In need of new setup...

[Code-Red]

Dont know if this is where this goes so if its not let me know...

I'll be moving soon to a smaller apartment while my wife deploys to iraq for the next year. Now I already have a "system in a box" sony's bdv-e300, hooked up to my XBR8, which has been great considering i only paid $300 for it. But im wanting to delve a little deeper into the audio segment. I might even be buying sony's new HX-929 depending how it performs but thats for a different forum.

Whatever I get has to be small and easily mounted as my daughter likes to poke and beat up speakers, my dads Polk LSi's will attest to that. Also will need an AVR and of course a sub. I've done a little researching and I've got a possible setup.

-AVR-
Pioneer's VSX-1120-K

-Speakers-
Polk's new TL3's

-Sub-
Polk's DSW pro 500

Now it might be a little to much for an avg 2 bedroom arpartment but I want to be able to use it for a while untill my daughter grows up and I can get some floor standing speakers and such. Just wondering if that would work for a while, money really isnt an object but I really dont want to spend over 2k.

I know no one has had personel experience with the TL3's as they arent out yet but and info on the sub or avr would be appreciated...

 

[SimpleTheater]

Have you thought about getting a nice pair of headphones to start? Otherwise I'd rec'd something in-wall where your daughter can't knock them over (assuming your landlord allows such things).

 

[GranteedEV]

-AVR-
Pioneer's VSX-1120-K

My inclination would be towards something with Audessey XT32. The Denon 4311ci being the main one. I've heard that onkyo never implements DSP properly so I'd avoid them.

-Speakers-
Polk's new TL3's

How about
Ascend 340s with Ascend 170 surrounds
Behringer 2030p (*)

-Sub-
Polk's DSW pro 500

You can do better!

Epik Empire
SVS PB10-NSD
HSU STF-2
Emotiva Ultra 12

To name a couple.


* - Instead of Behringer 2030ps and a receiver, get a Marantz AV7005 and Behringer 2030As

 

[Code-Red]

Thx for the advice. I guess im just gonna have to get out there and try a few things out...

 

[sholling]

For your needs I think the Ascend CMT-340/CBM-170 setup that GranteedEV suggested. As a fall back you could go with five CBM-170s to save money.

In an apartment you really don't want slamming bass so a small sub like a Hsu STF-2 is probably plenty but put it on an isolation pad.

You don't need to spend a ton on a receiver and an Onkyo TX-SR608 or TX-NR708 is plenty for an apartment and those speakers.

One way that you can approach this is with an upgrade plan. For example when you move into a house in 2-3 years three of the five 170s and the sub can move into the bedroom and you upgrade the living room with three 340s and a big bad sub. There are lots of variations.

As for the headphones I'm big on those for apartments but not with a little kid around. You need to be able to hear her.

 

[KEW]

Since your daughter has a penchant for poking speakers, you should probably look towards a down firing and sealed Subwoofer like the Rythmik D15SE.

http://www.rythmikaudio.com/D15SE.html

It'll do a great job on music and won't tempt your daughter with the open port or an exposed driver. She will however, have access to the volume, crossover, and phase controls - just to keep you on your toes!

 

[digicidal]

Since your daughter has a penchant for poking speakers, you should probably look towards a down firing and sealed Subwoofer like the Rythmik D15SE.

Did you just recommend a down-firing sub to someone getting an apartment... shame on you. OK kidding... but at least qualify that with "if you're in a ground-floor unit". Well, you specified SEALED... that at least mitigates it somewhat.

I'm pretty sure you lived above me in my last few apartments KEW. So happy to have a house now!

All humor aside KEW's suggestion does have merit - but only when coupled with sholling's suggestion of properly isolating the sub so your transmitting as little of that bass into the walls and floor of the structure itself. Otherwise you're just going to have your neighbors constantly knocking on your door.

 

[sholling]

I'm pretty sure you lived above me in my last few apartments KEW.

Maybe it was my old neighbors. I had two nutty brothers above me several years ago that (not kidding) played basketball up there. They had to be because I could hear them dribbling up and down the room.

 

[digicidal]

Maybe it was my old neighbors. I had two nutty brothers above me several years ago that (not kidding) played basketball up there. They had to be because I could hear them dribbling up and down the room.

Yeah, I had some really unbelieveable neighbors... but the one that I still have to laugh about was the topper... they had three elementary-age kids in the apartment - and for Christmas one year they got all 3 of them pogo-sticks! Short version: I moved.