Any Glaring Poblems With this setup?

[Frzdrdhppy]

Hello all. I have really enjoyed "lurking" this forum and find it quite imformative, but preferences seem as as individualistic and confusing as fine cigar choices! Now "semi-retired", I have been upgrading things around here and just got a new comp and Klipsch Promedia speaks to go with it. The great sound of these have shown that I need to upgrade my A/V system too, haha! I have been using an old Yamaha RX-V493 running through BA A60's all hooked with Sony DVD and Hughes Dig Dolby Satellite and would appreciate some input on upgrading. My upgrade thought is as follows:

1. Athena F2's(already purchased), C1, B1's and P400
2. Pioneer VSX-1014 (or equiv Onkyo/Yamaha if y'all think one is better for the Athenas)
(My music/movie ratio is probably 50/50, but fine music sound is more important to me than large booming theater. A/V room is app. 18x22.)

Other than basic input about this proposed system, I would also appreciate any good or bad experiences with particular AV receiver/ DirecTV hookups.

TIA,
---Frz (sorry for initial long post, the future posts will be kept short)

 

[Leprkon]

Looks pretty solid to me.

 

[Frzdrdhppy]

Thanks Leprkon, not being really sure, I appreciate your feedback..ooops, probably wrong term to use in an audio forum!

---Frz

 

[NetGeek]

I have the same setup

I am setting up pretty much the exact setup: C-1 & F-2's in the front, B-2 for the surrounds and a pair of athena R-1 (bi-polar) for the rear driven by a Pioneer 1014. I am still waiting on the F-2's from Audio Advisor and will let you know how it sounds one I get it all hooked up. I have been running the P-400 subwoofer for a week and although it's fine for music it is not a thumper for movies if that is what you are looking for. I didn't want a shaker, I think the P-400 will do, but it depends what you are into. Maybe I am missing something by not having a Hsu or SVS, or am just to old, but window rattling bass has never reall been my thing, may be that I just have never seen it done right.

 

[markw]

I'll second NetGeek's opinion.

Lord knows I love the Athena series. I've got a pair of F1's, the C1 and a pair of B2's thumpin' away in the rear, all driven with a Denon 2802 and I'm happy as a clam at high tide.

but, I'm pushin' a Velo 1210 sub. The Athena subs are nice for a small room with the bookshelves but I don't think they add enough "woof" to the floorstanders to really warrant their purchase.

I'd go forthe initial Athena setup, sans the sub, for now and start lookin' at the six letters (SVS & HSU) for the (hopefully near) future.

Odds are with the two F2's thumpin' away you won't feel too, too much of a loss during the waiting period.

Oh, FWIW, I ususlly listen to music in the (gasp!) two channel mode and the F1's do quite a credible job. Music was the main driver in my speaker purchase and these beat out virtually all the more common names in hte price/ size region. Gotta love AudioAdvisor's return policy, which I didn't need.

P.S.. .with a room that size, you might want to consider stepping up the surrounds to a pair of B2's.

 

[Frzdrdhppy]

Thanks all for your Input

Well, the Presidents Day sale at BB got me and I sprung for the system I listed. I may very well upgrade soon by adding the B2's as suggested, but my local store had their Athena prices incorrectly listed on the B1s and C1. They had the cards marked for the .5 series (of course I let them know ) and I even got them to do a little more discounting because I was purchasing a "complete set", haha!
They also gave me the one item 10% off on the Pioneer receiver! Guess I had good Presidents that day!
Thanks again for your input

---Frz (Damn, I just figgered that all my speaker wire, cables, and connectors are gonna cost more than the B1's! Oh well

 

[Leprkon]

(Damn, I just figgered that all my speaker wire, cables, and connectors are gonna cost more than the B1's! Oh well

You don't need to spend a fortune on interconnects...

go to the nearest Wallmart and get some of these:

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.gsp?product_id=1717306&cat=4537&type=19&dept=101831&path=0:101831:172479:163399:4537

the other models in that line (S-Video, composite plus stereo, etc) are evn less expensive, but are very well shielded and do a great job.

you can pick up a roll or two of this while you're there..

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.gsp?product_id=2181629&cat=4537&type=19&dept=101831&path=0:101831:172479:163399:4537

if you end up spending much more than about sixty or seventy bucks for an entire system, you've been robbed...

 

[NetGeek]

Ditto on the RCA Interconnects

I also use the RCA "Digital" line of interconnects and am very happy with them, they are well built & sheilded. I also found out that Home Depot carries the entire RCA Digital line including their speaker wire in 100' rolls and I think Lowes Home Improvement does also and they sell if for less then Frys or other speciality stores. They make every interconnect you will need, including fiber, but I have not seen a DVI/HDMI cable from them.

I had to take back the speaker wire because three of my runs are over 50ft. and I needed to use 12 ga.; all they make is 14 & 16ga.

 

[nm2285]

I used a similar RCA subwoofer connect once and hated it. I exchanged it with some audioquest cables and the performance immediately tightened up. It was boomy but now much more musical. I did some back and forth comparisons and the difference was definately audible. I'm certainly not a proponent of cables sounding different and I'd usually never by that overpriced AQ stuff, but i found it cheap and it was longer which i needed.

I just figured the RCA was poorly suited for that application. I'd say stick with something like Acoustic Research, Blue Jeans Cable, or better yet, do some DIYs.

 

[NetGeek]

Question on sub cable nm285

Was the RCA subwoofer cable you used from there "regular" line (sold in red RCA package) or was it there new "Digital High Performance" series that come in the Blue blister packs?

I have never seen a subwoofer cable by RCA. There interconnects are made with double-shielded RG-6 and their F-connector catv/sattalite cables are quad sheilded; I tore one down and both the material quality and the workmanship seemed very good.

 

[Leprkon]

I used a similar RCA subwoofer connect once and hated it.
I just figured the RCA was poorly suited for that application. I'd say stick with something like Acoustic Research, Blue Jeans Cable, or better yet, do some DIYs.

The Walmart near me also carries a pretty nice line of products made by Phillips for very similar pricing. I can't find them listed in the on-line catalog though.

 

[Frzdrdhppy]

You don't need to spend a fortune on interconnects...

go to the nearest Wallmart and get some of these:

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.gsp?product_id=1717306&cat=4537&type=19&dept=101831&path=0:101831:172479:163399:4537

the other models in that line (S-Video, composite plus stereo, etc) are evn less expensive, but are very well shielded and do a great job.

LOL! You must have a "spy" around here! Just kidding, my buddy who is more adept at home theater hook-ups works at Wal-mart and got me all the wire and connects for about $75. I had to pick up a few other items to connect my sat box, but still got finished with less than $110.00 spent.

Thanks all for your replies

---Frz