Best home theater speaker system under $1,700

[Feferefe]

Hi:

I'm thinking in making a Home Theater in my house. I'm pretty sure that the receiver will be the Onkyo TX-NR808, because the power, price and the network streaming feature. But I’m a little lost in the speaker’s part. As today, I'm looking between two HT systems, The Polk Audio TSi500 and the Aperion Intimus 4T Hybrid SD. My room is very small (15' x 10' x 8') with laminated floors over concrete. I hear all kinds of music, from classic to Heavy Metal.

Could someone advise me as to which of these two systems to buy or suggest any other?

Thanks,
Feferefe

 

[j_garcia]

SVS SBS-02 package would smash the Polks. Not sure about the Aperions, but a sub from them is still going to best the subs from both of the others easily. Adding the PB-10 or PB-12 sub to the package should have it come in right around your price.

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

The Aperions get great reviews also, so you could put together a setup without sub and add a SVS sub to the mix as well

 

[GranteedEV]

You may want to set aside ~3-400 dollars to get good room treatments(bass traps and first point absorption panels for the front stage at least mainly, + some diffusion if you can afford it); otherwise I recommend:

for the main 5 speakers (included sub good for music and may even impress you - but people usually want bigger than 10" for movies...)
+
this sub or this or this or this

Til they sell out of those EMPs, it'll probably be the best bang-for-buck HT set out there.

 

[shadyJ]

I would look at speakers from Ascend Acoustics or Hsu Research. For subwoofers, I would turn to Hsu Research, Outlaw Audio, or Elemental Designs.

 

[zieglj01]

That is a small room you have. You may want to do something like
this to start - Go to the Polk Ebay store and look at the LSI15 towers
with the built in subwoofers. Also, look at the LSIC center speaker.
Start with this and then save up for surrounds.
If not Polk - then check with Ascend Acoustics. Then for the sub
with the subwoofer companies.

 

[tsand]

got lucky and found these little used demos on Ebay

/D/S L1090/2 High End Tower Stereo Speakers
3 way-2 woofers, dome mid, dome tweeter per side
rated at 150 watts, 8 ohms

 

[3db]

http://www.psbspeakers.com/Image-home-theater-systems

Concert Home Theater System is what I recommned minus the sub I would go for an Outlaw or SVS sub not that PSB is a bad sub. The others are just better for the money.

 

[jinjuku]

You may want to set aside ~3-400 dollars to get good room treatments(bass traps and first point absorption panels for the front stage at least mainly, + some diffusion if you can afford it); otherwise I recommend:

for the main 5 speakers (included sub good for music and may even impress you - but people usually want bigger than 10" for movies...)
+
this sub or this or this or this

Til they sell out of those EMPs, it'll probably be the best bang-for-buck HT set out there.

Those were my first thoughts: Room treatments. ++ that.

 

[jinjuku]

Is there any WAF/SAF (Wife/Significant other acceptance factor)? That you have to deal with?

 

[munroe]

Magnepan MMG's, MMG-W's, & the MMG-C. 5 speakers direct from Magnepan for about $1,200 & a 60 day free trial period or your money back.

 

[jostenmeat]

IMO, Ascend >>> Polk. I own some PSBs, they are quite decent for the money. However, if I had the same money all over again, and I was in your room, I would be curious to see if the Zaph SR71 complete kit pair could be split up for a single. If so, I'd think about getting 5x of those for $1575 with standard xovers, and I've never heard one.