Diving into the HT world. Need suggestions !!!

[leowiz]

So all I have is a 46" TV. Live in a condo with a decent sized living room. Basically need something to listen to music to start off (don't really watch movies much or play games). BUT, need something that can be upgraded to do all those stuff later.

Price: Well, I thought I can get a decent setup for $600 total, but then I realized that the receivers I like itself cost that much. ... Money as such is not a big issue if I know I am spending it right. But lets say $1500 total for a 7.1 setup.

Here is what I do now: A lot of CDs, MP3 ipods, my PC and harddrive : All for music. Listen to a lot of Pandora.

My music choice is more soft music and I like the deep soft acoustics rather than loud beats (think Bon Iver, Jack Johnson, instrumental, vocals). I hate noisy systems.

I do watch streaming videos from my computer once in a while (is this where upconversion comes into picture ?).

So my choice of receiver should probably have: Good sound, networking (maybe ?), decent power and a good GUI. But of course I am greedy so a good video processing will be cool too.

Question is I have no idea how to start setting things up. Do I really need an expensive av receiver? I do like the Denon 3310CI or the Onkyo NR807 and another one that has Pandora built in.

If I were to start with 2 good speakers for music, and wait for a good deal on all the other speakers, is that a good way to go about it?

Thanks all. As you can tell, I am a total noob.

 

[m_vanmeter]

I'm afraid you have quite a list of "wants" but the budget will not support many of them.

A suggestion...start with a decent mid-level a/v receiver like the Onkyo SR508 or SR608, a pair of tower speakers like the Polk Monitor 70 towers http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Order=BESTMATCH&Description=polk+monitor+70 (sorry you missed the great sale on these this weekend, sign up for Newegg's email sale letter) or Infinity Primus P362 towers http://www.crutchfield.com/p_108P362BG/Infinity-Primus-P362.html?tp=185 Since your primary purpose is music at this point, the Infinity Primus lineup may be the best starting point. You can add a matching center channel and surrounds later.

These towers have the full frequency range to operate without a powered subwoofer....which can be added later.

As to your networking, you will not get that in a mid-level receiver within your budget, but you might look at an external networking device like the newly announced Western Digital TV Live Plus box as your music and video interface (note: look at the "Plus" model - more features) http://www.wdc.com/en/products/index.asp?cat=30

The easiest way to get video files played on a computer directly to the HDTV is with a newer graphics card that supports an HDMI output connection, like cards with the ATI Radeon HD5000 series chipset (I'm not sure what the current Nvidia GPU chipset supporting HDTV is, others will chime in here). The WD TV Live + box can support this as a networked device, pulling files from your computer on the home network.

 

[sholling]

You're on the right track wanting to maximize bang for the buck by starting with a 2 channel system. Start with a search for speakers that you really love. Speaker selection is very subjective and what floats someone else's boat may not float yours. Only once you settle on a set of speakers (2.0 or 2.1) that you really and truly love then pick out a receiver that will support your speakers and provide your feature set. For example if you fall in love with 4ohm speakers you'll need a receiver that supports 4ohm speakers. The general rule of thumb is to put 2/3 to 3/4 of your budget into the speakers. As far as networking goes I prefer to use a network media device (Western Digital TV Live, Asus O!Play, Briteview BV-5005) over any network features in the receiver.

You'll find a recent article on four $1000/pr tower speakers in the speaker section. I'd also consider some $500/pr bookshelf speakers and a nice subwoofer that's been properly sized for your room.

 

[SopRage]

If it were me, and I listened to music the vast majority of the time, didn't need or want "noisy," and had that kind of scratch to spend...

I'd get two Sierra-1s from Ascend and power them with an Onkyo TX-SR608.

Those bookshelves are supposed to have tight, clean bass at LEAST as low as most floorstanders, and come highly recommended from just about everyone (including this website). That Onkyo ought to have more than enough juice to make them sing, and Onkyos are usually feature-rich for their pricepoint as well.

You can absolute expand from here into 5.1 or 7.1, starting with a sub, but if you listen to music almost exclusively I'd wager you'll be set.

 

[leowiz]

Thanks all for the replies. So I am trying to narrow down on some AV receivers and these are what I found in my price range with networking (am I making too big a deal with networking?).

Denon 3310CI (~$750)

Onkyo HT-RC180 ($550) (doesn’t have the multi-channel analog inputs)

Onkyo TX NR807 ($700)

Yamaha RX-V2065 ($730) (Does not have video processing)



Sierra-1 is $900 a pair - Thats too expensive.

So I saw a deal for 5.1 with subwoofer for the smaller Mirage MX 5.1 set ($500). Can I use them and a pair of good big speakers for my front to make my 7.1 system? Am I thinking in the right direction or totally off? So the totla cost would be:

~$700 for the av reciever
~$450 for a pair of tower speakers for my music.
~500 for the rest of the speakers like the Mirage for HT setup?

Total~ $1700 (I guess I just expanded my budget. I can afford it, but I just don't want to overspend on something that I can't really hear/see the difference. I am not a BIG audio/video critic).

Thanks guys.

 

[SopRage]

I think almost everyone here will tell you that you "have it backwards" if you spend as much on your receiver as you are on your speakers.

Does your computer have an HDMI out? Is there any other way you can get your media to your receiver besides networking? I'd wager that the quality of your video streaming is either high or low enough that upconversion in a mid-level receiver's not going to make a big enough difference to warrant $700.

Your speakers are by far the most important part of the setup; the quality of sound is comparitively affected very, very little by the receiver (unless it's awful).

Also, for what it's worth, unless your room is gigantic, I think you'll find the difference between 5.1 and 7.1 is negligible.

 

[leowiz]

I think almost everyone here will tell you that you "have it backwards" if you spend as much on your receiver as you are on your speakers.

Does your computer have an HDMI out? Is there any other way you can get your media to your receiver besides networking? I'd wager that the quality of your video streaming is either high or low enough that upconversion in a mid-level receiver's not going to make a big enough difference to warrant $700.

Your speakers are by far the most important part of the setup; the quality of sound is comparitively affected very, very little by the receiver (unless it's awful).

Also, for what it's worth, unless your room is gigantic, I think you'll find the difference between 5.1 and 7.1 is negligible.

I think I just like the many features that the av receivers offer and most of those receivers are in the $500-700 range. I do agree that speakers are what you ultimately hear so its very important. Plus they won't need to be upgraded every so often if I start with something good. BUT, there just seems to be no limit on how much I can spend on speakers while av receivers are decently affordable (spending extra $100 gives you a decent upgrade while that extra $100 does not mean much for speakers).

So for a 5.1 system, if I set a budget of $1000, what speakers do I go for? assuming my receiver will be a 7.1 with ~100 W/channel (8 ohms).

Sorry for these stupid questions.

 

[leowiz]

And I meant $1000 for speakers (5.1 setup maybe). And they should look good too At least the front two speakers should.

 

[m_vanmeter]

The Polk Monitor 70 towers I mentioned previously are are sale again today (6/17/10) at http://promotions.newegg.com/NEemail/June-0-2010/FathersdaySale/index-landing.html?nm_mc=EMC-IGNEFL061710&cm_mmc=EMC-IGNEFL061710-_-EMC-061710-Index-_-E0A-_-Loudspeaker and add a Polk CS2 center and you will have a very nice system that can function well without a powered subwoofer (although ultimately, an HT system still benefits from having one).

One note though...the Monitor 70's and CS2 are physically large speakers...note the overall dimensions carefully if you are considering using them.

 

[leowiz]

The Polk Monitor 70 towers I mentioned previously are are sale again today (6/17/10) at http://promotions.newegg.com/NEemail/June-0-2010/FathersdaySale/index-landing.html?nm_mc=EMC-IGNEFL061710&cm_mmc=EMC-IGNEFL061710-_-EMC-061710-Index-_-E0A-_-Loudspeaker and add a Polk CS2 center and you will have a very nice system that can function well without a powered subwoofer (although ultimately, an HT system still benefits from having one).

One note though...the Monitor 70's and CS2 are physically large speakers...note the overall dimensions carefully if you are considering using them.

I just saw that too on dealsea.com. Looks like they weigh 47 pounds - That's HEAVY. Is that the usual weight and dimension of these tower speakers? The db rating is 90db (sensitivity). I heard its good to have that greater than 100db. Is that correct? Are these the best speakers for the price? I don;t usually see good reviews about Polk speakers.

 

[sholling]

I just saw that too on dealsea.com. Looks like they weigh 47 pounds - That's HEAVY. Is that the usual weight and dimension of these tower speakers?

Were you planning on moving them a lot?

The db rating is 90db (sensitivity). I heard its good to have that greater than 100db. Is that correct?

This has to do with how loud it plays for a given amount of power. Most speakers range from 87 to 93db sensitivity with only a few any higher than that.

Are these the best speakers for the price? I don;t usually see good reviews about Polk speakers.

Speakers are subjective so only you'll know what sounds best to you. Some good candidates for consideration with your expanded budget might be a system built on Infinity's Primus P362 ($400/pr), PC350 center and a small sub; or EMP's very attractive Impression E5Ti ($500pr) E5Ci center and a small sub; or 3 pair of the homely but good sounding Behringer B2030P bookshelves and a decent sub; or perhaps a slightly over your budget SVSounds 5.1 package deal. Lots of options that likely beat the Polks but only you know what you like best.

 

[tcfish19]

One option that hasn't been mentioned is getting a Bluray player like the LG BD570 to handle streaming duties. It is wireless and DNLA compliant. Has Pandora, Netflix, Vudu and Cinanow built in and plays about any file it can find from your PC. I also has a very easy user friendly menu. You don't have to be a tech guy to use it. Connect that to just about any receiver and that solves one problem, the streaming, movies and music.

Speakers are another issue and you should pick the best you can afford. Build the system around the front two. Used or B-stock is fine just do your research and audition if possible. Once you pick the speakers find the right grade receiver to drive them.

 

[leowiz]

jamo c405
jamo c407



How about the c407 ? Are they good?

 

[tcfish19]

Note that the add is for one speaker. Not that price for the pair. World Wide Stereo is legit and the Jamo are in line with Energy, Klipsch and Polk. Higher end mass market speakers.

You may want to check out WWS online they have some package deals with receivers.

 

[leowiz]

So doing extensive (and exhausting) research on this forum, looks like I am thinking of going with these for now:

EMP's Impression E5Ti and the E5Ci center. Haven't decided on a sub yet.

My big question now is: Are these considered bright speakers? I want something that is not bright (Klipsch's are definitely out). Any help here (from someone who has actually heard used these speakers.

Thanks all. You guys are awesome

 

[fightinkraut]

So doing extensive (and exhausting) research on this forum, looks like I am thinking of going with these for now:

EMP's Impression E5Ti and the E5Ci center. Haven't decided on a sub yet.

My big question now is: Are these considered bright speakers? I want something that is not bright (Klipsch's are definitely out). Any help here (from someone who has actually heard used these speakers.

Thanks all. You guys are awesome

I own the EMP E5Ti's and do not consider them bright speakers, certainly no where near the horn loaded tweeter designs out there from Klipsch and BIC. The tweeter is a fabric dome tweeter, softer in sound than a metal composition . I came from the car audio world and would compare the sound between two popular mass market speakers, the polk db series and the infinity kappas. The kappa's used a metal tweeter and had harsher highs...

Hopefully that's helpful!

 

[krzywica]

So doing extensive (and exhausting) research on this forum, looks like I am thinking of going with these for now:

EMP's Impression E5Ti and the E5Ci center. Haven't decided on a sub yet.

My big question now is: Are these considered bright speakers? I want something that is not bright (Klipsch's are definitely out). Any help here (from someone who has actually heard used these speakers.

Thanks all. You guys are awesome

They are a little forward but certainly not bright. I listen to them at moderate volumes (70db) to low volumes (40db) for very long listening periods and have never gotten listening fatigue. They are hard to beat for the $.

 

[sabelv]

why dont you try polk's TSi series (300&400) or mordaunt short's monitoralumni satellites? ive heard very good reviews of those speakers. Theyre also considered budget speakers.

 

[m_vanmeter]

just as a reference, Polk's TSi series is just an estheticly upgraded version of the Polk Monitor series at about 2x or 3x the price. TSi 400 = Monitor 60, TSi 300 = Monitor 50 ... etc. For all practical purposes, speakers are the same, just the "looks" have been upgraded.

 

[sabelv]

really? i didnt know that. haha thx, im considering to buy those in a store that also sell the old monitor line. thx a lot