$1500 budget

[ErnieM]

How should I spend $1500 for speakers and an AV receiver? It needs to work with our old analog Sanyo 27" TV and budget DVD player and Comcast cable. I plan to upgrade the TV and DVD in a year. My son sometimes will bring his Playstation3 downstairs to play games (when I let him!). I am also wanting good quality sound to play my CDs: ranging from classic rock to classical. The room is 12 by 20 with a huge ceiling to floor window 11.5 ft long to the right of the TV. The ceiling is 8 ft. My chair is slightly to the right about 11 ft from the TV. I can live with 5.1 or go with 7.1. Sound quality, ability to use one remote, and smooth interaction with the Comcast are of concern. Thanks for your ideas and suggestions for equipment. The budget should include speaker stands and some cables. One system that intrigues me is the Onkyo HT-S9100THX 7.1, but perhaps going with separate components will get me better sound?

 

[alexwakelin]

perhaps going with separate components will get me better sound?

This is usually the case. The onkyo sytems are among the best for a HTiB, but you can do much better with your budget. One of the best starter systems out there is the SVS 5.1 system paired with an entry level receiver from Yamaha, Onkyo or Denon. You have a pretty large room to fill, another option would be to start with a 2.1 or 3.1 system so you can start out with better speakers, and add the surround speakers at a later date. You state you will be listening to Cd's mostly, 7.1 or even 5.1 aren't really needed for music. One more piece of advice, speakers impact your sound the most, and the receiver very little. Get the cheapest receiver with the features you need, and spend the most you can on the speakers. If you will be watching very many movies, then don't go cheap on the subwoofer either. A good subwoofer has a HUGE impact on your movie watching experience.

 

[ErnieM]

Thanks. What would be the minimal features in an AV receiver? Input for the future HD TV and for the Playstation 3 now (nice to be on the front panel of the receiver) and enough power for the speakers. The more I read about 7.1 the more I think I should stick with 5.1.

 

[agarwalro]

Spend as little as possible on the receiver and as much as possible on the speakers. Maybe even a $1250 - $250 split.

Try getting the receiver on Craigslist and speakers new. When you eventually upgrade the TV and DVD player, get a better receiver.

I second the internet direct speaker recommendation. Aperion, Axiom, Emotiva, SVS all have great value and proven quality.

 

[Hrdluck13]

I had an almost identical budget.
Here is what I would do if I could do it all over again:

Receiver- Yamaha 663 or 665

Speakers - Energy C-500's
Energy C-C100 center
Energy C-100 surrounds

Sub - SVS

You will have a nice sounding system at this price and will/should fill up the room.

Best Of Luck to you,

Brian

 

[jostenmeat]

How should I spend $1500 for speakers and an AV receiver? It needs to work with our old analog Sanyo 27" TV and budget DVD player and Comcast cable.

Must the center speaker be horizontal? Can you fit a bookshelf upright? The best possible choice in center speaker is the one identical to the mains. You also would not suffer this unwanted effect called "lobing" with a horiz mtm, and you'd have the best acoustic match possible. The only way you could do yourself better is by having all three on the same plane.

What's nice about some of the ID (internet direct) brands is that they will much more likely will be able to sell you an individual bookshelf.

with a huge ceiling to floor window 11.5 ft long to the right of the TV. The ceiling is 8 ft.

Once, or if, you want to get serious about your acoustical space, you'll want to do something about that, particularly if that window is closer to you, and the other side is "open" so to speak. Something like a heavy curtain . . . and once you get the disease real bad like some of us have, you might even buy acoustic treatments on stands that can be placed behind the curtain for critical listening.

I know, I know, nutz, but I'm warning you, better stay away from us, cause we're still contaigous.

Sound quality, ability to use one remote, and smooth interaction with the Comcast are of concern.

If you have issues with smooth interaction with Comcast, it will be extremely likely it's the cable box's fault, and not something else you buy. That said, for remotes, while Harmony is very popular, I cannot recommend URC enough for the money, having used and programmed multiple of each now. The RF20 w/ blaster is $80 shipped.

Thanks for your ideas and suggestions for equipment. The budget should include speaker stands and some cables. One system that intrigues me is the Onkyo HT-S9100THX 7.1, but perhaps going with separate components will get me better sound?

Cabling = Monoprice. There, I just saved you hundreds.

Stands = I like Studio Tech for the money, but a lot of their stands have poor wire mgmt. You can drill holes to fish wire if you really cared, otherwise, pretty sturdy.

Speakers = an ID brand that I've been impressed with is Ascend. Cheers.