New system idea, $1500 budget, advice appreciated!

[Weasle]

Hello guys,

I just moved to a new place and am interested in purchasing my first decent speaker system for the living area. I have read about SVS speakers on various forums, and am interested in giving the speakers a try based on the reviews, build quality / tonality descriptions, and customer service anecdotes I've read. I am writing to see if you could recommend a set up based on my needs / layout.

My plan is to go with this system: SCS-02(M) 3.0 + SB12-NSD.

However, given my budget and my interest in using these speakers or a while, would it make more sense to buy left / right speakers now and upgrade as I save up? Is there a 2 speaker set up near this price point that should perform significantly better than the SCS-02?

Also, I added some details about my situation below. Thanks in advance for your advice!

Usage:
I will use the system for ~40% movies / comcast cable, 30% xbox 360 gaming, and 30% music (mostly metal, electronica, and the occasional top 40 session when I have friends over).

Room Layout:
I've attached a crude drawing of my living / dining area. Here are a few additional details:

- The living room opens up into the dining area. Total dimensions are 16'x23'x9'
- I am mostly concerned with filling the living area (space between couch / chair and tv) with quality sound, which is 16'x13'x9'

Current Components:

The only thing I have access to is a set of 2 Kenwood LS B3 speakers that seem to be part of a 2.0 system-in-a-box package the condo owner left for me. The speakers sound OK, so I was thinking of using them as surrounds.

I was also looking at purchasing either an Onkyo TXNR709 or HT RC360 from accessories4less, as streaming music from my PC is important to me.

Budget:

My goal going into this was to spend ~1500 including the receiver. However, I am willing to invest more if the value proposition is there.

 

[shadyJ]

For metal and electronic music, I think you are not looking at quite the right speakers or subwoofer. I haven't heard the SVS speakers, but many who own them seem to enjoy them. The problem with them is the sensitivity spec is sooo low, especially for a bookshelf speaker with two 6" woofers. That means it won't play nearly as loud as ordinary speakers given the same amount of juice. And there is only so much juice they can take, so there is only so loud they can get. For this reason I also wouldn't pair those speakers with an Onkyo receiver, those receivers run hot enough under ordinary conditions, but now you might have to run the volume higher than normal because of the speakers. On the other hand, if you don't ordinarily listen to anything very loudly, I think the SVS speakers would do well.

If you like a speaker that can blaze, check out the Klipsch RB-61. Some other alternatives which are pretty highly regarded in the same price range are the Behringer 2030p Truth monitors, the Hsu HB-1 mk2, Infinity Primus p162 or p163, Ascend Acoustics CBM-170, and NHT Classic 2.

As for the subwoofer, if you need something smaller, the SB12 would be good, but again it doesn't get nearly as loud as some others in the same price range. I think for what you listen to, the SVS PB12 would be much better. The Outlaw Audio LFM-1 EX is on sale this week for $549 shipped, it has comparable performance with the PB12 NSD, and will have much more output than the SB12.

 

[sholling]

I have not heard the SVS speakers but if I were building a 2.1 system from scratch on a $1500-1600 budget I'd take advantage of sales and go with Ascend Acoustics CMT-340SE bookshelves which are on sale for $500. I'd go with the Outlaw subwoofer that ShadyJ suggested which is on sale for $550 delivered. And I'd go with the refurbished TX-NR709. That's $1540 plus shipping on the speakers and receiver. Then save up and add the center later. That's just too much room for a sealed 12" sub and having owned the CMT-340SE I know how good they sound.

If that's too much or you must have 3.1 right off then the CBM-170SE bookshelves and center are a bargain.

 

[Crackerballer]

I just ordered these:
http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/deals-deals-deals/78184-smoking-deal-emp-e55ti-towers-limited-availability.html
With the matching large center for $850. I suggest a Onkyo TN-NR708/709 or this 808 for $600
Shop Onkyo - Products

That would put you at $1400, and not a lot left for a sub or surrounds. So, order the smaller EMP center channel for $220 and you have

EMP E55Ti $397
EMP E5Ci $220
EMP E5Bi $250
Onkyo TX-NR808 with warranty: $640

That's $1500. If you wanted to include a sub, go with a slightly cheaper receiver. Overall, that would be an amazing system and then you could save for an SVS sub or the likes down the road.

 

[GranteedEV]

I just ordered these:
http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/deals-deals-deals/78184-smoking-deal-emp-e55ti-towers-limited-availability.html
With the matching large center for $850. I suggest a Onkyo TN-NR708/709 or this 808 for $600
Shop Onkyo - Products

That would put you at $1400, and not a lot left for a sub or surrounds. So, order the smaller EMP center channel for $220 and you have

EMP E55Ti $397
EMP E5Ci $220
EMP E5Bi $250
Onkyo TX-NR808 with warranty: $640

That's $1500. If you wanted to include a sub, go with a slightly cheaper receiver. Overall, that would be an amazing system and then you could save for an SVS sub or the likes down the road.

I would replace the E5Ci center with a second pair of e5Bi surrounds and just go phantom center

I would add a Marantz SR600x receiver.

 

[shadyJ]

That is a fantastic deal on those EMP towers. For the center speaker, I would much rather have the E56Ci over the E5Ci, but the price on the B-stock E5Ci is so good. I wonder if they could be used vertically as mains or surrounds?

 

[Crackerballer]

That is a fantastic deal on those EMP towers. For the center speaker, I would much rather have the E56Ci over the E5Ci, but the price on the B-stock E5Ci is so good. I wonder if they could be used vertically as mains or surrounds?

I don't see why they couldn't be.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

I just ordered these:
http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/deals-deals-deals/78184-smoking-deal-emp-e55ti-towers-limited-availability.html
With the matching large center for $850. I suggest a Onkyo TN-NR708/709 or this 808 for $600
Shop Onkyo - Products

That would put you at $1400, and not a lot left for a sub or surrounds. So, order the smaller EMP center channel for $220 and you have

EMP E55Ti $397
EMP E5Ci $220
EMP E5Bi $250
Onkyo TX-NR808 with warranty: $640

That's $1500. If you wanted to include a sub, go with a slightly cheaper receiver. Overall, that would be an amazing system and then you could save for an SVS sub or the likes down the road.

I like this suggestion, however OP is listed ht and gaming as his main uses, therefore I have to disagree a bit. I'd say this:

EMP E55Ti $397 (b-stock only in Black ??)
EMP E5Ci $176 (b-stock only in Red ?? )
Color mismatch would be an issue for me, but the prices are tempting

Instead I think Infinity system would better suited:
P362 x 2 = 400
PC351 x 1 = 200
P152 x 2 = 150
(look for them at Cruchfield)
Outlaw LFM EX-1 for $550 shipped is a great deal - get it while it lasts !
Receiver:
Yamaha RX-A1000 - New with 3 years warranty - $700
Amazon.com: Yamaha RX-A1000 7.1-Channel Home Theater Receiver (Black): Electronics
Total: 2000

But if budget of $1500 is set in stone: I'd swap the sub to PA-150 (you can it get for $350 shipped, use name your own price button)
and AVR to refub: Onkyo TX-NR709 - about $500 shipped
and skip the surrounds for now - use existing or just get them later even if mismatched brands
total: $1450

 

[Crackerballer]

Yea if the P363s are ever on sale again for $150-200 that'd be a good start. I would imagine we see them for those prices again at Newegg in the next 2-3 months.

I just posted in another thread about a full Kef setup. I have never auditioned them, but I know tons of people love them and after looking on Accessories4Less, the prices are hard to beat.

Q500: $413 shipped
Q200c: $338 shipped
HSU Research VTF1 $400
Receiver balance: $350

You could always start with a 2.1 setup and work up from there. If you are set on 5.1 for your budget, probably hard to beat the EMP or Infinity recommendations.

 

[Weasle]

Thanks for all the suggestions! After some auditions, I'm starting to narrow my focus a bit.

I had the opportunity to listen to the Paradigm Monitor 7, Kef Q700s, and PSB Image T5 towers. Of those, I preferred the PSBs, with Kef a close second. The PSBs seemed more accurate and clear to me, where as the Kef's had a fuller sound but were almost a bit "muddier". At higher volumes, the higher frequencies seemed harsh when I played the Kefs loud. The PSBs held their own at higher volume levels, but lacked fullness at normal listening levels.

In sum: normal volume levels - slight, slight edge to Kef. High volume - edge to PSB Imagine T5.

One speaker I would like to try is the PSB Imagine T6, but I can't find a demo in my area. Might provide slightly fuller sound at normal listening levels?

The problem is that both sets were ~1000+ just for the speakers. This makes the EMPTek tower deal very appealing! Any thoughts on how I might like the EMPTek sound given my experience above?

One other note, I am definetly OK with purchasing a 2.0/3.0 system now and adding on. Would like this first round to be around $1500, though...maybe 2000 if the value is there.

 

[GranteedEV]

The PSBs seemed more accurate and clear to me, where as the Kef's had a fuller sound but were almost a bit "muddier". At higher volumes, the higher frequencies seemed harsh when I played the Kefs loud. The PSBs held their own at higher volume levels, but lacked fullness at normal listening levels.

In sum: normal volume levels - slight, slight edge to Kef. High volume - edge to PSB Imagine T5.

This is because the Q700s are a 2.5 way design. The coaxial cone loading the tweeter was probably moving and causing modulation distortion. I wonder what you would think of them at high volumes, if they were set to "small" and crossed over to a subwoofer at 80 or 100hz, where the cone would move a lot less.

 

[agarwalro]

One other note, I am definetly OK with purchasing a 2.0/3.0 system now and adding on. Would like this first round to be around $1500, though...maybe 2000 if the value is there.

Sigh! If only more noobs came here with your attitude, our job would be that much easier, hell, they'd wipe out the need for us. I thanked you for doing research, auditioning and having the correct attitude.

Look at Ascend Sierra 1. Billy_p swears by them.

If your budget can be stretch a little, very few can touch the Salk SongTower and Philharmonic Speakers (if you have the space).

 

[Weasle]

Thanks again for all the feedback! After some thinking and discussions with various companies, I've decided to give the SongTower QWTs a try.

Now I have to choose a receiver. I am leaning towards the Onkyo 709 refurb at a4l. Nice amp, lots of connections, streaming capabilities, good video processing and the ability to add an external amp if I want in the future.

One thing it is lacking is airplay support, which would be nice to have since my music library is largely itunes based. Any itunes users out there buy a non-airplay receiver and regret it?