Beginner looking for new setup!

[davyb]

Hi guys, new here and looking for some help.

I currently own a samsung HT-c555, 5.1 Home Entertainment System.
It's terrible I know, but bought this probally 5-6 years ago, 20 years old at the time.

I want to start upgrading my audio with a flexible budget (between 1000-2000) and need some advice.
The system will be used in my living room for now 15*15 feet(will be moving into a home theater in the future)
I only care about movies, the rest is not important.
I have been looking for a avr and new speakers that will last me a good while.

I came across the Onkyo tx-nr636 and have been reading nothing but positve feedback, is this right?
What would you recommend and why? Im still very new to audio and really want to know why.

Would like some speakers to match, wondering if I can use my current speakers as surround speakers as I want quality speakers and can't afford a full 5.1 setup right away.
This way I could upgrade gradually.

Hope you guys can help me, info about basics is also very appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[rojo]

Heya davy, and welcome! That's a lovely room.

Onkyo used to be great back in the day, but lots of HDMI board issues have hinted of quality control issues in recent years. You'll find most of the recommendations for AVR's around here lean toward D&M Holdings (Denon and Marantz), and Yamaha, with a smattering of Pioneer fans.

Since you eventually intend to move your gear into a (possibly larger?) home theater room, I recommend getting a receiver that works well with dual subwoofers. A subwoofer's bass tones are prone to interact with each other in room reflections in undesirable ways. This can make some frequencies sound boomy and others thin; and the response can vary greatly from seat to seat. Multiple subwoofers can even out this response, so there's less variation in different seating positions.

With that in mind, my recommendation for a receiver is the Denon AVR-X4000. Its SubEQ HT will individually correct each of a pair of subwoofers -- an uncommon feature in AVR's.

For the speakers, the Hsu Hybrid 2 3.1 package would be a solid choice. Then you've got a couple hundred left in your budget for stands, wiring, etc.

Info: The "Best Of" AXPONA 2015 -- scroll down to "Best Real World Gear: HSU Research". Stereomojo review. Plus there are quite a few links on the bookshelf and subwoofer product pages to other independent reviews.

 

[davyb]

Thanks rojo!

Really great deal on the denon, too bad I live in The Netherlands.
But a 7.2 denon or marantz will do I guess? Too bad about the onkyo's, looked really well

Same for the Hsu, cant get them over here.
What brands are more common and in the same kind of quality?
Been seeing allot of pioneer in the lower budget HT's

Thanks for the help and info

 

[PRATIK DOSHI]

I am also looking for new HT

 

[davyb]

I am also looking for new HT

Maybe you should start your own thread then?

This doesn't help me, or anyone else.

No offense

 

[rojo]

I suspect Pratik was trying to inflate his post count so he could post pics or hyperlinks.

Anyway, yeah, it won't be easy finding a receiver in the Netherlands with the same features for a similar price. You might check with this seller and see whether they offer affordable shipping to you. If not, or if that's not within your budget, then you could pull the trigger on the Pioneer you found and plan to add a MiniDSP and measurement mic to handle your bass management later.

For your main speakers, check into XTZ Sound. For subwoofer, BK Electronics Monolith+ looks to be comparable to the Hsu VTF-2 I recommended earlier. Unknown whether they ship internationally. It might be worth an email to ask. SVS also makes nice subs (such as the PB-2000 or PC12-NSD), but their price-performance ratio isn't quite as good as it once was.

You might send haraldo a PM and ask if he has any alternative recommendations. You could also consider a DIY project. For example, This Dayton 18" HO driver and a modest amplifier in a 200-liter enclosure with an 85mm dia x 200mm long port tube would give you 109dB of output at 100 watts. With room gain you'll have an F3 easily in the teens, and it still maintains a reasonable group delay where the product of frequency * ms < 400 above subsonics. In other words, it'll provide astounding ground pounding with musical control for a modest price. You might even find a local cabinet maker willing to build the enclosure for you, if DIY is not your thing. If you DIY your sub(s), you won't have to pay freight shipping for woodwork that could easily be done domestically.

 

[davyb]

I have been searching myself and found a nice set that could work for me.

I have adjusted my wishes and budget a bit, think I will go for a lower end system for now.
Going to use that as a stepping stone, and by the time I will go for a full HT, get some new equipment (might be a while).

I came across the Denon AVR-X2100W, its cost 400 euro (450 dollar), any thoughts on that? can't really tell what the big difference is between that and the x3100 and x4100 (european name's) for my needs that is.

Also been seeing allot of good things about the boston acoustics.
Particularly the A 25 speakers, coming in at 100 euro they seem really nice.
A 250's are also an option, don't really know which is better? bookshelf or floorstanding.
A 225C center speaker is 200 euro's.

This would total: 1150 dollar if I were to get 4x a 25.. and 900 dollar if I get 2 (Have no idea if I can run the old speakers of my current surround set as surround speakers)

So that leaves a sub and the nic nacs.

Aiming to stay as close to the 1000 dollar as I can, but still getting a sub that fits in this set up.

I know I can get this stuff easy over here, but alternative's better bang for the buck is very welcome.

My knowledge of brands is very limited and still finding new stuff every day

 

[rojo]

Yeah, man. You've got the right idea. 2x Boston A25's, the 225c center, and the AVR-X2100 will work great. Unless your existing speakers use proprietary connectors, you can use them as surrounds if you wish. If nothing else, you could do a 3.1 system for now and add the surrounds later if you wish. They really aren't crucial.

The Bostons are very well-regarded. I haven't compared the bookshelfs with the towers; but generally speaking with entry-level separates of most brands, the bookshelf speakers tend to be better behaved than the towers.

The X2100 is a great receiver. The contrast between X2100's Audyssey XT and the X4100's XT32 + SubEQ HT is probably the most profound and relevant difference besides power ratings and number of ins/outs; but as I mentioned earlier, you can add a MiniDSP later for bass management if you ever add a second sub.

You should plan to spend at least $500 on a decent sub. You've got quite a bit of space to pressurize. If you skimp on the sub, you'll be doing yourself a disservice. Are there any other worthwhile European sub makers who target the entry / mid tier market? Did you happen to email BK Elec and ask about shipping for the Monolith+?

 

[davyb]

Yeah, man. You've got the right idea. 2x Boston A25's, the 225c center, and the AVR-X2100 will work great. Unless your existing speakers use proprietary connectors, you can use them as surrounds if you wish. If nothing else, you could do a 3.1 system for now and add the surrounds later if you wish. They really aren't crucial.

The Bostons are very well-regarded. I haven't compared the bookshelfs with the towers; but generally speaking with entry-level separates of most brands, the bookshelf speakers tend to be better behaved than the towers.

Great, I can get a used set with 2 a23's and 2 a 250's and 1 225c and the sub asw250 for 350 euro's.
Then I can buy a different sub and still have a great deal.

The X2100 is a great receiver. The contrast between X2100's Audyssey XT and the X4100's XT32 + SubEQ HT is probably the most profound and relevant difference besides power ratings and number of ins/outs; but as I mentioned earlier, you can add a MiniDSP later for bass management if you ever add a second sub.

That's what I thought, if the x4100 wasn't so expensive it would be the clear winner but rather keep that money for speakers.

You should plan to spend at least $500 on a decent sub. You've got quite a bit of space to pressurize. If you skimp on the sub, you'll be doing yourself a disservice. Are there any other worthwhile European sub makers who target the entry / mid tier market? Did you happen to email BK Elec and ask about shipping for the Monolith+?

Here are some brand's:

• Boston Acoustics
• Dali
• Jamo
• Kef
• Yamaha
• Bowers & Wilkins
• Cambridge Audio
• Canton
• Q-Acoustics
• Wharfedale

One of them must have a decent sub

I haven't mailed BK Elec, but I saw they do ship internationally
On their homepage it says they are giving UK shipping rates due to popular demand.
So that's really nice

 

[rojo]

You'll most often get a better subwoofer from a company whose business it is to make subwoofers, rather than from companies who offer subwoofers merely as a means to complete a 5.1 package with their other speakers. The ones who do make worthwhile subs (Paradigm comes to mind) often charge high dollars for those subs. The ones that are less expensive generally employ poor tuning in order to meet a small form factor requirement or improve the rated response on paper, but they don't disclose how such hacks negatively impact group delay or similar.

I've come across a couple of reviews of the previous version of the BK Electronics Monolith (one, two), and they're quite positive. I would say the Monolith+ > the list you suggested for price / performance ratio.

 

[davyb]

Thanks, that makes sense.

I'll check them out

 

[davyb]

Bought my speakers today, got the used set for 390 euro (440 dollar)
2x a23's, 2x a250's, 225c and the asw250 sub (which sounded powerfull at the sellers house)

Really great deal if I may say so myself

Now im on the hunt for the denon x2100w (or something better depending on the price)

Something we havent dicussed, wiring!

What are youre thoughts on wiring, plugs ect? (My bostons are equiped with banana plugs)
Anything I need to keep in mind?

Thanks!

 

[rojo]

Banana plugs make quick disconnects and reconnects convenient, but they are not at all necessary. You can just screw bare wire into the binding posts if you wish.

Sorry I'm on my mobile phone and can't easily convert wire gauge to millimeters. But look for 14 gauge oxygen-free copper if your longest distance run from receiver to speaker is 9.5 meters or less; 12 gauge if longer. If the Monoprice brand is available, that's usually the best price for high quality wire.

For interconnects, Monoprice again, or KabelDirekt is also lovely if available.

Congratulations on your new toys! You choose wisely.

Sent from my LG-VS980 using Forum Fiend v1.3.1.

 

[davyb]

Thanks

Ill figure the millimeters out, 14 will do for me then.
Thought the plugs might have certain benefits but if it's only for quick connecting they are not worth it for me.

Hope to install them once and leave them like that for at least a while haha.

 

[rojo]

If you find inexpensive wire and it doesn't specify that it's oxygen free copper, it's most likely copper clad aluminum, which is only about 2/3 as efficient as OFC. Make sure the ad says oxygen free copper.

Sent from my LG-VS980 using Forum Fiend v1.3.1.

 

[zieglj01]

Bought my speakers today, got the used set for 390 euro (440 dollar)
2x a23's, 2x a250's, 225c and the asw250 sub (which sounded powerfull at the sellers house)

Really great deal if I may say so myself

Good choice - and the sub can hold you for now.

 

[davyb]

Good choice - and the sub can hold you for now.

My thoughts as well, cant wait to hook it up when I get my receiver.

Then I will truly know of course, he cracked it up when I went to pick it up and sounded very nice

 

[davyb]

If you find inexpensive wire and it doesn't specify that it's oxygen free copper, it's most likely copper clad aluminum, which is only about 2/3 as efficient as OFC. Make sure the ad says oxygen free copper.

Sent from my LG-VS980 using Forum Fiend v1.3.1.

Yeah, luckily you can filter for OFC allot of the time.

http://hificorner.nl/kabels/speakerkabel/stereo/monstercable-9-meter-op-rol-xp-mkii-speakerkabel


this seems nice, 10 gauge for 4.2 dollars the meter

 

[rojo]

Is 9 meters enough to wire both surrounds + both mains + center? If shipping from the UK is reasonable, this Monoprice 14awg would be a better deal I think. Then you can afford some banana plugs. They aren't necessary, but they are slightly geeky and there's some satisfaction that comes from the feel of plugging your speaker wires in -- sort of the same feel as popping bubble wrap I guess.

 

[davyb]

Is 9 meters enough to wire both surrounds + both mains + center? If shipping from the UK is reasonable, this Monoprice 14awg would be a better deal I think. Then you can afford some banana plugs. They aren't necessary, but they are slightly geeky and there's some satisfaction that comes from the feel of plugging your speaker wires in -- sort of the same feel as popping bubble wrap I guess.

The monoprice, 100 ft for 57 Euro (shipping included) is indeed a very nice deal.
Can't get the one from Skque and on amazon its temporarily sold out.

Found this instead, https://www.kabeltje.com/oehlbach-luidsprekerkabel-home-2x2.5mm2-30m?zenid=09b1e4148af57fd5ee133c9a6733cc49

75 euro's for 100 ft and 10awg

Maybe the better choice