audigy 2...then what?

[TheC4pt]

im new so bare with me here.

i have a creative audigy2 zs platinum pro specs
Recently the home-theater-in-a-box system that i had died when some plumbing burst and flooded my basement.

my primary uses are listening to mp3s (this is the most important thing, i spend all my time sitting at my desk studying and listening to music...the joys of being an engineering student), occasionaly watching movies (surround sound isnt terribly important, i would be content with 2.1), and throwing parties with loud rap music in my apartment

i have 800-1200$ to spend on a sound system.

i was thinking:
Pioneer VSX-515-K (200$ at best buy)
Axiom M22ti (fronts) (440$)
Hsu STF-2 (400$)

what do people think?

what about not using a reciever because the audigy 2 already has a ton of inputs/outputs and simply attaching the audigy to an amplifier? what amplifer would i use?

i was also considering building a sealed subwoofer instead of the hsu? obviously if im unable to build it fairly well it would sound like crap and ruin the sound of the system, especialy because the axiom's are supposed to be good (are they worth the money though? especialy hooked up to a computer?)

let me know what you guys think, im kinda lost here. theres alot of products on the market and alot of subjectivity and hype. im having a hard time getting down to bare facts.

 

[newfmp3]

I would get the Axiom's/HSU for sure...then again, I might have a biased opinion.

I have an audigy as well. Get a receiver, it'll blow away any audigy. The noise level from some of these sound cards is too much. Even more so if you have a cheap power supply in the PC that causes hum or something and you won't know it until it's too late. A seperate AMP is going to take up the same amount of space anyways so you might as well get a receiver. Won't take much to power the axiom's.

I've never been a big fan of pioneer but that is just me. Try Yamaha too.

 

[Audiacc]

2.1 THX Certified Multimedia Speakers aren't bad either if you are going to listen to mp3s from PC using standard soundcard. Klipsch or Logitech do them, for instance. This costs considerably less and you do not seem to need all the features that receivers have.
5.1 setups are defenitely available for the sum of money you have available, too. Check this thread. I found it very interesting.

 

[Spiffyfast]

If you are going to listen to rap for parties and the such, look at Klipsch or Bic Acoustech. The horn tweeters are great for rap/rock music, its like being in a club. With that budget you could get a full 5.1 system with receiver if you wanted. To go lower in your budget think about:

Pioneer 815tx (reviewed on this site) $240-270 online from authorized dealers

http://www.jr.com/JRProductPage.process?Product=4024544 That will be your best bet for the lowest price on it (seen it as low as $240), has a little more power and adds some extra options for when you want to add the rest of the speakers for surround sound.

Bic Acoustech HT-75 Towers (around $330 shipped from online dealers)
http://www.ubid.com/actn/opn/getpage.asp?AuctionId=601446277
Great for rap/rock music with the horn tweeter, go listen to a Klipsch RF-25 if you want to have an idea of what they sound like.

For the sub there are alot of options out there and with a system like the one above you will have plenty of room left in your budget for an offering from HSU or SVS

 

[Spiffyfast]

2.1 THX Certified Multimedia Speakers aren't bad either if you are going to listen to mp3s from PC using standard soundcard. Klipsch or Logitech do them, for instance. This costs considerably less and you do not seem to need all the features that receivers have.
5.1 setups are defenitely available for the sum of money you have available, too. Check this thread. I found it very interesting.

If he is throwing parties little sattelite speakers wont do, you will wont some good book shelves or floor standing speakers and a nice powerful 10 or 12" sub that will really be ready to rock out for a hoppin party.

 

[jcPanny]

Receivers

Your Axiom / Hsu combo sounds like a good 2 channel solution that will fit in your appartment. For 2 channel material, make sure that the sub has speaker level inputs (2 sets of binding posts for the red and black wires).
Also, pick the Pioneer 815 or Yamaha HTR-5740 online for the same price as the receiver you mentioned above. The Axioms desirve better than the Pioneer 515.

 

[TheC4pt]

thanks

thanks for the responses

how do the acoustech ht-75's compare to the dv-84's?

 

[MacManNM]

thanks for the responses

how do the acoustech ht-75's compare to the dv-84's?

The 75's put out a little bit more bass than the 84's. The 75's are more of an all around performer, the bass is a little looser. The 84's play jazz/ vocals a little better.

 

[Spiffyfast]

The 75's put out a little bit more bass than the 84's. The 75's are more of an all around performer, the bass is a little looser. The 84's play jazz/ vocals a little better.

really, the 84 has dual 8's with dual 8" passive radiators and the 75 puts out more bass?

 

[wilkenboy]

surround sound isnt terribly important, i would be content with 2.1

oh, ho ho ho ho. That's what we all say when we started out in this addiction... I mean hobby.

Enjoy your setup - what you have here or any of these recommendations should be great... until up-grade-itis hits.

~Josh

 

[Khellandros66]

Coolest thing I have for my HT in a whiles my iPOD..

Kensington makes an audio dock for home theaters and such. Lots of music at my fingers now.


~Bob