$2500 budget for loudspeakers and receiver. Am I making a mistake?

[Prizefighter]

My brother in law is slowly building his home theater in his living room. So he is opting to go 2.0 for the time being and then adding on afterwards. His living room is going to be pre wired for 5 channel set up with the front being on the wall and rest in the ceiling.
His mind is set on:

Pioneer SC-81
Def Tech XTR-50

He has a huge room to fill, 20x20x9 with left and right sides being open. Is this a wise choice for about a $2500 budget? He wants on wall speakers, but i think he just likes def techs. I'm just making sure he is not making a mistake

I've told him that i would rather spend that $1200 on a decent receiver and an XPA 3, but he swears by this pioneer.

Any input on a rec and 2 on wall speaker combo would be great. thanks

 

[crossedover]

My brother in law is slowly building his home theater in his living room. So he is opting to go 2.0 for the time being and then adding on afterwards. His living room is going to be pre wired for 5 channel set up with the front being on the wall and rest in the ceiling.
His mind is set on:

Pioneer SC-81
Def Tech XTR-50

He has a huge room to fill, 20x20x9 with left and right sides being open. Is this a wise choice for about a $2500 budget? He wants on wall speakers, but i think he just likes def techs. I'm just making sure he is not making a mistake

I've told him that i would rather spend that $1200 on a decent receiver and an XPA 3, but he swears by this pioneer.

Any input on a rec and 2 on wall speaker combo would be great. thanks

The Denon 4520ci can be had for between $999-1299, which will have a feature set that is hard to be beat for the price. As for the speakers, Im assuming that on wall is his only option?

 

[Prizefighter]

The Denon 4520ci can be had for between $999-1299, which will have a feature set that is hard to be beat for the price. As for the speakers, Im assuming that on wall is his only option?

all he wants are on walls, so yes... I will do some research about the denon

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Doesn't seem you would be able to change your brother-in-law's mind.

If he must have on-wall speakers, I think five NHT Super-Zero speakers + dual subwoofers would very good. He could get white speakers to match the wall if he likes.

Or other small bookshelf speakers that can be wall-mounted with a bracket.

I can vouch for Denon AVR. But it doesn't seem like he will change his mind anyway.

 

[Prizefighter]

Doesn't seem you would be able to change your brother-in-law's mind.

If he must have on-wall speakers, I think five NHT Super-Zero speakers + dual subwoofers would very good. He could get white speakers to match the wall if he likes.

Or other small bookshelf speakers that can be wall-mounted with a bracket.

I can vouch for Denon AVR. But it doesn't seem like he will change his mind anyway.

Wow i would have never thought u would recommend NHT super zero over the XTR 50?! Are the XTR 50 that bad? He doesn't need a 5ch setup off the bat he says. A 2.0 will suffice for now until the end of this year. He is trying to afford the best speakers he can with the money he has, about $1500 for 2 speakers. On-walls that is

 

[crossedover]

For a 2.0 system to start and a 1k avr with the speakers covering no frequencies below 92hz, he isnt spending his money well. If he is set on onwalls then a mid level avr and a sub should be considered to start.

 

[crossedover]

This AVR 500
This sub 900
Two mythos xtr 50s 1200
total 2600

 

[slipperybidness]

For a 2.0 system to start and a 1k avr with the speakers covering no frequencies below 92hz, he isnt spending his money well. If he is set on onwalls then a mid level avr and a sub should be considered to start.

Best for the money and on wall should not be used in the same sentence.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Wow i would have never thought u would recommend NHT super zero over the XTR 50?! Are the XTR 50 that bad? He doesn't need a 5ch setup off the bat he says. A 2.0 will suffice for now until the end of this year. He is trying to afford the best speakers he can with the money he has, about $1500 for 2 speakers. On-walls that is

It's not that I think the XTR is bad. I just don't think it sounds better than the NHT in the midrange and treble. The Subwoofer can handle the bass. The NHT sounds a lot better than the price suggests.

But it's a moot point anyway since your brother will get those Def Tech for sure.

 

[Prizefighter]

I hear u... I am actually letting him borrow my old sub, my old yammy 216, certainly not a showstopper, but enough to get him through until he saves his money for a sub.

 

[Prizefighter]

It's not that I think the XTR is bad. I just don't think it sounds better than the NHT in the midrange and treble. The Subwoofer can handle the bass. The NHT sounds a lot better than the price suggests.

But it's a moot point anyway since your brother will get those Def Tech for sure.

yes he probably will. I just wanted to make sure i crossed my T's and dotted my I's before i sided with him.

 

[Prizefighter]

Deftech- Would u be able to get him better pricing than amazon in the NYC area?

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I hear u... I am actually letting him borrow my old sub, my old yammy 216, certainly not a showstopper, but enough to get him through until he saves his money for a sub.

Tell him to join Audioholics and maybe we'll set him straight.

I think it is probably prudent for him to just save up enough money for the entire 5.1 system. Depending on how long he waits, those matching Center & Surround speakers may be discontinued by the time he has the funds.

$2500 total budget should get him a very nice COMPLETE 5.1 system, not half.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Deftech- Would u be able to get him better pricing than amazon in the NYC area?

Would he get better pricing for DefTech speakers in NYC? If he knows a local DefTech dealer who is willing to give him discounts.

I would call Electronics Expo. Talk to someone on the phone. Ask for 25% off.

 

[ImcLoud]

That big room is going to need some serious subs...
I would start with VTF-3 MK4 DualDrive Package for $1500
then get 3 wave crest hvl1's and 2 fluance surrounds $450 for all 5... {they can be all hung..}

Then for an avr you have around $550 let over you can get a decent refurbished marantz or denon at a4l....


if he wont budge on the on wall speakers then there are a few options out there
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_065P430/Boston-Acoustics-P430.html?cc=02&tp=191

or since he is going on wall and the sound is going to be eh' , anyway.. just get a sound bar lcr, the psb imagine sound bar will sond better than most speakers he will end up looking at..

 

[Prizefighter]

That big room is going to need some serious subs...
I would start with VTF-3 MK4 DualDrive Package for $1500
then get 3 wave crest hvl1's and 2 fluance surrounds $450 for all 5... {they can be all hung..}

Then for an avr you have around $550 let over you can get a decent refurbished marantz or denon at a4l....


if he wont budge on the on wall speakers then there are a few options out there
Boston Acoustics P430 On-wall home theater speaker at Crutchfield.com

or since he is going on wall and the sound is going to be eh' , anyway.. just get a sound bar lcr, the psb imagine sound bar will sond better than most speakers he will end up looking at..

he has his mind set on, "on the wall speakers". I'm just making sure there is nothing better out there as far as the slim designed speakers. Are the Boston Acoustics better performers than the xtr50?
He is probably going to put either dual setup of pb1000 or 2000s in his living room in the future. The subs will have to be approved by my sister (his wife), so they will have to be a small footprint as possible

 

[Prizefighter]

Would he get better pricing for DefTech speakers in NYC? If he knows a local DefTech dealer who is willing to give him discounts.

I would call Electronics Expo. Talk to someone on the phone. Ask for 25% off.

He is going to check them out this weekend. I told him to listen to as much speakers as possible. I doubt they will have the xtr's for listening, so he can just hear them 1st hand vs real speakers...

 

[cschang]

...then get 3 wave crest hvl1's and 2 fluance surrounds $450 for all 5... {they can be all hung..}

5 Wave Crest Audio HVL-1's would cost $517.50 right now, that includes shipping right now (plus tax in CA).

 

[Prizefighter]

5 Wave Crest Audio HVL-1's would cost $517.50 right now, that includes shipping right now (plus tax in CA).

i understand this will probably sound better than the xtr50's but he wants "slim" speakers and does not even want bookshelves because they are too bulky

 

[crossedover]

he has his mind set on, "on the wall speakers". I'm just making sure there is nothing better out there as far as the slim designed speakers. Are the Boston Acoustics better performers than the xtr50?
He is probably going to put either dual setup of pb1000 or 2000s in his living room in the future. The subs will have to be approved by my sister (his wife), so they will have to be a small footprint as possible

Since your sister is approving gear have her bump his budget up a gigillion