Best setup under $1,500

[Chris Maxwell]

First of all let me apologize for my ignorance but I've researched home theater audio for hours and I have no idea how to evaluate these different options.

I guess most important I'm looking to spend less than $1500 on a surround sound system.

It will be set up in a basement. I primarily watch action type movies.

From my research online I was considering these two options and I would greatly appreciate any feedback as to if I'm on the right track or not.


OPTION 1:

Onkyo Model: TX-NR757 - $600

with

Onkyo Model: SKS-HT993THX $700 or Onkyo Model: SKS-HT870 $380


OPTION 2:

Denon AVR-X1300W-$400

with

Polk Audio TSi300 5.1 Home Theater Speaker Bundle $650

 

[shadyJ]

None of the above. If you are in the US, there are better options. Are you in the US?

 

[Chris Maxwell]

Yeah I'm in Denver

 

[rojo]

First of all let me apologize for my ignorance but I've researched home theater audio for hours and I have no idea how to evaluate these different options.

I guess most important I'm looking to spend less than $1500 on a surround sound system.

It will be set up in a basement. I primarily watch action type movies.

From my research online I was considering these two options and I would greatly appreciate any feedback as to if I'm on the right track or not.


OPTION 1:

Onkyo Model: TX-NR757 - $600

with

Onkyo Model: SKS-HT993THX $700 or Onkyo Model: SKS-HT870 $380


OPTION 2:

Denon AVR-X1300W-$400

with

Polk Audio TSi300 5.1 Home Theater Speaker Bundle $650

The Denon AVR isn't bad for your budget. You can do better than the Polk bundle though.

For the 5.0, go with the Philharmonic Affordable Accuracy monitors. Unless you have placement restrictions requiring you to have a horizontal center channel, just go with 5 identical bookshelf speakers, shipped for around $600 - $625 I think. That'll leave you roughly $500 for your subwoofer. What're the W*H*D dimensions of the room this system is going into?

 

[Chris Maxwell]

The room it will be in is approximately its about 15' wide x 20' deep x 9' high.

I don't have any placement restrictions at all.

I haven't made a decision yet on the 5.0 vs 7.0 channel but I did hear a demo of the dolby atoms that was pretty impressive.

 

[Pogre]

You'll need a decent sized sub for that room. Don't skimp on your subwoofage. Good, clean bass is often underrated.

 

[Chris Maxwell]

I agree man! Do you have any recommendations, I was told watts mean nothing and its about construction.

The Klipsch R-12SW gets really good reviews from customers at best buy. They have it on sale for $359


At Best Buy they demoed the Dollby Atmos in the Magnolia room (or whatever its called) and tried to sell me a $20,000 system, it sounded pretty cool but had zero bass.

 

[Pogre]

I agree man! Do you have any recommendations, I was told watts mean nothing and its about construction.

The Klipsch R-12SW gets really good reviews from customers at best buy. They have it on sale for $359


At Best Buy they demoed the Dollby Atmos in the Magnolia room (or whatever its called) and tried to sell me a $20,000 system, it sounded pretty cool but had zero bass.

Klipsch is well known for their speakers. Subs, not so much. Your budget is pretty tight and I would actually recommend dual subs. You can start with one and buy another matching one down the road. The RSL Speedwoofer got some love here at Audioholics and comes in at just under $400. I would plan on buying a 2nd tho.

Some other notables you could consider.
Hsu VTF-2 MK5 $539 + Shipping
SVS PB2000 - $799 new, $729 in their outlet, free shipping.
SVS PB1000 - $499 new, $475 in their outlet, free shipping. Would plan on 2 of these for sure.

The nice thing about SVS is they have a 45 day trial period, if you don't like it, they'll take it back and pay the shipping too!

 

[rojo]

I agree man! Do you have any recommendations, I was told watts mean nothing and its about construction.

The Klipsch R-12SW gets really good reviews from customers at best buy. They have it on sale for $359


At Best Buy they demoed the Dollby Atmos in the Magnolia room (or whatever its called) and tried to sell me a $20,000 system, it sounded pretty cool but had zero bass.

Nah, get a grown up sub. The Rythmik LV12R or the Hsu VTF-2 MK5 would only slightly blow your budget.

 

[Pogre]

Nah, get a grown up sub. The Rythmik LV12R or the Hsu VTF-2 MK5 would only slightly blow your budget.

I knew I was missing some more suggestions! Yup, Rythmik is another good one to check out.

 

[Chris Maxwell]

I like the VTF-2 MK5 for the sub!

What do you all think about these speakers and receiver?

Denon AVRS930H $537
Klipsch R-15M & R-25C $199 pair/each

 

[Pogre]

I like the VTF-2 MK5 for the sub!

What do you all think about these speakers and receiver?

Denon AVRS930H $537
Klipsch R-15M & R-25C $199 pair/each

I don't have much experience with Klipsch speakers. We have a few @Klipschhead302's here tho that can weigh in.

 

[Pogre]

I like the VTF-2 MK5 for the sub!

What do you all think about these speakers and receiver?

Denon AVRS930H $537
Klipsch R-15M & R-25C $199 pair/each

As for receivers, I think I'd go with a Denon 3300W in that price range. Prices have recently dropped with the new stuff coming out. That link is for a refurb, but I've had nothing but good experiences buying from them and I've bought 3 receivers from them.

*Edit: Actually, I don't see "refurb" in the description. I think it's new.

 

[rojo]

As for receivers, I think I'd go with a Denon 3300W in that price range. Prices have recently dropped with the new stuff coming out. That link is for a refurb, but I've had nothing but good experiences buying from them and I've bought 3 receivers from them.

*Edit: Actually, I don't see "refurb" in the description. I think it's new.

Next to "Item Condition" in red text is written Denon Factory Refurbished. I'd thought about recommending refurb for the X1300, but I struggled with whether the difference in cost between refurb + shipping and new shipped free was worth losing a year of factory warranty. I ended up not bothering.

 

[rojo]

I like the VTF-2 MK5 for the sub!

What do you all think about these speakers and receiver?

Denon AVRS930H $537
Klipsch R-15M & R-25C $199 pair/each

You're not going to get any better than the Affordable Accuracy monitors for your price range. Next step up would be a Hsu Hybrid-2 package deal I think. If you're hesitant about the Affordable Accuracy monitors because I suggested using a vertically-oriented monitor as a center channel, Dennis does offer a horizontal center channel. It's tuned with the same sorcery as the monitors, but the vertical orientation of the monitors will offer better off-axis response. It's all minutiae though. If you must have a horizontal center, then you won't get any better than the AA center within your budget.

Regarding the AVR, does the AVR-S930H offer a feature you'd like that isn't offered by the X1300? If it's a wattage thing, don't get too hung up on wattage. Most listening at typical speaking volume occurs at around 1W of power or less anyway. And the X1300's room correction is better than the S930H. Audyssey XT > Audyssey Bronze / Basic / not XT / whatever they're calling it.

 

[zieglj01]

This would be a good one

JBL Studio 230
https://www.amazon.com/JBL-Studio-230-Bookshelf-Loudspeaker/dp/B00GJXSWZW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1503511587&sr=8-1&keywords=jbl+studio+230

Studio 235
https://www.amazon.com/JBL-Studio-235C-6-5-Inch-Loudspeaker/dp/B00GJYRWK2/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1503511639&sr=1-1-fkmr0&keywords=jbl+studio+235

Surrounds -- JBL Control One
https://www.amazon.com/JBL-Control-Performance-150-Watt-Miniature/dp/B000U2G6VA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1503511691&sr=8-1&keywords=jbl+control+one

Or - Studio 220
https://www.amazon.com/JBL-Studio-220-Bookshelf-Loudspeaker/dp/B00GK22DF2/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1503512079&sr=1-1-catcorr&keywords=jbl+studio+220

You have some good sub recommendations -- which would be preffered

However, there is a budget friendly sub that will play lower than the RSL and 2 to 3 db louder
Emotiva BasX S12 and 399 shipped
https://emotiva.com/product/basx-s12/

 

[zieglj01]

What do you all think about these speakers and receiver?

Denon AVRS930H $537
Klipsch R-15M & R-25C $199 pair/each

I would spend less on the receiver with that budget

You can do better than that Klipsch series

Your call

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Get the Denon X3300 on sale for $599 from Amazon Prime.

https://www.amazon.com/Denon-AVR-X3300W-Channel-Receiver-Bluetooth/dp/B01HL8KYAY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1503512266&sr=8-1&keywords=Denon+X3300

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

For the 5 speakers and 1 subwoofer:

- RBH Impression Series I-12 Subwoofer x 1 and R5Bi bookshelf speakers x 5
- HSU 5.1 package
- SVS 5.1 package

 

[zieglj01]

RBH Impression series is sold out -- new series in the works