budget buyers remorse

[palleon]

Hey guys, noob here. I, like a lot people around here it seems, got the itch for a home theater around black friday. I currently have no audio other than the tv speakers. Room is long and skinny, 23 by 12 with TV/DVR/PS3 on one end. I was going to get a HTIB until I came to these forums and learned just how bad they were. However I was still on a real tight budget. Under $350 now, maybe another 200 or 250 after christmas. Can't really justify more than that.

After lurking on here for a couple days I got the Pioneer BS41 pair from newegg for 85 and the matching center for 49. I got the Pioneer 822k reciever for 180 from hhgregg. Planning on using the after christmas money on a sub and then eventually surrounds.

I am sitting here waiting on em to get here and am already feeling nervous about it. Wondering if it is really much of an upgrade over HTIB. Also read some posts folks having issues with the 822k and just wondering if I am doing the right thing here.

I know my budget is a sliver of most on here but is this going to be it for me as far HT goes. Probly not many upgrades for me in the near future. Any thoughts? I appreciate any feedback.

[monkish54]

I am sitting here waiting on em to get here and am already feeling nervous about it. Wondering if it is really much of an upgrade over HTIB.

It's going to be massively better than any HTIB I have ever seen. Especially at the price point we're talking about! What HTIB were you going to buy?

Also read some posts folks having issues with the 822k and just wondering if I am doing the right thing here.

I don't know much about the 822K, but if issues were to arise, we are here to help. If the product is defective, you can always return it.

I know my budget is a sliver of most on here but is this going to be it for me as far HT goes. Probly not many upgrades for me in the near future. Any thoughts? I appreciate any feedback.

Low budgets are fun because they are challenging.

I think you are most definitely doing the right thing. The BS-41 will blow out any HTIB and any competitor well beyond it's price point. They are excellent performers for the money.

You probably don't know how to read measurements (more accurately what good measurements look like) but this is as good as it get's at your price point and price points far above it.

Pioneer SP-BS41-LR loudspeaker | Stereophile.com

The measured performance of Pioneer's SP-BS41-LR would not be out of place in a $1000/pair speaker, let alone one costing just $150/pair. Color me impressed.

I don't say this often, but I agree with John Atkinson.

[monkish54]

Also, if you invest $250 into a sub (or less) do consider DIY. You can DIY a pretty decent subwoofer for $200, and it will be worlds better than most (anything?) you can buy retail. You can even buy pre-made cabinets if woodworking sounds scary!

We can help you pick everything!

[palleon]

that makes me feel better. I thought I might have rushed into this due to black friday fever. The speakers got here last night and the reciever should be here today. Can't wait to hook em up. I knew people had said the BS41 and C21 were big but WOW. The bookshelves are ok but the center is very large. It wont fit in my entertainment center, going to have to sit it in front of the TV and raise the TV with books or something...

Hadn't thought about the DIY sub. I would not consider myself a handy/toolsy kind of guy. These forums can be kind of overwhelming. Before I go wading in to those DIY forums is there a particular build that would be easy and in my price range?

thanks again

[agarwalro]

The sub should definitely be your next purchase. In $100-200 there are not many worth the money, but, here are a couple, Dayton Audio SUB-1200 on sale right now for $111 shipped which is the same price as the 10" version and Bic America F12 for $198 shipped.

[zieglj01]

I am sitting here waiting on em to get here and am already feeling nervous about it. Wondering if it is really much of an upgrade over HTIB. Also read some posts folks having issues with the 822k and just wondering if I am doing the right thing here.

I know my budget is a sliver of most on here but is this going to be it for me as far HT goes. Probly not many upgrades for me in the near future. Any thoughts? I appreciate any feedback.

No one needs to feel low key, for owning the Pioneer speakers -
also the Pioneer receiver will drive them.

Weigh out your sub options before making a purchase, I would
not be quick to buy a subwoofer with a Dr. Boom Mushy flavor,
if listening to a lot of music.

[markw]

I knew people had said the BS41 and C21 were big but WOW. The bookshelves are ok but the center is very large. It wont fit in my entertainment center, going to have to sit it in front of the TV and raise the TV with books or something...

When you're scoping out the goodies (particularly speakers) on the internet, they generally list, somewhere around the specs, the dimensions of the units involved. By paying attention to these, you can know what you're in for and plan accordingly.

[monkish54]

Hadn't thought about the DIY sub. I would not consider myself a handy/toolsy kind of guy. These forums can be kind of overwhelming. Before I go wading in to those DIY forums is there a particular build that would be easy and in my price range?

thanks again

Surprisingly, subwoofers are not hard to DIY. Pretty much you find a subwoofer, throw it in a box, and go on about the rest of your day.

If you want to create your own box, we can model a box for you and some of us can even draw pretty pictures to make it easier!! If you want a pre-made box, we can find a good subwoofer to throw in there. You might want to add a few wooden dowels to make the cabinet more stiff, but most $200 subs aren't going to have bracing anyway, so you might be able to get away without.

Bracing makes the cabinet more stiff so it doesn't "talk". Vibrations are transferred from the drivers to the cabinet. When the cabinet vibrates at low frequencies, it will add to the sound and change the timbre a bit. When one adds bracing, the cabinet is essentially separated into smaller panels. The smaller panels will vibrate at higher frequencies and much less, eliminating the change in timbre.

[palleon]

Surprisingly, subwoofers are not hard to DIY. Pretty much you find a subwoofer, throw it in a box, and go on about the rest of your day.

If you want to create your own box, we can model a box for you and some of us can even draw pretty pictures to make it easier!! If you want a pre-made box, we can find a good subwoofer to throw in there. You might want to add a few wooden dowels to make the cabinet more stiff, but most $200 subs aren't going to have bracing anyway, so you might be able to get away without.

That actually sounds like something I might enjoy. Any recomendations as to where to start looking for the right parts and setup? I would probably go with the pre-made box. Again, not very handy. Still probably not wanting to go over 200 or 250.

[monkish54]

That actually sounds like something I might enjoy. Any recomendations as to where to start looking for the right parts and setup? I would probably go with the pre-made box. Again, not very handy. Still probably not wanting to go over 200 or 250.

If you intend to make a hobby out of audio, I would recommend learning the T/S parameters. If not, we can easily give you suggestions for boxes and the drivers themselves. Parts Express is the place I'd look. They own Dayton; Dayton makes some very good budget drivers. When I get home (I have class in about 30 min) I'll look at some drivers for you.