Best System under $1,000?

[drwily]

Tired of playing Xbox/PS3 games through my 50" HD t.v speakers. Crysis 2 sounds awful lol. Any suggestions on a decent system for under a $1,000 total. A good quality all-in-one system, (if such a thing exists) would be great! Living room is huge so I have a ton of space. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Denon 1911 for $380 (retail is $600):
http://www.vanns.com/shop/servlet/item/features/538426256/denon-avr1911?s_c=site_search

Jamo 10" sub for $250 (retail $700):
http://www.vanns.com/shop/servlet/item/features/549635206/jamo-a70-sub?s_c=site_search

NHT SuperZero bookshelf speakers for $99 ea x 5 = $495 (retail is $125 x 5 = $625):
http://www.amazon.com/NHT-SuperZero-2-0-Monitor-Speaker/dp/B0049FA1TM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1302191389&sr=8-1

Total 5.1 system = $1,125 (includes Shipping, no taxes).

 

[drwily]

Very Nice

Any suggestions on speaker wire for all of this?

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

All cables from monoprice.com
for speakers use 12-14 Gauge http://www.monoprice.com/products/subdepartment.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10239

and for sub:
http://www.monoprice.com/products/subdepartment.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10236
pick needed length from first group.

p.s: Jamo 10" sub is great deal, for you huge room you probably need a bigger sub - Emotiva Ultra Sub12 is a small step up in price, but big step up in output

 

[drwily]

Thanks!

Awesome! thanks for the help!

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Yeah, what is the actual size of your room?

And how much bass do you want?

If you don't care for 5.1, you may just get 3.1 and put the money into a bigger subwoofer.

Monoprice is just fine for all your budget cable needs.

 

[bikemig]

If you like the NHT speakers, you might do better buying from them direct as they have some price breaks when buying multiple speakers. I'm tempted to buy them as well for the HT system I'm building.

 

[drwily]

Stands

Last questions. Any recommendations on speaker stands for all this?

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Last questions. Any recommendations on speaker stands for all this?

The Sanus 24" high stand costs $28 each:

http://www.amazon.com/SANUS-SYSTEMS-BF-24B-Speaker-Stands/dp/B00006JQ5N/ref=sr_1_3?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1302194660&sr=1-3

 

[its phillip]

Those stands are awesome, I have a couple pairs

 

[GranteedEV]

1x Marantz SR5004 (Accessories4less.com)
2 to 5 x Behringer 2031P
1x EMP Tek 10" sub CLEARANCE section

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

The Sanus 24" high stand costs $28 each:

http://www.amazon.com/SANUS-SYSTEMS-BF-24B-Speaker-Stands/dp/B00006JQ5N/ref=sr_1_3?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1302194660&sr=1-3

I own same stands and they great, however a minor mistake i did is rear channels should be about 1 ft above your ears level, so you might need to go with Sanus 32" stands instead for a slightly higher price.

 

[drwily]

center channel

So using one of the NHT speakers as the center channel is a good way to go or would you buy a dedicated center channel speaker or does it not really matter?

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

So using one of the NHT speakers as the center channel is a good way to go or would you buy a dedicated center channel speaker or does it not really matter?

Regular bookshelf is a better choice for center speaker, if you can make it fit in your space
Center speakers are recessionary evil due to typical limited placing options..

 

[drwily]

Thanks!

Good to know. Purchasing all items now. Total cost including stands is $1,250.22 close enough for me! Thanks for all the help.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

So using one of the NHT speakers as the center channel is a good way to go or would you buy a dedicated center channel speaker or does it not really matter?

Having all 5 identical speakers standing vertically is the ideal situation.

 

[drwily]

position

I have the room to sit the center vertically under the t.v.. However, it will be only be about 8" off the floor. The two fronts will be on 24" stands and the two rears behind the sofa on 31" stands. Is that setup ok?

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I have the room to sit the center vertically under the t.v.. However, it will be only be about 8" off the floor. The two fronts will be on 24" stands and the two rears behind the sofa on 31" stands. Is that setup ok?

I did the same exact thing for a while, and it sounded great. No problem.

 

[scott911]

A little bit of a different approach...

Get a reciever from craigslist - I got a nice two channel for kids for $30 - Denon, and it sounds great. Look in basement or mom's house for some old speaker wire. Use a pair of cinder block for stands if you don't get floor standards.

Spend the remaining $970 on a pair of speakers... or stretch it if your really need instant gratification to a pair of speakers and a subwoofer.

I'd buy the BEST you can afford from KEF, NHT, or maybe Axiom for the left / right, maybe an Emotiva subwoofer.

The end result will be that you've been able to INVEST in some real QUALITY foundation equipment instead of lots of compomised little stuff that you'll be thinking of upgrading after a couple months.

Get a center and rears in future - they won't add as much to your enviroment as a great pair of left/right speakers. Upgrade to a better reciever when you grow with the hobby a bit and understand what you need.

Good luck!

 

[jostenmeat]

I have the room to sit the center vertically under the t.v.. However, it will be only be about 8" off the floor. The two fronts will be on 24" stands and the two rears behind the sofa on 31" stands. Is that setup ok?

Coming from someone who uses three identical speakers on the same plane as vertically arrayed, I would reconsider, and perhaps start posting photos too, with diagrams as well. 8" is getting close to the floor, hm, maybe you can pull it off. How will you have it mounted; on what? Which speaker will be selected (IOW how high will the tweeter be?) Will you be able to angle this speaker upward?

One of the benefits of a matching horiz speaker compared to an upright bookshelf is the dual woofers which helps the speaker deal with the greater demands of the center channel. If you are pretty much sitting dead on axis to this speaker, one doesn't have to worry about lobing. If the seating is widespread, and you actually care how it sounds at the extremes, then compromise comes into play.

that's my 2 cents.