Neophyte looking for modest budget system

[sxk]

Hi folks

I am about to venture in to decent home audio and started reading first at HTiB bluray packages and slowly ventured through receiver + speaker kits, then through surround speakers and receievers, then book shelf speaker and now at floor speakers with receivers! Goodness, there is so much I don't know that I still don't know how much I don't know. I know I am starting to sound like **** Cheney

My predicament is this. I am willing to separate the music and movie purposes to two different rooms in the house. For music I am thinking of a receiver + two floor standing speakers and perhaps a center speaker and then over time add two rear speakers. I don't listen too loud and unlikely to use floor shaking bass.

My budget for this is around $500. I don't mind buying only the front floor speakers first and slowly add others as time goes by. Most of my music is as mp3 files but I encoded them at 192khz so loss is not too bad but this is two channel. Would a two channel music use all the channels on 5.1 or 7.1 receivers - I know a basic question but I am not sure.


I have been looking at several receivers. I am looking for the ones that can play through usb thumbdrives, helps if they have self caliberation. I got those details from the product pages but looking for suggestions.

Pioneer VSX-921-K
Pioneer Elite 560W VSX40
Sony STR-DH820
Denon AVR-1312
Denon AVR-1612
Onkyo TXSR313
Yamaha RX V373BL



For speakers the following:
BIC America Venturi DV84
Polk Audio Monitor 50
Pure Acoustics Supernova
Boston Acoustics Classic II CS260
Sony SSF-7000
BIC America Venturi DV64
BIC America FH6-LCR Dual 6.5-Inch 175-Watt LCR Speaker

I am leaning towards BIC DV64 vs Sony SSF7000 vs BIC DV84 for speakers and Pioneer 921 vs Denon 1612 vs Yamaha V373BL.

Does that sound like a sensible system for a room that is approx 15x12ft and mainly for music but for quite varied music from classical to rock to jazz?

Thanks in advance and just a big WOW to the articles and depth of information here. Mind boggling yet eye opening!

 

[zieglj01]

Boston A250, and they come with a black grill.
http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/BOSA250WHA/BOSTON-ACOUSTICS-A250-2-Way-Dual-5.25in-Floor-Standing-Speaker-EA-White/1.html

The center
http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/BOSA225CWHA/BOSTON-ACOUSTICS-A225C-2-Way-Center-Channel-Speaker-White/1.html

HTD Level Two
http://www.htd.com/Products/level-two-speakers/Level-TWO-Tower-Speakers
Light Cherry close-out price here
http://www.htd.com/Products/Discontinued/Level-THREE-Bookshelf-LIGHT-CHERRY-discontinued_2

The Center
http://www.htd.com/Products/center-channel-speakers/Level-TWO-Center-Channel-Speaker

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

$500??
Not much to speak of in terms of separate receiver + speakers.

Out of your choices I'd forget about everything, but possibly boston's

But my highest recommendation goes for these speakers:
Newegg.com - Pioneer SP-FS51-LR Floorstanding Speakers Pair

Watch out as they are often on sale for $130
Other options include: Infinity P163 bookshelfs
Once in a while there is great deal for the Infinity Towers - P363, but they less common

Receiver:
DENON AVR-2112CI 7.1 Integrated Network A/V Surround Receiver | Accessories4less

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

Would a two channel music use all the channels on 5.1 or 7.1 receivers - I know a basic question but I am not sure.

Most receivers support "All channel stereo" or some sort of stereo to 5.1/7.1 conversion using virtual dolby/dts or something similar. Please not these would never be as good as native digital multichannel sound source as Dolby Digital/DTS or their HD versions.
Very few musical disks have surround sound (SACD/DVDA) but these would give you best surround sound presentation

 

[sxk]

Thanks for the suggestions. I can put the budget up a little more like upto 700 but was hoping I can start with a receiver and a pair of speakers for around 500 and build over time.

 

[zieglj01]

Thanks for the suggestions. I can put the budget up a little more like upto 700 but was hoping I can start with a receiver and a pair of speakers for around 500 and build over time.

The Boston A series, HTD Level Two and Pioneer > are good
for music and movies. I will take the Boston A series over the
former CS and CR series. The Pioneer will be a little more on
the polite and laid-back side, compared to Boston and HTD.

 

[sxk]

What do you think about Martin Logan Motion 10 - they have it on sale at a pair for 240.

Will try to post a link below.

newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882981007

Thanks
sxk

 

[sxk]

Went for Pioneer floor speakers and while looking at these saw the rest of the kit

So ended up ordering the following.

1 x ($99.99) Pioneer SP-BS21-LR Bookshelf Loudspeakers Pair $99.99
1 x ($59.99) Pioneer SP-C21 Center Channel Speaker Each
1 x ($139.99) Pioneer SP-FS51-LR Floorstanding Speakers Pair

They had some offer on the bookshelf speakers and it came to $50.00.

So total came to $250 . Looking at the online and cnet reviews these speakers seem to hold pretty well. What do you guys think of this combination?

Thanks for the FS51 recommendation.

Now time to find a receiver. What do you guys feel about accessories4less. They seem to have pretty decent deals on receivers but any problems people had interms of returns/ warranty etc.

Thanks folks.

 

[zieglj01]

^^^^
Good job on the speaker shopping, the Pioneer is fine.
I have had no problems with AC4L, I have bought Denon
and Marantz from them, and did not need service. They
are a good company.

 

[sxk]

Now looking at the receivers:

Pioneer VSX-921-K
Pioneer Elite VSX-40
DENON AVR-1612
DENON AVR-791

Walmart has the pioneers for 230 and 280 for 921k and vsx40 respectively. Denon 791 is at a4less for around 220.

Playing from thumbdrives is important as this will reduce the number of stuff I need to keep around in this room. Good video upscaling is a plus.

Any suggestions! I am leaning towards the pioneer vsx-921-k or Denon avr-791 - more towards the latter actually.

Thanks

 

[GranteedEV]

So total came to $250 . Looking at the online and cnet reviews these speakers seem to hold pretty well. What do you guys think of this combination?

I think you done pretty good.

 

[timoteo]

You have done MUCH better than good...you have spent your hard earned money about as best as you could have with those Pioneers!!!

I'm not joking!! Mr. Andrew Jones designed those speakers & they have no right to sound as good as they do for the price!!! I bought the same 5.0 speaker setup for my good friend as an Anniversary gift. The biggest thing with these speakers however is that they REALLY NEED A SUB!!! Even though the mains are towers they do not play much bass at all. They were designed to play the mids & highs & play them well. After you get the receiver you really need to do yourself a huge favor & save for a proper subwoofer!!!

Depending on your budget for a sub I'd look at:

Premiere Acoustics PA-120 or PA-150
HSU STF-2
Emotiva X-Ref 10"...... etc (subs is a whole other topic for later)

Anyways...great choice my friend, Yamaha Pioneer & Denon will all
offer excellent receivers in your budget. They will all sound the same so just look for what features appeal to you most & go with that one!!

 

[sxk]

Thanks Timoteo

I am in the process of moving and will put my 2c once I set it up and listen to the speakers. I am planning to buy the Denon 791 from a4l for around 230.

Believe it or not I currently use a 20$ computer speakers connected to my stock soundcard on the desktop ! From this view everything above looks shiny

Thanks
sxk

 

[hidefguy]

So ended up ordering the following.

1 x ($99.99) Pioneer SP-BS21-LR Bookshelf Loudspeakers Pair $99.99
1 x ($59.99) Pioneer SP-C21 Center Channel Speaker Each
1 x ($139.99) Pioneer SP-FS51-LR Floorstanding Speakers Pair

How do you guys think these compare to the Polk Monitor series? I think that if he waited for a few newegg.com Polk Audio deals to pop up he might have done better for the money. I am not very familiar with the Pioneers he bought so I am kind of guessing here.

 

[GranteedEV]

How do you guys think these compare to the Polk Monitor series? I think that if he waited for a few newegg.com Polk Audio deals to pop up he might have done better for the money. I am not very familiar with the Pioneers he bought so I am kind of guessing here.

The Pioneers will wipe the floor with the Polks, although overall they seem to have a slight upper mid depression.

 

[zieglj01]

How do you guys think these compare to the Polk Monitor series? I think that if he waited for a few newegg.com Polk Audio deals to pop up he might have done better for the money. I am not very familiar with the Pioneers he bought so I am kind of guessing here.

While the Pioneers are not perfect, they are overall more
balanced - they also have a cleaner presentation, and are
easier on the ears. Voices and instruments, are more rich
and full with the Pioneer. The Polk is hollow sounding, and
I even get ear fatigue, with the mushy and boomy bass of
the Polk speakers.

 

[sxk]

Wow

Hi guys
Just completed the move halfway across the continent and set up the speakers and the receiver. Bought a Denon AVR791 from accessories4less. Total of the receiver and the speakers as well as a sony bluray set me back to around 600 bob.

WOW.

Now I know what I have been missing while I was watching movies with a 2.1 $14 speakers from staples - again WOW

Perhaps this is not a highend setup for many of you guys but my goodness - I can actually hear music

These pioneer speakers are awesome. Well they are to my abused ears anyway. I don't even have a subwoofer. I am a polite listener if you know what I mean and me and my wife were getting confused if some one was knocking on the door or if it was speakers. I am not making this up.


Thanks for all the guidance and encouragement.

 

[zieglj01]

Perhaps this is not a highend setup for many of you guys but my goodness - I can actually hear music

These pioneer speakers are awesome. Well they are to my abused ears anyway. I don't even have a subwoofer. I am a polite listener if you know what I mean and me and my wife were getting confused if some one was knocking on the door or if it was speakers. I am not making this up.

Glad that you like them - have fun and enjoy.

 

[GranteedEV]

WOW.

Now I know what I have been missing while I was watching movies with a 2.1 $14 speakers from staples - again WOW

Perhaps this is not a highend setup for many of you guys but my goodness - I can actually hear music

These pioneer speakers are awesome. Well they are to my abused ears anyway. I don't even have a subwoofer. I am a polite listener if you know what I mean and me and my wife were getting confused if some one was knocking on the door or if it was speakers. I am not making this up.

That is great to hear. Those Pioneer towers are balanced, well-engineered speakers that can take some power too, which is unlike a lot of their price class.

While we admittedly may have spent more on our own systems, it makes us pretty happy when people come back with positive comments on our suggestions

In my opinion, the biggest improvement wasn't the going from 2.1 to 5.1, but simply the fact that the current 2.1 equivalent is vastly improved.

 

[sxk]

An update

Just an update. Following the advise I added a pioneer 8" 100W subwoofer. I am really pleased with the results and the quality of sound and clean and crisp nature is amazing. I don't hear it too loud but for my needs and a lot more, this setup has what it takes. Thanks for the help folks.