Best 5.1 system for my apartment

[adammr]

i hate reading these. I cant have anything in my apartment because the lady down stairs is a ..... well you know

 

[Patrick_Wolf]

i hate reading these. I cant have anything in my apartment because the lady down stairs is a ..... well you know

I know what you're saying...

 

[samhfoley]

opportunities...

there is an open apt. next door if you wanna move to japan

 

[samhfoley]

Ascends/port issue

I would stay away from towers in your space and go with a nicer bookshelf. Personally, I think the Ascends would be a great pick with an HSU sub. Even then that system will probably be more than you need

You would pick Ascends even though they are all ported and I don't have much clearance at all between the bookshelf and the wall / or Tv and rear wall?

 

[ack_bak]

You would pick Ascends even though they are all ported and I don't have much clearance at all between the bookshelf and the wall / or Tv and rear wall?

Probably not. I did not realize that you were that close to your wall. I had the same problem and ended up getting SVS speakers. But you may want to talk to the manufacturer about how much clearance you need. Ascend also makes these (which are not rear ported and may be ideal for your space):
http://ascendacoustics.com/pages/products/speakers/htm200/htm200.html

 

[samhfoley]

full circle

LOL, here we are at page 5 and we've come full circle back to SVS again. Sounds as though my best options for non ported speakers are SVS, EMP, and Energy systems. The Emotiva system is ported isn't it? Anyways using the ERM-6.2 as a center channel looks like it'd be too tall to fit under my TV. The HTM-200 SE also look to be too tall to use as a center channel speaker as well. I might have to put my TV on a riser or something. I have 5.5 inches of space from my TV stand to the bottom of my screen.

 

[ack_bak]

LOL, here we are at page 5 and we've come full circle back to SVS again. Sounds as though my best options for non ported speakers are SVS, EMP, and Energy systems. The Emotiva system is ported isn't it? Anyways using the ERM-6.2 as a center channel looks like it'd be too tall to fit under my TV. The HTM-200 SE also look to be too tall to use as a center channel speaker as well. I might have to put my TV on a riser or something. I have 5.5 inches of space from my TV stand to the bottom of my screen.

The Emotiva systems are sealed. And the ERM-1's should be more than enough for using as fronts and center speakers (and those are smaller than the ERM-2's). But keep in mind that these are 4ohm speakers so you would want to buy a receiver that supports 4ohm speakers. In my case, my Onkyo 605 did not. Most midlevel receivers do.

As far as SVS, my speakers should be arriving either on Friday or next Monday and I would be happy to give you an honest impression coming from Polk audio mains that I bought 9 years ago.

There are many alternatives to choose from, and it might make sense to audition speakers like Klipsch, PSB, Deftech, NHT, B&W, etc either in Japan if you can or in the States if time allows. I did that before ordering the SVS speakers and it really helped in terms of understanding what you want in a speaker and how powerful a good bookshelf speaker can be with a midlevel amp and a subwoofer.

Honestly, I was set to buy the Emotiva's but my receiver was not adequate enough. There are so many choices and at some point you just have to pick one and try it out, or be happy

 

[samhfoley]

examples....

What are some receivers that support 4ohm speakers.... Denon, Yamaha, Onkyo? I'd love to hear your impression of the SVS speakers too!

 

[fredk]

Any Denon, higher end yamaha say RXV1800 or above, higher end Onkyo 7 & 8 series, Sherwood Newcastle. There are probably others. I am actually using a low end Sherwood and it holds up fine under a 4Ohm load.

 

[samhfoley]

Denon model 2009

Only new Denon I see new in Japan this year so far is the AVC-1610. This one OK? enough for my 5.1 system? $498 or should I wait for other releases later in 2009? Does it have the HDMI switching recommended before in an earlier post?

 

[samhfoley]

new candidates?

I now must include the Usher Audio S-520 Bookshelf Speakers too since they got such rave reviews. What center channel speaker would I use with these? S-525 Center Channel ?? DO I need to match the fronts and centers?
-Sam

 

[Patrick_Wolf]

I now must include the Usher Audio S-520 Bookshelf Speakers too since they got such rave reviews. What center channel speaker would I use with these? S-525 Center Channel ?? DO I need to match the fronts and centers?
-Sam

No, you don't need too, but you definitely should.

"Speakers, more than any other piece of equipment, sound different from one another. You want your surround system to have a cohesive and consistent sound. For example, in particular, you don't want your front left and right speakers to have a distinct sound, and then the center channel to sound different. Vocals, as they move from one speaker to another as the actor moves across the stage would sound very odd as a result. Timbre matching, therefore, generally refers to matching the sound of each speaker. That's why it is wise to buy all your speakers from the same manufacturer, providing they have been matched together as a system."

 

[samhfoley]

leading candidates....

I am now leaning towards either...

Emotiva's (3) ERM-1 Reference LCR Monitors + the VTF-1 Subwoofer from HSU research total $1004

or

Usher Audio's S-520 Shielded & S-525 Center Channel + STF-1 Subwoofer from HSU research. total $1237

I think I'd rather buy for the longer term taking into account future dwellings rather than shelling out twice for 2 different setups to fit each domicile. What do you think? and which receiver to go w/ these? The Denon AVC-1610?

 

[samhfoley]

then there are these as well

Ascend Audio

CBM-170 SE pair (B-stock) = $268 /pair

CMT-340 SE pair (B-stock) = $458 pair

CMT-340 SE center (B-stock) = $238

That's 964 or so for the entire Ascsend system.... What to you think? It is B-Stock... and they're ported, that's right forgot that part....

 

[samhfoley]

what about the sub being ported?

The HSU sub has a rear port as well. Would that mean that it would also need to sit well away from the rear wall to be effective? SO many variables!

 

[Patrick_Wolf]

Energy Connoisseur

Just throwing it out there because I've been looking at Energy offerings closely and see that there Connoisseur series come with port plugs for wall-mounting/near-wall placement.

 

[samhfoley]

Energy

Energy 5.1 Take Classic Home Entertainment System does look appealing and quite a bit less costly than my other choices at 395 for the whole system....

 

[anamorphic96]

I think in your size room it would be a killer sounding system. I have heard this system myself and it's very impressive and sounds much larger than it is. The sub it comes with is no slouch as well.

 

[Patrick_Wolf]

Energy 5.1 Take Classic Home Entertainment System does look appealing and quite a bit less costly than my other choices at 395 for the whole system....

I see this system suggested many times, I'd love to hear it myself (or any Energy speaker for that matter). But two setups I'm considering personally is the CB-10s/CC-10 center(B-Stock from WorldWideStereo)/CB-5 rears (from Vanns) - $620 shipped. Or simply CB-5s/CC-5- $560 shipped. And then I dunno bout the sub, but the list I've complied so far is:

TSC T250 - $250 shipped
HSU STF-2 - $388 shipped
BIC Acoustech H-100 - $279 shipped (ebay)
Premier Acoustic PA-120 - $229 shipped (ebay)
BIC Acoustech VK-12 - $329 shipped (ebay)
[Elemental Designs] eD A2 - 250 - $325 shipped

I know we all want the best for our budget, but with audio there's SOO many choices and given room acoustics and subjective listening it seems nearly impossible to get the best without hearing every option set-up right in your own home.

 

[LottaKash]

Was just driving by, and took notice of this thread, especially about the "Energy" - "Take-5.1 System"....and just as previously stated by others here......You cannot go wrong for the money with this sytem in an apartment environment......If will thrill you a bit at first, if you have never heard it before, and you probably wonder how a system so small and low-priced could make all that great sound........

A friend just purchased this setup recently, and I was impressed by it for what it is.......And it is also true, that the 8"-Sub is a marvelous little thing that has amazing output for what it is.......

I have seen this advertised recently for just around $300 or so...and that in and of itself is amazing considering what you get for your money......With the money you can save on this speaker ensemble, you can afford a good quality CD player and Receiver, and still be way in your budget.....

Good luck, I hope you find what you are looking for.......Good Sound is so Good.....Once you hear it, you will never go back.....

best,