New Set-up

[jeremylee31]

Hi everyone,

I'm new to the home audio world and right now my only sound is the speakers on my 46" Sony LCD. I know that I'm going to get the ONKYO TX-SR608 for the receiver, but I'm trying to figure out if the deals on New Egg for speakers are good. Right now I'm looking at this:

Receiver: ONKYO TX-SR608 $450
Fronts: Polk Audio Monitor 60 $120 (x2)
Center: Polk Audio CS20 $150
Sub: Polk Audio PSW505 $250
Rears: Polk Audio OWM3 pair $200

Total: $1290

Is this a good set-up for a newbie (both sound and price)?

Would it be worth it to spend $100 more (each) for the Monitor 70's in the front?

Are the rear speakers good enough for the surrounds? Trying to keep them small...

Money isn't really important, but I don't want to spend a fortune. Besides, I honestly don't think I could tell the difference if I spent a lot more.

Thanks for the input everyone.

-Jeremy

 

[sholling]

Hi everyone,

I'm new to the home audio world and right now my only sound is the speakers on my 46" Sony LCD. I know that I'm going to get the ONKYO TX-SR608 for the receiver, but I'm trying to figure out if the deals on New Egg for speakers are good. Right now I'm looking at this:

Receiver: ONKYO TX-SR608 $450
Fronts: Polk Audio Monitor 60 $120 (x2)
Center: Polk Audio CS20 $150
Sub: Polk Audio PSW505 $250
Rears: Polk Audio OWM3 pair $200

Total: $1290

Is this a good set-up for a newbie (both sound and price)?

Would it be worth it to spend $100 more (each) for the Monitor 70's in the front?

Are the rear speakers good enough for the surrounds? Trying to keep them small...

Money isn't really important, but I don't want to spend a fortune. Besides, I honestly don't think I could tell the difference if I spent a lot more.

Thanks for the input everyone.

-Jeremy

That's a decent system for Polk fan. I'm neither fan or a non-fan and what matters with speakers is what floats your boat. Speaker choice is highly subjective. What you love I may think is just so-so, and just as important you may think that the speakers I love suck hugely.

Other than that the main thing sticking out like a sore thumb is the subwoofer. Speaker builders don't make the same level of subwoofers that internet direct subwoofer specialists put together. If it were me I'd hold off on the surrounds and put that money into a better subwoofer. Have Elemental Designs, Hsu Research, and SVSounds all size you a subwoofer. You'll need to calculate the cubic footage of the entire space and give them that to work with.

Another option is a pair of Infinity Primus P362 (200ea) a PC350 center ($250) and P162 bookshelves (200/pr). These are super easy to dive. You'll still need to add a decent sub. The P362s are said to benefit from an easy DIY mod but I haven't heard the modded version.

A third option is to go with an SVSounds speaker/PB12-NSD subwoofer package deal for $1100 or so.

BTW the Monitor 70s are $153 each (coupon code EMCYSZS24) shipped from Newegg but today is the last day.

 

[jeremylee31]

Thanks for the input. I did a lot more research and I think I'm going with this as the set-up instead:

AVR: ONKYO TX-SR608 $450 (New Egg)
Fronts: Infinity Primus P362 x2 $400 (Crutchfield)
Center: Infinity Primus PC350 $200 (Crutchfield)
Rear: Infinity Primus P162 x2 $170 (Crutchfield)
Sub: SVS PB10-NSD $475 (SVS)

That puts me at $1700 plus shipping.

Is there anywhere to get the SVS subs cheaper? I can't even find it for sale anywhere but the SVS site...

Thanks,
J

 

[sholling]

Thanks for the input. I did a lot more research and I think I'm going with this as the set-up instead:

AVR: ONKYO TX-SR608 $450 (New Egg)
Fronts: Infinity Primus P362 x2 $400 (Crutchfield)
Center: Infinity Primus PC350 $200 (Crutchfield)
Rear: Infinity Primus P162 x2 $170 (Crutchfield)
Sub: SVS PB10-NSD $475 (SVS)

That puts me at $1700 plus shipping.

Is there anywhere to get the SVS subs cheaper? I can't even find it for sale anywhere but the SVS site...

Thanks,
J

That looks like a good choice. I've listened the P362s and they seemed like really good speakers for the price and the experts here tell me that they can be made even better. If you do a search you'll find a simple mod developed by WmAx. If memory serves the mod was just replacing the stuffing around the mid-woofer with something more substantial. The nice thing is that they are common enough that you can probably find someplace local to you to audition them for yourself. And that little 608 should drive the heck out of them.

SVS is internet direct and you're unlikely to find a better price. You do need to figure out your cubic footage though. The PB12-NSD will do fine in a medium sized room but if you have some monster space it'll struggle.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

I think sholling has replaced Adam!!!!

 

[Alex2507]

You can get the Infinity stuff here for maybe a little less and with full warranty.

I would definitely pick the 152's over the 162's as surrounds because they are smaller, cheaper and rumored to have better off axis response. They're all I need out of a surround.

I might take the C250 center over the C350. The complication of a 3-way and those 3" midranges has me wondering if the C250 would not in fact be a better choice. Speakerman39 once said that he regretted the upgrade.

One thing that I have found to make a difference with the SQ of those speakers is getting them raised up about 5' so the tweeters are at ear level. WmAx's mod recommendations range from involved to real involved IMO but the speakers sound very nice right out of the box. I enjoyed my 252 towers but really liked the upgrade to the 362's. Every so often I still hear the 252's at my friend's place.

 

[jeremylee31]

I finally have everything set-up. Wow... I have no regrets about the speakers and receiver. I definitely agree with Alex2507 though, those 162s are HUGE for my rears. But the 152s are only a little smaller, and I have no complaints about the sound from the 162s.

The sub is ridiculous; the bass sounds incredible. I was skeptical on the price of the sub and the difference in quality vs price; but I can see why spending the extra $$$ on the SVS over another sub is worth it. I played my Iron Man Blu-Ray to test the sound on all the action scenes- Holy Cow! It's like WW3 in my house!

Thanks again for the advice on the Infinity speakers sholling; my living room will never be the same.

Cheers

 

[just-some-guy]

no pics = ban

 

[sholling]

I finally have everything set-up. Wow... I have no regrets about the speakers and receiver. I definitely agree with Alex2507 though, those 162s are HUGE for my rears. But the 152s are only a little smaller, and I have no complaints about the sound from the 162s.

The sub is ridiculous; the bass sounds incredible. I was skeptical on the price of the sub and the difference in quality vs price; but I can see why spending the extra $$$ on the SVS over another sub is worth it. I played my Iron Man Blu-Ray to test the sound on all the action scenes- Holy Cow! It's like WW3 in my house!

Thanks again for the advice on the Infinity speakers sholling; my living room will never be the same.

Cheers

That's great news I'm glad you like them.