New HT set up

[mvgoni]

Hi,

Like many I am new to the forum. I have done a fair amount of searching and looking around for my new home theater set up. Anyway, I just bought a new sub; Klipsch rpw-10. I got it for 270, but I am not sure if I will end up keeping it. That is the only thing I have purchased thus far.
I want to buy the speakers first after reading about that being the way. I am looking at Infinity Primus P362 and their center channel for plus the sub and then getting rears at a later point. I have also been looking at the Mirage OMNI 550. Which one is better? (I realize it is a bit subjective). Any other suggestions. I am planning on spending about 1000-1200 all told (including a receiver).
Alternatively, I have been looking around for a 5.1 setup and have come across a few deals but was really liking the Klipsch Quintet SL without having listened to it yet.
Finally, for a receiver I have been looking mostly at Yahamas such as the RXV465 but also the Sony STR-DN1000. Any other recommendations.

I will be using it mostly for Football Saturdays and Sundays and music.


Thanks for any help, and sorry for the very long post.

 

[Gatsby191]

A Few ideas for you...

I'm an Onkyo "fan boy". So you won't get many kudos to the Sony or Yamaha AVRs from me. (just kidding. I love the Yamaha AVRs too) My cousin had went with a Klipsh sub just when I was starting to purchase my list of HT gear. His sub packs a pretty good puch, but when he does his demo for guests with the entire city block blowing up in "Independence Day", it breaks up a bit to me.(his sub, not his speakers) So, the power is there, but it's a little sloppy in my opinion. I had wanted an SVS myself, but I was on a $500-$650 budget at the time. I went here and there and tested out what I could, and then someone in one of the AV forums suggested I look into Aperion Audio. They do online only, and they let you do an in home 30 day audition with their subs and speakers where after 30 days, if you aren't happy with their "stuff", you can send it back for a full refund and they eat the shipping. Needless to say, I loved the Intimus S-12 they sent to me and I kept it. If I would have had the chance to try out any of their speakers before I pulled the trigger on my Tannoys, I might have ended up with those too. Give them a look(listen). They are a very accomodating company, my sub is going strong, and their build quality is very solid too.(IMHO anyway) BTW, I'm a 50/50 Music/Movies guy myself.
Another suggestion for you is "Blue Jeans Cable", for any and all of your cable and connecter needs. If you haven't heard of them yet here on Audioholics, you soon will. I'm almost positive that a majority of the members on this forum, swear by that company, as well as me. They use quality stuff, and they are real easy to deal with too.
Well I wish you luck on your new AV project!
Joe B.

 

[mvgoni]

Thanks for the advice, I will definitely check out the Aperion stuff. Also, I saw the banner ads for blue jeans cables, but hadn't actually gone there yet. I will be checking them out as well.

 

[sawzalot]

Thanks for the advice, I will definitely check out the Aperion stuff. Also, I saw the banner ads for blue jeans cables, but hadn't actually gone there yet. I will be checking them out as well.

After looking at Bluejeans cables check out monoprice for their prices on cables they are very reasonable.

 

[m_vanmeter]

as far as your front 3, both the Infinity Primus line and the Mirage Omni speakers are well liked and have a legion of supporters. They are, however, different in their approach to speakers. Infinity uses a classic mono-polar multi-speaker design, while Mirage uses their omni-polar tweeter on the 550 line. If your room if "difficult", then the omnidirectional dispersion of the Mirages may help the front soundstage. If the room is more conventional and the speaker spacing easier to set up to the Dolby Labs ideal, then the Infinities may work better.

The real challenge today is actually auditioning the speakers in the room where they will be used. For most of us "mere mortals" who aren't dealing with top line dealers and very expensive speakers, we don't have that option. Some ID dealers allow 30 trials, but many do not.

 

[sawzalot]

I wish the thirty day trial period were more readily available.I for one would absolutely try a few different brands and speaker type until I were satisfied.I know they will always sound different once you get them home.

 

[mvgoni]

I know what you're saying. I would like to try everything out first especially since the room is only somewhat conventional, but not necessarily a perfect rectangular room. I haev read good things about both, so I will have to try and see if I can listen to them somewhere. Hopefully this can all be put together by the first football weekend.
Any recommendations or suggestions for the recevier. Thanks a lot everyone for the advice

 

[fredk]

The ideal thing to do is audition and compare in your room. The best thing to do is to go and audition where you can. If you can compare speakers in the same room, you will get a good idea of how each brand or line sounds compared to others.

The only place where you need to be careful is if you end up with low impedance speakers. Pick your speakers first, then look at receivers.

Axiom and Ascend are a couple of other ID brands to look at. Ascend is having a moving sale so you might find some good value there.

 

[fredk]

Pick a receiver that has the features you like. Denon, Yamaha, Onkyo, Pio, Maranz... They all make good receivers. FYI this site did a set of 3 articles recently comparing entry level, mid line and upper end receivers. They would be worth reading to get a feel forwhat is out there.