals ... but it will depend on what you want to get , my speakers are not high end ... but I like how they sound, and I'm upgrading little by little ... my current set up is L+R (JBL Stadium $320), Center (JBL Voice $100) and surrounds (4 Polk M10 $160), Subs (Velodyne VRP 1000 $250) total $830, this does not include the receiver (another $300+ depending on what you want) ... but I also have a 5.1 Infinity TSS750, that was my first set up.

I think you will get what you paid for ... in other words, you have to pay more for better performance.

[Ayreonaut]

My wife thought I was crazy at first, but she has come around now that she has had the opportunity to enjoy hi-fi home theater. She has even learned to trust me and looks forward to the upgrades!

The SBS-01s are the best "entry level" bookshelf speakers that I've heard.
For a box sub, I much prefer a sealed design, so I would get the SB12-Plus.

SBS-01 5.0 Channel Set - $599

SB12-Plus in Black Vinyl - $699
Total = $1298

This is a setup that I would recommend to anybody.

Just buy them. After she hears them, your wife will change her mind.

[hyghwayman]

Here are a few pictures of my wimpy 40w HTiB speaker system;



As everyone can see my HTiB speakers are very small, even my 40w sub is wimpy.

hyghwayman

[Ayreonaut]

If you want to start smaller...

• Retire your HTiB speakers to surround duty only.
• Buy the bookshelf mains today. (SBS-01)
• Upgrade the subwoofer ASAP. (SB12-Plus)
• Add a center later, if you need/want one. (SCS-01)
• Upgrade your surrounds last. (SBS-01s)

Would that make it more manageable?

[warpdrive]

My main HT system is pretty reasonably priced. 4xCM1 ($1800) + CMC ($700) + Mirage S12 ($600) = $3100. I may upgrade the sub someday but I don't feel the desire to upgrade this system in terms of sound quality alone or dynamics alone (due to my smallish room). I've always said bookshelf speakers are the sweet spot if you want to keep costs reasonable.

[imbeaujp]

I got the following speaker system :

Front : 2 NS-1000 600$ on ebay
Center: 1 NS-1000 (DIY Center Channel with spare parts) 300$
Surrounds : 2 NS-1000M 700$
Subs: 2 Peerless XXLS12 with passive, no amp (DIY) 900$

Total for Speakers: 2500$

IMO, it all depends on what you are looking for. I am new to the Hi-Fi scene but my first system was a JBL sat system for $700 dollars. At first I thought it sounded great until I went to my buddy's house. BIG MISTAKE. Now for speakers and sub I am sitting right around $4000, but I am sure if if I went to someone else's house with 25k speakers I would love those too. Do it in stages, easier to get your internal better half to sign off.

Wait till you buy a sub, don't realize how big the thing is, and then your wife freaks. hahaha

Just my two cents.

Polk Rti8's pair - $400 from frys
Polk Rti4's pair + stands - $250

Subwoofer: PB12- ISD - $250 from Craigslist.

currently running phantom center which I am quite happy with.

total - $900 and this kicks *** for HT

[enrique]

Speaker System

System audio sa1750-1,300.00 slightly used
System audio sa720av (center)-750.00 never used
System audio sa505 (sur) -325.00 new
Martin logan grotto -750.00 new.
Total 3,100.00

If i would of purchased all new it would of run me approx 5,400.+

[imbeaujp]

DS-21 wrote:

You managed to find some great deals there!

The NS1000 is one of those speakers I've always wanted to hear, but have not yet managed to find.

Yes I am on ebay 3 times a day since 2 years to get the best deals on thoses speakers. If you are ok to pay 1500$ you could get a NS-1000M in a relative short time...

JP

[imbeaujp]

If you come around Quebec City this summer, you are my guest !