Budget Surround System

[Spiffyfast]

OK, I was dead set on getting Paradigm, but can't justify those speakers going into my room at the frat house, so I'm looking for a system, Floorstanders and matching center $600. It will be powered by a Pioneer 1015tx (ordering this weekend hopefully) and a Cadence Xsub12 is for the bass. I have a pair of Yamaha Bookshelves to take care of the surround.I listen to Rock music most of the time so I want something that can hit the high notes for an electric guitar and some good mid bass would be nice too, I know its not a very big budget, but its all I want to spend for something that might get broken. Kind of thinkning about Bic Acoustec (Do they have a website?) from what I've been reading on here, but any suggestions are appreciated. Thnx for help

 

[j_garcia]

Why floorstanders? You could probably get better bookshelf speakers for that cash than floorstanders. Most of the ones I'd recommend are above your price range, though you might consider just going with some JBL Northridge E, and you can probably come in below your budget. Check www.onecall.com for E-80s or E-90s and an EC-35.

*I just checked and www.jr.com has free shipping on many of the JBL speakers right now, though their prices tend to be a bit higher than Onecall.

 

[jaxvon]

Yes, BIC does have a website (though incredibly trashy). That's what I'd recommend doing. I've got some BICs (Venturi though, not acoustech) going into my dorm room (going be running either the 815 or 1015 Pioneer, unless I can get a good deal on a Yammie or Denon). Since this is going to be a frat system, I think the Acoustechs might be more suited to what you need with their horn tweeters. The Venturis are genereally supposed to have better sound, but they won't play as loudly as the Acoustechs due to their design.

Here's the main BIC site, as well as the Acoustech site. The entire Acoustech setup, with a subwoofer runs just under $1000 shipped.

Here's a link to the system on Overstock. The sub might be kinda weak if you were to crank it up during the parties, so I'd still stick with your original idea of going for the Cadence subs.

 

[JJMP50]

Athena Audition Series

I hate beating a dead horse but a pair of Athena F1s or F2s with a C1 center should work out if you can find them. They just went through a model change (series 2) and I don't know if they've made it to the showrooms yet.

Athenas are the poor man's Paradigms.

 

[Spiffyfast]

Why floorstanders? You could probably get better bookshelf speakers for that cash than floorstanders.

Going into my room in a fraternity house, so I'll be having parties all the time with a bunch of ppl dancing, too easy to knock bookshelves off of a stand.

Kind of looking at these now, any thoughts..

http://stores.ebay.com/AcousticSoundDesign-888-224-3663_BIC-Acoustech-Speakers

I've heard then compared to Klipsch, which is good, the ultimate party speaker plus they are supposed to have a better sound. Looking at the HT-75 and the HT-65 center

 

[Spiffyfast]

I hate beating a dead horse but a pair of Athena F1s or F2s with a C1 center should work out if you can find them. They just went through a model change (series 2) and I don't know if they've made it to the showrooms yet.

Athenas are the poor man's Paradigms.

I've heard the Athenas have some great sound to them, hadn't thought about them as an option.

 

[j_garcia]

The JBls I listed were floorstanders, and will come in right around your price range.

BB carried the Athena line, but the current gen are all sold out. Check your local store though, they may have a few open box or demos left. Onecall also carries Athenas, and it looks like they already have the .2 versions, most of which include shipping.

Going into my room in a fraternity house, so I'll be having parties all the time with a bunch of ppl dancing, too easy to knock bookshelves off of a stand.

Hate to say it, but floorstanders are only a small amount less likely to be knocked over in their potential environment, and just as likely to be used as a coaster. I know, I had most of my Paradigm speakers knocked over by drunken idiots. There are plenty of decent ways to keep the bookshelf speakers tied down to stands, but even at that point, they are still just as easy to knock over as towers.

 

[Buckeyefan 1]

Klipsch and Acoustech will play the loudest of those listed above, but not as loud as these disposable frat speakers.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5790074557&category=71569&rd=1

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5790093933&category=71569&rd=1

 

[Mr. Lamb Fries]

these would be a great match with your cadance sub and under your price range.

http://www.harmanaudio.com/search_browse/product_detail.asp?urlMaterialNumber=S310CH-Z&status=

If you dont mind factory refurbs...still comes with a warranty. this company has great customer service.I know this series sounds good (i have the 412). it is a good price and they are very solid build. the studio series is a step up from the northridge series. ive seen the s312 (bigger with a 12 inch woofer) for about the same price on e-bay

 

[jaxvon]

Yeah, the Cerwins will play loud Buck, but I think he intends on using them at "normal" levels when there aren't drunken idiots around and in these few instances, sound quality matters.

 

[Buckeyefan 1]

Yeah, the Cerwins will play loud Buck, but I think he intends on using them at "normal" levels when there aren't drunken idiots around and in these few instances, sound quality matters.

Still, you gotta admit, great frat disposable speakers. They'll take the abuse. Sure, they may have trouble reproducing Gershwin when he has the honeys in the room, but he has to impress the honeys first to get them to stay. Remember, I'm from the old school. 3 and 4 way 12 and 15 inch was the only option in college. Didn't need (or have) the subs back in the day. No one listened to movies in surround sound. You were lucky to have a 19" Emerson tv hooked in to your two channel receiver's aux input. And even that was a waste, because VHS tapes were terrible, and no one had cable on campus. Plus, we didn't have cash like these guys do today. Parents just didn't float us big money. All my income went to the keg fund, BMG's 10 for 1 cd deals, and Daytona/Panama City (when it was the place to be). You'd be surprised at the sound an old Marantz or Pioneer analog receiver and a set of those CV's would sound like, not to mention the efficiency the drivers belt out with moderate 30/40 watt stereo units. These new surround receivers with todays 90dB towers/bookshelves may sound good, but won't begin to fill a good sized party room with 65 smashed fools. If the room is small, then it's not an issue. I think Spiffy will have the best sounding equipment on his floor, period. I'd just hate to see him fry his towers/bookshelves or overheat his amp. I know those partys, and when you've got a twelve pack in you, the volume just doesn't go high enough.

 

[rikmeister]

i agree. I had an old marantz 2375 and man could it crank. I still have it 30 yrs

later almost and it is still working great. Infact there is a guy who refurbishes marantz on ebay and he really seems to be able to sell the old ones no problemo at all. the 2300 series seems to command the best resale.

 

[rikmeister]

only bad thing with those vegas are the shipping costs 130.00. that hurts . did you

try overstock.com their shipping is low. most of the time they do not have such good ones. but with athena eliminating their stock you never know if they will get some. i agree the vegas would be dynamite and may infact violate the noise ordinance quite easily too. how much have you saved up for the fines. hehehe. OH well i can sympathize with you. we had more parties than even playboy liked. my uni was not listed in the top ten schools but their was an asterisk in the list saying that PSU and princeton were not in the list cause it would not be fair to pit the pros against the amateurs. enjoy enjoy your college days they are the best times of you life... hard to believe now but you will know i am right when you have ten rug rats running around the house and bills pouring in faster than you can grow your money trees.

 

[rikmeister]

overstock has celestion acoustatech sdat and denon and nikkamachi speakers

other brands too. 1.00 shipping too. take a look. I would not buy great speakers. sometimes they tend to dissappear in the dorm or frat house. never take anything you are not willing to have stolen to college. Also if you do make sure you check your parents home owners insurance . you may have to add a rider to cover them. I had a stereo stolen at temple uNiv. insurance paid to replace it after much much bickering. I also had friends have stereos disappear in dorm rooms. Also you could check at your school if it is a large uni . Lots of students sell speakers for the bread and you can get a good buy sometimes. Just do not run your credit card up . You will eventually have to pay the piper for your indiscresions and a bad credit rating is yours for almost ever.

 

[MacManNM]

Got to agree with buck on this one. Those Vega's are perfect. You could also look around E-bay for a set of Infinity sm-120 or 150's. Cheap and will jam. Grab an old marantz receiver and your ready to rock. If it's not loud enough for you, all of the marantz 22xx series have pre-outs, so go take the money you save from those speakers and receiver and get yourself a nice big mackie M1400i. Then the system is bulletproof.

 

[Spiffyfast]

Plus, we didn't have cash like these guys do today. Parents just didn't float us big money.

Well first off, the only thing my dad pays for is my school and housing, anything else I own or want to do I pay for by myself, I'm just luck enough to have a good paying job for someone my age so I'm able to buy things other people can't. That was just to defend myself and not have the spoiled college kid be associated with me, I have a lot of friends like that so I do know what your talking about.

Second, those Vegas look like they would be great, only question is would they be ok for home theater, b/c when I'm not partying I do watch a lot of movies to just relax and put off doing projects and homework. I'm kind of worried about the space constraints though, they look like they will take up alot more space.

 

[Buckeyefan 1]

Well first off, the only thing my dad pays for is my school and housing, anything else I own or want to do I pay for by myself, I'm just luck enough to have a good paying job for someone my age so I'm able to buy things other people can't. That was just to defend myself and not have the spoiled college kid be associated with me, I have a lot of friends like that so I do know what your talking about.

I think people are making quite a bit more money than they were 15 years ago. Less kids, more disposable income, better educated. Most of my buddies assumed student loans. Nowadays parents either have the cash to pay for tuition, or assume it themselves. I already have my daughters tuition paid for via a 529, and a few years of my sons. They are 2 and 5 years old. I had to pay 2/3 of my college tuition. TG the folks helped me out with room/board. I always had a job on campus working 15-20hrs a week making $5.25 an hour. That was the beer/cd/spring break fund cash. During the summer, I made $12-$14/hr. filling in for union vacation time at a local steel mill in Warren, OH, but it all went to tuition and the car. I did have one of the nicest systems on the floor. It was a JVC 30wpc LCD receiver (blew that and replaced it with a Yamaha RX330 40wpc unit) with two 3way 12" AAL speakers. Also ran a BSR 10 band eq (didn't everyone back then), a Toshiba auto-reverse cassette deck, a Teac CD player (which still works!), and Pioneer turn table. My roommate had a massive analog Technics receiver (probably 70w x 2) with the old vintage dial fm tuner, and dual Technics 12" 3 way towers. His unit was more powerful than mine, so we paired our speakers up together and ran his receiver using the A+B button. It shook the entire dorm. Imagine - four 12" woofers; the two sets of speakers were probably 102dB on the spl rating. The speakers were stacked, and probably 6' tall. We were written up daily for noise. Our room was a triple, and was huge. Probably 20x40. It was thee party room. Problem was the study lounge above us. People couldn't use it. As Rik stated above, those are the days. Enjoy them, and don't go overboard on stuff. It will get stolen or beer will be dumped on them. Lower the deductible on the homeowners insurance while you're in school - and make sure the rider covers you (otherwise a cheap renters insurance policy for $80/yr is the way to go).

Second, those Vegas look like they would be great, only question is would they be ok for home theater, b/c when I'm not partying I do watch a lot of movies to just relax and put off doing projects and homework. I'm kind of worried about the space constraints though, they look like they will take up alot more space.

Probably not for HT. Too efficient, and unless you have 5, they would overpower the sound from the center and surrounds. They would also make your sub practically useless. They really don't take up much more space than a stand. They make great end tables for phones, books, etc... If space is in issue, get bookshelves, and mount them on the walls.

 

[Spiffyfast]

So I finally found the specs on my Yamaha bookshelves I've had in my dad's garage for like 2 years b/c I didnt know what to do with them.

http://www.yamaha.com/cgi-win/webcgi.exe/Specs/?gSPK00010NS-A738

Type Three-Way Acoustic Suspension, Magnetically Shielded Bookshelf
Driver Complement Woofer = 8" Hi-polymer Coated Cone with Inverted Dust Cover
Midrange = 4" Cone with Inverted Dust Cover
Tweeter = 3/4" Dome, Ferro-fluid cooled
Input Power Nominal = 70 W
Music Input = 140W
Frequency Range 90 Hz to 20,000 Hz (the 90hz sounds really low for something with an 8" woofer, when I play music I can hear bass so thats gotta be a typon on yamaha's part)
Sensitivity 91 dB/2.83v/1M
Impedance 8 ohms
Dimensions Width = 10-1/2"
Height = 16-3/16"
Depth = 13"
Weight 14.4 lbs./each

Hooked them up to my Sony receiver and this speakers are not too shabby, I really doubt they are even broken in, only time they are ever on is when I'm in the driveway washing my car, and since I dont live at home except for the summer they havent been used to much. They are extremely natural sounding , would this be something I could use for rears and get some Athen F1.2s and an Athena C1 center?