Best 5.1 or 7.1 for $700

[liftngwaght]

As the title indicates, whats the best 5.1 or 7.1 system for $700. The wifey tells me since we just bought a new house I had $1000 for my home theater setup. I had the TV, so I picked up a Onkyo-SR606 and am looking for the speakers now. Have $700 left.

I was looking at the EMP HTP-571T 7.1 setup sold here on audioholics for 799, reviews seem alright if you get set that isnt broke. I was looking at the speaker company but their prices jumped over $100 for the 7.1 system I was looking at so at $819 its out of my price range.

Room specs:

19' widex 20' long x 10' high ceilings
Seating area is 15' from speakers/TV
Receiver - Onkyo-SR606
PS3 Blu-Ray
12 gauge wire ready to go, banana plugs

I listen to all content: HDTV programs, Blu-Ray, DVD, digital music programs.

Thanks for the help guys.
~Thomas

 

[Exit]

I also like the HTP-371 7.1 speaker system for $589 at the Audioholics store. It uses the EF30 speakers which are said to be RBH TK-5C speakers, which got good reviews.

http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/speakers/bookshelf/tk-5c

I like the way the system sounds with an Onkyo 606 using Audyssey.

By the way the site below posts a tower speaker mistakenly because the mains are the EF30 bookshelves.

http://store.audioholics.com/product/2296/17/emp-htp-371-7-1-speaker-system

 

[alexwakelin]

If you are having trouble picking speakers that are in your budget, you could get a 5.1 system for now and save up for the 2 rear speakers. The speaker company sells a 5.1 system that is under your $700 budget. You may even find you don't need the extra 2 speakers as few movies make use of them.

If you can wait a bit and save up some more money, the 5.1 system from SVS is highly recommended, it's $100 off right now, not sure how much longer they will have that deal.
http://www.svsound.com/products-sys-sbs_black.cfm

As always, get your wires/cables from www.monoprice.com Oops, I see you already have wire ready to go.

 

[liftngwaght]

SVS charges $100 to ship to my house. Almost all the other ID companies are free shipping. Shipping kills it for me.

And I did get my cable from mono as well as the plugs

~Thomas

 

[calnbs]

My favorite budget speakers under $1K is the Infininty Primus 362 when its on sale at Frys about once a month ranging from $120-130 each speaker and just build around those. It would hit really close to your budget after shipping if you don't live near Frys and might limit your budget for a subwoofer. And I would definately forget about 7.1 for now.

 

[razz589]

Check out the Definitive Technology Pro Monitor 800 system.
You can find it on sale at Best Buy or at various online retailers.
For less than $1000 you will have a hard time finding a matched 5.1 sub sat system that sounds as good as this...they also come in either black as a full 5.1 system or wihite if purchased individually.

In the future you can upgrade it to a 7.1 system by purchasing 2 more Pro Monitor 800 sats later as they can be purchased separately.

 

[liftngwaght]

I found a Def tech 600 5.1 system open box for $588 with free shipping. Is the 800 that much better?

~Thomas

 

[sholling]

If it were me I'd buy the best 3.1 system that I could afford for right now. The front left and right are doing most of the work for music, and the center for movies. Later when money allows you can pick up the surrounds and rears. You can also keep in mind is an upgrade path. For example the subwoofer that is now in my home office started out in my family room, then migrated to my bedroom, and finally my office as funds allowed getting better gear.

Here's an idea... Frys.com has Polk R50 towers on sale for $70 plus shipping. Shipping is usually cheaper if you buy them separately. So that's roughly $180-200 shipped for a pair. Add an acoustically matched Polk CSR center for $150 shipped. So now we have the 3.0 of a 3.1 system for $350 delivered.

So now we have $350 left for a sub, and for that you could either buy a TSC T300 subwoofer; or by going $50 over budget get a TSC T250 sub and a pair of Polk TSi100 bookshelf speakers to use as surrounds. Now this won't make audiophile system of the year but it's probably the best possible bang for the bucks available, should kick butt on any prepackaged system at that price, and should look pretty good. I picked up a T250 for my bedroom and it's decent. It's SVS but it's very good for the money and has gobs of power for a medium sized room.

Just based on my reading I'd cross over the mains at 80hz and I think you'll be styling.

BTW if there is a Frys near you then I strongly recommend listening before spending money on speakers. What sounds good to one person can be torture for another.

 

[sholling]

It's SVS but it's very good for the money and has gobs of power for a medium sized room.

Typo correction: I meant to say "It's no SVS but it's very good for the money and has gobs of power for a medium sized room." Also note that Fry's sale ends today, but these tend to go on sale every couple of months for about the same price.

 

[ozmedia]

Yes, RBH makes EMP

I also like the HTP-371 7.1 speaker system for $589 at the Audioholics store. It uses the EF30 speakers which are said to be RBH TK-5C speakers, which got good reviews.


I like the way the system sounds with an Onkyo 606 using Audyssey.

By the way the site below posts a tower speaker mistakenly because the mains are the EF30 bookshelves.

EMP uses different driver materials than the TK series from RBH though (Now discontinued for freestanding models). Still a great value for money any day.

 

[razz589]

liftngwaght
I listened to both and I thought the 800's were much better than than 600's.
For the extra money I don't think you will be disappointed with the Definitive Tech 800's. Like I said a great little matched system that you can add on to make a 7.1 when your budget allows.
Find out where your closest Best Buy Magnolia store is located and call them...they usually have both the 600 and 800's available to listen to.

Good Luck!

 

[lsiberian]

My favorite budget speakers under $1K is the Infininty Primus 362 when its on sale at Frys about once a month ranging from $120-130 each speaker and just build around those. It would hit really close to your budget after shipping if you don't live near Frys and might limit your budget for a subwoofer. And I would definately forget about 7.1 for now.

These go for a similar price on ebay direct from the manufacturer.

 

[lsiberian]

If it were me I'd buy the best 3.1 system that I could afford for right now. The front left and right are doing most of the work for music, and the center for movies. Later when money allows you can pick up the surrounds and rears. You can also keep in mind is an upgrade path. For example the subwoofer that is now in my home office started out in my family room, then migrated to my bedroom, and finally my office as funds allowed getting better gear.

Here's an idea... Frys.com has Polk R50 towers on sale for $70 plus shipping. Shipping is usually cheaper if you buy them separately. So that's roughly $180-200 shipped for a pair. Add an acoustically matched Polk CSR center for $150 shipped. So now we have the 3.0 of a 3.1 system for $350 delivered.

So now we have $350 left for a sub, and for that you could either buy a TSC T300 subwoofer; or by going $50 over budget get a TSC T250 sub and a pair of Polk TSi100 bookshelf speakers to use as surrounds. Now this won't make audiophile system of the year but it's probably the best possible bang for the bucks available, should kick butt on any prepackaged system at that price, and should look pretty good. I picked up a T250 for my bedroom and it's decent. It's SVS but it's very good for the money and has gobs of power for a medium sized room.

Just based on my reading I'd cross over the mains at 80hz and I think you'll be styling.

BTW if there is a Frys near you then I strongly recommend listening before spending money on speakers. What sounds good to one person can be torture for another.

I suggest you actually get a 2.0 setup. The best you can for 700. You can add other speakers later, but there's nothing like having to 300 dollar beasts.

 

[alexwakelin]

I suggest you actually get a 2.0 setup. The best you can for 700. You can add other speakers later, but there's nothing like having to 300 dollar beasts.

Or a 2.1 system. Get these speakers and an SVS sub.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Brand-New-pair-of-INFINITY-BETA-20-Speakers-60-off_W0QQitemZ280332232952QQihZ018QQcategoryZ3276QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[annunaki]

3 pairs of the Behringer B2030P would run about $450.00 from PE. These are known to be of very high quality for the minimal investment.

This would leave about $250.00 towards a pair of Dayton Sub-120's (which would run about $310.00)for a kick butt budget HT system!!

Ordering all of it should get you free freight so it would put you only $60.00 over budget, yet the system can not be touched for the money. You can probably sell the extra speaker here in the classifieds for $60+ so you would break even at $700.00.

Do the WmAx mod's on the Behringers, and you would have a very impressive speaker system!!!

 

[lsiberian]

3 pairs of the Behringer B2030P would run about $450.00 from PE. These are known to be of very high quality for the minimal investment.

This would leave about $250.00 towards a pair of Dayton Sub-120's (which would run about $310.00)for a kick butt budget HT system!!

Ordering all of it should get you free freight so it would put you only $60.00 over budget, yet the system can not be touched for the money. You can probably sell the extra speaker here in the classifieds for $60+ so you would break even at $700.00.

Do the WmAx mod's on the Behringers, and you would have a very impressive speaker system!!!

Do 1 pair and build a pair of perfects.

 

[annunaki]

Do 1 pair and build a pair of perfects.

Most any bookshelf speaker has a hard enough time keeping up with just one Perfect build!!