Please help: First time buyer of Def Tech speakers

[ZiaK]

After a year's worth of listening (many speakers at Magnolia, Tweeters etc.), reading reviews and threads, and much soul searching I finally bought these yesterday:

Denon AVR-1908 listed at 599
DT SM450 pair listed at 660/pair
DT C/L/R 2002 listed at 499
DT BP1.2X pair listed at 350/pair
DT PS800 sub listed at 399

Paid $2,038.35 with tax. Drove 200 miles from home to a large dealer in Texas who had the 450s on buy one get one free sale. I was able to negotiate the rest. Please give me your most honest opinions..........

1. What do you think of my system for this price?
2. Could I have spent this money better?
3. How would you have spent, if you had budget around 5K?

My wife likes anything I like. Music is my second love and also love to watch videos and live concerts on DVDs (Elton John, Eagles, Journey, Beegees, Pink Floyd, etc.) and clasical music from India including exotic instruments. This will become my main system in a average sized living room and my 10 year old is autistic who can not tolerate very loud sound but loves beautiful music. Plan to open the boxes and install on long weekends coming up. Thanks to everybody in advance!

Forgot to mention: currently using a Philips (DVDR 3475) progressive scan upcoverting (to 1080p) dvd player/recorder, so in the market for a good player, and a 42 - 50 tv.

 

[Seth=L]

Does it sound good to you? If you like it why fuss about it? Would I have spent that much on Def Techs? I probably wouldn't myself, but that is because I have a different taste in speakers. I am also in a different budget bracket being a college student. I buy used gear, pretty much whatever is good that I can get my hands on. When you spend as little as I do on stuff you always feel like you are getting great sound for you money. Buying new has a ton of niceties that I don't get to have most of the time, like a warranty, knowing that no one else has used them, and they are shiny new.

The only thing in your system that a really would never purchase given what competition there is would be your receiver, there are better value and better featured receivers for about the same price. The Onkyo TX-SR805 is my personal favorite in receivers below $1000 period.

And welcome to the forum ZiaK.

 

[mazersteven]

Seth is right. If this system sounds good to you that's all that matters.

Like him I personally would have spent my money elsewhere.

For example I would have purchased this receiver over the Denon.
http://www.onkyousa.com/model.cfm?m=TX-SR605&class=Receiver&p=i

I also would have went with another subwoofer over the Definitive.

Congratulations. Hope you get many enjoyable years out of your system.

Welcome to Audioholics.

 

[Seth=L]

For example I would have purchased this receiver over the Denon.
http://www.onkyousa.com/model.cfm?m=TX-SR605&class=Receiver&p=i

Common, the Def Techs deserve more power than that, regardless of how efficient they are.

 

[mazersteven]

Common, the Def Techs deserve more power than that, regardless of how efficient they are.

Not saying they don't. But dollar for dollar I would have went with the Onkyo and saved money over the Denon.

 

[Joe Schmoe]

If you had asked this question prior to making the purchase, you might have gotten some good suggestions. Why does it matter now that the deal is done?
FWIW I love my Def Techs.

 

[GlocksRock]

Pretty good setup, but you probably could have saved some money by buying used, but for new gear, I think you did ok.

 

[ZiaK]

Thank you for your comments.

I am able to return any or all of the items, and I don't mind the drive. I prefer to buy new over used. I read in another thread about low(16 Hz) and tight bass for music vs loud sub, and saw a couple of suggestions for around $350 (Hsu, SVC?) any comments please? Thanks a lot for the comments.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

After a year's worth of listening (many speakers at Magnolia, Tweeters etc.), reading reviews and threads, and much soul searching I finally bought these yesterday:

Denon AVR-1908 listed at 599
DT SM450 pair listed at 660/pair
DT C/L/R 2002 listed at 499
DT BP1.2X pair listed at 350/pair
DT PS800 sub listed at 399

Paid $2,038.35 with tax.

1) Denon AVR-1908 for $600? 85 wpc x7. No TrueHD/DTS-MA, HDMI1.3?
I would have ordered the Onkyo SR705 100 wpc x 7, w/ TrueHD/DTS-MA, 3 HDMI 1.3 inputs for $610:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000OBMX0K/ref=ord_cart_shr?_encoding=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&v=glance

I think most of the Def Tech speakers (including SM450s) are more like 4 - 6 ohm speakers, so having more power is good. More features is Best.

2) I have the SM450s. They sound great. So you paid $330 for two SM450s? Or $165 for each? Why not just get 5 SM450s = $825? They CAN order the SM450s individually! Then get the SuperCube I for $800, if they can match that price. I know I can get that price at Ultimate Electronics in Oklahoma.

That's a great price because I paid $550 for two. But I also paid $125 for 2 stands = $675 (2 SM450 + 2 stands).

3) Your CLR2002 has 5.25" midrange/upper bass drivers & the SM450s have 6.5". Since they are having a great deal on the SM450s, I would also use the SM450s for the Center and the surrounds.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

1. What do you think of my system for this price?
2. Could I have spent this money better?
3. How would you have spent, if you had budget around 5K?

1) BP8B x 2 = $600, SM350 x 3 = $600, SuperCube I = $800, Total = $2,000

2) BP10B x 2 = $800, SM450 x 3 = $500 (buy 1, get 1 free?), SC-I $800, Total = $2,100 = I would get this *****

I think the BP10Bs are fantastic (20Hz-20kHz +/-6dB), especially @ $ 800/pr.

I wish someone would buy my four SM450s (new) for $200 each x 4 = $800. Shoot, I'll even throw in my four 42" speaker stands (also new).

Then I could buy those BP10Bs.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

I think you did good. I would keep what you got but if I was to change anything it would be the AVR to what these guys already said.