$7000-$8000 system? need some expertise

[apatel25314]

So your saying he should just get a set of Bose since "practically any speakers will sound good"?

no i am definitely not telling him to get bose, but they would not sound bad, imo the first time i heard bose they sounded amazing(not at all anymore)

 

[mazersteven]

no i am definitely not telling him to get bose, but they would not sound bad, imo the first time i heard bose they sounded amazing(not at all anymore)

So "practically any speakers will sound different" to him now.

 

[jrsmith08]

There are a lot of superb options that are way under priced for their value and performance. You can still walk out with superb equipment that will blow people's minds away when they see/hear your system and keep some change for a nice evening out or vacation.

I agree with all of this, and so far i have looked into Monitor silver series. B&W CM 7, and Paradigm Studio series. Since i know nothing about audio my first instinct was to go look at polk audio at the local best buy. I thought the RTi12 sounded very nice. Now is this not that great of a speaker, or can i find something else for that kind of value. i guess that is the question i am looking for, what kind of speaker sounds like that within that kind of price range? I know it seems that i keep repeating myself and you guys keep supplying me with great info, i am just trying to gain a little more knowledge on the subject.

 

[mazersteven]

I agree with all of this, and so far i have looked into Monitor silver series. B&W CM 7, and Paradigm Studio series. Since i know nothing about audio my first instinct was to go look at polk audio at the local best buy. I thought the RTi12 sounded very nice. Now is this not that great of a speaker, or can i find something else for that kind of value. i guess that is the question i am looking for, what kind of speaker sounds like that within that kind of price range? I know it seems that i keep repeating myself and you guys keep supplying me with great info, i am just trying to gain a little more knowledge on the subject.

Don't be afraid to go into a small boutique store, and demo some speakers. You can get just as good a deal from them as the big box stores.

Not to say the Polk RTi line isn't any good. They are a decent speaker, but the LSi line is something special compared to other speakers from Polk Audio. They sound like no other Polk.

 

[jrsmith08]

Not to say the Polk RTi line isn't any good. They are a decent speaker, but the LSi line is something special compared to other speakers from Polk Audio. They sound like no other Polk.

1. With the polk LSi15, do i need to purchase a sub or is it built into both speakers.

2. If i were to spring for the LSi15, what kind of receiver is needed to power them.

3. Do i need to purchase the polk LSiC center, or is there something more efficient out there.

4. For in-ceiling rear speakers, is it ok to go to a different audio company or should i stick with polk throughout, if thats the road i go down?

 

[mazersteven]

1. With the polk LSi15, do i need to purchase a sub or is it built into both speakers.

2. If i were to spring for the LSi15, what kind of receiver is needed to power them.

3. Do i need to purchase the polk LSiC center, or is there something more efficient out there.

4. For in-ceiling rear speakers, is it ok to go to a different audio company or should i stick with polk throughout, if thats the road i go down?

Well again you need to figure out if your going in-wall or bookshelf/floorstanding? I myself like to use the same speaker manufacturer.

If it was me I would purchase some LSi9 bookshelf speakers. I feel your going to need a sub with any speaker you choose. The reason a say LSi9's instead of the LSi15's, is because you will need a seperate amp to power them and that is an additional cost.

I did purchase my LSi9's from OneCall on an open box-over stock sale. They came to me like new, in excellent condition. And for under $500 bucks a pair.

I would recommend using Outlaw Mono Block amps for them.

http://www.outlawaudio.com/products/2200.html

If you went this route you could also purchase one of their pre/pro's, or use a receiver as a pre/pro.

http://www.outlawaudio.com/products/index.html

 

[Seth=L]

Since i know nothing about audio my first instinct was to go look at polk audio at the local best buy.

When did Best Buy start carrying Polk, is this just the Magnolia Hi-Fi part?

 

[jrsmith08]

Well again you need to figure out if your going in-wall or bookshelf/floorstanding? I myself like to use the same speaker manufacturer.

If it was me I would purchase some LSi9 bookshelf speakers. I feel your going to need a sub with any speaker you choose. The reason a say LSi9's instead of the LSi15's, is because you will need a seperate amp to power them and that is an additional cost.

how do bookshelf compare to floorstanding? why would one get a bookshelf set of speakers as compared to floorstanding?

 

[Davemcc]

how do bookshelf compare to floorstanding? why would one get a bookshelf set of speakers as compared to floorstanding?

Really good bookshelves and a good sub can be a very potent combination. That's the direction I'm going. But my room is on the small end of the scale, too.

 

[flyv65]

how do bookshelf compare to floorstanding? why would one get a bookshelf set of speakers as compared to floorstanding?

*Typically*, floorstanding speakers will reach down a bit lower in bass than a bookshelf speaker; and they *can* be more sensitive to placement in the listening area than a smaller speaker. Also, floorstanding speakers are *usually* more expensive than a comparable monitor. You've no doubt noticed a bunch of "****'s" in my post: that's 'cuz I'm speaking in generalities, and I can promise you there are NUMEROUS exceptions to what I've just said.

Still, having listened (read) the previous posts and finding that you're mostly into TV and movies in your condo, I'd probably recommend a set of bookshelf speakers (monitors) with a sub, a nice receiver and universal player, and a top notch TV. If it was me, I'd look at the Quad 11L bookshelf speakers (about $700/pair), 'cuz they sound surprisingly nice for their size, and if you like the voicing you can easily match them up with a series L center channel and additional channels for the 5.1. Quad makes a matching sub, but you might want to consider looking at used Velodyne subs-they're small (big amps make up for small volume), and you're probably limited for space. For the electronics, I'd probably go with a 3806 reccy and a 2930 DVD player (about $2k), and for the Piece de Resistance, I'd spring for a Pioneer Elite Pro 50" plasma with a video card; they're going for about $4k here in Denver.

There is alot of other great stuff out there, but you've got to get out and listen to stuff, hunt the Web, talk to friends. Don't forget that you can ask ANYONE if they can do better than sticker price...the worst they can say is "no". the prices I listed are going rates in the shops and stores I've been in during the last 2 or 3 months, and they are definitely less than MSRP.

Go. have fun. Let us know what you buy.

Bryan...next thing is room treatment-don't sell it short...

 

[mazersteven]

how do bookshelf compare to floorstanding? why would one get a bookshelf set of speakers as compared to floorstanding?

It's all about acoustics. To get the absolute best midrange, and treble performance in nearly all rooms, the speaker should be placed very far from any walls. It would be better to put the stereo speakers at least 3 feet for any wall. This ideal for midrange, and treble performance, which makes stereo imaging, and soundstage better, is a death trap for bass reproduction. The ideal location for bass speakers is against a wall; or, even better, against two walls.

So, the best performance in most homes is to put the midrange, and treble reproducers out in the room, and the bass reproducers against walls, or in corners. Towers don't really allow for the ideal, and force the user into a situation where one ideal cannot be met without giving up entirely on the other (or one has to compromise on both ideals, and hope for the least worst of both).

 

[jrsmith08]

Still, having listened (read) the previous posts and finding that you're mostly into TV and movies in your condo, I'd probably recommend a set of bookshelf speakers (monitors) with a sub, a nice receiver and universal player, and a top notch TV. If it was me, I'd look at the Quad 11L bookshelf speakers (about $700/pair), 'cuz they sound surprisingly nice for their size, and if you like the voicing you can easily match them up with a series L center channel and additional channels for the 5.1. Quad makes a matching sub, but you might want to consider looking at used Velodyne subs-they're small (big amps make up for small volume), and you're probably limited for space. For the electronics, I'd probably go with a 3806 reccy and a 2930 DVD player (about $2k), and for the Piece de Resistance, I'd spring for a Pioneer Elite Pro 50" plasma with a video card; they're going for about $4k here in Denver.

i appreciate all the help, so if i was just watching sports, playing some PS3 and DVD's in a living room of a condo, Bookshelf speakers are the way to go and then spring for a nice sub and a top notch plasma? From what i am understanding you dont get as much boom from the bookshelf... Also, if i were to do inwalls arent they just bookshelf speakers that are inserted into the dry wall? or are bookshelf and in wall speakers completely different?
- Could i mix and match companies of the bookshelf speakers and my rear in-ceiling speakers?

 

[mazersteven]

i appreciate all the help, so if i was just watching sports, playing some PS3 and DVD's in a living room of a condo, Bookshelf speakers are the way to go and then spring for a nice sub and a top notch plasma? From what i am understanding you dont get as much boom from the bookshelf... Also, if i were to do inwalls arent they just bookshelf speakers that are inserted into the dry wall? or are bookshelf and in wall speakers completely different?
- Could i mix and match companies of the bookshelf speakers and my rear in-ceiling speakers?

In-walls are not like bookshelf in the fact they typically don't have a enclosure around the driver.

Again I would try to not mix and match if you don't have to.

 

[jrsmith08]

So for the purposes that i have previously listed(ps3, ravens games, dvds) do you feel that my best bet is to spend my money wisely on.. 1. bookshelf, 2.floorstanding, 3. in walls?

 

[mazersteven]

So for the purposes that i have previously listed(ps3, ravens games, dvds) do you feel that my best bet is to spend my money wisely on.. 1. bookshelf, 2.floorstanding, 3. in walls?

I like Bookshelf all the way around with a sub. You could put a killer system together.

If I was going for Floorstanders right now I would order these without hesitation. For $2500 you'll be blown away.

http://www.av123.com/products_product.php?section=speakers&product=102.1

With both systems I would so without in-ceilings for surrounds.

 

[flyv65]

i appreciate all the help, so if i was just watching sports, playing some PS3 and DVD's in a living room of a condo, Bookshelf speakers are the way to go and then spring for a nice sub and a top notch plasma?

If it was me, then yes: but I don't play XBox for long periods of time or watch channels that use scroll bars or corner logos, and I really enjoy movies. These things *can* cause burn in with a plasma that doesn't happen with an LCD. conversely, most plasmas have good black levels and don't artefact like an LCD does.

From what i am understanding you dont get as much boom from the bookshelf... Also, if i were to do inwalls arent they just bookshelf speakers that are inserted into the dry wall? or are bookshelf and in wall speakers completely different?

True, you don't usually get as much bass from a bookshelf, but in my opinion most floorstanding speakers don't reach down low enough to do without a subwoofer either (well, depending on your musical tastes.-but for movies and games you'll definitely need a sub). Inwall speakers are not merely bookshelf speakers that have been dry-walled in place (although their basic design is probably quite similar). Most inwall speakers have isome sort of nsert and damping that is mounted into the wall and functions like the speaker cabinet to provide rigidity and consistency in the sound.

- Could i mix and match companies of the bookshelf speakers and my rear in-ceiling speakers?

If you're going go big in 5 channel music, I'd say no, don't mix and match companies for your system. If, however, your multi channels usage is for gameplay, sports, and movies then you might be okay (but I'd still match the center channel to your fronts).

Bryan...and don't forget room acoustics...

 

[jrsmith08]

Bryan...and don't forget room acoustics...

what do i need to know about room acoustics specifically?

 

[flyv65]

what do i need to know about room acoustics specifically?

Nothing too expensive; read the articles listed here on room acoustics.

http://www.audioholics.com/techtips/roomacoustics/index.php

Quick and easy version? throw a rug on the hardwood floor between your seat and the speakers, and a lap blanket over the coffee table when you're listening to music; think about a wall hanging behind you chair or sofa (and putting something behind the speakers usually isn't a bad idea); pay attention to primary reflection points and cover them when you're listening to your favorite tunes; and finally, be careful with the placement of your subwoofer, or contemplate bass traps.

Bryan...HTH...