Sell me on a real 5.1 system VS AiO kit.

[Mkilbride]

The Pioneers aren't too big for the *room* but they are too big for the configuration.

Hmm?

How do you nmean? The placement? What would you suggest, if they aren't to big for the room, I'd obviously go with those that have better sound quality.

 

[jonnythan]

Hmm?

How do you nmean? The placement? What would you suggest, if they aren't to big for the room, I'd obviously go with those that have better sound quality.

Yes, the placement. A traditional 2-driver ported bookshelf will sound like crap with the back up against the wall and your ears 12 inches away.

I gotta say, it seems like you're more interested in owning gear that others perceive as good and don't actually care how it sounds in the end.

 

[Mkilbride]

I dunno how you got that impression; if that was true, I wouldn't be here and I would have just bought some BOSE.

It's just that many reviews have said the Pioneer sound better.

They are the same price.

But they are also 2.5x the size.

And they wouldn't be back against the wall, I'd have mounts holding them, but obviously I'd need to go for far more expensive mounts. They'd probably be out a few inches.

But yeah, I don't have places to position them. I mean, if I took off my old monitor and moved my monitor over, I could put the L & R on my desk. The center is way to big for my desk, anywhere. That would surely have to be wall mounted or something.

The two surrounds would also, unless I put them on my sides and not in back of me. But it'd be a lose setup and kinda messy.

My room setup isn't ideal for placing them on stands or on my side desks. So I guess the ETC 5.1 would be best since I could mount them?

My question on that is, would it be better to put the wall mounts at the corner's of the room, and them have them facing me at an angle, or mount them above my monitor and facing towards me and then parallel the surrounds to them on the wall in back and face them towards me?

Oh also, I've got a decent pair of headphones I wear when I have company over and can't be blasting my speakers, I was wondering if there is any place to plug that into the Receiver or one with such a feature, or if I should just keep plugging it into my headphone jack on my PC.

 

[Mkilbride]

As for placement, I did this crude thing in paint to give you an idea of what I was thinking for the ETC 5.1's.

Shot at 2012-05-10

Shot at 2012-05-10

Or should I put them directly in the corners and angle them towards me?

 

[jonnythan]

Personally, I think having your front L/R speakers above your head at a 50-60 degree angle would suck. That's a hell of a way to disconnect the sound from the screen that is directly in front of you.

 

[Mkilbride]

Alright then, I'm not sure, just put them on the desk in front of me then?

Or take the secondary monitor off and mount them like so?

Shot at 2012-05-10

Shot at 2012-05-10






Yes I know the circles don't line up, when when I'd actually mount these, I'd use a ruler & measuring tape lol, don't worry. These are just quick examples.

 

[jonnythan]

Depends on the speakers you get.

 

[Mkilbride]

Depends on the speakers you get.

Well yes, if I get the Pioneer...I'd need to create my own wall mounts, as none exist for them, after googling for a long time. That, or put shelves on my wall and put them there...but that'd quickly add up and become a very expensive project, but I'd always be worried about them falling.

As for the ETC 5.1, I imagine some mounts from Monoprice like I showed you would work, but not sure which, was hoping the fine folks here could tell me.

Someone also suggested I just get 5 of these for 250$ and then spend some more on a good amp + the 1712. Dunno though, compared to the Energy Take Classics, the Soundwares look...well, wimpy, though supposedly their driver is bigger. Not sure how, considering their size, but then again, I'm no audiophile. The whole center speaker just being another one is weird though.



BOSTON ACOUSTICS SoundWare 4.5 in Indoor/Outdoor Coaxial Speaker Each | Accessories4less

They come with mounting hardware, but eh, just look so weak compared to the ETC 5.1

What I could do at such a price though, is get 6 of those...so 300$.

Then say, a real center from Boston for 100$. Like I got for my 2.1 system.

Put two in front, two in back, and two on my sides and have a 7 system. Still would need a sub though. It'd cost more, in the end, I suppose, the ETC 5.1 come with a nice sub.

Ah, so many choices, so many reviews...got to decide.


-----------------------

This is the one at Boston - cheaper at AC4L
http://www.bostonacoustics.com/SoundWare-Refurbished-P518.aspx

It is up to you, if you want to buy the one at Vann's (3 1/2" woofer)
I have no preference between that, and the Energy one.

I think I'll take the Energy Classic. All reviews so far put them ahead of the Soundware.

Plus, the ETC come with a sub and not a horrible one.

Though a 7.1 setup does interest me. That makes the Soundware semi attractive.

Another 100$...BAM! 7.1 setup.


Course, let us do some math ere'.

5x those.

250$.

So, 150$ less than the ET Classic at this point, AND it comes with mounts, so no need to buy those, so, take out 40$ more.

210$.

That gives me say, 190$ to spend on a sub.

Got one of these for my living room setup; Velodyne comes recommended as the best in the Subwoofer business.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002ZBJSIM/ref=olp_product_details?ie=UTF8&me=&seller=

160$

That's 30$ less, overall, than the Energy Take Classic.

So it'd only be 70$ more, than my current idea of ETC 5.1 + 1712, to get a 7.1 system + 1712.



It's very tempting, but I can't shake the feeling...those Soundware just seem so weak!

 

[Mkilbride]

I really hate how the Edit Button disappears after a period of time.

Someone also showed me these, they are in the same price range, I've heard good things about Definitive.

Newegg.com - Definitive Technology ProCinema 60 5.1CH Home Audio Speaker System

Thoughts?

Or perhaps these?


http://www.amazon.com/MartinLogan-MLT-2-Theater-System-Black/dp/B0049P2000

I hear they are Cinema 90's.


http://www.amazon.com/Paradigm-Cinema-90-System-Black/dp/B002BA5IJ0/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

 

[Mkilbride]

Someone also recommended these, quite feverishly, what do you think?

http://www.amazon.com/NHT-SuperZero-2-0-Monitor-Speaker/dp/B0049FA1TM

 

[jonnythan]

I have the SuperZeroes.

They're incredible.

But they're out of your price range. Five of them puts you at $500 already and that's with no sub or receiver.

 

[Mkilbride]

They are that incredible, eh?

I mean, I dunno if you've ever had the Energy Take Classics to compare, but spec wise...

I hear they have no bass and hence the reason a sub is vital to them.

Thing is, I want crystal clear sound. I don't listen to a lot of music, but I play a lot of games, and good, clear, accurate sound is vital in them, for a entrancing experience. I have medium quality headset and it can really make some games pop with the accuracy it has, versus my Logitech setup.

I can guess from this thread, as well as others, not alot of gamers here, so I can't ask you how they sound gaming, but yeah, that's my main concern. Secondary is music & movies.

 

[jonnythan]

They are incredible, but they're also a little demanding of equipment, configuration, and calibration. They're a bit touchy. I wouldn't recommend them for you in that room. I think you've had better suggestions.

 

[fuzz092888]

I can guess from this thread, as well as others, not alot of gamers here, so I can't ask you how they sound gaming, but yeah, that's my main concern. Secondary is music & movies.

Doesn't matter if there are gamers here or not. Accurate speakers are accurate speakers, the better quality the speakers the truer they will stay to the source. As long as the source is delivering the sound you want, accurate speakers will reproduce it. For about the fifth time.

 

[afterlife2]

Get the Martins and be happy. or http://www.ebay.com/itm/Logitech-z5500-5500-speakers-orginal-box-/130691946701?pt=Speakers_Subwoofers&hash=item1e6dd8d8cd

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002WPSBC

or 3 pairs of these. Then all you need is the sub.
http://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-SP-BS21-LR-Watt-2-Way-Speaker/dp/B004MEWZE4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1336829985&sr=8-1

 

[Mkilbride]

Yes, I know about PC Speakers, and the Z-5500 are inferior to the Edifier S55 I linked to.

 

[afterlife2]

Have you ordered anything yet? Which one are your leaning towards? You could always return whatever you buy so take a chance.

 

[Mkilbride]

I'm leaning towards the Energy Take Classic 5.1

And you're not allowed to return items unless they are defective, that's the policy of pretty much every store, including Amazon. I haven't ordered anything yet, I get my check tonight and planning to order tomorrow.


JHT sound cool, but the price is way to much. If they were on Acessories4less or half off...then yeah. @ 100$ a pop, to much.

 

[afterlife2]

I'm sure you can't go wrong with anything the members here recommended. Energy is one of those some people recommend so I don't think you can't go wrong. I never heard them, so I can't comment on them. The pioneers seems like a good buy too and If ever a speaker doesn't work you always have an extra one.

 

[jonnythan]

I'm leaning towards the Energy Take Classic 5.1

And you're not allowed to return items unless they are defective, that's the policy of pretty much every store, including Amazon. I haven't ordered anything yet, I get my check tonight and planning to order tomorrow.


JHT sound cool, but the price is way to much. If they were on Acessories4less or half off...then yeah. @ 100$ a pop, to much.

I buy a ton of stuff from Amazon and return a fair bit of it because I didn't like it. Amazon has a great return policy. The catch is they don't pay return shipping unless the item was defective or broken.