Novice advice

[prplflh71]

I'm breaking down the walls and getting away from the Bose habit I've formed over that past 15 years. Definitely fell prey to the marketing!

We're buying a home and will be adding a media room in the basement. I didn't measure when we did the walk through but the room is approximately 12x16.

I'd been shopping Klipch Reference but got in over my head in the overall budget considering I'll need a 1080 projector ($1,299.00) for the Epson 8350 I'm considering, a fixed 106" screen (Da-Lite 68676) a Sony BDPS590 Blue Ray, Tivo HD and A 5.1 receiver yet to be determined.

Reason for my post is, Ijust fell across a buy on a used set of KEF kht3005bl 5.1speakers through a friend of a friend. I picked them up with stands for $800. Wondering if I got a decent deal and also wondering what you would suggest for pairing as a Receiver for the set up I'm looking at? I'd like internet connectivity for Hulu/Pandora, steaming video etc.

Any input would be helpful on the reciever or an opinion on the overall set up.

Thanks,

Brian

 

[ParadigmDawg]

I think you got an okay deal on some fair speakers that will likely never get you in that "better than the movies" mode. A sat/sub set up is always quite a compromise and is seldom done in a dedicated home theater. If at all possible, I wound see if the seller would buy them back and go with a minimum of Bookshelves and a good sub.

Below is a great thread on a budget friendly HT set up. Just skip over the video side of it.
http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/beginners-audiophytes/80742-$2500-complete-system-any-newbie-should-buy-take-advantage-summer.html

 

[prplflh71]

The seller gave me a test drive of the Kef's and I had to have them! The sound quality was beyond surprising to me that it could be coming from speakers so small. The sub provided a solid punch, and the system really shined when he played "Iron Man" for me on Blue Ray through his pioneer amp. They filled the room well and the sound was well dispersed and balanced. No bad listening areas in the room. I'am considering a second sub and ordering another set of the sats to run 7.2.
I ran Bose 701 series II towers with the Bose center channel, a Polk 10" sub and Bose 301 bookshelves in a previous set up some years ago before the kids came and we needed more room and less noise. I thought I had a decent set up with that but was really not happy with sound "quality." it was more volume that I had. I feel like I've definayy stepped up, without breaking the. Amm and I think I'll e happy with this set up ( that is until I hear something better). LOL!

As I said, I'm a novice. I'm going to make mistakes. Almost buying that old Bose set up back from the relative I sold it to was one of them ; )

Still awaiting settlement on the new house. Can't wait to start working on the theater room!

 

[BMXTRIX]

I'm breaking down the walls and getting away from the Bose habit I've formed over that past 15 years. Definitely fell prey to the marketing!

We're buying a home and will be adding a media room in the basement. I didn't measure when we did the walk through but the room is approximately 12x16.

I'd been shopping Klipch Reference but got in over my head in the overall budget considering I'll need a 1080 projector ($1,299.00) for the Epson 8350 I'm considering, a fixed 106" screen (Da-Lite 68676) a Sony BDPS590 Blue Ray, Tivo HD and A 5.1 receiver yet to be determined.

Reason for my post is, Ijust fell across a buy on a used set of KEF kht3005bl 5.1speakers through a friend of a friend. I picked them up with stands for $800. Wondering if I got a decent deal and also wondering what you would suggest for pairing as a Receiver for the set up I'm looking at? I'd like internet connectivity for Hulu/Pandora, steaming video etc.

1. The DaLite screen is likely overpriced for the quality you are getting. I couldn't find that specific model, so if you have a link to the actual product page, some alternative recommendations may be able to be made. DaLite has some good motorized options at a fair price. Their fixed frame products... not so much.

2. Speakers I will let others comment on, but if you are happy with them, than that is all that really matters.

3. Lots of receivers out there, get a quality A/V receiver. If you want good internet connectivity then for God's sake, get a COMPUTER!!! If you want Hulu/Netflix, then get a Roku box. Stop asking an A/V receiver to double as an A/V source. That's not what you should be buying and is not what you should be expecting. Instead, get the best darn receiver you can for the money, and then get something else to handle your other requests/requirements. This will make you FAR happier in the long run.

4. The Epson 8350 is a very solid entry level 2D projector. Nice placement flexibility, solid brightness, decent image quality. For 2D only, that's one I've used many times and strongly recommend. From there I would go to the JVC RS45 or the Epson 5010 as next models up.