Replacing sub in Onkyo HT-S5500

[ahblaza]

Cheapest good receiver at a4less.(very reputable dealer)

DENON AVR-591 5.1 Channel Home Theater Receiver | Accessories4less

I found a deal on Newegg for a budget Energy set(reputable and solid speakers)

Newegg.com - Open Box: Energy PS500 5CH Home Audio Speaker System

The Energy speakers I've heard have been exceptional and you'd have a full set you could upgrade on later. I'm not saying these are as good as the CF series, but certainly they'd be better than Onkyo speakers.

I've never found good speakers in a best buy, but maybe that's the area.

Are these Energys the same as in the 5.0 set?
Newegg.com - Energy EF-500 Tower Speaker Pair

 

[zieglj01]

Are these Energys the same as in the 5.0 set?
Newegg.com - Energy EF-500 Tower Speaker Pair

It is a rebadged Jamo speaker.
The owners of Energy, Jamo, Klipsch and so on, are more
into the marketing game now. > Even some older Athena
plasma speakers, now carry the Energy badge.

Jamo is more well known over-seas, one way to market some
more inventory, is to rebadge with a more popular local name.

 

[ahblaza]

@lsiberian -- thanks for the tips. I'll have to take a look at that DENON AVR-591 and compare against the others I'm looking at. That is ~$100 less than the ones I’ve currently short-listed, which I could then shift a bit more cash over to the speaker side of things (or save it for the sub, etc.)

Best Buy had pretty poor options for listening... I could swear they used to have a listening room with different sets. Now there are just various setups scattered around with their TVs. It is pretty obvious what they are there to sell.

So I also went to the local Fry's -- high prices, but they had a decent listening room, which is what I was after.

I did get to compare the soundbar/sub to the 2.1 to the 5.1 setups (and one 7.1)... and I do not know how they get away with charging $450 for the sound bars and calling them 'virtual 5.1' or 7.1!?! Even as cheap as I'm going, I know I'm going to have way more sound for my dollar. There is simply no comparison. Neat technology, but no comparison.

Anyhow, from this listening tour, I did learn that I'm a 5.1 kind of guy... I *really* liked the theory of starting at 2 or 2.1 and went in 95% sure that was the way I would go, but after listening, I'm pretty sure I'd sit there and itch for that surround when it wasn't there. So in reality, I think I'd buy myself more time by going with either the $170 Jamos on Amazon or the Onkyo SKS-HT540 for $199 on Amazon, paired with the $250 Denon 1712 (or one of the other ones in that range that I'm trying to get a deal on) and all said I'm in for just $420... This is good.


Thanks everyone for your advice! I started this process feeling really lost, and even though there is still tons to learn, now I feel like I'm making a much more informed choice here.

Now I just have to put in some orders, and wait for everything to arrive!!

If it were me, I would start 2.0 with a decent receiver but it's not, so I reco the Onkyo HT540 with this receiver for a little more at AC4L, more robust amp section and highly regarded, instead of $450, $500. Niether receivers have pre-outs to my knowledge, that to me would be a huge plus, but the Onkyo's amps have the gamma rays to change Dr. Bruce Banner into the Hulk.
Hope this helps. HTIB speakers tend to have a higher roll off FR (where they need to be crossed over) and this forces you to get a competent sub that is adept at producing the upper register of bass 80-120Hz or more. Good luck and keep us informed, my biggest concern is speaker buyer's remorse... , but then again you're not risking too much...
http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/ONKTXNR609/Onkyo-TX-NR609-7.2-Channel-3-D-Ready-Network-A/V-Receiver/1.html

 

[g0bez]

I just landed a Denon 1712 for $190 at best buy clearance!! After all of the reading I've done, I'm very comfortable that this unit will be more than enough to get me started. I also have 30 days to decide. The risk is minimal.

I do not doubt that I will end up wanting to upgrade for one reason or another at some point... But now I'm back in my original price point with a MUCH better setup than the htiab, with lots of upgrade options. And at this price point, I can sit with this for 6 months and really learn any weaknesses, and make an even better choice.


And as ahblaza said, at this price point I'm not really risking all that much

 

[ahblaza]

It is a rebadged Jamo speaker.
The owners of Energy, Jamo, Klipsch and so on, are more
into the marketing game now. > Even some older Athena
plasma speakers, now carry the Energy badge.

Jamo is more well known over-seas, one way to market some
more inventory, is to rebadge with a more popular local name.

I didn't know that, I had some Athena's F2's, never heard of the plasma speaks though...

 

[zieglj01]

I didn't know that, I had some Athena's F2's, never heard of the plasma speaks though...

Here, flat panel or plasma
WS Series — athena TECHNOLOGIES®

http://www.vanns.com/shop/servlet/item/features/544899065

 

[ahblaza]

Here, flat panel or plasma
WS Series — athena TECHNOLOGIES®

Energy FPP Flat Panel Package 5.1 home theatre speaker package | Vanns.com

This is really bad.... I thought you meant Athena's with plasma tweeters, man where was I at

 

[ahblaza]

I just purchased a pair of the Pioneer SP-FS52's yesterday at Best Buy due to reading good things about them on this forum. I have yet to hook them to anything and try them. The store demo setup was so bad, I couldn't tell anything about them, so I just bought them as I have 30 days to make up my mind.

It's been 15+ years since I bought a new receiver so I'm wondering if the mentioned Denon 1712 refurb in this thread can be used with the FS52's and a not yet purchased SP-C22 center as a 3-channel setup (is there a setting for this on the menu?) until funds are available to finish up with rears and a sub for 5 speaker set to be used in a bedroom. I know this Denon is a 7.1 but I don't have to use it as a 7.1 or do I?

Thanks for any insight on this, as I'm not up to speed on this new stuff. Up until last week I still had a CRT TV.

Yes the 1712 can be used with the 52's and then the C22, in the speaker setup menu you can choose the speakers to use and the 1712's amps to drive them. You have the option of using 2, 3, 5, 6 or 7 speakers and a sub. In the Speaker Setup menu just select your L&R mains and center and no for sides and backs (rears) and the receiver's amps will drive only the speakers you have selected, so no you don't have to use 5.1 or 7.1, just for now 2.0 or 3.0. you do the configuration and the receiver will only use what you have input or selected. the .1 is the sub (LFE) output on the rear of receiver and is a pre-out to a self powered subwoofer, it's not an amp channel. Hope this helps...
Cheers Jeff

 

[ImcLoud]

I just landed a Denon 1712 for $190 at best buy clearance!! After all of the reading I've done, I'm very comfortable that this unit will be more than enough to get me started. I also have 30 days to decide. The risk is minimal.

I do not doubt that I will end up wanting to upgrade for one reason or another at some point... But now I'm back in my original price point with a MUCH better setup than the htiab, with lots of upgrade options. And at this price point, I can sit with this for 6 months and really learn any weaknesses, and make an even better choice.


And as ahblaza said, at this price point I'm not really risking all that much

Good deal, thats why I always ask what the budget is, most of the time you can do a lot better than a htiab system for the same cost...

You will be happy with the jamo 426's, my sister loves hers, they are not huge, but have a good sound, definitely better than any htiab system I ever heard... the other thing to consider is when you want to upgrade, even if you sold the jamos for $150 {which should be very easy to do} you only spent $25!!!

Good luck let us know how you like it when its all in... Keep in mind you are going to need cables, if you need advice just let us know what you need and ask..

 

[g0bez]

That is a great point about resale... if (when?) I get to the point I need an upgrade, I'll definitely keep that in mind!

Thanks for the note about cables -- Early on in searching this forum I found a couple of threads here with a lot of info about cable type/size (and banana clips, etc.), and links out to monoprice (primarily) so I think I'm set there.


Thanks again to everyone who has given advice! Can't wait to get this set up!!

 

[ahblaza]

That is a great point about resale... if (when?) I get to the point I need an upgrade, I'll definitely keep that in mind!

Thanks for the note about cables -- Early on in searching this forum I found a couple of threads here with a lot of info about cable type/size (and banana clips, etc.), and links out to monoprice (primarily) so I think I'm set there.


Thanks again to everyone who has given advice! Can't wait to get this set up!!

Monoprice has some good quality speaker cable and inexpensive, Personally I would go with their 12 gauge, it's suitable for almost any length and cheaper when you buy spools. As far as banana plugs, I don't care for them (Monoprice), I use BJC, scroll down the page to view them, the locking plugs on the receiver end and regular screw on barrel with insert for a real tight hold of wire. BJC gives you black and red heat shrinks with plug purchase. Don't skimp on the terminations. You'll be glad you didn't.
Speaker Cable at Blue Jeans Cable
12AWG CL2 Rated 2-Conductor Loud Speaker Cable - 50ft For In-Wall Installation
This is excellent cable for all your speaker needs, just go with the BJC plugs, just my opinion, hope this helps.....
Cheers Jeff

 

[g0bez]

That is interesting about the monoprice banana plugs -- I'll have to look into the BJC and compare. Thanks for the tip!

 

[g0bez]

Also interesting recommendation for 12 gauge wire... I was pretty content thinking 14 would be good enough, but I'll need to do a bit more research on that before I buy some.

 

[ahblaza]

Also interesting recommendation for 12 gauge wire... I was pretty content thinking 14 would be good enough, but I'll need to do a bit more research on that before I buy some.

14 should and will work, I just like the thickest, highest strand count wire I can afford. I use some Lowes 10 AWG wire, it's gasoline and oil resistant heavily insulated with crazy copper strand count with the BJC plugs. I dress the wire up in a nice jacket, I think it's like $.39 cents a foot, does it make a real difference SQ wise, I don't know, but I think it has the lowest resistance, capacitance of most wire I am familar with.......
Cheers Jeff