Advice

[nooblar]

Moved into a new place. Really small condo. Living room is about 7.5 feet x 14 feet. would like to get a nice setup for around 1000 (lower the better). Will be used to stream movies from either laptop or console/gaming on console.

Recommendations please

 

[zieglj01]

For your size room, 2 pair of the Pioneer BS22 bookshelf speakers
and the C22 center would be a nice set-up.
The BS22 will show up $99 a pair in the cart
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3381565&CatId=5689

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3381567&CatId=5693

The Energy S10.3 sub, would work well in your room
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882269026

The refurbish Denon 1712 receiver, would be a good one
http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/DENAVR1712/DENON-AVR-1712-7.1-A/V-Surround-Receiver/1.html

 

[ImcLoud]

A couple options... I would personally
get a decent 3.1 system...
onkyo nr515 $250 or denon 1912 {has air play}for 50 more...
HSU stf1 sub $300
Ascend 200se 2 fronts and center under $450
I own the 200se's and they are small sealed, sound very good, and can handle a ton of power... If you want a 5.1 add some small sats for the rear, bost acoustic has some cheap ones that will make noise...

Or
an Energy classic 5.1 $400
denon 1912 or 1913 or onkyo there are a ton of good svr's for under $350

Or the pioneers are really nice, just get a good sub and front stage, the rest isnt going to make as much of a difference...

 

[FirstReflection]

Damn, ziegl. You took the words right out of my mouth! What am I supposed to write now? lol



Yeah, I still haven't heard the new Pioneer speakers for myself. But a lot of the people I trust are really impressed with them. And I know their pedigree. So I have no doubts about them at all, really. So nice to have another great option in addition to the Infinity Primus speakers for the very low price range! Pioneer is going to sell a TON of those speakers, methinks!

I LOVE the accessories4less deal on the Denon 1712. HUGE value there. And I actually like the 1712 better than the newer 1713 or either of the 1912/1913 models. That's just because I'm a fan of Audyssey though Having Audyssey MultEQ XT is just unheard of at the 1712's price. A real anomaly that sadly went away this year. The 1912 does offer AirPlay and network features for only $50 more. But it drops down to Audyssey MultEQ, which is pretty darn basic and doesn't EQ the all-important bass nearly as well as I'd like. Still better than 2EQ though, which doesn't EQ the bass at all!

But yeah, given the 1712's low price from A4L, I much prefer to get that receiver, and then just add an AppleTV or some other set top box streaming device for all the network stuff and AirPlay. Way better value in a combo like that, IMO

So yeah, I've gotta agree 100% with ziegl's suggested system there! That's the best system you can get for the lowest price possible. I love all the products that ImcLoud recommended, too! But the price goes up for those. I will say that I truly feel the Ascend HTM-200SE are the best, small, relatively inexpensive speakers out there at the moment. The SE tweeter in them is LEAGUES above the price competition. But if you've gotta stay under $1000, and you'd honestly prefer to stay as FAR under $1000 as you can, you really can't beat the exact system that zieglj01 provided.

Best of luck! And please come back and tell us what you decided to buy and how you like it! So many people just disappear and never come back to share their experience So I hope that won't be you, and I hope you really enjoy your new sound system! I think you'll love it

 

[nooblar]

my apologies for not stating this earlier, but the living room does not have space in the behind the couch. as I don't have a real kitchen, the "kitchen" is pretty much lined up along the hallway, which stretches to the entirety of the space behind the couch (a stove, kitchen fan, cabinets, etc).

This is a rough floor plan of how the "Kitchen" is setup in relation to the living room.

http://imgur.com/vrQfe

Given the space, I believe a 3.1 setup would be ideal. I would also like for the system to be able to be upgraded to 5.1/7.1 etc. in the future. Would the pioneer BS22 speakers be adequate as 3.1? Or would another set of equipment be better?

thanks for the help guys! really appreciate it!

 

[zieglj01]

Damn, ziegl. You took the words right out of my mouth! What am I supposed to write now? lol

I was given you a little break.

 

[zieglj01]

imgur: the simple image sharer

Given the space, I believe a 3.1 setup would be ideal. I would also like for the system to be able to be upgraded to 5.1/7.1 etc. in the future. Would the pioneer BS22 speakers be adequate as 3.1? Or would another set of equipment be better?

3.1 is a good way to begin - it can all be subjective - however >
I would try them out, they are really nice and that speaker does
have some good bass, and will crossover nicely to a sub > The
present series is a nice step up from the former series, they do
image better with a better soundstage, and the bass is realistic
with a more detailed/balanced midrange and improved highs.

 

[jcl]

Or
an Energy classic 5.1 $400
denon 1912 or 1913 or onkyo there are a ton of good svr's for under $350

I like the older model Energy Take Classic but I'd just point out I think the sub was the weakest point in the system. I think they've been upgraded since I listened to them but I'd still suggest the 5.0 and then mix in a better sub such as the typical HSU or Outlaw, or for brand matching the Energy s10.3.

 

[nooblar]

3.1 is a good way to begin - it can all be subjective - however >
I would try them out, they are really nice and that speaker does
have some good bass, and will crossover nicely to a sub > The
present series is a nice step up from the former series, they do
image better with a better soundstage, and the bass is realistic
with a more detailed/balanced midrange and improved highs.

Sorry but what do you mean by Present series? is it a brand?

 

[FirstReflection]

Sorry but what do you mean by Present series? is it a brand?

No, it's the same Pioneer brand, it's just the 2nd generation, the "Mark 2" (MK2) version of the speakers. There were the SP-BS21 speakers last year. This year, the designer, Andrew Jones, totally redesigned the new SP-BS22 from the ground up. So they're the same brand (Pioneer) and the same Series of speakers (Andrew Jones), but they're all new, and the 2nd generation. Just look for a "2" on the end of the model number

 

[zieglj01]

Sorry but what do you mean by Present series? is it a brand?

I am talking about the series that I linked in post #2
The BS22 and the C22

 

[nooblar]

So I was busy for a few days and didn't get around to ordering till this morning. The bs-22 speakers are already out of stock and tigerdirect says their not available anymore on backorder?

Any other suggestions?

 

[Adam]

You can still buy the Pioneer SP-BS22 speakers from other places, but at the moment, they'll cost you more than the $99 stated above. You can Google them, but for example - Best Buy has them. Parts Express is the cheapest out of the stores that I've heard of, and they have them for $127.50 a pair shipped.

 

[nooblar]

everything is ordered . Will report back once I get them setup.

 

[nooblar]

So as an update,

I finally got around setting things up, this is the end result

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/35554_10101435151556852_99964385_n.jpg

Thanks everyone for helping out they sound AWESOME

Any tips on configuring the Denon? I've only gone through the auto configuration using the test speaker. Any tips?

Oh and right now I have the computer going into the V Aux HDMI port as I don't see any place for "computer", does it really make a difference which HDMI port I'm connecting the computer through?

 

[zieglj01]

I finally got around setting things up, this is the end result

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/35554_10101435151556852_99964385_n.jpg

Thanks everyone for helping out they sound AWESOME

Do you sit down on the floor when you listen to the speakers?

 

[nooblar]

lol no I took that picture sitting down on my couch