building 5.1 around Paradigms stereo spkrs

[diggerdave]

I am new to HT. I started looking at the Yamaha HTR 5560 I think it was, because of price $200. After reading sites like this and visiting some stores I've decided to spend more on the receiver. Now I'm considering the 5670 or 5690.
The last dealer I talked to wants to sell me an RXV-500 and says the 5690 is discontinued. A quick web search leads me to believ the RXV-500 is about half the machine the 5690 is ??? Judging by the specs but mostly by the price. What is the difference in HTR line? Is it obsolete or discontinued? should I be looking at the RXV 1500 or???

Primarily I'll be watching movies but my wife is a musician so I really want some that can do a respectible job at both. I think that means I need a receiver that will do "direct mode stereo" that is without processing?? This feature seems to be only on the higher end units??

My Paradigm stereo spkrs are still in great shape and I'd like to build around them using them for my front mains.They are 2way and have 8" woofers. For the rears I would like to use my small bookshelf SpeakerLab 2way spkrs that have 5inch woofers. I then need to purchase a center and a sub. It's been recommended that I go with a PSB center with, I think it was 3 or 4inch woofers, anyway smaller woofers because of the 8's in my paradigms. But then the dealer down the street tells me the exact opposite, buy the larger Focal center spkr. Maybe he just wants to sell me a more expensive spkr?

The audiophile shop nearby has some excellent used equipment amps and spkrs. he has the PSB woofer for half the price of new. And several center spkrs to choose from. Is this a good way to go?

My room is about 15 feet wide and 10 feet deep. I sit about 7 feet from the front L/R spkrs and will be about 5 feet in front of the 23inch LCD TV and center spkr with the rear spkrs only about 1 foot behind me.

Sorry to start with such a rambling note but I hardly know where to start. Any and all comments/suggestions will be greatly appreciated....

dave

 

[jaxvon]

On the subject of a center speaker, you may wish to audition a Paradigm CC-370. It's a highly regarded center that looks nice and should match the timbre of your mains better than other brands of speakers (because it's a Paradigm).

 

[Leprkon]

The last dealer I talked to wants to sell me an RXV-500 and says the 5690 is discontinued. A quick web search leads me to believ the RXV-500 is about half the machine the 5690 is ??? Judging by the specs but mostly by the price. What is the difference in HTR line? Is it obsolete or discontinued? should I be looking at the RXV 1500 or???

Primarily I'll be watching movies but my wife is a musician so I really want some that can do a respectible job at both. I think that means I need a receiver that will do "direct mode stereo" that is without processing?? This feature seems to be only on the higher end units??

dave

the HTR and RXV lines are very similar. the RXV is the "specialty store" line, with a little better packaging, but acoustically, they are nearly identical.

see the yammie FAQ's here.

http://www.yamaha.com/yec/customer/FAQs/faq00.htm

yammie has been producing the HTR 57oo line only since summertime, and the HTR 56oo line is officially obsolete but a great deal.

 

[diggerdave]

thanks. I see I confused the model numers, thanks for pointing that out. so is the 5670 the top of the 56xx line? And reading that link has me wondering about the warranty but I am guessing the warranty would be invalid only if you buy from a place like Ebay.

jaxvon thanks for the model number for the Paradigm center... I'll look it up on the web now.

 

[Leprkon]

My Paradigm stereo spkrs are still in great shape and I'd like to build around them using them for my front mains.They are 2way and have 8" woofers. For the rears I would like to use my small bookshelf SpeakerLab 2way spkrs that have 5inch woofers. I then need to purchase a center and a sub. It's been recommended that I go with a PSB center with, I think it was 3 or 4inch woofers, anyway smaller woofers because of the 8's in my paradigms. But then the dealer down the street tells me the exact opposite, buy the larger Focal center spkr. Maybe he just wants to sell me a more expensive spkr?
dave

As long as you match the center to the mains, it won't matter too much if the center is large or small. your receiver will probably have a setting that lets you choose if it is small or large and then it will take care of making the system sound good. you really don't need speakers over about 5 inches in a center. the mains and your sub will produce all the bass you need, and it's the mid-range and tweeters that will simulate the motion for you as something flashes across the screen.

keep in mind that the center does carry most of the dialog in an HT system, so it never hurts to go up a model or two, but you don't need to break the bank to get good sound. just stick within the brand, and, preferably the same line within the brand, to match the sound as well as possible.

a good sub is always a plus. just be sure to read the articles here about getting one set up right. it can take a while and alot of moving of the sub to get the best possible sound.