5.1 Speaker help

[cjtinkle]

Hi everyone,
First let me say I know pretty much zip about this stuff. My hubby and I used to own a nice Carver C2000 (I think) with some Boston Acoustic towers and surrounds (forget the model, VR something I think) but we gave them to our eldest when we full-timed in our RV for a few years.

We recently bought a small home, and the living room and kitchen are open to each other, but the living area itself is about 20 x 20 I'd guess, 9 foot ceiling.

There is zero floor or wall space available for front speakers. We are limited to bookshelf speakers. We listened to and fell in love with a pair of B&W 805s running on a McIntosh amp, but decided it would be crazy to spend that much.

We listen primarily to music, mostly classical, opera, celtic and older rock/folk like James Taylor, Gordon Lightfoot, etc. But we would also enjoy surround sound for movies.

We thought we'd pick the speakers first, then the amp to match. Right now we're looking at both the Aperion Intimus 6b -db Holiday system, or theSVS MBS-01 5.0 Compact speaker system, and adding a sub.

Will either of these sound well, given no front towers, for music?

We need for our sub to be wireless. Is it better to get a wireless sub, or buy a wireless kit for any sub?

Receiver or amp/preamp recommendations for either of these setups? We don't want to spend more than $3k for the receiver/amp.

Thank you!
ps... we are not near anyplace really to audition speakers.

 

[Adam]

Welcome to the forum! There are many knowledgeable members here that can give you good information, and I'll just start the ball rolling.

My system consists of bookshelf speakers and a sub, and I've been happy with how it sounds for both movies and music. Of course, your tastes may be more discerning. However, I do believe that you can combine smaller speakers with one or more subwoofers and get good musical reproduction.

One of the great things about Aperion Audio is their 30-day no-risk policy. If you decide not to keep the speakers, then you return them with absolutely no cost to you (no shipping, no restocking, no nothing). Added to that, I have yet to hear or read anything negative about their speakers, but I've both read and heard very good things about them. So, I'd say that they are worth some serious consideration. Perhaps you won't like them, but you don't need to worry about making a financial commitment.

SVS will also let you return speakers, but you will need to pay for shipping (I believe). I don't have as much knowledge of their speakers. I've read some good reviews and some lackluster reviews, but I can't remember any bad reviews. That's for their speakers. Their subwoofers get almost universal acclaim from what I've read. I own one of their PC13-Ultra subwoofers and absolutely love it. Also, my experiences with their customer service have been outstanding. I highly recommend them as a company.

I don't have any concrete knowledge of inherently wireless subs versus subs with a wireless kit, but my tendency is to think that the wireless portion will be equivalent. So, I'd recommend that you pick the sub that you want and then worry about making it wireless afterwards. There are some fantastic subs out there. My personal experiences are with a B&W ASW1000 subwoofer and the SVS PC13-Ultra. The Ultra absolutely outperforms the B&W, but it also cost more and was newer.

You can certainly get good good amplification and processing for under $3k. I use a receiver (Pioneer Elite VSX-23) as a pre/pro, and there are other people here that use dedicated pre/pros.

Anyway, those are just some thoughts to get this thread started. Again, welcome to the forum, and happy shopping!

 

[Slater]

Welcome to the board, lots of great advise here if you ask!
Lots of the folks here advise to purchase refurbs to save hundreds of dollars over new & still come with a great warranty.
As I just did & its been a great experience so far! Cliick on the link & start browsing, checkout the savings for yourself. Just got my Onkyo 706 yesterday, looks flawless. They are $360'ish right now. I stand corrected, price went back up to $419...

http://accessories4less.com/

 

[Ares]

Welcome to the forum, there are quite few companies that make wireless subwoofers here are a few. Polk PSWi225, Infinity PS212W, JBL ES150PWC, Boston Acoustics CPS 8-12wi.
Or you could choose an SVS sub which IMHO make the best subs in the world and use this http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&ct=res&cd=1&ved=0CA8QFjAA&url=http://news.ecoustics.com/bbs/messages/10381/460246.html&rct=j&q=wireless+subwoofer+adapter&ei=w1IRS9OQGo_SM7KTsDM&usg=AFQjCNEBfw-gQjkhihO54eqYKwSrai-SaA to connect it.

 

[Adam]

...and use this http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&ct=res&cd=1&ved=0CA8QFjAA&url=http://news.ecoustics.com/bbs/messages/10381/460246.html&rct=j&q=wireless+subwoofer+adapter&ei=w1IRS9OQGo_SM7KTsDM&usg=AFQjCNEBfw-gQjkhihO54eqYKwSrai-SaA to connect it.

I've also read good things about the Soundcast Subcast.

 

[cjtinkle]

Thank you for the welcome and the responses. I think we're leaning towards the Denon 4810ci receiver... it's 140 watts per channel and I'm not sure that's really enough to bring out the best in the speakers, but I'm very intrigued with the Audyessy (sp?) systems, and the only pre-amp/amp in our price range I've found with that feature is the NAD's... and the reviews aren't that great.

The Aperion Holiday price is great with the sub included... I think we may go that route, and maybe later upgrade the sub to the SVS one if the Aperion one doesn't cut the mustard.

Thanks for the wirless sub gadget link!

 

[Ares]

I've also read good things about the Soundcast Subcast.

Hello Adam, just want know if these guys have a website to check out. that looks better then the one I came across. Thanks.

 

[Adam]

Hello Adam, just want know if these guys have a website to check out. that looks better then the one I came across. Thanks.

Hi, Ares. They sure do. I originally linked to it, but then switched to the AH thread. Here's the direct product link.

 

[Ares]

Thanks Adam most appreciated.

 

[AVRat]

For wireless sub, look no further than the HSU ULS-15: http://www.hsuresearch.com/products/uls15.html

 

[fredk]

I think we're leaning towards the Denon 4810ci receiver... it's 140 watts per channel and I'm not sure that's really enough to bring out the best in the speakers, but I'm very intrigued with the Audyessy (sp?) systems, and the only pre-amp/amp in our price range I've found with that feature is the NAD's... and the reviews aren't that great.

That is certainly a nice receiver. Have you looked at any of the Onkyo models?

Unless you really need 9 channel surround or a couple of the other features in that receiver, I would step down a level in to something like the Denon 4310 and apply the 1,000 difference to better speakers.

 

[sn7]

For wireless sub, look no further than the HSU ULS-15:

+1 this is a good one