Best 5.1 value *right now* for 1.5-2k ?

[HT Kel]

Ok, I have decided to replace my Kenwood HTIB with a whole new 5.1 system. My budget isn't really set in stone but I figure we need to start somewhere so let's say $1500-2000 for 5.1 + receiver. Feel free to go lower and maybe even higher if it's a great bang for the buck.

I have read a lot of posts and seen many opinions on what the best speakers are. I am not necessarily looking for the best but rather the best value that can be found right at this moment (feel free to PM me or post with any clearances on speakers you think would make me happy =) ). No brand allegiance but see notes below.

Currently, I am looking at some Boston Acoustics, purely because of the refurb/sale price (and they came from this forum )
VR3 http://www.onecall.com/ProductDetails.aspx?bid=15&sHist=12-110,6-15&id=30640
or VR2 for one less C note http://www.onecall.com/ProductDetails.aspx?bid=15&sHist=12-110,6-15&Page=-1&id=30638
and PV700 sub, VRX for surrounds
http://www.onecall.com/ProductDetails.aspx?bid=15&sHist=12-110,6-15&Page=-1&id=30635
http://www.onecall.com/ProductDetails.aspx?bid=15&sHist=12-110,6-15&Page=-1&id=30642
Not sure which center, maybe this one
http://www.onecall.com/ProductDetails.aspx?bid=15&sHist=12-110,6-15&Page=-1&id=25380

Had a good deal on a refurb Yamaha rx2500 but it seems to have disappeared so w/e comes up...

Notes:
1) This is for HT only. No music listening.
2) I want a really clear center channel and kick you in the chest bass. I don't really have a discerning ear, though, as long as it isn't clipping or humming or doing something noticeable, I will probably be blissfully ignorant.
3) Floorstanders or bookshelfs are fine (have room for either). Center will be above a projection screen, though.
4) HDMI switching, while it could be nice, isn't necessary and will prob cost too much or not work quite right.
5) 19x17 room.
6) No WAF.
7) Fair number of components. PC, HD cable box, Oppo, PS3 when it comes out.

Thanks in advance !

 

[AVRat]

First, let me say welcome. Second, the links do not work properly. The BAs are sweet sounding speakers and for those prices they are hard to pass up. Have you heard them? You should really try listening to them before making a commitment to purchase. I’d go with the VR2s and put a little more into a better sub. The SVS PB12-ISD comes to mind.

 

[HT Kel]

First, let me say welcome.

Thanks ! =)

Second, the links do not work properly.

Hmm, not sure what happened but re-linked them and they seem to work for now.

The BAs are sweet sounding speakers and for those prices they are hard to pass up. Have you heard them? You should really try listening to them before making a commitment to purchase.

Honestly, I haven't heard them. Unfortunately, I really don't have an ear for audio so when I listen to speakers, I can't really tell the difference between one set of speakers and the next. There are only two things that keep me from buying a real budget system. 1) I want to make sure that the dialogue in movies comes through super clear and the bass gives the movie more 'impact'. and 2) I will have company pretty often.

I’d go with the VR2s and put a little more into a better sub. The SVS PB12-ISD comes to mind.

I only barely familiar with timbre matching, crossovers and such...would a non BA sub match the BA speakers or does speaker matching not apply to the sub as much as the main speakers ?

Thanks again for the response

 

[racquetman]

I only barely familiar with timbre matching, crossovers and such...would a non BA sub match the BA speakers or does speaker matching not apply to the sub as much as the main speakers ?

Timbre matching doesn't apply to a sub. A sub is mainly for LFE (the .1 in 5.1). That info is only sent to the sub. Your sub will also get any info below your crossover frequency if you have any of your speakers set to small when doing bass management setup.

 

[HT Kel]

Timbre matching doesn't apply to a sub. A sub is mainly for LFE (the .1 in 5.1). That info is only sent to the sub. Your sub will also get any info below your crossover frequency if you have any of your speakers set to small when doing bass management setup.

Ok, great. One less thing to worry about, then !

Any thoughts on which BA center would best match those VR2's or VR3's ?

Or any leads on better sales, atm ? B-stock is fine, hoping to find a good clearance to help me make a choice, hehe.

 

[annunaki]

For a budget system with great performance I would check out the new SVS speaker system with one of their subwoofers. Matched up with a high quality receiver, and you would have a great system.

http://www.svsound.com/products-spks-sbs01.cfm

 

[louhamilton]

When you go and listen to speakers, take a DVD that you know very well. You will want to note the track and even the time the scene takes place. This way you can tell the difference between what you are testing out and your current speaker setup. Remember, however, listening to a speaker in a store is far different than listening one in your home. Find out if the place you are shopping allows you to take them home to demo or what their return policy is.

If you are listening to speakers at say BB or CC, the area that they have the speaker displayed is completely different than your house. Therefore, they may sound weak at the store but too powerful at your house.

Although listening to speakers is one thing, I listen to see how they handle different frequencies. How the tweeter or midrange handles various instruments. I also listen to how loud they can go before I hear distortion.

Since you are worried about dialogue, take my inital suggestion and take your favorite DVD with tons of familiar dialogue.

Good luck!

-Lou

 

[JonBaker99]

Speakers:
http://www.axiomaudio.com/epicmaster_175main.html

That would leave you another $600 for a receiver. Which should be enough to buy a nice denon either a 1906 or a 2106 if you shop around.

This would be a great little system. Probably one of the best you'll find at that price point. Very nice with dipoles rears at that price.

 

[Wid]

Speakers:
http://www.axiomaudio.com/epicmaster_175main.html

That would leave you another $600 for a receiver. Which should be enough to buy a nice denon either a 1906 or a 2106 if you shop around.

This would be a great little system. Probably one of the best you'll find at that price point. Very nice with dipoles rears at that price.

This would be a great sounding system imo but I would replace the EP 175 with either a Hsu STF 2 or a SVS PB10. Both of these subs will go lower and are cheaper the the Axiom sub.

 

[Mitch G]

I would also recommend auditioning some Paradigm speakers - you can find a local dealer from their website (www.paradigm.ca).
For $1500-$2000 you can put together a decent set of speakers using Atoms or Titans, etc. You can see MSRP for Paradigm here: http://www.bradfordshifi.com/prices.htm#Paradigm.
But, you should be able to negotiate at least 10% off the MSRP.

As far as the subwoofer is concerned, though, I would recommend getting a different brand sub such as HSU, SVS, Axiom, etc.


Mitch

 

[Wid]

Another speaker that gets high praise is Ascend . They would at least be worth looking at.

 

[Sheep]

This would be a great sounding system imo but I would replace the EP 175 with either a Hsu STF 2 or a SVS PB10. Both of these subs will go lower and are cheaper the the Axiom sub.

Agreed. This would be a fantastic system. Yeah, scrap the 175, the Hsu STF-3 or PB-10ISD would be the best for the $.

SheepStar

 

[JonBaker99]

Good call on scrapping that sub although I would recommend the Rocket ULW10. Less money than the 175 and has built in room EQ.

Should be able to do:
M3ti - $300
VP100 - $240
QS4 - $400
ULW-10 - $500
---------------
$1440

That leaves $560 for a receiver. That should be more than enough for a good receiver. Should be able to get a Denon 1906 for around $500 retail. Less if you shop it. May leave you some money for upgraded fronts.

 

[Wid]

If the room is not to big the Hsu STF 2 would do a great job for $399. That would free up another $100 that could go for a set of M22s instead of the M3s.

 

[silversurfer]

Another speaker that gets high praise is Ascend . They would at least be worth looking at.

I would also check this out. On the Ascend site's reviews page, they got a very nice review from DVD Etc:
"In my opinion, the Ascend-Hsu combo is simply the best multi-channel speaker package under $1300." -Felix Martinez, DVD Etc.

That is pretty high praise in a magazine, especially if you do not advertise in it!

http://www.ascendacoustics.com/pages/reviews/proreviews.html

 

[kcd911]

Check out the Paradigms

I just helped a friend put together a system on the cheap, we listened to a lot a speakers, and Paradigm is putting out a nice sound right now. Check them out in person.

Good luck.

KCD911

 

[HT Kel]

Wow. First off, let me say that the number of responses, the number of helpful responses, from this forum is amazing ! I want to thank each and every person who responded here.

If the room is not to big the Hsu STF 2 would do a great job for $399. That would free up another $100 that could go for a set of M22s instead of the M3s.

It's 19x17 with an 8' ceiling. Probably not 'big' but definitely not small.

On a separate note:
There are several recommendations for speaker lines but one of the things that I am facing, as a non-audiophile, are how to choose between them. I realize that the normal procedure would be to listen to them, at least the ones that are carried by B&M stores.

However, my inability to tell which speakers are too bright, high or accurate makes listening to them just all that much more confusing. So, given that I want decent speakers (for dialogue and LFE and when I have company over), and I don't have any personal prefererences, I thought I might go with whichever brand was considered decent by the audipophiles *and* had a good sale going somewhere.

The BA 50% off sale doesn't seem to have impressed anyone. I assume that means that even with the sale, those speakers may not be as good a value for me as some of the other lines mentioned in this thread ?

Again, thanks for all the positive responses so far ! I just need to figure out how to narrow down a purchase before I get paralyzed by indecision

 

[Sheep]

Wow. First off, let me say that the number of responses, the number of helpful responses, from this forum is amazing ! I want to thank each and every person who responded here.


It's 19x17 with an 8' ceiling. Probably not 'big' but definitely not small.

On a separate note:
There are several recommendations for speaker lines but one of the things that I am facing, as a non-audiophile, are how to choose between them. I realize that the normal procedure would be to listen to them, at least the ones that are carried by B&M stores.

However, my inability to tell which speakers are too bright, high or accurate makes listening to them just all that much more confusing. So, given that I want decent speakers (for dialogue and LFE and when I have company over), and I don't have any personal prefererences, I thought I might go with whichever brand was considered decent by the audipophiles *and* had a good sale going somewhere.

The BA 50% off sale doesn't seem to have impressed anyone. I assume that means that even with the sale, those speakers may not be as good a value for me as some of the other lines mentioned in this thread ?

Again, thanks for all the positive responses so far ! I just need to figure out how to narrow down a purchase before I get paralyzed by indecision

Well, we can only recommend. You have to deside which ones you like, cause its your money.

You could probly get away with other speakers for less, but we are making recommendations within your budget.

Obviously, no one here is going to screw you over. If they do, they will most likely suffer the consequence's.

I think you should go give a listen at stores around you and find out what you like. Tell us what speaker it is, and someone here who has experience with it can tell you what sound characteristic it might have (bright, warm, neutral etc)

SheepStar

 

[Wid]

Well, we can only recommend. You have to deside which ones you like, cause its your money.

You could probly get away with other speakers for less, but we are making recommendations within your budget.

Obviously, no one here is going to screw you over. If they do, they will most likely suffer the consequence's.

I think you should go give a listen ar stores around you and fing out what you like. tell us what speaker is was, and someone here who has experience with it can tell you what sound characteristic it might have (bright, warm, neutral etc)

SheepStar

This is very good advice.

 

[jaxvon]

For straight-up HT usage, I've heard a lot of good things about the BIC Acoustech Speakers. I personally own some different BIC speakers (see sig) and love them. The Acoustechs have a horn loaded tweeter which excels at HT sound and is also very sensitive.

http://www.sounddistributors.com/buynow.asp?prid=1054