3.1 vs. 5.1 - which one?

[phillyrx]

so everytime i want to pull the trigger on a 5.1, i debate whether or not i should just get a 3.1. reasons for doing so are: looks neater (speakers not everywhere), no wires to worry about, and possibly less cost.

i have been currently living off the audio from my aquos 46' tv, and haven't had too much of an issue, but would like better sound. so i don't need an amazing system or whatnot, just something to give an upgraded sound from just tv audio.

i still have a budget of $560ish for the system to pair with my onkyo 605 receiver. so my question is, do you think its possible that i'd be happy with a 3.1 system considering that i'm kinda okay with just the tv audio alone? also, any good 3.1 setups you recommend (want better than htib sound, but nothing crazy)? also, size is important so bookshelves would be preferable. i CANNOT have floorstanding speakers... i'm okay with the bigger (10") sub though

if it helps... 99% of use will be for watching movies, tv, and playing wii... very little on music alone...

thanks so much, and i apologize for all the questions!

 

[mazersteven]

How long will it take you to save another $400 bucks if you want 5.1?

SVS SBS-01
http://www.svsound.com/products-sys-sbs_black.cfm

Or if not. I recommend getting

SVS SBS-01 Pair - Black $225
SVS SCS-01 Center - Black $185
http://www.svsound.com/products-spks-sbs01.cfm

plus this sub

Dayton SUB-120 12" 150 Watt Powered Subwoofer $148
http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&Partnumber=300-635


Total is $558 plus shipping.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I say just get this $400/pr Tower from AV123 for now:

http://av123.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=173&category_id=21&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=37

Then when you get more money, get a $430 SVS sub:

http://www.svsound.com/products-sub-box-10nsd.cfm

Then when you get more budget, get a $200 AV123 Center speaker:

http://av123.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=174&category_id=21&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=37

Then later $300/pr surround speakers:

http://av123.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=172&category_id=21&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=37

 

[j_garcia]

I agree with going 3.1 at first and adding the others later as budget permits. It is a better path long term IMO.

 

[aberkowitz]

I would say that even 2.1 is a good temporary solution. I lived with 2.1 for several years when I had roommates and had my "home theater" setup in my bedroom. I found that having the sub was a better investment (for both movies and music) than the center channel.

 

[rnatalli]

Yup, 2.1 or 3.1 and upgrade later.

 

[phillyrx]

How long will it take you to save another $400 bucks if you want 5.1?

SVS SBS-01
http://www.svsound.com/products-sys-sbs_black.cfm

Or if not. I recommend getting

SVS SBS-01 Pair - Black $225
SVS SCS-01 Center - Black $185
http://www.svsound.com/products-spks-sbs01.cfm

plus this sub

Dayton SUB-120 12" 150 Watt Powered Subwoofer $148
http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&Partnumber=300-635


Total is $558 plus shipping.

thanks for the response mazer! i think i'm leaning the 3.1 rute for now also. the one thing i seem to hear is to spend a good chunk on the sub. in your option, you have most going to the fronts. in your opinion, or anyone for that matter, which is most important? thanks!

 

[phillyrx]

I say just get this $400/pr Tower from AV123 for now:

http://av123.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=173&category_id=21&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=37

Then when you get more money, get a $430 SVS sub:

http://www.svsound.com/products-sub-box-10nsd.cfm

Then when you get more budget, get a $200 AV123 Center speaker:

http://av123.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=174&category_id=21&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=37

Then later $300/pr surround speakers:

http://av123.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=172&category_id=21&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=37

acudeftechguy - as much as i'd like to do that... we have so many home improvments, that my budget for a home theatre is gonna be in the $560ish range for a couple of years. given that, i'd like to get at least a 3.1 for that price. i understand this won't be ideal, but i can easily live with that... thanks for the help!

 

[mazersteven]

thanks for the response mazer! i think i'm leaning the 3.1 rute for now also. the one thing i seem to hear is to spend a good chunk on the sub. in your option, you have most going to the fronts. in your opinion, or anyone for that matter, which is most important? thanks!

IMO I recommended the best system for sound quality for your budget. Your fronts are the main speakers for any system.

 

[phillyrx]

IMO I recommended the best system for sound quality for your budget. Your fronts are the main speakers for any system.

any thoughts on the svs you recommend vs. psb alphas that i hear so much about?

 

[Seth=L]

any thoughts on the svs you recommend vs. psb alphas that i hear so much about?

LOL, I really wish posters would take the time to read the OP's posts. He did specifically say "no towers".

I see no good reason to do 3.1 at this time, let me tell you why. You are looking for better sound, you can achieve excellent sound with a 2.0 or 2.1 set up. You have a budget of $560 for speakers, I suggest you do a 2.0 at this time. Just two full range bookshelf speakers. At that price, you can get some excellent sounding bookshelf speakers in the new market, or if you are brave enough spectacular sounding used speakers. Audiogon is a good place to look for gently used high fidelity speakers on a budget.

Later, when the budget allows, you can add a subwoofer. If you living arrangement changes and you can afford to have a full surround while maintaining the neatness get surrounds and a center.

I personally think you will get far more enjoyment from buying a stereo set of speakers right now instead of trying to get 3.1 or even 2.1. A good subwoofer is going to cost almost your entire budget. I think you owe it to yourself to get some sweet sounding bookshelfs.

 

[mazersteven]

I see no good reason to do 3.1 at this time, let me tell you why. You are looking for better sound, you can achieve excellent sound with a 2.0 or 2.1 set up. You have a budget of $560 for speakers, I suggest you do a 2.0 at this time. Just two full range bookshelf speakers. At that price, you can get some excellent sounding bookshelf speakers in the new market, or if you are brave enough spectacular sounding used speakers. Audiogon is a good place to look for gently used high fidelity speakers on a budget.

Later, when the budget allows, you can add a subwoofer. If you living arrangement changes and you can afford to have a full surround while maintaining the neatness get surrounds and a center.

I personally think you will get far more enjoyment from buying a stereo set of speakers right now instead of trying to get 3.1 or even 2.1. A good subwoofer is going to cost almost your entire budget. I think you owe it to yourself to get some sweet sounding bookshelfs.

The OP stated "we have so many home improvements, that my budget for a home theatre is gonna be in the $560ish range for a couple of years."

If he can wait a few years to up-grade then your recommendation is a good one. If he can't then

 

[Halon451]

any thoughts on the svs you recommend vs. psb alphas that i hear so much about?

Check out My System pics - I have the SVS system Mazer recommended, and I love it. GREAT system for the price. I do have 5.1 though complimented with some JBL surrounds. 3.1 would work for you, but trust me - eventually you will want to move forward with a full 5.1 system. Once you hear a good surround sound system in your home you will likely wonder how you ever did without it.

 

[Seth=L]

The OP stated "we have so many home improvements, that my budget for a home theatre is gonna be in the $560ish range for a couple of years."

If he can wait a few years to up-grade then your recommendation is a good one. If he can't then

Right you are, but a good stereo system can be very satisfying if special care is taken selecting speakers and setting them up properly. Believe it or not, I get quite a spatial effect with my stereo. I have had surround sound before, nice surround sound. Does it sound better for movies?, it most certainly does, but I don't miss it.

Everyone is different, but I feel a good stereo system will be more rewarding than a 3.1 system comprised of lesser quality components.

 

[mazersteven]

So the question then Seth is. What speakers would you recommend?

Ascend Acoustics
CMT-340 SE
http://www.ascendacoustics.com/pages/products/speakers/cmt340m/cmt340m.html

Used Paradigm Studio 20's

 

[Seth=L]

So the question then Seth is. What speakers would you recommend?

Ascend Acoustics
CMT-340 SE
http://www.ascendacoustics.com/pages/products/speakers/cmt340m/cmt340m.html

Used Paradigm Studio 20's

I would recommend the CBM-170 over the CMT-340 based on the fact I have had poor experience with MTM designs (not to say they are bad are inferior, just my experience). WmAx, who I consider quite an authority on speakers and speaker design (while he has not commented on the CMT-340 to me) recommends the CBM-170 (even over the Sierra 1). I have no personal experience with the Ascends, and for all I know they are total crap (haven't heard them, so I can't say). I don't believe they are crap for the record.

The Studio 20s are great speakers for bookshelfs. They sound great ran as full range, and would be a great choice for someone not getting a subwoofer immediately.

I don't like to recommend speakers, mostly because everyone's taste is different. I recommend used speakers at times or new ones that are extremely cheap, just because they are great deals. I don't dable much in full price new products in terms of recommendations, because honestly, most of the time I just plain don't know or for reasons as stated before, they might not like what I like.

Phil, I recommend you get out and listen to as many speakers as you can. A lot of online direct companies allow you to "test drive" their speakers in your home for 30 days. So if you don't like them, you can return them. Some of them even cover shipping charges both ways if you don't like them.

 

[j_garcia]

Having heard the 170s and 340s, I would take the 340s, though with a sub, I wouldn't be disappointed with the 170s.

 

[bigdaddyfajita]

I think the suggestion to not get the sub at this time is a good idea. I bought a cheap sub and figured I would upgrade later. The problem with that logic is convincing my wife we need a new sub. All I hear is, we already have a sub (and I don't think she likes the way the sub looks). I would have been better off not getting a sub initially, then coming back and buying a nice sounding and better looking sub later.

I would try to get 3.0 verses 2.0 if you can. I initially started off with a 2.1 setup. I thought it sounded great, but due to limitations in my living room, I could not place the speakers in an optimal place. The sound always seemed to come from the speaker closer to me (ie if I sat to the left of theTV then the Left speaker dominated). When I finally added a center channel speaker, the sound improved dramatically. Now the sound seems to come from the correct place as determined by the soundtrack. I don't notice which speaker is creating the sound any more.

http://www.saturdayaudio.com/
They have the PSB Monitor 25 for $299 a pair and the C40 center channel for $219. I have not heard these speakers, but I would love to. They get excellent reviews and look very nice from what I can tell in the picture.

 

[rnatalli]

Having heard the 170s and 340s, I would take the 340s, though with a sub, I wouldn't be disappointed with the 170s.

I feel you can get away without a sub using the 170's for music only. Ascends are some of the most neutral-sounding speakers I've heard, but like j_garcia once said, they're almost a little too neutral and I agree. It's all a matter of taste. For $560 you can definitely find some good bookshelf speakers. All the ones suggested so far are great speakers, but ultimately you'll have to listen to as many as possible before making a decision. Checkout SVS, Axiom, av123, Aperion, Monitor Audio, and PSB to name a few for great bookshelf speakers. Saturday Audio has some great deals going on Monitor Audio and PSB speakers and the ID brands always have a good price going.

 

[phillyrx]

LOL, I really wish posters would take the time to read the OP's posts. He did specifically say "no towers".

I see no good reason to do 3.1 at this time, let me tell you why. You are looking for better sound, you can achieve excellent sound with a 2.0 or 2.1 set up. You have a budget of $560 for speakers, I suggest you do a 2.0 at this time. Just two full range bookshelf speakers. At that price, you can get some excellent sounding bookshelf speakers in the new market, or if you are brave enough spectacular sounding used speakers. Audiogon is a good place to look for gently used high fidelity speakers on a budget.

Later, when the budget allows, you can add a subwoofer. If you living arrangement changes and you can afford to have a full surround while maintaining the neatness get surrounds and a center.

I personally think you will get far more enjoyment from buying a stereo set of speakers right now instead of trying to get 3.1 or even 2.1. A good subwoofer is going to cost almost your entire budget. I think you owe it to yourself to get some sweet sounding bookshelfs.

thanks for the advice seth. from the advice i received on cnet, i'm thinking of getting a 2.1 system and running the center as a phantom. i know you think it'd be great to blow the initial on a pair of bookshelves, but i'm kinda against that. i've noticed that the nice subs would typically take most of my budget, but i can't do anything about that. given this scenario, it seems like i can spend a little less than $300ish each on a pair of fronts and a sub. i'm debating whether or not to tip the scale to either side and get a decent pair of fronts or a sub and do a little downgrade on the other...