Building new entry level HT from scratch and need advice!

[Daz3d&Confus3d]

First let me say you guys do a GREAT JOB with your forums!!!…I’ve learned a lot in a short time!

Here’s my current config. Bought in 97’

Mitsubishi 36” TV
Mitsubishi M-vr600 receiver (made by Onkyo someone told me) 65wpc Dolby 5.1 and that’s it.
Polk center and front floors
Generic dvd

As you can see my system needs help!

I have $1300-$1500 to play with currently, another $500-$700 by the end of Nov. and another $500-$700 by Feb. So lets say $2500-$3000 in the next few months for Receiver, center/fronts and rears…I’ll add a sub and new DVD player later in the year and a new tv when my current one finally dies. My room is 16x19 with a 10 ft ceiling and I am a HUGE movie buff…but I do like to throw in cd’s as well, but the #1 focus is films! Also bear in mind when I do buy a tv in the future it’ll prob. be a LCD or DLP in the $3000-$4000 range (say ‘payments’). That’s part of the reason why I want to pay cash now for the speakers and receiver and not finance it.


I want to upgrade the center and front 2 speakers first and am leaning toward:

Center: Klipsch RC-7 or RC-35 I love the rc-7 but feel it may be a bit overkill for my living room. What are your thoughts? Is $650 a decent price on the 7 and is $325 a decent price on the 35?

Fronts: Klipsch RF-35’s…..($850) After having listened to a number of speakers I narrowed it down to the Klipschs and paradigms…but the para’s seem so power hungry and I really do like the brightness of the Klipsch’s. How would the rf-35’s match with the rc-7? Should I just stick with the rc-35? And put the extra cash toward a better receiver?

I know my current receiver will push the rc-35 but I don’t know if 65w will cut it for the rc-7.

Receiver: (purchase sometime in Nov)….I’m at a total loss here and really need help on finding a decent receiver in the $500-$700 price range. Is this a decent balance between spending on receiver ($500-700) and speakers ($2000-2500)? Or should I be spending more on a better receiver and less on the speakers? I really do need to keep it within these spending parameters but will consider a few hundred more for a receiver if I absolutely have to. Also are there certain brands that sound better with Klipsch?

DVD Player: Should I be looking at something in the $300 price range here?

Lastly, what online websites are good for purchasing audio in these price ranges?

I know it’s a lot of questions but I really do appreciate your input and advice! Thanks a lot!!!

 

[mtrycrafts]

First let me say you guys do a GREAT JOB with your forums!!!…I’ve learned a lot in a short time!

Here’s my current config. Bought in 97’

Mitsubishi 36” TV
Mitsubishi M-vr600 receiver (made by Onkyo someone told me) 65wpc Dolby 5.1 and that’s it.
Polk center and front floors
Generic dvd

As you can see my system needs help!

I have $1300-$1500 to play with currently, another $500-$700 by the end of Nov. and another $500-$700 by Feb. So lets say $2500-$3000 in the next few months for Receiver, center/fronts and rears…I’ll add a sub and new DVD player later in the year and a new tv when my current one finally dies. My room is 16x19 with a 10 ft ceiling and I am a HUGE movie buff…but I do like to throw in cd’s as well, but the #1 focus is films! Also bear in mind when I do buy a tv in the future it’ll prob. be a LCD or DLP in the $3000-$4000 range (say ‘payments’). That’s part of the reason why I want to pay cash now for the speakers and receiver and not finance it.


I want to upgrade the center and front 2 speakers first and am leaning toward:

Center: Klipsch RC-7 or RC-35 I love the rc-7 but feel it may be a bit overkill for my living room. What are your thoughts? Is $650 a decent price on the 7 and is $325 a decent price on the 35?

Fronts: Klipsch RF-35’s…..($850) After having listened to a number of speakers I narrowed it down to the Klipschs and paradigms…but the para’s seem so power hungry and I really do like the brightness of the Klipsch’s. How would the rf-35’s match with the rc-7? Should I just stick with the rc-35? And put the extra cash toward a better receiver?

I know my current receiver will push the rc-35 but I don’t know if 65w will cut it for the rc-7.

Receiver: (purchase sometime in Nov)….I’m at a total loss here and really need help on finding a decent receiver in the $500-$700 price range. Is this a decent balance between spending on receiver ($500-700) and speakers ($2000-2500)? Or should I be spending more on a better receiver and less on the speakers? I really do need to keep it within these spending parameters but will consider a few hundred more for a receiver if I absolutely have to. Also are there certain brands that sound better with Klipsch?

DVD Player: Should I be looking at something in the $300 price range here?

Lastly, what online websites are good for purchasing audio in these price ranges?

I know it’s a lot of questions but I really do appreciate your input and advice! Thanks a lot!!!

Well, it is good that you are considering speakers first, the primary focus as that determines many things

What is it about the Polk you don't like, or your setup itself?

Since you are a movie buff, you should really consider a sub, no matter which speakers you are getting or not getting. That will make a big difference. If you like bass, check into the SVS line.
Does your receiver has a LFE, sub, out? You may want to consider this before you consider swapping speakers. Maybe the sub will satisfy your needs? You may want to look at a larger TV sonner, especially if you are into movies.

Your room is not that large.

 

[Daz3d&Confus3d]

Mu polks are just small.....the center has a blown mid and the towers have just one 5.5" mid and the tweet.....so it's definently time to build a new system....and I do want a sub and thanks for the recommendation I'll check them out....Do they have any decent subs in the $400-$500 dollar range?

 

[droeses58]

I have klipsch in-wall and center and have tried 3 different receivers with them, so far I like the outlaw 1070 for sound the best [but I just got it so it may be premature to state that] I also had 3 different pioneers which were also pretty good and a Harman Kardon avr-635 which sounded better than the pioneer.

So my recommendations would be:

1. Outlaw 1070 [$899]

2. Harman Kardon avr-635 [$600-$700 on ebay from Harman Direct] I may be leaning towards this for movies.

3. Pioneer vsx-1015 or other elite models

and yes I think thr rc-35 would be the one to get for a center.

 

[Daz3d&Confus3d]

thx dro....ironically someone else recommended that exact same receiver. What about the Pioneer elite 54tx or the Onkyo 801? Anyone have any thoughts on those?

Also, is THX a must have format for movie buffs? Or does Dolby and DTS do the job? How many formats do you need?

I like the fact that the Pioneers have so many formats and other than how many watts-per-channel, what else should I look for in a receiver?

What about Video outputs for a tv in the $3000-$4000 price range? How many of you just run your DVD player straight to the tv?

 

[AVRat]

It sounds like you're definitely on the right track. Slow and steady to reach the end goal. I also think sticking with the 35s is a good choice.

The Klipsches are very efficicient so getting your room rocking should be easy. Any good, decently powered receiver will accomplish this and you can get that for your budget. However, if you want a feature that involves HDMI, that will add to the cost.

The THX spec really isn't necessary because most people don't even come close to listening at that level. They are more comfortable at 85-90 dB SPL.

 

[Hanse18]

Currently upgrading in a similar price range. Here's what I'm getting:

BIC Acoustech Speaker System -- $799.99 @ Sounddistributors.com

Harman/Kardon AVR 435 -- $550.00

Oppo OPDV971 DVD player -- $199.99 @ Amazon.com

Sony SCD-CE595 SACD Player -- $149.99

Belkin 9 Outlet Surge Protector -- 39.99 @ Circuit City

14 Gauge Speaker Wire 125 feet -- $30.00 @ Home Depot

Cables -- About $200 @ BlueJeansCables.com
(1) Surround Audio Cables -- DVD-to-Receiver
(1) Y cable audio splitter -- Receiver-to-2 subs
(2) Subwoofer Cables -- Y cable-to-Subs

The acoustechs are basically klipsch ripoffs. I have heard they are EXACTLY comparable to the rf-35's, which I have demoed and (although not as good as the reference 7 series) loved. I went with the h/k 435 because I don't need the video upconversion and the extra wpc are useless with these efficient speakers. You could spend more money on a sub, but the acoustech one is designed by dr. Hsu and is about as good as they get for $250. I personally already own a sunfire true subwoofer, but I think I will have a fun time (not) getting it to match the acoustechs. I have heard some GREAT things about the oppo dvd player, and the sony sacd was the only one i could find that didnt have dvd as well

Good luck, and at least check out the acoustechs. They seem to be too good to be true, but I guess they deliver.

 

[Daz3d&Confus3d]

Thx hanse and rat.....I appreciate the feedback. I'm going to take a few more days to bounce this around before I make any final decisions. Hanse I've heard others say that the avr 435 sounds great with both paradigms and Klipsch. Though I'm not crazy about its appearance we buy them for their sound not looks right...lol

What about the Pioneer Elite54tx or 56tx? Both seem to offer alot for the money but then again since I'm such a noob...I dont really know what to look for in a entry level receiver! What should I look for beyond wpc and surround sound certs?

Even though I'm a movie buff, if I dont need thx then maybe a Yamaha 1400/1500/2500 or a Harmon Kardon 435/635 would be a better choice for me??? I don't know......

Any thoughts?

 

[WndrBr3d]

THX is just a certification that assures that the unit has met the requirements that THX has set forth for performance for build.

A lot of companies opt out of THX certification. It doesn't mean that it's the best performing receiver in its class, but you'll know that you'll be getting some standard quality and features.

H/K does not go for THX certification (and never has, from my research).

I'm a H/K man myself, and I think for the casual listener and home movie buff, the 435 and 635 would provide more than enough power/features. I'd lean towards dropping the extra $$ on the 635 because of it's video up-conversion capability.

Also, don't forget to address your power. A simple Belkin/Monster power conditioner can go a long way.

 

[mtrycrafts]

The THX spec really isn't necessary because most people don't even come close to listening at that level. They are more comfortable at 85-90 dB SPL.

While THX may not be necessary, it isn't for the reasons you state. It is a thecnical standard that THX set up to match performance similar to THX mastered movies. Low level listening is not a reason for not getting it. THX has many technical advantages, Re EQ, decorrelation, etc.

 

[mtrycrafts]

Do they have any decent subs in the $400-$500 dollar range?

Check out their web site or call them. Do a google

 

[mtrycrafts]

THX is just a certification that assures that the unit has met the requirements that THX has set forth for performance for build.

It is much more than built quality. Actually, it is all about technical needs for a standardized playback of what happened at the mixing studio.
re-EQ, decorrelation, etc. Check the THX web site for all the technical features of certification.

 

[Hanse18]

While THX may not be necessary, it isn't for the reasons you state. It is a thecnical standard that THX set up to match performance similar to THX mastered movies. Low level listening is not a reason for not getting it. THX has many technical advantages, Re EQ, decorrelation, etc.

While that is true, those things CAN all be included in a receiver and still not receive a THX rating. I don't know if there are any true life examples of this, but theoretically a receiver could have all the technical workings of a THX-supported receiver, but simply not put out enough power to be THX certified.

So yeah, THX is cool and all, and bragging to your friends that your home theater adheres to the same guidelines as a professional theater is definitely awesome, it isn't necessary for producing an amazing sound.

 

[Daz3d&Confus3d]

k.....let's look at a comparision then: the Denon 3805 vs. the Yamaha 2500 and the Pionee Elite 54 (both are thx cert)....my question is how does the Denon stack up against the yamaha and the Elite when it comes to playing movies? I'm asking because I don't know and the salesrep I talked to this morning at Ultimate Electronics couldn't give me a real answer....he just said he liked the 2500 the best!

So what do I look for when comparing these three receivers? I know that the Elite has a better heatsink and is prob. better off solo than the Denon because of another post that 'Buckeye Fan' left, but other than that what features or hardware on one of these three may stand out above the other two as a movie buff and sacd fan???

 

[ToolZero]

The Denon AVR-3805 is not THX certified.

Check out my posts. I asked a lot of the same questions you did.
Post 1
Post 2

This is what I bought 2 weeks ago:
Speakers -
Axiom M22ti (2) http://www.axiomaudio.com/products.html
Axiom VP100 (1)
Axiom QS4 (2)
Brackets (3)
$1131 Shipped @ www.axiomaudio.com

Receiver - Denon AVR-3805 - $798 shipped from www.ibuyplasma.com

DVD Player - Denon DVD-1920 - $334 shipped from www.ibuyplasma.com

Subwoofer - SVS PB12-ISD/V - $774 shipped

Speaker Wire - 200' BJC Twelve White (5000UE) (White jacket, 12 AWG)
$78 from Blue Jeans Cable

Banana Plugs - 10 pair - $35 from Blue Jeans Cable

Component Cables
Receiver to TV - Component - 9ft $54
DVD to Receiver - Component - 3ft $41
SPDIF - 2ft $12
Six Channel Audio - $78
Satellite to Receiver - S-Video - 6ft $36
Toslink - 2m $29
CD Player to Receiver - Stereo - Already have
Subwoofer to Receiver - Single - 6ft $19
http://www.bluejeanscable.com/ for all cables, wire and plugs, except optical - $368 shipped
http://www.avcable.com for the Toslink cable - $29 shipped

Power Strip - Tripp Lite HTPOWERBAR10 - $100 at Costco

Avia Guide to Home Theater on Ebay for $26 shipped
Denon DM-S305 microphone on Ebay for $48 shipped

Speakers $1131
Sub $774
Receiver $798
DVD Player $334
Interconnects $397
Power Strip $108
Avia Guide $26
Microphone $48
---------------------
Total $3618

 

[jaxvon]

Did you get all of your goodies yet Zero? I bet you're just wrung out with anticipation.

 

[ToolZero]

Off the top of my head I think a good system for you would be the Axion speakers
Axiom M22ti (2) http://www.axiomaudio.com/products.html
Axiom VP100 (1)
Axiom QS4 (2)
Brackets (3)
$1131 Shipped @ www.axiomaudio.com

Pioneer VSX-1015TXK Receiver (Black) $359.00 - http://www.ibuyplasma.com/product/?04078 - (not in stock though)

SVS PB10-ISD or PB12-ISD sub - $429 or 599 plus shipping.

And whatever cables and speaker wire you need from http://www.bluejeanscable.com/ - You can see what mine cost me to get an idea of prices.

That puts you around $2200-$2400 shipped I think.

I'm new at this too.

 

[jaxvon]

The only thing I'd disagree with is buying speaker cable from Blue Jeans. Unless you MUST have the white jacket, you can get the same Belden 5000UE for MUCH cheaper from Westlake. Granted, it's backordered like hell right now (>-17000 ft available!), but when it's in stock, it's a great deal.

 

[Hanse18]

Or just head down to the home depot and get 12 ga. wire by the foot. Solid wire construction, not sure of the actual brand though.

If you really can't decide, just go with the heaviest one (I'd like to claim that theory as my own, but I just recently learned this made a difference as well).

 

[jaxvon]

I believe HD carries Carrol cable. This is another brand like Belden, Canare, or General Cable that makes quality stuff at reasonable prices without the snake oil. My only thing is that if you're ording off the internet, go Westlake. If you want to go local, Home Depot.