Budget Receiver/Fronts/Sub

[Jeff R.]

All

I am searching for a budget system for my sister. She just purchased a new TV and is looking to do a 5.1 system for her basement. She has a relatively low budget of $1000-1100 and is starting from scratch. My original suggestion to her was to buy a reciever, front speakers and center and sub. We will add the surrounds later. I am targeting about $250-300 for the reciever and I am planning to recommend the Premier Accoustics PA120 for the sub. This leaves me roughly $500 to put together two front speakers and a center that will perform adequately.

I have been searching around. I am leaning toward a Jamo set up. I listened to a pair of Jamo's about 8 years ago and was very impressed, of course they were much higher in price than the current budget. I have found the Jamo C60 center and Jamo C601 bookshelf speakers that I could pull off for around $400. I am not familiar with this line. Any opinions.

I have also considered having her buy 3 of the Usher S-300's the reviews seemed very good on those also.

I am open to any other suggestions.

Thanks

Jeff

 

[shadyJ]

For receivers, I would look at what you can get from Accessories4less.com. There are some fantastic deals for refurbished and discontinued receivers there.

For speakers, I think you are right to limit the purchases to just the fronts and a sub, for the time being. Perhaps she would like the EMP Impression speakers? Those towers and the 5T center or maybe just the towers and a sub for now. Anyway, she will certainly appreciate the nice finish on those speakers.

 

[fredk]

I have also considered having her buy 3 of the Usher S-300's the reviews seemed very good on those also.

3 identical centers, whether its Usher or Jamo is ideal as this will give you the best front soundstage.

 

[rnatalli]

The Denon 590/1610 would be my pick in that price range.

 

[njedpx3]

Some other choices to consider

3 identical centers, whether its Usher or Jamo is ideal as this will give you the best front soundstage.

I agree identical fronts and center speakers or fronts with a matched center. This maintains timbre (seamless front sound)

Another consideration is Cambridge Audio S-30 and excellent bookshelf speaker at $199 /pair.
http://www.digitalcraze.com/Details.asp?Source=Froogle&ProductID=3969

The matching center is the Cambridge Audio S-50 for $199 or you could use a third S-30. http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B002C83ICU/ref=asc_df_B002C83ICU908657?ie=UTF8&condition=new&tag=shopzilla_mp_1171-20&creative=380345&creativeASIN=B002C83ICU&linkCode=asm


A good inexpensive subwoofer is the Dayton Sub-120 HT fro $155
http://www.partexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=300-635

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Yamaha makes some very good inexpensive AVRs and the Audioholics Online has very good prices. For example, the Yamaha RX-V365 is only $229.95
http://store.audioholics.com/section/66343/1/yamaha-surround-receivers


Good Luck!

NJ

 

[Jeff R.]

Thanks for the help. I am planning to go with Accessories4less on the reciever that was my game plan from the start. Leaning toward a refurb Marantz, anybody think that I would be better with an Onkyo? I have the 805 and like it, just a little concerned about the lower level amplifiers in the Onkyos.

I do like the look of the EMP's. Anybody have any listening experience with these?

 

[jmspiderman]

I don't know about the Marantz but I can tell you that I had an Onkyo TX-SR505 (entry level) and it was the biggest piece of crap ever hopefully I replaced it with a Yamaha RX-V663.

Thanks for the help. I am planning to go with
Accessories4less on the reciever that was my game plan from the start. Leaning toward a refurb Marantz, anybody think that I would be better with an Onkyo? I have the 805 and like it, just a little concerned about the lower level amplifiers in the Onkyos.

I do like the look of the EMP's. Anybody have any listening experience with these?

 

[agarwalro]

I do like the look of the EMP's. Anybody have any listening experience with these?

FYI. The introductory price deal on the Impression speakers ends tomorrow at noon EST.

How big is the room? That will impact the size of speakers and correspondingly the amplification power needed.

This receiver + 5.1 speakers + cables deal on Accessories4Less is great value for money for a small to medium sized room,

$900 Package

 

[audioholic212]

>>I agree identical fronts and center speakers or fronts with a matched center. This maintains timbre (seamless front sound)


This is exactly, what I have as my system as of yesterday

Mine are EMP E5Ti Towers and I love them. Huge step up from my current setup.

 

[KEW]

Thanks for the help. I am planning to go with Accessories4less on the reciever that was my game plan from the start. Leaning toward a refurb Marantz, anybody think that I would be better with an Onkyo? I have the 805 and like it, just a little concerned about the lower level amplifiers in the Onkyos.

I do like the look of the EMP's. Anybody have any listening experience with these?

I have bought a few Marantz refurbs from Accessories4less. Some places take the attitude that since you are paying bottom dollar for refurbbed equipment, you shouldn't expect good service. Accessories4less is great, with quick shipment and links to tracking information (so you know which day to slip out from work a few minutes early)!
I also believe that among mainstream consumer electronics, Marantz has a reputation as good as anyones. Of course, Marantz doesn't have a true budget line like Onkyo's so it might not be a fair comparison.

I did have one unit I returned to Accessories4less. The display was messed up. I'm sure YMMV, but no sooner had they received the return shipment, Accessories4less credited my account with a full refund (I was expecting it to take several weeks). For the money I have saved, this was small sacrifice. Now if they made returns a drawn-out ordeal where I felt like I was having to prove I wasn't trying to scam them, I would have a different opinion. The service is what really makes these deals so sweet IMHO.
It is normal to be a little paranoid of refurbbed equipment.

The only advice I have is to not order until you are ready to put it in service and then leave it running as steadily as possible for at least 40 hours. This is good advice for any new electronics. It gives everything the opportunity to "burn-in" and if there is a defect, electronics usually fail quickly. Once you are through this "burn-in", you should be good for many years!

 

[fredk]

The only advice I have is to not order until you are ready to put it in service and then leave it running as steadily as possible for at least 40 hours. This is good advice for any new electronics. It gives everything the opportunity to "burn-in" and if there is a defect, electronics usually fail quickly. Once you are through this "burn-in", you should be good for many years!

Thats good advice. At work, we recently picked up a new industrial printer, but neglected to put it into service for several months. Now we have issues, but have to go through a more expensive warranty process, rather than just returning it as defective.

This is not a poor quality printer and we are dealing with good companies. It was just a mistake on our part.