[Emuc64]

Hi All,

I, like many who are here, am new to the home theater realm of sound. Even though I've read through some of the other posts, it seems like everyone's needs are different. I'd like some recommendations on speaker systems.

Background info: I just moved to a basement condo like thing with my fiance to start a new job. There are a row of townhouse like homes with individual lower units. I'm not sure if it's particular to Maryland, but there certainly wasn't anything like this in Michigan. Anyways, it's a 2 bedroom unit. It has a large room (12' x 20') that's divided into a living room (12x10) and a section that's designated a dining room (12x10). Currently I'm using a 7 year old Onkyo GXW-5.1. It was in a small bedroom to begin with and moved to a small living room before (rectangular 12x10) but that place had a wall whereas the new place opens up the sound into the dining room area. I want to replace the Onkyo unit with something more capable. My fiance and I are big gamers. I've a PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, etc. I'm looking to buy a flat panel TV as funds become more free. I'd want to route everything through the receiver and have the receiver upconvert the analog (Wii component and Xbox 360 component) to 1080P, while the PS3 can pass through with the HDMI cable.

I'm looking for a receiver and 5.1 set of speakers. I like the notion of having floor (tower?) speakers for the front left/right. I'm looking to keep the system for 10-15 years without upgrading. For now I'm sure any system I get would be an improvement and would work well for the small-ish room and moderate sound levels due to me having neighbors and all. I am hoping the system would be flexible enough to be moved into a large living room (shot in the dark 20x20?) once I move into a house.

Needs - 50% gaming, 40% movies/tv shows, 10% music (the music percentage might be higher with a better sound system, who knows?)

Budget - $1000-$1200 max for the whole thing (receiver, 2 floor speakers, center, 2 satellites, 1 subwoofer, tax, shipping). I'd be very happy if it can be kept closer to $1000.

Room Size - 12x10 (for the seating area), 12x20 for the room - hoping to have the sound system be moved to a larger room without the need for upgrades.

Receiver Research - (so far)
I was going to get the Onkyo HT-S9100 for around $800. But since then, I've read more and have decided to try and piece together a system for $1000. Receiver wise, I'd want something that's 7.1 or 7.2 for speaker additions if I ever wanted it. I was looking at the Onkyo TX-SR607 and TX-SR707 - but have reservations about the heat issue. The Pioneer VSX-1019AH-K and Denon AVR1610 also looks like contenders. The Audyssey MultEQ feature looks nice as well on some of the models. However, at $500-ish for some of the latter ones listed, I'm afraid that if 1/2 of my budget goes towards a receiver, then only 1/2 is left for speakers. Should I settle for a lower price/brand and not get everything I'm thinking of? Multi-room feature isn't important to me.

Speaker research -
This is where I get very confused. I'm trying to match up the impedance of ohms from speakers to receiver. And be on the lookout for sensitivity (87dB or better, right?). It's hard for me to find out RMS wattage because I don't want to underpower or overpower the speakers, right? Some sets that have been bookmarked by me... Jamo E660 5 speaker package + Velodyne Impact 10, EMP Tek HTP-351T, (similarly) Destination Audio F300T 5.1, EMP Impression 5.1 Tower, TheSpeakerCompany TST3-HT. I'm kind of waiting for them to go on holiday sale for ~$700 and then add in a ~$300-400 receiver.


Subwoofer -
Should I keep with what they give with the budget lines? I don't need teeth rattling and right now I can't fully appreciate it in my living situation - but I would like for it to be able to shake walls at some point in the future.


Wires -
I fully plan to get 14-16 gauge wire and banana (plugs? clips?) but that isn't included in this budget. I know some people like 12 gauge, but I think might be too thick to navigate along the carpet.


Whew! I think that's it. I kind of know what I want. Yet, I really don't know what to get or even if it's possible with my budget. Oh, for one last challenge - I'd like to get new equipment instead of used items. I don't mind used other things, but electronics have to be new with me. Any and all suggestions would be greatly appreciated. If I'm not thinking in the right direction or if you have other ideas/speakers/system combination I might have missed, please feel free to post and let me know!

Many thanks,
-H

 

[Emuc64]

Hmm...

I should probably add that I'm not an audiophile. I figured if I lived with a small Onkyo 5.1 system for 7 years, it wouldn't be a stretch to think that I could easily live with something better for 10 years. The most I ever spent for a complete sound system was $200 for my Onkyo and before that $100 on the Logitech 2.1 Z2200 for the PC.

I just want to get the best I can get for around $1000. :thumb: Better than the average or even best HTiB.

 

[Emuc64]

Hi JJ,

I appreciate your efforts in planning something around my budget. When you said "spending just a bit more will really yield you much higher quality components", how much more is a bit more?

Well, I look forward to seeing what your ideas are tomorrow.

Thanks again,
H.

 

[Emuc64]

Hello,

Thanks for all of the suggestions thus far. I've never heard of SVS, Yambeka, or Fluance - so there's quite a bit more reading up to do. Unfortunately, the SVS speakers and Yambeka speakers are a little out of my price range. But thanks for the recommendation. Please keep them coming.:T

On the Fluance speaker set suggested, the center speaker sensitivity is 86dB. From what I understand it takes more power to drive something that's 86dB vs. something that's 91dB. Does is equate to loudness or only how hard the amp/receiver has to work? Since the center is at 86dB and the floor speakers are at 89dB, will the center have trouble with being loud enough to deliver clear dialog in movies? Or do I have it all wrong?onder:

Should I be concerned about the heat issue with Onkyo's? What's the difference between the sr706 and sr707 models? I'm looking at the spec sheet side by side and they look identical. If the heat is an issue, does anyone have thoughts on the Pioneer VSX-1019AH-K and Denon AVR1910?

I can't get my brain around spending as much ($500 incl. shipping) for the SVS subwoofer as a receiver:gulp:. Is there a different (less expensive) alternative or is it just worth it to save up and get this?

Again, many thanks.:wave: I'm just trying to take it all in and make an informed decision.
H

 

[Emuc64]

Emuc,

If you can spare the time, you should consider visiting a local AV store to listen to speakers. Take some of your favorite music so you're familiar with what it sounds like. I suspect you'll be surprised at how much better it can sound with quality speakers.

In general, you should probably plan to spend about 2/3 of your budget on speakers and the rest on electronics.

Hi selden,

Thanks for the suggestion. The closest place by me is about 30min away and from their website it doesn't seem as if they carry the Fluance that I'm interested in. That said, it couldn't hurt to check them out, right? Should I bring some DVD's or something if I don't really have that much audio to bring with me? I generally use speakers for 50% gaming, 40% movies/tv shows, 10% music - so I don't have that much music to bring with me to try out.

Thanks again for the suggestion,
H

 

[Emuc64]

Hi,

I think I'll save up a little more and keep an eye out for holiday sales so that I can get the Onkyo SR707, Fluance SXHTB+, and possibly the SVS PB10-NSD. Total including shipping and all should come out to $1470, maybe less!

That said, while looking at reviews on the PS10-NSD, it was also compared to the Outlaw LFM-1 and eD A3-300 and even PS12-NSD. Are there any opinions on those?

Thanks again for the advice.
H

 

[Emuc64]

Agh... I just missed out on getting the Onkyo sr707 for $544 shipped. I had it in my cart this morning, had to run out the door. Just got home and saw that the price went back up to $620. Oh well.

Anyways, I'll be sure to have the receiver well ventilated.

 

[Emuc64]

Hello Again,

I was alerted to a sale on HSU subwoofers. The VTF1 and VTF2 MK3 have prices that sandwich themselves in between the PB10-nsd and pb12-nsd. Here are the prices including shipping to me:

VTF1 $450
PB10-nsd $499.15
VTF2 Mk3 $578
PB12-nsd $626.22

The PB12 is out of my budget and is there for reference. Should I consider saving a bit with the VTF1, keeping with the PB10 or saving a little more for the VTF2?

Thanks,
H

 

[Emuc64]

Hello,

So, I'm still waiting for a decent deal (and a few paychecks) until I spring for a system.

I've a few random questions while I'm still shopping:

1) If I were to find that dialog through a center speaker were not very clear, would turning up the volume on the center speaker only (assuming you can do that) be the only way to hear dialog?

2) The tower speakers usually have some sort of bass due to the way they are designed. With a subwoofer, would the receiver know that there was one connected? If so, then does it give all of the bass duties to the sub? Or does the tower still do bass duty?

3) Is there a sticky thread that tells you how to properly break in speakers and subs? What if I can't play music at a moderate volume 24/7 or even while I'm away at work? Could I make due with a lower volume for a longer break in period?

Even if I don't have my speakers yet, it can't hurt to know what to do next, right?

Thanks again,
H

 

[Emuc64]

Hello,

I'm about to purchase a sr707 that's on sale. To test the unit, could I attach my old speakers from the Onkyo gxw-5.1 system? They're small cube speakers and I can't even find the manual online to look at specs. I don't want to damage them but I also don't want the sr707 sitting in a box for several months until I get the rest of the speakers.

Thanks,
H

 

[Emuc64]

Hi tonyvdb,

I finally found some specs on the satellite speakers on cnet.
"Speakers Included 5 x Satellite speaker - 10 Watt - 150 - 20000 Hz - 6 Ohm - Wired , 1 x Active subwoofer - 25 Watt - 20 - 150 Hz - 3 Ohm - Wired "

You said not to push the volume too hard through them. To clarify, does this mean only turn the volume up to "normal" levels? Meaning how loud they normally sound with it's original receiver/subwoofer? Or even less than that?

Thanks,
H

 

[Emuc64]

Hello Again,

Well, I finally got my first piece of equipment. A new Onkyo SR707.

I'm liking the Outlaw LFM-1 Plus sub that TonyG suggested. So I want to get that.

Now, the question is what to do about the speakers. If I wanted to do bookshelf sized speakers instead of floor speakers (room size limitation), what should I get in the less than $350 shipped category? I'm looking for 5.0 set.

The only ones that seem interesting so far are the Energy Classic 5 pack from Energy's site. $199 shipped. Would those go well with the Onkyo and LFM-1+?

Anyone know of other good deals or suggestions?

Many Thanks (It IS Thanksgiving in the US),
H

 

[Emuc64]

RE: Energy Classic 5 pack... I can't find any from their authorized internet dealers. :huh:

I did find them at Newegg, I believe a Non-Authorized internet dealer.

Other suggestions would certainly be welcome. Thanks!

 

[Emuc64]

Hello Tonyvdb & JJ,

As Tony has said "Stay away form Fluance they use junky drivers and will not last." in a post last year regarding the Fluance speakers and JJ hasn't had first hand experience with them. So I'm hesitant, even if they're including 2 extra satellites (7.0 system) for $371 shipped as a holiday special. My needs are "50% gaming, 40% movies/tv shows, 10% music". What do you two use your systems for?

You're both saying get the best I can with what I got, even if it's only 2 speakers. Well, I've spent $944 thus far for an Onkyo SR707 and Outlaw LFM-1 Plus. They were great deals. However, my original budget is $1200. What can I buy for $260 (shipped) that will last me years and years? I'll even consider audiogon or some similar site.

I found out that I'm not an upgrader type of person, so whatever I buy would likely stay with me for a while. Therefore, resell value doesn't really matter to me as much as bang-for-the-buck. As you can see, I've little buck at this point so I'm trying to stretch it as best as possible.

Thanks,
H

 

[Emuc64]

Hello,

JJ, Thanks for continuing to provide input and search out for stuff. My zip is 21114. Running the numbers again... my budget is at max $280. Unexpected things came up over the weekend.

80% of me really wants 5.1 sound to take advantage of how games/movies are made. So the Energy Take 5 speakers are on my list. Also, What do you all think of the Klipsch Quintet III? Amazon, through Vanns, has them for $199 (free shipping). The frequency response on those are a bit higher (120hz sat/125hz cent) than the Energy (115hz sat/110hz cent). The power is (50W sat/75W cent) and (100W sat & cent) respectively. Sensitivity is higher on the Klipsch (91db/94db) than the Energy (89db).

20% of me has been convinced by you guys to consider 2 speakers. So if there's something totally awesome out there, please let me know and I'll seriously consider it.

Many thanks,
H

 

[Emuc64]

Hi Again,

I have found another 5 speaker deal that fits in my budget. Energy C-50 for $45 each. I was thinking about getting 5 of them and using one as a center since the C-C50 was not available. They seem to be better than the Klipsch Quintet III or Energy Take 5 while still within my budget. Any thoughts?

Thanks,
H

 

[Emuc64]

Hello,

Many thanks to (in order of appearance) Jungle Jack, tonyvdb, selden, salvasol, lsiberian, and TonyG. Thanks to all of your input, advice, and time spent on replying, I've managed to put in the order for my new system. It's no $50,000 home theater system, but I think you've all helped me get something much better than a HTiB.

Onkyo SR707 - $477
Outlaw LFM-1 Plus - $467
5x Energy C-50 - $222.50
===========================================
Total Out the Door (incl. shipping, taxes, etc.) - $1166.50

Yes, kept it under my original $1200 budget!! Whew! :sweat:

Now, I'm excited to get everything in. I'm sure I'll have more questions as I go along. But I wanted to give a quick thanks to everyone who chimed in.:clap:

Sincerely,
H

 

[Emuc64]

Glad to be of help....More questions???...no problem; We're here to learn and to help each other :T

Hi,

Thanks for encouraging questions. So, here goes: A member previously mentioned running a speaker "hot" so that I can hear dialog from a center speaker. Seeing the efficiencies in the speakers I bought "Sensitivity (anechoic) 85dB Sensitivity (2 speakers in a typical room) 88dB", does this mean... if I need to dial up the volume, that it'll reduce the life of the speaker because it needs to run hotter than a more efficient speaker?

Too many words let me try this again. Will using a higher wattage, due to my speakers inefficiency, reduce it's life?

Thanks,
H

 

[Emuc64]

...in fact, you can temporarily raise the level and it not change the calibrated settings.

Hello,

Pardon my inexperience in this. Umm... How do I temporarily change the level? If I go to the center speaker selection and raise the db, wouldn't that take as the new calibrated settings? If my receiver had profiles I can set, that's how it would know to revert back to calibrated settings, right? Otherwise, how?

I've not hooked up my receiver yet and well, I can only get so far with the manual just visualizing until my brain hurts. I'm better at playing around with settings WHILE looking at the manual at the same time.

Okay, thanks for any clarification.
H.

 

[Emuc64]

Well done. I think you will really enjoy that setup for years to come. If you don't and get the upgrade bug. You know where to come. :R

Hi,

Again, it’s thanks to everyone here that I got something that works well with my budget. My current salary and wallet will assure me that I’m immunized from the upgrade bug. For now.

After I get married and a house, then we’ll see about how everything will sound in a new room. I’ll definitely come here for more sound advice.

H.