Complete system for $1000-1500

D

Deadhorse

Enthusiast
A friend of mine is looking for a system and wants to spend no more that $1500, it must include speakers with sub and receiver, it doesn't matter if it's 5, 6 or 7.1, anyone have any suggestions?
 
JerryLove

JerryLove

Audioholic Ninja
http://www.audioholics.com/buying-guides/system-buying-guides/the-1000-bare-bones-system

Or http://www.audioholics.com/buying-guides/system-buying-guides/audioholics-store-2k-system. If you have your blu-ray already, replace the cable with stuff from monoprice, drop the banana plugs and use a generic surge suppressor (and don't spend $30 on a sub woofer cable). You can also shave off cost by getting a referb receiver (accessories4less.com) or a used one off craig's list or ebay, and drop the 7.1 to 5.1.

Also see my answers on this other active thread: http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=60890
Specifically, buy a Behringer external crossover ($80 used I think), a pair of Dayton 12" subs ($300 total), two acoustic foam pillows ($6), up to 8 behringer 2030p's ($130 per pair). Spend the rest on your receiver (with pre-amp out), a small 2-channel amp, and cables.

You can improve the Daytons from stock by opening them and putting in the pillow. You can improve the Behringer's with the following
WmAx said:
1) Replace internal acoustic stuffing with more material and a higher grade material(ideally 4-8 lb/ft^3 density rockwool board or fiberglass board). If you can't easily get it, I will mail some to you for very low cost(the stuff is CHEAP) if you are in the USA. PM me for details.

2) Fix vibrating metal can magnetic shield on woofer. Use liquid(NOT gel) super glue and squirt some generously around the seam where the can meets the driver - this will stop the vibration.

3) Fix air leak number 1. On the tweeter, where the tweeter motor connects to the tweeter faceplate, there is no seal between them. Use plain silicone sealant and squirt around the seam, being sure to also squirt around the base of the electrical leads.

4) Fix air leak number 2. On the plastic waveguide around the tweeter, there is no seal where the tweeter connects to the waveguide. Remove tweeter from the waveguide (4 screws on the back) and use bluetack, rope caulk or speaker gasket puddy; flatten with your fingers and place small amounts on the ridges of the waveguide where it connects to tweeter. Re-mount tweeter and tighten screws. Scrape off excess putty on the front that squeezes out with fingernail.

While this speaker is super low cost, it has far better linearity and off axis response than most that cost far more money[1]. It has 1.25" MDF front baffle, 0.75" MDF cabinet, MKT film caps, very high power iron core inductors(as opposed to the small ones normally used in low cost speakers that easily saturate at low power levels), cast frame woofer and relatively low distortion even when used at 100dB(assuming an active crossover is used to limit LF, of course).
Run the L/R pre-outs to the behringer. Set a steep crossover at 90Hz. Run the LL/RL two the L/R Dayton Sub, run the LH/RH to the L/R 2030p's. Make sure to place the L/R subs very close (a few feet) to the matching L/R bookshelves. With this, you can set the L/R as "large" and skip .1

I believe that is the best sound to be had at your budget.

If your room is small, 5-channel may be better than 7. If your L/R are within about 10' of each other, try without a physical center (phantom it) and see how that works for your room.
 
Last edited:
gmichael

gmichael

Audioholic Spartan
I have the Infinity Primus line in my home and think they are a great bang for the buck kind of speaker. Here is a search link http://www.google.com/products?q=infinity+primus&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=s9IrS56wI8K9lAfUyNGmBw&sa=X&oi=product_result_group&ct=title&resnum=3&ved=0CDAQrQQwAg

If he wants front towers, there are two available:
P252 at 125.00 each (250 a pair)
P362 at 183.00 each (366 a pair)

For the center there is:
PC250 at 120.00
PC350 at 149.00

For surounds:
P152 at 66.00 each (132 a pair)
P162 at 82.00 each (164 a pair)

Or the 5.0 pack at 285.00

If you buy them at Crutchfield, they cost a little more, but you get free freight and a full warrenty. A set of the P362, PC350, and P152's come to 750.00. If he wants to save, he could use the P252 towers or even go with 4 surround speakers. The PC250 center is equivilent to what I use and it does a fine job. He could save with that as well.

For a sub, I'd go with the Dayton RS1200K 12" Reference Series Subwoofer Kit for 550.00 http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=300-742 but it's out of stock. Here are a few other choices there: http://www.parts-express.com/wizards/searchResults.cfm?srchExt=CAT&srchCat=536&CFID=4195841&CFTOKEN=49352732


I have the Dayton T1503K 15" Titanic Mk III Subwoofer Kit because a have a large room. The 12 should be fine for most.


This is only one example of a pretty good system. Many others will also be just as good.
 

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