What should I add to my system

[Scarfinger]

My first post so I thought I would just jump right in

What should I up grade? **For general TV, Movies, Sports, some music**

I have 2 book shelf speakers, polk T15's (2013) that I am using as front speakers, a center speaker (2002), subwoofer(2002) and an AV receiver, Rx V375 (2013).

I am considering replacing the book shelf speakers with some floor standing front speakers... or buying a new subwoofer. Possible the Pioneer SP-FS52 towers for Front speakers...or HSU STF-2 subwoofer ... or maybe I should be looking for a new center??

Any thoughts on which item I should get first for the most improvement.

Current set up:

Front Speakers
(2) Polk Audio T15 Bookshelf speakers
Frequency response: 60 Hz – 24 kHz
Sensitivity: 89 dB
Impedance: 8 ohms
Power: 20 W – 100 W per channel
Center Speaker – purchased in 2002?
(1) Kenwood KS-706HT
Impedance: 8 ohms
Max power: 100 W
Subwoofer
(1) Kenwood SW 36HT – purchased in 2002?
8” cone
100 W built in amp
Bass reflex design
Impedance: 4 ohms
AV Receiver
Yamaha RX-V375
5.1 channel
100 W per channel (8 ohms, 1 kHz, 1 ch driven)
70 W per channel (8 ohms, 20 Hz-20kHz, 2 ch driven)

Thanks, Joe

 

[ImcLoud]

I would start by changing out the center to one that matches your bookshelfs, then I would get a better sub.... Polk around the forum a little there is tons of info here, but heres some for free..

#1- front sound stage should be matching set, fronts, and center from the same brand and series, this will give you matching timbre...

#2- Towers in a home theater aren't needed in most systems, towers are made large for their lower end response, but as a trade off you also get some extra cabinet res {not a good thing}, and larger cost... Since in home theaters your avr {receiver} crosses the frequencies so the fronts do not get freqs under say 80hz instead sending them to the subwoofer there is no reason for the larger cabinets...

#3 the most important part of an HT system is the subwoofer, don't skimp in this area...

 

[Scarfinger]

I would start by changing out the center to one that matches your bookshelfs, then I would get a better sub.... Polk around the forum a little there is tons of info here, but heres some for free..

#1- front sound stage should be matching set, fronts, and center from the same brand and series, this will give you matching timbre...

#2- Towers in a home theater aren't needed in most systems, towers are made large for their lower end response, but as a trade off you also get some extra cabinet res {not a good thing}, and larger cost... Since in home theaters your avr {receiver} crosses the frequencies so the fronts do not get freqs under say 80hz instead sending them to the subwoofer there is no reason for the larger cabinets...

#3 the most important part of an HT system is the subwoofer, don't skimp in this area...

Polk around? Freudian slip

Cool!! Thanks for the reply. Thanks for the advice. Now I have some direction in what I need to do.

I am going to look at matching center speaker/fronts and then save up for an SVS PB/SB 1000 subwoofer.

Thanks for TOWER advice. Now I will stop looking at towers and consider better bookshelf's in the future

Thanks again, Joe

 

[ImcLoud]

Heres a little more advice on subs..

Sealed subs are smaller and more compact, usually faster and cleaner but dont extend as low in most cases, and sometimes have less output than a comparable ported design, the sb is a sealed sub and the pb is a ported. I find sealed nice for music and ported great for HT. IMO HSU offers the best bang for your buck also, vtf2 would be a great sub for almost any medium sized room....

 

[Ponzio]

I've got a cherry veneer Polk CS2 center channel (1 year old with packing box) that will match those Polk bookshelf's if ur interested and live in the Philly area.

 

[ImcLoud]

that sounds like a win right there /\

 

[Scarfinger]

Well... I fell down the rabbit hole. Looking at one speaker after another. I have slapped myself back to reality. So, considering a budget of 1000$. I have came down to HSU and SVS. I like how HSU has there packages set up. 2.1, 3.1, 5.1, etc...

Option 1
The Value 2 -3.1 package in satin black
(2) HSU HB-1 MK2, + (1) HSU HC-1MK2
(1) hsu stf-2 subwoofer
So the $819 + $126 shipping = $945
Pro: timbre set of (L)(C)(R), good company? and meets the budget.
Con: Ugly subwoofer

Option 2
(2) HSU HB-1 MK2, + (1) HSU HC-1MK2 = $567 + $80 shipping = $647
(1) SVS PB-1000 or SB-1000 (ported vs. sealed) $499 + free shipping
total package = $1146

Pro: timbre set of (L)(C)(R), both are good companies?, better looking subwoofer, maybe a better subwoofer? than HSU stf-2, Freq resp: SVS 19-270 Hz ± 3 dB vs. HSU stf-2 25 - 100 Hz, +/- 2 dB **Most likely my ears won't even be able to discern the difference??
Con: $146 over budget, $201 more than option 1

Basically it is coming down to the subwoofers. I am leaning towards SVS. Have not decided on ported vs. sealed.

My room size is roughly 14w x 20l x8h. I guess the sealed would be good and maybe the ported may be too much?? for my room size.

I am pretty sure the SB-1000 would be good. But I am leaning towards the PB-1000 to experience the low end for movie watching.

Thanks for tagging along.

Joe

 

[ImcLoud]

I vote hsu, as far as port vs sealed, you can always turn the gain down for less low end output, but they only go so far up...
And as far as the looks, I prefer hsu's finish vs the svs vinyl sticker... All great options we all have our preferences I own both brands and prefer hsu...
also check out rythmic if you dont like down firing... lv12r

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Here is my thoughts on subs after owning and listening to sealed, ported, active, and passive subs.

Sealed subs aren't any "cleaner, faster, tighter, or more musical" sounding than high quality Ported subs.

In fact, a better quality Ported sub will sound cleaner, faster, tighter, and more musical than a lesser quality Sealed sub.

 

[ImcLoud]

Don't listen to accudef, he's a liar and wants you to buy the wrong thing... Plus he has justin beiber hair that covers his ears, of course he can not hear the difference... AND he listens to 80's madonna and only 80's madonna, so... take his advice with a grain of sh!t...

but seriously, I can hear the difference, I am not trying to talk you out of a sealed sub, but for HT ported IMO is the way to go... For music I like sealed, they are small easy to place, ect.. I think the really place they shine is at medium to low volume for music... So its obvious why accu doesnt hear the difference, how could he while dancing around hos house listening to "like a virgin" at 12db...

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Don't listen to accudef, he's a liar and wants you to buy the wrong thing... Plus he has justin beiber hair that covers his ears, of course he can not hear the difference... AND he listens to 80's madonna and only 80's madonna, so... take his advice with a grain of sh!t...

but seriously, I can hear the difference, I am not trying to talk you out of a sealed sub, but for HT ported IMO is the way to go... For music I like sealed, they are small easy to place, ect.. I think the really place they shine is at medium to low volume for music... So its obvious why accu doesnt hear the difference, how could he while dancing around hos house listening to "like a virgin" at 12db...

Why do people keeping on saying I listen to Justin Beiber? There must be an inside joke I'm not getting.

And for your information, my hair is all moussed up/ slicked back like a professional business exec. Or maybe The Godfather mafia type hair.

But if I were to argue my case in court, I would give examples of ported bass that is every bit as musical and fast and articulate as any sealed design. Examples include the Revel Salon2, B&W 800D2, KEF 207/2, RBH T30, and Linkwitz Orion. Take that!

 

[Scarfinger]

I vote hsu, as far as port vs sealed, you can always turn the gain down for less low end output, but they only go so far up...
And as far as the looks, I prefer hsu's finish vs the svs vinyl sticker... All great options we all have our preferences I own both brands and prefer hsu...
also check out rythmic if you dont like down firing... lv12r

Thanks for your comments. I appreciate it considering you own both and I have never seen/listened to or touch either.
I am just a regular Joe. So, Down firing seems weird to me. I understand it has no advantage/disadvantage from what I have read.

PB 1000, HSU STF-2, or LV12r. From my research, the LV12r is probably the best.

Considering they all would be an upgrade of considerable proportion to my current generic outdated system.

I am going to re-evaluate these 3 subs on price and size.

 

[Scarfinger]

Don't listen to accudef, he's a liar and wants you to buy the wrong thing... Plus he has justin beiber hair that covers his ears, of course he can not hear the difference... AND he listens to 80's madonna and only 80's madonna, so... take his advice with a grain of sh!t...

but seriously, I can hear the difference, I am not trying to talk you out of a sealed sub, but for HT ported IMO is the way to go... For music I like sealed, they are small easy to place, ect.. I think the really place they shine is at medium to low volume for music... So its obvious why accu doesnt hear the difference, how could he while dancing around hos house listening to "like a virgin" at 12db...

Hey now.. keep it clean I have pretty much made my mind up for a ported subwoofer.

 

[Scarfinger]

I bought a HSU stf-2 today. Fall sale: 329 + shipping = $375.00

1 STF-2 Powered
Subwoofer -
Black $329.00
Subtotal: $329.00
Shipping: $46.00
Tax: $0.00
Total: $375.00

 

[Scarfinger]

I bought a HSU stf-2 today. Fall sale: 329 + shipping = $375.00
Main use will be HT and some music

1 STF-2 Powered
Subwoofer -
Black $329.00
Subtotal: $329.00
Shipping: $46.00
Tax: $0.00
Total: $375.00

My first real subwoofer. After many hours of reading up on subs and going back and forth from HSU stf-2, vtf-1, vtf-2, Rythmic lv12R, PB-1000.

It finally came down to size, looks and price:

PB-1000: was 1 inch wider and I also didn't like the front screen, also $500 for a couple lower decibels
-I did like the warranty and almost bought this one and then changed my mind

Rythmic lv12R: was to expensive $630 shipped and 2 inches wider.

vtf-2: was too deep (23") and too expensive and I wasn't sure if the finish would be to shiny, also it weighs 80 lbs , ouch my back!

vtf-1: I decided I didn't need the extra flexibility of 2 ports... and if I didn't need that
then...

the STF-2 was the right price, right size, and I liked how it looked. Kind of an unassuming box. I like the idea of it not looking like a speaker so much. At least to me it doesn't look like a speaker. I know, I know...it isn't a speaker... it's a subwoofer. My first real subwoofer

Special thanks to "ImcLoud" I origianly thought HSU was ugly but took a second look at them.

OP ImcLoud:
"I vote hsu, as far as port vs sealed, you can always turn the gain down for less low end output, but they only go so far up...
And as far as the looks, I prefer hsu's finish vs the svs vinyl sticker... All great options we all have our preferences I own both brands and prefer hsu...
also check out rythmic if you dont like down firing... lv12r"

 

[Scarfinger]

[QUOTE="
vtf-2: was too deep (23") and too expensive and I wasn't sure if the finish would be to shiny, also it weighs 80 lbs , ouch my back!
"[/QUOTE]

Correction... It only weighs 64 lbs. Not sure where I got 80 from.

 

[Scarfinger]

1st addition was: (1) HSU STF-2 subwoofer. It sounds great. Night and day compared to my old subwoofer.
2nd addition: (2) Affordable Accuracy monitor and (1) Affordable Accuracy center

I did some research/forum diving and came across Dennis Murphy and philharmonicaudio.com

I was considering the Pioneer Electronics BS-22 bookshelves and C22 center channel because of cost and they are recommended on this site. Dennis Murphy customizes the pioneers and calls them his "Affordable Accuracy" line. I figured? How can I go wrong?

I ordered:
(Left/right) Affordable Accuracy monitor is priced at only $165/pair and (center) Affordable Accuracy center is priced at only $100. It came to $300 total with shipping. I gave Dennis an additional $20 tip. Why? Not really sure myself. Maybe because I feel like these speakers will be special, Dennis was very polite and responsive to emails, I am guessing these speakers will perform higher than their price point... and a tip seemed appropriate.

But honestly as a novice audioholic I probably won't be able to truly appreciate or understand the difference from the stock pioneers considering I don't have the time or money to buy and compare each speaker. I am going to take Dennis's word on their performance. He did supply some audio graphs showing stock pioneers and then the modified pioneer audio graphs. The modified had a smoother line and less dips compared to the stocks.

I got the warm and fuzzy feeling anyways and bought them.

They will arrive tomorrow.

 

[GIEGAR]

Good work! You have chosen... wisely.

Kick back and enjoy for a few weeks and then please come back and tell us what you think.

 

[zieglj01]

1st addition was: (1) HSU STF-2 subwoofer. It sounds great. Night and day compared to my old subwoofer.
2nd addition: (2) Affordable Accuracy monitor and (1) Affordable Accuracy center

I got the warm and fuzzy feeling anyways and bought them.

Smart choice - good decision on sub and speakers.

The AA speakers are real nice - one of the best deals around.

 

[herbu]

I gave Dennis an additional $20 tip.

Yeh, I gave him a tip, too. Told him to lose the tux, find somebody with a banjo, somebody with a guitar and somebody with a mandolin, and play some real music!