My Future Home Audio Setup

[Burnin]

Hello and thank you for any advice given.

I'm interested in getting big sound in my living room. This will be my first surround sound setup ever and I have very little knowledge. I will be using surround sound for music, movies and video gaming. I have the main components picked out and would appreciate any information or opinions on my choices. Also I'm wondering what other accessories I need.

My living room is 15x15 and I'm looking to spend about $1000.

I plan on purchasing the following:

Receiver - Yamaha RX-V675 7.2 Channel Network AV Receiver with Airplay $330

Subwoofer - Klipsch Sub-12HG Synergy Series 12-Inch 300-Watt Subwoofer $230

Speakers (front/rear) - Polk Audio TL 1 Satellite Speaker $60 x 4 = $240

Center Speaker - Polk Audio TL1 Speaker Center Channel $75

Total: $875

My thoughts:

About the receiver, one review said that it was 'lacking bass'. I want big bass, that comment alone has got me a little skeptical about this receiver.

About the subwoofer, I'm pretty dead set on this subwoofer.

About the speakers, I'm open to other recommendations on similar priced speakers, possibly even some floor speakers.

 

[markw]

If you've heard those speakers and you like 'em, mazel tov. I do suggest you listen to as many speakers as possible before deciding, though.

Receivers don't "lack bass". Bass comes from the subwoofer.

As for subs, since your heart is set on that one, then I guess telling you that for a few bucks more, Hsu, SVS, or Velodyne can offer better bang for the buck would be a waste of time.

What, exactly, attracts you to that particular receiver? Does it have a specific feature you need that others lack? A 5.1 receiver might offer better value..

 

[Mark of Cenla]

My Yamaha AVR sounds great. My living room system has great bass, mostly due to the Dayton woofers. If all you want is 5.1, maybe you should buy a 5.1 AVR. That way you could spend more on speakers, the most critical part of a system. Peace and goodwill.

 

[rojo]

Sub: same price neighborhood, get the NXG NX-BAS-500 from Amazon. Front speakers, you'll get better sound from bookshelf speakers than from satellites. Similar price range, consider last year's Andrew Jones Pioneer BS22 and C22, also from Amazon. Occasionally they go on sale much cheaper. Or spring for the Affordable Accuracy mods of the same from Philharmonic Audio. Receiver, the Yamaha is probably a worthwhile choice. I tend to trust Audyssey more than YPAO for bass correction, as Audyssey is more thoroughly documented; but Yamaha owners tend to be well satisfied and devoted, which I'm certain is not without good reason. Either way, consider a refurb from accessories4less to save some money. My refurb Marantz is excellent. Surrounds, you might be interested in a pair of Fluance dipoles. Or even better, spend more on your LCR + sub and wait till later for the rears.

 

[afterlife2]

Welcome! These are on sale and many like them. Buy 5 and use one as a center: http://www.nhthifi.com/Bookshelf-speaker-SuperZero-2-0_2#image-5
Review: http://www.soundandvision.com/content/nht-superzero-20-speaker-system
I also agree with Rojo's NXG BAS-500 suggestion or Dayton SUB 1200 budget wise.

 

[Burnin]

@markw

You've got me intrigued on the sub brands you mentioned. Do you have any recommended models?

The reason I'm attracted to the RX-V675 receiver is because it's on sale and I feel that a 7.2 would be a better option for the long term, if I ever wanted to add more speakers.

Although, like you said, maybe a 5.1 would suffice.

@rojo

I'm glad that you mentioned bookshelf speakers, after more research I believe that the satellites would be a bad idea for the fronts. I think I just might wait on the rears and spend some more money on my LCR and sub, thank you for this good advice. I'm not too sure about the sub you recommended though, the Klipsch is 300 RMS where the NXG is (I believe) 150 RMS. I know RMS isn't everything but that's quite a difference in numbers.

@afterlife2

Thank you, the community here seems very knowledgeable and helpful. I will look into the speakers you recommended over the weekend when I get more time.

 

[markw]

A for the three sub brands, I'd check out their offering and look at whatever falls into your price range. Any of them will be better than the one you mentioned. All they make are subs, nothing else. For Klipsch, they just make them to fill out their lineup so customers can "brand match" their speakers.

 

[rojo]

@rojo

I'm glad that you mentioned bookshelf speakers, after more research I believe that the satellites would be a bad idea for the fronts. I think I just might wait on the rears and spend some more money on my LCR and sub, thank you for this good advice. I'm not too sure about the sub you recommended though, the Klipsch is 300 RMS where the NXG is (I believe) 150 RMS. I know RMS isn't everything but that's quite a difference in numbers.

You know the difference in volume output between 150 watts and 300 watts? That's 3dB. It's barely audible. The NXG has better tuning. But if you're interested in output, neither is going to be as impressive as something in a little higher price range, such as the Rythmik LV12R, the Hsu VTF-2 MK4, or the Outlaw Ultra-X12. (Among those, I'd probably go for the Hsu). As markw said, Klipsch builds their subs as an afterthought to sell more of their other speakers. There's nothing special about them.

Of course, the best bargain to be had would be a DIY project -- something like this cabinet and driver, this amp (1100 watts @4Ω mono!), perhaps a port tube if you wish, and whatever paint, glue, terminals, grill, feet, etc. you want to add. That would easily best anything mentioned thus far. (I don't have any modelling software installed at the moment, so I can't tell you the appropriate length / diameter of the tube. I'm guessing it'll be around a foot of 2-inch tube, but ask in the DIY section before committing.)