Need help on surround speakers no more than 500 for 4

[fsim]

I bought a house that had 4 el cheapo speakers on the wall. I have been putting together a surround system that is meant to be very good, but not the top of the line. I first bought decent sub and center channel speakers that are intended to get me through a 5 year window. They are both polk audio. I had an old receiver that allowed 5.1. First long term upgrade I made was to the Marantz sr5005. I now want to buy some bookshelf speakers that will eventually become the 4 rear and side speakers over time when I move to 7.1. For now I will use them in the room as the 4 front and rear speakers on the wall for a 5.1 set up. I will then buy a decent set of floor speakers for the fronts and finally spend the money to upgrade the center and sub. What I want from these speakers is dead on mids and highs. I do music/movie 50/50. I am planning to spend no more than 500.00 for the 4 bookshelf speakers in totality. This figure does not necessarily include tax or shipping, but I am firm on no more that 500 for the 4. I am leaning toward the audioengine P4s.
Anyone have any advice.

 

[afterlife2]

2 pairs of these on sale now: Amazon.com: Pioneer SP-BS22-LR Andrew Jones Designed Bookshelf Loudspeakers: Electronics
or
TEAC LS-H265 2-Way 5-1/4 in Reference Bookshelf Speakers Pair | Accessories4less

 

[ImcLoud]

Afterlife is 100% correct, them are great bookshelfs, get rave reviews and sound really good for their price... Personally I would start with 1 pair of them, and 1 pair of something that matches your front center, micing front left and right and center manufacturers and lines will give you bad sound... I would buy a polk bookshelf from your centers line, and then the cheaper books for surrounds, mixing up your front soundstage is a no no...

Which center do you have polk model XX?
another good option is the http://www.wavecrestaudio.com/products/hvl-1-two-way-loudspeaker-pair I haven't heard them as of yet, but will soon, and hear good things about them.. Im sure you can contact him and get a quote for 4 of them, for some reason he only does 3 or 5 on the site here's Curtis's thread about them http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/loudspeakers/85645-wave-crest-audio-hlv-1-ascend-designed-budget-bookshe-3.html

 

[fsim]

I really appreciate your help. The comments already have been a huge help. But one question IMC, Knowing that I am not married to the polk sound at all, I am hoping to limp through with what I got, but this is intended to be only surrounds in a set up long term. I am now beginning year 2 of my 5 year plan. My thought would be to continue limping with knowledge that I will have an imperfect system for the next 3 years. But this is the time that I need to make a decision that will impact my system longterm. My plan is to spend overall on final product of speakers no more than 2000. I was thinking 500 for rears and sides would be best way to go. Leaving 1500 for sub, center, and fronts. Am I looking at this in a flawed way?

 

[fsim]

To directly answer your question, IMC, I have the CS10.

 

[afterlife2]

This center is really good. The dialogue was clear as a whistle, I use to own it and it out shined the Infinity, klipsch and JBL centers I use to own: Amazon.com: Pioneer SP-C22 Andrew Jones Designed Center Channel Speaker: Electronics

 

[ImcLoud]

I really appreciate your help. The comments already have been a huge help. But one question IMC, Knowing that I am not married to the polk sound at all, I am hoping to limp through with what I got, but this is intended to be only surrounds in a set up long term. I am now beginning year 2 of my 5 year plan. My thought would be to continue limping with knowledge that I will have an imperfect system for the next 3 years. But this is the time that I need to make a decision that will impact my system longterm. My plan is to spend overall on final product of speakers no more than 2000. I was thinking 500 for rears and sides would be best way to go. Leaving 1500 for sub, center, and fronts. Am I looking at this in a flawed way?

Well then check out them HVL-1s for surrounds, and check out the 340se from Ascend Acoustics for your fronts, I use them for my fronts with 200se for surronds {the hvl1s were out when I bought my 200s} I tested speakers from all over the world, and Ascend has that true sound I like, realistic, warm, defined unfatiguing, something you can listen to all day and night...


and when you are in the market for a sub, check out HSU research, to me they are the best value, unless you are building one yourself..

 

[fsim]

IMC and afterlife, Thank you guys very much. Afterlife, I have looked at the pioneer option as that would put me under budget. My only question is this: They almost sound too good to be true. Do they really reproduce true un muddied sound? I am not big into power and volume, but simply want sound quality to be true to what it is intended to be. An example would be: I generally do not like base reflex speakers for that reason. It increases bass, but at a cost to true reproduction.

IMC, admittedly, I am not familiar with the HVL-1, but from what little I have found out so far, they are intriguing.

I am planning to go to best buy to give the pioneers a listen today. I can assume the HVL-1s are not available for a test, but of course with the 30 day money back, that is not a huge concern except of course cost of shipping them back if necessary.

 

[afterlife2]

When I had them they truly surprised me. Do give them break in time. They are not colored, so you will really gonna hear everything as recorded. I would not audition the speakers at best buy nothing compares like your own home and placement. Buy a pair to start and If you like them get the center and be done. How big is your space? Then we can recommend and good sub.

 

[fsim]

It is big quite frankly. Probably 20X25

 

[afterlife2]

What is your sub budget?

 

[ImcLoud]

you will need some sub for that space, dual vtf2's would be a good start... I would but a big part of your budget into the subs, and get a front end that will not have trouble reaching your seating position..