frankensystem

[1313stang]

hi all 1st post here. starting to think about upgrading existing 5.1 system. whats your thoughts on buying cheaper Yamaha or onyko speaker package on amazon as a cheap way 2 create a 7.2 or atmos system? the cheap sub becomes the 2nd sub. the cheap mains & surrounds become the surround back & rears.

 

[shadyJ]

hi all 1st post here. starting to think about upgrading existing 5.1 system. whats your thoughts on buying cheaper Yamaha or onyko speaker package on amazon as a cheap way 2 create a 7.2 or atmos system? the cheap sub becomes the 2nd sub. the cheap mains & surrounds become the surround back & rears.

All sounds like a bad idea. If you are interested in getting a good sound, its better to spend more on fewer, quality components than it is to spend the same amount for a larger quantity of mediocre components. If I were you I would just get a couple of good speakers and add to the system later on as your budget allows. A good two-channel system will sounds worlds better than a middling 7.2 system.

 

[j_garcia]

It is ALWAYS better to spend the money on the speakers too, since they are actually responsible for the sound. Start with 3.1 or 5.1 and add to that rather than trying to get a higher number of lower quality speakers otherwise you will eventually spend more to replace all of it.

 

[yepimonfire]

Always focus on getting the best you can afford for all 5/7 speakers. Don't cheap out on the center or surrounds either, especially the center, since >60% of the soundtrack is anchored to it, many people will pair their fronts with lousy surrounds, claiming they're "barely used". I think this conclusion is reached BECAUSE people use lousy surrounds that can't keep up with the LCR, not because there's actually not much content in them. Even many TV shows I've watched have fairly active surround content.

Don't make the mistake of purchasing big towers for the L/R and puny satellites for the center and surrounds.

In addition, it's always best to timbre match all speakers as closely as possible. Using different lines, or worse, different brands of speakers for the surrounds or heights is distracting, and ruins the seamlessness of the sound stage IME.

What is your budget, room size/distance from the TV, and goals for the system? Luckily, in 2018, an excellent, high performance system can be designed on any budget.

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[Darenwh]

Depending on your location you may be able to watch local estate sales for somebody with a media room or home theater to get a great bargain. Speakers in these often go for cheap. Last weekend I could have picked up a set of Canton Vento 820's (L + R) and a matching center for $150. Should have done it but could not at this time without upsetting the WAF. Week before I picked up four Canton Plus GX speakers for $20 (Total) with the canton wall mounts on them. Prior to that I got my current LCR speakers (Phase Technology Velocity 12's with matching center) for $250 and that included their 10" sub. I sold the sub for $70 so the L + R + C came to $170. Had some speakers for 5.1 but will now be using the Canton's for either 7.1 channel system. It can take a while to find the good deals but they are out there... Even got my current sub that way. It was $100 for a JBL HTPS-400THX which I consider to be a great sub. It used to belong to Hector Olivera of the Atlanta Braves. He moved and it was part of the moving sale...

 

[1313stang]

yea I knew you would say that lol. I have a good jbl sub. 2 Polk towers, a Polk c10 mabey (entry level center), Polk t10s for the rears. which I've never been happy with any of the polks. with a Yamaha 1065 i believe. so the sub would stay. i would replace the main 3 with possibly klipsch reference or premieres. also looking at leviton/jbl for surrounds. just tinkering w cheaper possbilities 4 the surrounds & 2nd sub.

 

[yepimonfire]

yea I knew you would say that lol. I have a good jbl sub. 2 Polk towers, a Polk c10 mabey (entry level center), Polk t10s for the rears. which I've never been happy with any of the polks. with a Yamaha 1065 i believe. so the sub would stay. i would replace the main 3 with possibly klipsch reference or premieres. also looking at leviton/jbl for surrounds. just tinkering w cheaper possbilities 4 the surrounds & 2nd sub.

The klipsch Premeire is excellent if you want a speaker with both excellent dynamics and highly revealing neutrality. For home theater, their efficiency is big plus. I have no issue filling a 2000 cu ft room with reference level sound using Rp-160m and a 250c. I'd go for the 160ms over the inexpensive reference towers. With a 60hz-80hz xover, they have plenty of headroom for even larger rooms. Which Jbl are you looking at for surrounds? I'm willing to bet that a pair of matching klipsch 150ms wouldn't be much more expensive.

What Jbl sub do you have? I'm going to guess it's a weak link. Also, please answer my original questions regarding room size and budget.

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[1313stang]

room size is around 15x15 but open floor plan. we sit about 10 feet from tv. like 2 keep it under 1500. the boss is already twitchy with me spending 300 or so on the center. would like to dump the towers. seems overkill 4 the space. the sub is I think a 250 sumthin. bout 5 yrs old. I'm on lunch so don't have anything in front of me. I'm happy w the sub. at half it rattles all the pictures in the house. the polks seem fine for music, they can get very loud. but we constantly are saying "what'd he say?" almost like sum1 has a mic against their chest & its all mid range. no consonants pronounced. so interested in listening to a horn tweeter. the jbls are on amazon under leviton. 2 for 50 bucks or sumthn.

 

[yepimonfire]

150ms all around for the floor speakers and a pair of rb10s on clearance for the overhead (easily mounted to the ceiling with an omni mount) would do nicely. The 150m can be had for $280 a pair on eBay, and the 250c can be had for ~$230. The rb10s go for around d $120 a pair. For the extra $60, I really think the 160m is worth the extra price, you gain an extra 3dB of sensitivity and greater power handling. The 6.5" woofer has over double the surface area of the 5.25" woofer in the 150m.

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[1313stang]

Ok so went to B.B. today. Horrible experience. Picked up the Polk s35. Didn’t have the Klipsch rp250c. They had the 25c and the larger 440 I believe. The quad. Anyway. Watching “it” now. S35 is definitely better than my c10 I have now but 250$ better? Meh. So I’m gonna order the 250c and see what that sounds like. I really was hoping I’d be wowed by these. I like the looks. Sleek Smaller package. Plus being able to buy piece meal and still stay within a sound dynamic.