Complete Newbie, Home Theater System

[ADman]

I've spent most of the day trying to convince myself that it would be a good idea to spend $2500 on the Bose Lifestyle system. It seems so cool and user friendly with receiver included, universal remote, and simplified setup stuff. I also really like that the speakers are very small as I don't have much space right now. I hope to be in a bigger place hopefully in a little over a year, but right now, monster speakers, subs, etc. are not an option.

Then I started reading all kinds of stuff from a bunch of audiophreaks who say that the Bose stuff is not worth the dough and that HTIB setups are no good. Therefore, I started looking for other options. Unfortunately, that has led me to become more confused than when I started.

Right now I'm looking for something that I can hook up my TV, Xbox, and PC to... iPod would be a plus. I'm not really sure where to go from here. I'd like to keep the budget closer to $1200 if possible, and ideally, have something small enough to fit where I am now and big enough to power a little bit larger space in the future.

Another option may be to get a decent receiver that would work well in both locations and get cheaper (read: smaller) speakers and plan to upgrade when I move.

Does any of this make sense? What do you all think.

Thanks!

Adam

 

[fuzz092888]

There are a lot of good suggestions out there, try browsing around the threads a little, many people have asked similar questions.

DENON AVR-2311CI 7.2 3D Home Theater Receiver | Accessories4less

KEF Xq10 5¼" 2-way Bookshelf Loudspeakers Mahogany Pair | Accessories4less

VTF-3 MK4 Subwoofer

For your price range I would recommend high quality bookshelves, a receiver, a sub for a good 2.1 setup. A good 2.1 will be better than a low quality 5.1 HTIB. Plus with a 2.1 system you are able to grow and expand from there, sliding the 2 bookshelves to the side position and replacing them with floor standing speakers when budget and space allows. OR you could add a center before you add floor standers, whichever you'd like to do. There are also options bookshelf options that would allow you to go 5.1, I think Boston acoustics has a few good speakers that are cheap enough for you to do that.

 

[zieglj01]

With the XQ10, make sure to audition or buy with a return option.
Need to make sure the sound is for you. They have roller coaster
measurements.
Look at the purple measurements.

 

[ADman]

With the XQ10, make sure to audition or buy with a return option.
Need to make sure the sound is for you. They have roller coaster
measurements.
Look at the purple measurements.

I've never looked at one of these graphs before. Can someone translate this for a layman?

 

[fuzz092888]

Jim can provide a better explanation, but when you look at the purple line, you want to see a flat response with a gradual rolloff at the top and bottom of the speakers rated frequency range. In the graph you can see that above 2k hz you start to see some peaks and dips, which can cause the speakers to sound not so great.

I'm not sure if those measurements are anechoic or if they are in room, but either way it means you should try to audition them.

My suggestion wasn't necessarily a buy these speakers, they were merely a quick example of the kind of speaker you could be looking at if you wanted to go 2.1. What I mean is, you'll be looking at a medium-large bookshelf speaker that is in the $600-1300 dollar range, depending on whether you want to buy the subwoofer right now. You probably shouldn't be spending over $400 or $500 on a receiver right now with what your budget it.

The more money you invest in the bookshelves the happier you'll be in a 2.1 setup. Then you can add a sub, then a center, then towers, then upgrade the AVR (you don't have to go in that order just a scenario).

Then again you may decided not to go 2.1 at all and want to go straight to 5.1.

 

[zieglj01]

I've never looked at one of these graphs before. Can someone translate this for a layman?

I have no listening experience with the speakers.

Some people like the speakers and some do not.

No guarantee that it will sound like this to you - and we all have
our own personalities, listening experience and preference/taste.

This tells me, that it may not sound natural and balanced, or accurate.
That there can be a forward sound character, that may be lively and
detailed and yet sound thin (the 3 to 5khz valley). Also, that it could
become agressive and sharp, and bring on ear fatigue. This speaker
may sound better at lower volumes - it may also increase the ssszzz
sound, of singers at higher octaves. Also at higher volumes, the brass
and violin instruments may be too much to bear. Even for home theater,
I want speakers that tend to measure and sound good.

However, audition if you can - this may be a bad dream of mine.

_________________________________________________________________

I own the Boston E60 speakers, and they sound balanced and natural, plus
smooth - with good detail, definition and depth. They do measure nice, from
200hz to 10khz > I desire +/- 3db, from 200hz to 10khz.
Look at the red line.

 

[zieglj01]

The KEF Q300 speaker, is the one that I would check in to.
http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/KEFQ300WLN/KEF-Q300-Q-Series-6-1/2-inch-Walnut-Bookshelf-Speakers-pair/1.html