Putting Together A Home Theatre On A Budget

[Soundman]

I'm sure you can get the Usher's for less than retail price or maybe a package deal from your local dealer. I'd skip the HT-1 center and go for the S-525 center for less money and matched drivers all the way around. Also, the HT-1 isn't available in the matching piano black finish. I just picked up an S-525 and it is much larger than I thought it would be. It matches the S-520 perfectly. I was originally concerned about the front baffle that slants upwards, but the slope is not as drastic as it looks in the pictures.

Are there timbre-matched surrounds for those Ushers? Otherwise, going with s-520's for surrounds as well would put my budget up some more. Also, how would this setup compare to say the SVS sbs-01 system for HT use? I can go that route and with a very nice SVS sub for $1,149. I'll also need some stands. The Usher stands are 400/pair. Pricey! I know I can get stands anywhere, but it's nice to get matching stands. The SVS stands are $54.95 a pair. obviously, they wont be as pretty as some nicer stands, but they look very functional and match nicely. I value performance over looks anyday. Anyway, just a thought.

 

[mazersteven]

Also, how would this setup compare to say the SVS Sb's-01 system for HT use?

The SVS bookshelf speakers are not even in the same class as the Usher's.

SVS are nice speakers, but the sound quality of the Usher's is night and day with the SVS's.

Look for less expensive stands here.

www.standsandmounts.com

www.racksandstands.com

 

[Soundman]

The SVS bookshelf speakers are not even in the same class as the Usher's.

SVS are nice speakers, but the sound quality of the Usher's is night and day with the SVS's.

Look for less expensive stands here.

www.standsandmounts.com

www.racksandstands.com

I read the audioholics review on the s-520's and they do look nice! Don't know how I would addition them, or even purchase them b/c none of the dealers in my area carry them. I may have to go another route unless anyone has some ideas.

 

[Soundman]

I read the audioholics review on the s-520's and they do look nice! Don't know how I would addition them, or even purchase them b/c none of the dealers in my area carry them. I may have to go another route unless anyone has some ideas.

Hold up! I may have spoken too soon. I found a dealer about an hour away. That's worth the drive to do some auditioning. If anyone has some ideas, maybe some others worth auditioning in this price range, Please let me know.

 

[Soundman]

I read the audioholics review on the s-520's and they do look nice! Don't know how I would addition them, or even purchase them b/c none of the dealers in my area carry them. I may have to go another route unless anyone has some ideas.

Well, I'll probably be listening to some Usher S-520's next week. However, I do think it's going to push things out of my budget more than I thought now that I've had a chance to add things up. I can get a package deal for some Usher's and get 25% off retail, so (4) S-520's and (1) S-525 for around $900 + tax, a great deal, but I'll also need to add in $600 for an SVS sub + s/h charge of 83.50. Also, for my setup I'll need 4 stands. I've done some looking and 4 decent stands will be another $250 at least. So my total cost will be at least $1,896.50 for the Usher setup. By going the SVS route, and purchasing the stands from their website, it will be $1,257.90. This is a difference of $638.60. So, first of all, I understand that the Usher's are a step up from the SVS speakers, but there is also a price difference to reflect it. Also, I know the Usher's will give a more detailed sound, but they may not play as loud either and will require a little more power as well. Since this is a HT setup, will I hear the difference? And if so, is it worth the extra $600. Just looking for some opinions. I'm trying to stay with my budget, but would like the best sound for the money. A compromise may be in order. Suggestions?

 

[ParadigmDawg]

For HT the SVS will be more than fine. HT is just not that difficult; all you need are some decent mains, a good center,a great sub and anything at all for surrounds.

 

[Soundman]

For HT the SVS will be more than fine. HT is just not that difficult; all you need are some decent mains, a good center,a great sub and anything at all for surrounds.

Why is that I wonder? Everyone says it's so much easier to reproduce movie soundtracks, and it seems to be true from what I've heard, but why?? Is it because the audio on a DVD is compressed and CD audio is not. And if that's the case, I wonder if this will change soon because of the Dolby TRUEHD format?

 

[avaserfi]

Why is that I wonder? Everyone says it's so much easier to reproduce movie soundtracks, and it seems to be true from what I've heard, but why?? Is it because the audio on a DVD is compressed and CD audio is not. And if that's the case, I wonder if this will change soon because of the Dolby TRUEHD format?

I think you will get various opinions on this but I feel that music is harder to reproduce for a few reasons:

1. Movies are a multi-faceted experience, most of the time you won't be listening critically to a movie because you are watching at the same time.
2. The dynamics in a movie just aren't as complicated as they are in music in my opinion. Movies have big explosions and such but music has chamber orchestras and instruments that reach far beyond what dominates most movies, dialog.
3. Precision differences are much more noticeable in music when an instrument sounds off where a car sounding a little deeper, for example, could be a variety of things.

 

[gus6464]

I think you will get various opinions on this but I feel that music is harder to reproduce for a few reasons:

1. Movies are a multi-faceted experience, most of the time you won't be listening critically to a movie because you are watching at the same time.
2. The dynamics in a movie just aren't as complicated as they are in music in my opinion. Movies have big explosions and such but music has chamber orchestras and instruments that reach far beyond what dominates most movies, dialog.
3. Precision differences are much more noticeable in music when an instrument sounds off where a car sounding a little deeper, for example, could be a variety of things.

This is so true. I heard a Def tech ht setup consisting of the SM350 mains, BP-2X surrounds, Pro Center 1000, and a Pro 1000 sub and another def tech system with BP7004 fronts, CLR 2300 center and same BP-2X for surrounds with a Supercube II sub and in the movie I honestly couldn't tell a difference. The only thing that I found to be better in the second setup was the bass which is credited to the Supercube II mostly. I personally think that for a good 100% HT setup the most important thing is the center and sub and that's where you should spend the most of the money. I would take a system with $500 L/R/C/S speakers and $1000 sub than one with a $500 sub and $1000 speakers any day. Plus I am now starting to believe that if you want music too you might as well get another setup for just 2.0 or 2.1. Hmm I think I might get flamed for what I have just said.

 

[mazersteven]

Will you hear $600 worth of better HT listening experience? Whether it is worth the extra $600 or not is up to you.

I will give you an example of one of my experiences.

I was watching Master and Commander for the 10th time at an audio boutique store one afternoon. It was the first time I was auditioning good speakers. While watching the movie (it was a scene where they are down inside the ship) I heard something, and couldn't figure out what it was. I was looking around the room to see if someone else had come inside the auditioning room. There was no one there. I couldn't figure out what I just heard. I played the scene again, and again heard the sound. It was the sound of people walking around on the top deck of the wooden ship. I was like WTF. I had watched that movie time and time again and never noticed that effect for the movie.

Good speakers will have better detail, and clarity. As you go up in quality, speakers will sound better. But that also comes with a price.

Will you have a good experience with the SVS system? Yes

Will you have a better experience with the Ushers? I will leave that for you to decide.

 

[gus6464]

Will you hear $600 worth of better HT listening experience? Whether it is worth the extra $600 or not is up to you.

I will give you an example of one of my experiences.

I was watching Master and Commander for the 10th time at an audio boutique store one afternoon. It was the first time I was auditioning good speakers. While watching the movie (it was a scene where they are down inside the ship) I heard something, and couldn't figure out what it was. I was looking around the room to see if someone else had come inside the auditioning room. There was no one there. I couldn't figure out what I just heard. I played the scene again, and again heard the sound. It was the sound of people walking around on the top deck of the wooden ship. I was like WTF. I had watched that movie time and time again and never noticed that effect for the movie.

Good speakers will have better detail, and clarity. As you go up in quality, speakers will sound better. But that also comes with a price.

Will you have a good experience with the SVS system? Yes

Will you have a better experience with the Ushers? I will leave that for you to decide.

What speakers where they?

 

[Soundman]

What speakers where they?

The Usher S-520's for mains and surrounds and the S-525 for the center

 

[gus6464]

The Usher S-520's for mains and surrounds and the S-525 for the center

Hopefully I will be auditioning the S-520's this weekend for a 2ch music setup. Have to drive 2 hours to get to the nearest dealer.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

Just an example of my experience with a “cheap” HT set up.

I had a sick Paradigm that had to taken out of use one weekend. I didn’t want to go through the weekend without watching a movie and listening to some music so I went to my equipment closet and pulled out some $50 Sony speakers. I popped in a CD and it was unbearable; worse than listening to a transistor radio with a ½” speaker. I then placed a movie in and it wasn’t bad at all; I could tell a big difference but not as much as I thought I was going to. Moral to the story…the center and the sub makes a the HT.

 

[Soundman]

Just an example of my experience with a “cheap” HT set up.

I had a sick Paradigm that had to taken out of use one weekend. I didn’t want to go through the weekend without watching a movie and listening to some music so I went to my equipment closet and pulled out some $50 Sony speakers. I popped in a CD and it was unbearable; worse than listening to a transistor radio with a ½” speaker. I then placed a movie in and it wasn’t bad at all; I could tell a big difference but not as much as I thought I was going to. Moral to the story…the center and the sub makes a the HT.

Good point. I actually heard the Klipsch F-1 Home Theatre System this weekend. It's a budget tower system that includes:

* F-1 Floorstanders
* C-1 Center
* S-1 Surrounds
* Sub-10 Subwoofer
It was on display, being used for HT. It didn't sound half bad at all! it's in the same price range as the SVS speakers. Does anyone know how the SVS SBS/SCS-01's with a SVS sub would stack up against a system like this. Just curious since I still haven't heard them. If anyone has heard both of these systems, it would be great to get your feedback. Thanks.

 

[gus6464]

Good point. I actually heard the Klipsch F-1 Home Theatre System this weekend. It's a budget tower system that includes:

* F-1 Floorstanders
* C-1 Center
* S-1 Surrounds
* Sub-10 Subwoofer
It was on display, being used for HT. It didn't sound half bad at all! it's in the same price range as the SVS speakers. Does anyone know how the SVS SBS/SCS-01's with a SVS sub would stack up against a system like this. Just curious since I still haven't heard them. If anyone has heard both of these systems, it would be great to get your feedback. Thanks.

100% HT setups are a lot less demanding than ones where you will also listen to music. Even if you will only be listening to music 10% of time I would advise to base your auditions on music. If you find some speakers that sound great to you in music, I am certain they will also sound great in movies.

 

[Gimpy Ric]

100% HT setups are a lot less demanding than ones where you will also listen to music. Even if you will only be listening to music 10% of time I would advise to base your auditions on music. If you find some speakers that sound great to you in music, I am certain they will also sound great in movies.

You are so right. Music is the only way I'll audition speakers. Music has well, music. So do ALL movies. Well at least 99% of the movies I watch have music. One might not notice the music, but its in there.

 

[gus6464]

The JBL Studio L series are also great speakers that you should definitely check out. Audioholics did a review of the L880 a while ago. http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/speakers/floorstanding/jbl-l880

Right now you can get them on sale for over 50% off from buy.com which personally I think makes them a better buy than the av123 X-series.

L880 towers $315 each
http://www.buy.com/prod/jbl-l880-studio-l-series/q/loc/111/202988554.html
L830 bookshelves $365 pair
http://www.buy.com/prod/jbl-6-bookshelf-black-speaker-l-series/q/loc/111/202985793.html
LC1 center $195
http://www.ubid.com/actn/opn/getpage.asp?AuctionId=901721515&uwb=uwbc10397

 

[Soundman]

The JBL Studio L series are also great speakers that you should definitely check out. Audioholics did a review of the L880 a while ago. http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/speakers/floorstanding/jbl-l880

Right now you can get them on sale for over 50% off from buy.com which personally I think makes them a better buy than the av123 X-series.

L880 towers $315 each
http://www.buy.com/prod/jbl-l880-studio-l-series/q/loc/111/202988554.html
L830 bookshelves $365 pair
http://www.buy.com/prod/jbl-6-bookshelf-black-speaker-l-series/q/loc/111/202985793.html
LC1 center $195
http://www.ubid.com/actn/opn/getpage.asp?AuctionId=901721515&uwb=uwbc10397

Thanks for the input. That does look like a good deal. However, I'm not looking for towers. I just don't have the space with my setup. I could look at the JBL bookshelf's. Right now I'm considering Usher 520-s, SVS, Onix X-series, a few other possibilities as well, but those are the ones I've really looked at that fit into my budget.

 

[Soundman]

Thanks for the input. That does look like a good deal. However, I'm not looking for towers. I just don't have the space with my setup. I could look at the JBL bookshelf's. Right now I'm considering Usher 520-s, SVS, Onix X-series, a few other possibilities as well, but those are the ones I've really looked at that fit into my budget.

still not sure. i keep hearing so many people talk about that X-series, and the fact that they're sold out till who know's when is making me think about it some more. I haven't heard anything negative about them so far. Any comments on this? Experience with them? Let me know. ;^)