$1,000 5.1 system

[johnnyp26]

Ok, I've been lurking for a bit and decided to post as this forum seems to be very helpful. I'm looking for a surround sound for my office. Not sure if it's relevant but they will be run in conjunction with PS3 and Panasonic P50ST30 tv. As the title states I'd like to stay around $1k but I could go a few hundred higher if needed. The room is really small, 11x11 since it's just my office. I will be sitting about 5-5 1/2 feet from the front speakers. In reading all of the reviews I've 100% decided on the Pioneer setup with the FS52 floors, CP22 center and BS22 rears. The area where I am struggling is the sub and receiver. I technically have a receiver I could use in another room which is an Onkyo tx-sr508, but I'd rather not use it unless I absolutely have to as it's running another surround sound setup in another room that my kids use.

Primary use will be for blu-ray and video games. I like a system with some boom to it as we are avid movie watchers, so the sub will be important to me, but keeping in mind the size of the room I don't want to go crazy. For the receiver I've looked at something like the Denon AVR 1713, but I'm not really sold on anything so if you have another suggestion I'm game.

So understanding I'm $400 tied up in the 5.0 setup, what would you guys suggest for the rest of the system. Thanks in advance and if I left out anything relevant to help let me know.

John

 

[macddmac]

Hi John and welcome to the forum,
Great choice on the pioneers! They're getting a lot of very positive reviews and should work well for you. You stated that your room is 11x 11.. Square rooms pose a challenge for good sound reproduction so you may be well served to get a new receiver with the best room correction suite that you can. I'm a Denon homer so that's what I'll propose. The 1712 (249.00 refurb) or 1713 have Audessy multi eq xt, a very nice rc solution. If you don't mind a refurb, Accessories For Less is a good source for Denon, Marantz and Onkyo refurbs. Extended warranty's are also available.

As far as a sub goes, the good news is that a room that size won't need a big one. That's not to say you can't , but to stay within your budget, there are a few that would work for you. HSU has 2 models that would Likely work for you with the STF-2 at 350.00 being the first choice. There are also deals to be had on capable subs out there such as the Cadence
CSX 12 at 399.00 and there's a klipsch 12 incher out there that's going for your budget. I think that one is the RW-12. One other to consider is the Emptek 1010 on sale now for 329.00.Have fun and take your time making these choices. Also try to audition speakers/ and subs in your room a whenever possible.
Cheers, Mac

 

[ImcLoud]

Hi John and welcome to the forum,
Great choice on the pioneers! They're getting a lot of very positive reviews and should work well for you. You stated that your room is 11x 11.. Square rooms pose a challenge for good sound reproduction so you may be well served to get a new receiver with the best room correction suite that you can. I'm a Denon homer so that's what I'll propose. The 1712 (249.00 refurb) or 1713 have Audessy multi eq xt, a very nice rc solution. If you don't mind a refurb, Accessories For Less is a good source for Denon, Marantz and Onkyo refurbs. Extended warranty's are also available.

As far as a sub goes, the good news is that a room that size won't need a big one. That's not to say you can't , but to stay within your budget, there are a few that would work for you. HSU has 2 models that would Likely work for you with the STF-2 at 350.00 being the first choice. There are also deals to be had on capable subs out there such as the Cadence
CSX 12 at 399.00 and there's a klipsch 12 incher out there that's going for your budget. I think that one is the RW-12. One other to consider is the Emptek 1010 on sale now for 329.00.Have fun and take your time making these choices. Also try to audition speakers/ and subs in your room a whenever possible.
Cheers, Mac

Hit the nail on the head, go for the denon and the STF2.... That will be enough bass for sure...

PS one thought when I put together my office system I couldnt get any towers to sound good, it seemed like having bookshelfs mounted a little higher sounded much better than any towers I tried...

 

[johnnyp26]

Hit the nail on the head, go for the denon and the STF2.... That will be enough bass for sure...

PS one thought when I put together my office system I couldnt get any towers to sound good, it seemed like having bookshelfs mounted a little higher sounded much better than any towers I tried...

Thanks for the replies guys. I am comfortable with Denon but I've never bought something like that as a referb, I take it you guys have had good experiences with them? I guess it's the same warranty as buying new so there isn't much to lose.

I didn't think of that with the floor standing speakers, worst case I can take them back and get 2 more of the bookshelves if they don't sound right. They will eventually be moved to a bigger room, so hopefully I can get them sounding right.

On the STF-2, do you generally just buy them directly from HSU? I can't seem to find anywhere else that sells them.

Is there an audio calibration dvd I should be using like you do in the video world? I have no clue what I'm doing to get these things sounding right.

Also is there any good speaker stands for the bookshelves you guys recommend? Thanks again for your help!

 

[ImcLoud]

Thanks for the replies guys. I am comfortable with Denon but I've never bought something like that as a referb, I take it you guys have had good experiences with them? I guess it's the same warranty as buying new so there isn't much to lose.

I didn't think of that with the floor standing speakers, worst case I can take them back and get 2 more of the bookshelves if they don't sound right. They will eventually be moved to a bigger room, so hopefully I can get them sounding right.

On the STF-2, do you generally just buy them directly from HSU? I can't seem to find anywhere else that sells them.

Is there an audio calibration dvd I should be using like you do in the video world? I have no clue what I'm doing to get these things sounding right.

Also is there any good speaker stands for the bookshelves you guys recommend? Thanks again for your help!

Audy does a lot for you, I wouldnt worry about buying any discs its pretty standard and easy to get it setup after you plug everything in... I do it the old fashion way with an spl meter and pink noise disc...
I so wanted towers in my office but no matter which I tried I couldnt get them rite, My office chair is high {std office chair but much higher than a couch} and I just couldnt get them placed rite and to sound good, Bookshelfs half the price of the towers I was trying sounded better... Plus when sitting at my desc, I can throw the bookshelfs on and they only need a few watts and will get too loud very fast... Speaker stands are up to you visually pleasing, sturdy, and cost efficient is a good place to start... 10x10 I would be using omni mounts and painting in speaker wires... Floor room starts to be a commodity when you get under or around 100sq ft..

 

[johnnyp26]

Audy does a lot for you, I wouldnt worry about buying any discs its pretty standard and easy to get it setup after you plug everything in... I do it the old fashion way with an spl meter and pink noise disc...
I so wanted towers in my office but no matter which I tried I couldnt get them rite, My office chair is high {std office chair but much higher than a couch} and I just couldnt get them placed rite and to sound good, Bookshelfs half the price of the towers I was trying sounded better... Plus when sitting at my desc, I can throw the bookshelfs on and they only need a few watts and will get too loud very fast... Speaker stands are up to you visually pleasing, sturdy, and cost efficient is a good place to start... 10x10 I would be using omni mounts and painting in speaker wires... Floor room starts to be a commodity when you get under or around 100sq ft..

My desk chair sits really low fortunately, so hopefully I won't have that problem. We'll see though, you have me nervous now. Floor stands are the way I'm going to need to go, I'm only going to be in this house for a year while my new one is being built and don't want to mount anything I don't have to. I actually have a decent amount of room the way the room is set up, though it's dwindling quickly.

 

[ImcLoud]

My desk chair sits really low fortunately, so hopefully I won't have that problem. We'll see though, you have me nervous now. Floor stands are the way I'm going to need to go, I'm only going to be in this house for a year while my new one is being built and don't want to mount anything I don't have to. I actually have a decent amount of room the way the room is set up, though it's dwindling quickly.

Well IMO if you are going to be in this house for a year, than I would buy the system for the new house... Whats the office dimensions in the new house?

 

[johnnyp26]

Well IMO if you are going to be in this house for a year, than I would buy the system for the new house... Whats the office dimensions in the new house?

Same basic setup where I will have them in an office, but the room will be 14x13.