First semi-decent setup questions

[trh997]

Hey all, currently I have a $100 ((?) roommate brought it) 5.1 stereo surround system setup in my dorm room. The sub is plugged into the wall, and has a cord with the control panel connected to it with Matrix Mode, power, volume, and bass control. In addition, the FL, C, FR, RL, RR speakers all connect to the back of the sub. Sooo obviously it isn't anything spectacular. However, after only ever listening to music from laptop speakers, or Turtle Beach x31s, it's AMAZING.

For Christmas I'm asking my parents for a better setup. Honestly I don't care toooo much if it's surround sound, the RR and RL speakers sound like **** anyways since it's just plugged into the stock sound card in my laptop with Matrix mode on.

My main selling point is the bass, I'm an avid EDM listener, and LOVE those deep sub-basslines of dubstep.

What can I get for under $350, new or used, that will have fairly decent sound and good bass? I'm pretty happy with the sub I have now, but obviously it isn't very clear bass and cuts out completely at lower frequencies. I just need something better than that

Also, I keep seeing systems that require a receiver? If I could still get something good sounding that doesn't require one, that'd be cool. If it's included, that's cool of course.

Obviously I'm a total newbie to all of this...

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

Hey all, currently I have a $100 ((?) roommate brought it) 5.1 stereo surround system setup in my dorm room. The sub is plugged into the wall, and has a cord with the control panel connected to it with Matrix Mode, power, volume, and bass control. In addition, the FL, C, FR, RL, RR speakers all connect to the back of the sub. Sooo obviously it isn't anything spectacular. However, after only ever listening to music from laptop speakers, or Turtle Beach x31s, it's AMAZING.

For Christmas I'm asking my parents for a better setup. Honestly I don't care toooo much if it's surround sound, the RR and RL speakers sound like **** anyways since it's just plugged into the stock sound card in my laptop with Matrix mode on.

My main selling point is the bass, I'm an avid EDM listener, and LOVE those deep sub-basslines of dubstep.

What can I get for under $350, new or used, that will have fairly decent sound and good bass? I'm pretty happy with the sub I have now, but obviously it isn't very clear bass and cuts out completely at lower frequencies. I just need something better than that

Also, I keep seeing systems that require a receiver? If I could still get something good sounding that doesn't require one, that'd be cool. If it's included, that's cool of course.

Obviously I'm a total newbie to all of this...

College budgets... Dubstep and $350 budget... this is not going to be easy
Amazon.com: Jamo S 426 HCS 3 WENGE 5-Piece Home Theater System (Wenge): Electronics

You'd need to look for receiver on CL/ebay.... $50-100 should get you more than decent 5-10 years old model from big brands

Sub: Amazon.com: JBL ES250PBK High-Performance 12-Inch Powered Subwoofer: Electronics

 

[trh997]

College budgets... Dubstep and $350 budget... this is not going to be easy


You'd need to look for receiver on CL/ebay.... $50-100 should get you more than decent 5-10 years old model from big brands

Sub:

Right? What an expensive interest... Do you have any other suggestions for subs seeing as a decent amount of people are getting blown fuses on these JBLs? Also, I could do a little cheaper on the tower part if you have any cheaper suggestions. I don't have a set budget, it's just going to be easier to persuade my dad the cheaper it is.

 

[hizzaah]

Right? What an expensive interest... Do you have any other suggestions for subs seeing as a decent amount of people are getting blown fuses on these JBLs? Also, I could do a little cheaper on the tower part if you have any cheaper suggestions. I don't have a set budget, it's just going to be easier to persuade my dad the cheaper it is.

I dot think you're going to do better than the suggestions listed above. The Jamo set is a great deal and the JBL is probably the best option for such little cash.

This is about the budget range that I'd suggest a HTiB since you don't want to start out with a 2.0 set.
Onkyo HT-S7400 5.1 Network Home Theater Package w/ipod dock | Accessories4less
The set listed above is going to be better, but you won't find a better receiver with the left over budget.. This will still blow away your roommates Logitech (I assume) system. Logitech has many cheap computer systems with the same Matrix features. Btw, if your sound card supports 5.1, you have to turn off Matrix mode for it to sound right. Matrix mode basically synthesizes the rear channels so if it's trying to synthesize them and your trying to play from a 5.1 source, it's not going to work right. The X540 was my first speaker "system" and a refurb Onkyo HTiB like the one I recommended was my second system.

The Onkyo system will still destroy the Logitech systems and comes with a solid receiver. When you get the itch to upgrade down the road you can just upgrade your speakers knowing that your receiver can handle them. That's what I did when I upgraded my Onkyo speakers a few weeks ago to the Ascends I found on Craigslist.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

Right? What an expensive interest... Do you have any other suggestions for subs seeing as a decent amount of people are getting blown fuses on these JBLs? Also, I could do a little cheaper on the tower part if you have any cheaper suggestions. I don't have a set budget, it's just going to be easier to persuade my dad the cheaper it is.

Like said, this jbl sub was measured by known sites and been found to have a very respectable performance.
If you worry about few bad reviews that much there is an alternative even cheaper, but I will recommend sticking with jbl for much better sound
Dayton Audio SUB-1200 12" 120 Watt Powered Subwoofer 300-629

Onkyo package is also pretty decent way to go

 

[trh997]

I dot think you're going to do better than the suggestions listed above. The Jamo set is a great deal and the JBL is probably the best option for such little cash.

This is about the budget range that I'd suggest a HTiB since you don't want to start out with a 2.0 set.

The set listed above is going to be better, but you won't find a better receiver with the left over budget.. This will still blow away your roommates Logitech (I assume) system. Logitech has many cheap computer systems with the same Matrix features. Btw, if your sound card supports 5.1, you have to turn off Matrix mode for it to sound right. Matrix mode basically synthesizes the rear channels so if it's trying to synthesize them and your trying to play from a 5.1 source, it's not going to work right. The X540 was my first speaker "system" and a refurb Onkyo HTiB like the one I recommended was my second system.

The Onkyo system will still destroy the Logitech systems and comes with a solid receiver. When you get the itch to upgrade down the road you can just upgrade your speakers knowing that your receiver can handle them. That's what I did when I upgraded my Onkyo speakers a few weeks ago to the Ascends I found on Craigslist.

So in your opinion, would it be better with the above set, and trying to find a receiver, or the HTiB? Do receivers make all that big of a difference?

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

So in your opinion, would it be better with the above set, and trying to find a receiver, or the HTiB? Do receivers make all that big of a difference?

You $350 is set in stone, then I'll rec the Jamo and Dayton sub above....
This leaves you with $100 and this budget is more than enough for 2nd hand receiver.

If you provide major us city near you, I will throw in few a suggestions

Speakers are responsible for 90% of the sound and this system will indeed blow away any $100 you heard before, but for receiver you don't want to pickup complete garbage ether, stick to mid-range models from big brands (Denon, Marantz, Yamaha, Onkyo and Pioneer) dated about 5 years and you'll be fine.

 

[trh997]

You $350 is set in stone, then I'll rec the Jamo and Dayton sub above....
This leaves you with $100 and this budget is more than enough for 2nd hand receiver.

If you provide major us city near you, I will throw in few a suggestions

Speakers are responsible for 90% of the sound and this system will indeed blow away any $100 you heard before, but for receiver you don't want to pickup complete garbage ether, stick to mid-range models from big brands (Denon, Marantz, Yamaha, Onkyo and Pioneer) dated about 5 years and you'll be fine.

It's not necessarily set in stone, if it wasn't, what would you recommend instead?

I'm an hour from San Antonio, and an hour 15 from Austin.

Edit: By the way, thanks SO MUCH for this feedback. I've never in my life seen a more helpful forum with even near as quick responses, you guys must love your music

 

[hizzaah]

So in your opinion, would it be better with the above set, and trying to find a receiver, or the HTiB? Do receivers make all that big of a difference?

If your budget isn't set in stone, go with the first suggestion of the Jamo's w/ JBL and try to find a decent receiver.

It's not necessarily set in stone, if it wasn't, what would you recommend instead?

I'm an hour from San Antonio, and an hour 15 from Austin.

Edit: By the way, thanks SO MUCH for this feedback. I've never in my life seen a more helpful forum with even near as quick responses, you guys must love your music

I'm about 15 mins N of Austin for the next few weeks. I brought my 7.1 Onkyo HTiB speakers and an little older Denon 1909 ('08/'09 model I believe) receiver with me for winter break. The house is being remodeled currently, but a good amount of it should be done in the next two weeks. If you we're interested you could probably come try them out after that if you wanted.. Heck, I'd probably sell them to you fairly cheap if you wanted. They're a back up system now that I've got my Ascends.. Send me a PM if you're interested in any of that.

 

[trh997]

If your budget isn't set in stone, go with the first suggestion of the Jamo's w/ JBL and try to find a decent receiver.



I'm about 15 mins N of Austin for the next few weeks. I brought my 7.1 Onkyo HTiB speakers and an little older Denon 1909 ('08/'09 model I believe) receiver with me for winter break. The house is being remodeled currently, but a good amount of it should be done in the next two weeks. If you we're interested you could probably come try them out after that if you wanted.. Heck, I'd probably sell them to you fairly cheap if you wanted. They're a back up system now that I've got my Ascends.. Send me a PM if you're interested in any of that.

That sounds awesome! This was my fifth post so I can PM you...

 

[sholling]

What can I get for under $350, new or used, that will have fairly decent sound and good bass? I'm pretty happy with the sub I have now, but obviously it isn't very clear bass and cuts out completely at lower frequencies. I just need something better than that

For dorm life on that budget I'd good with good quality headphones.

 

[trh997]

For dorm life on that budget I'd good with good quality headphones.

Nahhhh can't deal with that. Turtle Beach's satisfy my headphone needs, honestly. My room is the party room, so I must have a good system with bass.

 

[hizzaah]

Nahhhh can't deal with that. Turtle Beach's satisfy my headphone needs, honestly. My room is the party room, so I must have a good system with bass.

List a few songs you'd demo a system on. The issue in this price range is making sure the sub is going to be able to adequately handle the bass on some of those dub songs

 

[ahblaza]

List a few songs you'd demo a system on. The issue in this price range is making sure the sub is going to be able to adequately handle the bass on some of those dub songs

GONE....Lost Him........... What's Dub anyway

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

It's not necessarily set in stone, if it wasn't, what would you recommend instead?

I'm an hour from San Antonio, and an hour 15 from Austin.

Edit: By the way, thanks SO MUCH for this feedback. I've never in my life seen a more helpful forum with even near as quick responses, you guys must love your music

Like I said,receiver under $100 is easily done
5.1 Surround Sound Home Theater Receiver w/ remote - Yamaha HTR-5550
YAMAHA HTR-5490 Receiver
Yamaha RX-V650 Audio/Video Receiver

Last one is most modern and probably best choice

 

[hizzaah]

Like I said,receiver under $100 is easily done
5.1 Surround Sound Home Theater Receiver w/ remote - Yamaha HTR-5550
YAMAHA HTR-5490 Receiver
Yamaha RX-V650 Audio/Video Receiver

Last one is most modern and probably best choice

That last one is a pretty good deal.. Hutto is quite far north of where he's at though. The $40 spent on gas getting there an back may make it worth it to put that towards a more local receiver.

 

[trh997]

List a few songs you'd demo a system on. The issue in this price range is making sure the sub is going to be able to adequately handle the bass on some of those dub songs

Oh man, let's see.... Benga - 26 Basslines | J Kenzo - Ruffhouse | Cyberoptics - Pimpin | Flux Pavilion - Audio Pest | Loefah's mix as part of Dubstep Warz Pt. 2 | Emalkay - Explicit | 16 Bit - PCP/President of Europe | Skream - Indistinct

I'm aware that whatever I get isn't going to be able to handle allll the low frequencies I want it to, I'm just looking for the best I can do.

 

[agarwalro]

+1 for the Jamo set and Dayton sub.

Additional $0.02, keep your expectations in check . That setup in not going to give you the infra sonic feel or loudness of an underground rave while you're on disco biscuits .

 

[ahblaza]

+1 for the Jamo set and Dayton sub.

Additional $0.02, keep your expectations in check . That setup in not going to give you the infra sonic feel or loudness of an underground rave while you're on disco biscuits .

Maybe on peyote (the spinleess cactus) will get him there, better yet "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds...

 

[trh997]

+1 for the Jamo set and Dayton sub.

Additional $0.02, keep your expectations in check . That setup in not going to give you the infra sonic feel or loudness of an underground rave while you're on disco biscuits .

Luckily the closed I've ever gotten to hearing dubstep how it should be is Datsik's 50k Watt Firepower Tour, which of course while rumbling, wasn't that deep wub. I've only heard that once, in a dude's car with a niceee system.

So my expectations aren't thatttt high