First time buyer, would like to do it right, help please!

[timintex]

Hey guys,

I've been reading here for awile. I -think- I am ready to buy my first setup. I've been looking at speakers /subs endlessly and to be honest I am not quite sure what I need, but I know what I want. I ask you fine gentleman for help in my time of dire need!

Currently I have a 2.1 $50 computer speakers setup in my living room with a 6" sub. So anything is really better.

I have about 600-650 for receiver and 2 mains/1sub. I am wondering if I should get receiver and mains only and wait on the sub.

I want the speakers to be the lower line of a brand that I can come back to in 6 months and buy a nicer LR and C, and move these to surrounds but still function as a decent LR now.

So if you could reccomend me a setup that'd be great.

I was thinking the 200 a pair MTMs for EDesign, BIC-100, and receiver ?

or instead of the BIC-100, I saw the sw-12 for 300 free shipping and it said it used to be 799. I know 800 is inflated but its discontinued. Is the sw-12 better than the bic?

Thanks everyone

 

[Midcow2]

wait on the sub!

Hey guys,

I've been reading here for awile. I -think- I am ready to buy my first setup. I've been looking at speakers /subs endlessly and to be honest I am not quite sure what I need, but I know what I want. I ask you fine gentleman for help in my time of dire need!

Currently I have a 2.1 $50 computer speakers setup in my living room with a 6" sub. So anything is really better.

I have about 600-650 for receiver and 2 mains/1sub. I am wondering if I should get receiver and mains only and wait on the sub.

I want the speakers to be the lower line of a brand that I can come back to in 6 months and buy a nicer LR and C, and move these to surrounds but still function as a decent LR now.

So if you could reccomend me a setup that'd be great.

I was thinking the 200 a pair MTMs for EDesign, BIC-100, and receiver ?

or instead of the BIC-100, I saw the sw-12 for 300 free shipping and it said it used to be 799. I know 800 is inflated but its discontinued. Is the sw-12 better than the bic?

Thanks everyone

Here is a good starting $400 system that you will like!
http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showpost.php?p=443863&postcount=20

Save the left over $200 for good SVS ($429) or Hsu ($399) sub.

 

[jcPanny]

New system

I agree, hold off on the sub. A decent one would use most of your budget.
You should be able to get a nice pair of bookshelf speakers in the $200-300 a pair range. Look for deals at local retailers or check out some of the ID companies.

In your price range look for a deal on a slightly older or refurbished receiver. For example you can find the Yamaha RX-V661 in the $300 price range vs. $4-500 for the newer model. Onkyo also just released new models, so look for deals on the 605. Sites like ecost have deals on factory refurbished receivers.

 

[fredk]

Have you listened to either of those speakers yet? I knew what I wanted before I auditioned, but that changed based on what I heard.

I agree on waiting with the sub, and on picking up a refurb or even used receiver.

You will find quite a range of opinion here on what does and doesn't sound good. Listen to as many speakers in your price range as you can.

Some other manufacturers to consider: PSB, Montor Audio, Axiom, Boston Acoustics, AV123, Ascend...

 

[Midcow2]

FredK makes a great recommendation, 'go audition the speakers'

Have you listened to either of those speakers yet? I knew what I wanted before I auditioned, but that changed based on what I heard.

I agree on waiting with the sub, and on picking up a refurb or even used receiver.

You will find quite a range of opinion here on what does and doesn't sound good. Listen to as many speakers in your price range as you can.

Some other manufacturers to consider: PSB, Montor Audio, Axiom, Boston Acoustics, AV123, Ascend...

Timintex,

Fredk makes a great recommendation, go out and audition and listen too the speakers. You are the ultimate judge of what you like best and what sounds best to you.

Forum member have made a lot of good suggestions for speaker choices, time for you to go listen to some of them


Good luck

 

[timintex]

I'll try and go to fries and list to some speakers they have there to get an idea. Thanks for your input everyone and please keep replying if you feel it is necessary.

I was looking at the dvsi by bic they are cheap, 100 a pair. Are they decent?

 

[calnbs]

BIC America are decent, entry level speakers that get good reviews from their owners. I would have no problem owning them if I was on a budget. At one point, their Acoustech or Venturi were speakers I was going to go for but I raised my budget at the last minute.

 

[Midcow2]

some good inexpensive speakers

I'll try and go to fries and list to some speakers they have there to get an idea. Thanks for your input everyone and please keep replying if you feel it is necessary.

I was looking at the dvsi by bic they are cheap, 100 a pair. Are they decent?

If you want good $100 a pair speakers these are very good Sony SS-B3000 ( I have them in my garage system and as surrounds in media game room with Front Def Tech 2006s and def Tec Pro100center and Klipsch sub)

Sony SS-B3000 3-Way Bookshelf Speakers (Pair)http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/493591-REG/Sony_SS_B3000_SS_B3000_3_Way_Bookshelf_Speakers.html The are $74.95 plus shipping/ less than $100 shipped

These are better than decent very good

Another even better speaker ( but smaller) is the Cambridge Audio S30
They are $219 a pair plus shipping.
http://spearitsound.amazonwebstore.com/Cambridge-Audio-S30-Speakers-Natural-Oak/M/B00196SJOI.htm?utm_campaign=froogle&utm_medium=organic&utm_source=froogle

 

[timintex]

I listened to the Polk r150s at fries ( I know it's frys btw), and for their price I thought they sound really good. The only other HT speakers I've heard before is various HTIBs from friends houses (meh), and a dayton system I setup for a friend.

The 10inch dayton woofer and their hts-1200 or whatever 5 speaker kit they have thats like 140 for all of them.

I want something better than the polk r150s. Would the bic dv62si suffice? I want a lineup with good speakers. I just want to buy the surrounds for now that way in 3 months or so I can come and spend 600 on L C R.

Is the infinty sw-12 better than the bic 100 sub that everyone talks about?

Why do people say it's so worth it for one of the hsu 400 subs or the svs entry sub. What do they have over the bic or the ininity?

I think I am going to buy the infinity sw-12, a pair of the dv62si, and I still don't know which receiver.

 

[mazersteven]

Does Fry's have any of the Polk RTi8's left?

 

[timintex]

I am not sure. I haven't gone their recently. I went to listen to the r150s from fries awile back because I setup a friends HT with the r150s, csr, onkyo 605, and the dayton 12... it sounded pretty damn good. But I want something better!!!

 

[mazersteven]

Why do people say it's so worth it for one of the hsu 400 subs or the svs entry sub. What do they have over the bic or the ininity?

What the HSU and SVS subs have over the others is

Output (performance)
Controlled, Accurate, Bass
Build Quality
Customer Service

 

[timintex]

The best tight bass, that wasn't boomy like most things I've heard is from my friends truck.

3 W7s powered by I believe 500 or 1000 watt amps a piece

Would they be similar? Or is car audio bass much different?

 

[mazersteven]

Speakers

ELT525M Mini Monitor
http://av123.com/component/page,shop.product_details/flypage,shop.flypage/product_id,193/category_id,51/manufacturer_id,0/option,com_virtuemart/Itemid,37/

or

CBM-170 SE
http://www.ascendacoustics.com/pages/products/speakers/cbm170/cbm170.html

Subwoofer

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

Receiver

Yamaha RXV663
http://www.fotoconnection.com/p85676-yamaha-rx-v663-72-channel-digital-home-theater-receiver-black.html

 

[fredk]

Something else to consider is to pick up a used or refurb receiver. That would leave a lot more $ for your mains.

With the changeover to the new HD formats, there are plenty of good deals on good quality receivers. I picked up a Sherwood Newcastle 100w 5.1 receiver for around $70. It works perfectly and will do just fine until I can afford the switch to bluray and HD audio.