Help picking 5.1 setup Sub $400

[gixx0r]

Basically I picked up an Onkyo 606 from accessories4less and now am looking to actually get some speakers and a sub to hook up to it.

My roommate is paying for the system and I'm trying to get the best bang for his buck. I'm looking to get a 5.1 system for just around $400 or less.

Any suggestions would be very much appreciated as I'm still trying to learn as much as possible about sound systems. He's far from an audioholic but he does want surround.

 

[sholling]

That's a hard dollar figure. I suggest Klipsch Quintet 5.0 satellites. Vanns often has them open box in their clearnce center for $225 or NIB for $250 shipped. Add $120 plus shipping (on sale) for an inexpensive Dayton subwoofer. That combination with shipping will just about eat up your whole budget. The Quintets are some of the better inexpensive satellites, but like all satellites they have to crossover to the subwoofer a lot higher than I like. About 120hz for the 4 satellites and 150hz for the center. But they sound god for satellites and play a lot louder than most their size.

What I would rather see him do is invest in a pair of Behringer B2030P ($130/pr @ amazon) and a better sub but that takes you $50 over budget not counting shipping. As money allows he could just add more pairs of Behringers to get up to 3.1 (and a spare), and then 5.1 plus a spare (3 pair total) as money allows. This system would rock in a medium sized room!

Good luck.

 

[gixx0r]

That's a hard dollar figure. I suggest Klipsch Quintet 5.0 satellites. Vanns often has them open box in their clearnce center for $225 or NIB for $250 shipped. Add $120 plus shipping (on sale) for an inexpensive Dayton subwoofer. That combination with shipping will just about eat up your whole budget. The Quintets are some of the better inexpensive satellites, but like all satellites they have to crossover to the subwoofer a lot higher than I like. About 120hz for the 4 satellites and 150hz for the center. But they sound god for satellites and play a lot louder than most their size.

What I would rather see him do is invest in a pair of Behringer B2030P ($130/pr @ amazon) and a better sub but that takes you $50 over budget not counting shipping. As money allows he could just add more pairs of Behringers to get up to 3.1 (and a spare), and then 5.1 plus a spare (3 pair total) as money allows. This system would rock in a medium sized room!

Good luck.

Thank you for the input. Just curious but would you happen to know how well the Energy Take 5 Pack performs

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882269004

or the Polk Audio RM6750 perform?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882290066

 

[jostenmeat]

I have the impression that the Energy is better than the Polk set.

However, you ought to check out this post:
http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showthread.php?p=653067#post653067

If this happens to blow budget, just be patient, wait for further discounts on the speakers:
http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=62499

The Dayton sub prices also fluctuate rather wildly, and often, at least it appears to me.

 

[gixx0r]

I have the impression that the Energy is better than the Polk set.

However, you ought to check out this post:
http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showthread.php?p=653067#post653067

If this happens to blow budget, just be patient, wait for further discounts on the speakers:
http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=62499

The Dayton sub prices also fluctuate rather wildly, and often, at least it appears to me.

Now if I decided to go with the Behringers and buy one pair along with a sub, would I still need a center? Or if I buy 2 pairs, would I use 3 of them as the Left Center Right and have an extra one for future 5.1?

 

[sholling]

Thank you for the input. Just curious but would you happen to know how well the Energy Take 5 Pack performs

There is a review on here and it was fairly positive. The main limitation according to the reviewer was volume. The little Klipsch will belt out a bunch of volume for its dinky size but I have not listened to them side by side.

or the Polk Audio RM6750 perform?

I compared both the Quintets and the RM6750 side by side a few years ago and I liked the Klipsch a lot better. But keep in mind that speakers are very subjective and your taste may be completely different from mine.

If I were you I would find a store that carries all three and listen and see which you like best. Speakers are just too subjective to let someone else make your decision. Take what you read here as what to listen to advice and not hard and fast buying advice.

Now if I decided to go with the Behringers and buy one pair along with a sub, would I still need a center?

I think you'd eventually want a third as a center but for now you can use two and have a 2.1 system with the sub. BTW in my opinion these excel in a small or mid sized room. They were designed as studio monitors and I think they might be a tad strained trying to fill a really large room. But then you'd want to move up to a much larger and more expensive speaker for a really large room. Also keep in mind size, they aren't dinky like the much less capable Energy Take 5.

Or if I buy 2 pairs, would I use 3 of them as the Left Center Right and have an extra one for future 5.1?

If you bought 2 pair then yes you'd use 3 of them as L, R, & C. With a sub that's 3.1. Later if you add another pair you have 5.1 and still have a spare. I like to think of that spare as the start of a 3.1 bedroom system.

I suggest doing a search on this site about the Behringers. I'd never thought about them until someone on here started posting glowing reports. I bought a pair for my home-office and like them enough that I have two more pair being delivered next week. But please do some more reading before making a decision and don't just rely on just one opinion.

FWIW here is the 2009 Audioholics Budget Bookshelf Shootout.

 

[gixx0r]

well I've been reading this whole time since your first response on the 2030's and it seems as though I may take that route. Also my original price point has changed cause originally he was willing to spend up to around $700 for everything. Well I picked up the Onkyo 606 for $325 after shipping and that's where I got the stated $400 remaining budget.

I decided that I'll just pay for the 606 since it's a fairly decent AVR and at some point he'll move out and I don't want to have to find something new. So in reality now I can spend $700 on speakers and a sub.

With that being the case, would picking up 3 pairs of the 2030's + maybe a dayton120 be an ideal setup? I figure with shipping and tax that should run me up to around $600 - $700.

Also, does someone have the link to wMaX's mod for the behringer 2030's?

 

[sholling]

With that being the case, would picking up 3 pairs of the 2030's + maybe a dayton120 be an ideal setup? I figure with shipping and tax that should run me up to around $600 - $700.

You're at $393 shipped from Amazon for 3 pair of 2030P, plus the sub and whatever they charge for shipping. So yes about $600. Again if money is tight you can always start out 2.1 or 3.1. That's how I built out my rooms.

An ideal setup? Within the limitations of your budget it'll be a darn good setup. I suspect that you will be happy with those Behringers for years to come. Eventually you may want to upgrade the sub but we've already busted your budget once and I think that's an upgrade that can wait.

Also, does someone have the link to wMaX's mod for the behringer 2030's?

I haven't tried the mods yet but the room I have them in is small enough (12x12x10) that they don't get much of a workout.
http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showpost.php?p=412211&postcount=2

 

[sholling]

If this happens to blow budget, just be patient, wait for further discounts on the speakers:
http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=62499

I have to wonder a bit about that deal because I think it was a price mistake and not a sale. At least that's the impression that I got talking to them. The speakers went out of stock really fast so I called and talked to a CSR to see if I could place a backorder at the sale price he said that it was not a sale and allowed me to backorder two pair. Two days later the price then went back up to normal. I'd almost bet that somebody mistakenly posted an "each" price for pairs. Anyway my two pair will be here Wednesday.

If I'm correct then kudos to B&H for honoring a price mistake price and filling the order.

 

[jostenmeat]

I have to wonder a bit about that deal because I think it was a price mistake and not a sale. At least that's the impression that I got talking to them. The speakers went out of stock really fast so I called and talked to a CSR to see if I could place a backorder at the sale price he said that it was not a sale and allowed me to backorder two pair. Two days later the price then went back up to normal. I'd almost bet that somebody mistakenly posted an "each" price for pairs. Anyway my two pair will be here Wednesday.

If I'm correct then kudos to B&H for honoring a price mistake price and filling the order.

One reason I think it was not a price mistake is because of the fluctuation I see with the Dayton subs, as much as around 75% difference, IIRC. In fact, it's always a different price it seems every time I look! heh. But, that's just pure speculation.