Feeling Overwhelmed

[Fritzie]

After Googling and reading many posts, I'm hoping to get some specific advice on building my first home theatre. I'm new to the forum and looking forward to hearing what you all think. Here's some of the particulars:

The system will be in a very open basement with 8' high drywalled ceilings. The room is 14' x 22' with the TV on the 14' wall and the seating ~15' away. Also there is no wall on the left 22', it's essentially a 3 sided room open to an equal sized area on the left.

My priority is music first, movies second. So I'm thinking of starting with a 2.1 or 3.1 system.

I have a $1500 budget.

So far I'm leaning towards the Dennis Murphy Pioneer towers and center speaker, and the SVS PB1000 sub. Very undecided on what receiver to use and wondering if I should make room in the budget for an amp?

Also, I have an old set of Bose 301's...could those be used temporarily as L & R rear's until I can afford newer/better?

Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

AA are great choice indeed, almost anything would do for surround duty, including 301's
for AVR:
http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/denavrx1000/denon-avr-x1000-5.1-channel-networking-receiver-w/airplay/1.html#!specifications

Now about sub:
the problem with subs is they don't give a damn about what you define as a room without a 4th wall, but "see" (or attempt to pressurize) entire open space
PB2000 might not be strong enough to pull it.
I recommend this - as much more powerful sub, plus typically sealed designs work better for music:
http://reaction-audio.myshopify.com/collections/subwoofers/products/gamma-15?variant=1107629493

 

[mtrycrafts]

Welcome.

What is the chance that you can wall off that basement and place a door on that wall?

Don't rush into buying things, no expiration dates
Think of the whole project, the final destination or you will be replacing gear barely started in their lifespan. What is the time span for final destination, this year, or sometime in the future?

Sound leakage to other parts of house a concern?

$1500 is not a lot, may want to consider saving more?

Plan, plan and plane some more.

 

[Fritzie]

AA are great choice indeed, almost anything would do for surround duty, including 301's
for AVR.

I like the price of the AVR-x1000 and I'm ok buying factory refurbished. Do you think that the 80W is enough for an area this big?

Now about sub:
the problem with subs is they don't give a damn about what you define as a room without a 4th wall, but "see" (or attempt to pressurize) entire open space
PB2000 might not be strong enough to pull it.
I recommend this - as much more powerful sub, plus typically sealed designs work better for music.

This is a more expensive sub than I had planned on but is a possibility if I can save on the receiver. Will it be enough to fill this space?

Thanks for the reply mtrycrafts, $1500 is going to be it for now. I've been searching and planning for a long time but with 2 kids in college my budget is quite limited! And no chance on partitioning off the room as the space is a combination rec room and home theatre. Not ideal I know, but it's what I have!

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

What's the total cu ft?

 

[Fritzie]

What's the total cu ft?

~ 4,600 cf total.

What's your opinion of the Denon AVR-X1100? I realize it's 7.2 but it's the same price as the X1000 and you get Bluetooth and WiFi. Any drawbacks running a 5.1 system through a 7.2 receiver?

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

No drawbacks 7.2 vs 5.1. I'm too sleepy now to compare these two, but more than likely the difference would be marginal if any at all (besides addes features). Don't over think watts. Most of the time you'd be using only a handful anyways and to gain big advantage you'd need to double them

~ 4,600 cf total.

Ha, that's not that much. Above mention sub should go great.
I was thinking over 7000 cf

 

[zieglj01]

This is a more expensive sub than I had planned on but is a possibility if I can save on the receiver. Will it be enough to fill this space?

$1500 is going to be it for now. I've been searching and planning for a long time but with 2 kids in college my budget is quite limited! And no chance on partitioning off the room as the space is a combination rec room and home theatre. Not ideal I know, but it's what I have!

I would aim higher than the SVS PB-1000 sub. Buy the best sub that
you can afford on your budget - it will not be the end of the world, if
you do not get the IMAX experience level at this time > You can still
have a nice and enjoyable time, with some of the nice subs out there.

 

[afterlife2]

Welcome!
Dennis Murphy Pioneer towers and center speaker(I have the towers and well worth it!)
BSA great suggestion for that room size - Gamma 15 sub(call them they may give you a discount, hey you never know) or PSA s1500: http://www.powersoundaudio.com/collections/subwoofers/products/s1500
YAMAHA RX-A730 AVENTAGE 7.2 AV Receiver Airplay:
http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/yamrxa730bl/yamaha-rx-a730-aventage-7.2-av-receiver-airplay/1.html

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

~ 4,600 cf total.

What's your opinion of the Denon AVR-X1100? I realize it's 7.2 but it's the same price as the X1000 and you get Bluetooth and WiFi. Any drawbacks running a 5.1 system through a 7.2 receiver?

Or get the X3000 (MSRP $1,000) for $598.

http://www.amazon.com/Denon-AVR-X3000-7-2-Channel-Discontinued-Manufacturer/dp/B00CALM12W/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1428328447&sr=8-2&keywords=denon+avr

Or get the X2100 (MSRP $700) for $400.

http://www.amazon.com/Denon-AVR-X2100W-Bluetooth-Discontinued-Manufacturer/dp/B00KLC5YPS/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1428328531&sr=8-3&keywords=denon+avr

Or the S900 (MSRP $650) for $379.

http://www.amazon.com/Denon-AVR-S900W-7-2-Channel-Receiver-Bluetooth/dp/B00EXTVPOE/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1428328639&sr=8-11&keywords=denon+avr

 

[banumyname]

Hello All, I am also a newbie I thought of asking my question here instead of starting a new thread.I am trying to find a 5.1 for the same budget. my room is also similar specs as he mentioned, 18*14*8, seating at 15'. I was thinking of kef T 105 series. I already own as Kef five two 11 series. I think the sound was clean on those. thanks in advance.

 

[SurvivalDad]

The X2100 is the way to go for the money. IMO. It can handle what ever you are going to be able to throw at it for your space.

 

[Fritzie]

Thank you all for your help.

Here's what I'm thinking: Denon AVR-X1100W, AA Towers and Center Channel Speaker, Gamma 15. Totals up to $1475 which leaves me a couple bucks for wire, etc.

Still in budget! However I am tempted by the X2100W but it's $100 more....not a lot, but isn't that why we have budgets? HaHa.

Would love to hear more opinions on these choices!

 

[afterlife2]

Depend on what you need on a receiver? More power or more features? The Yamaha has more power than the 1100(4k though). Get your wires here: www.Monoprice.com

 

[zieglj01]

Thank you all for your help.

Here's what I'm thinking: Denon AVR-X1100W, AA Towers and Center Channel Speaker, Gamma 15. Totals up to $1475 which leaves me a couple bucks for wire, etc.

Still in budget! However I am tempted by the X2100W but it's $100 more....not a lot, but isn't that why we have budgets? HaHa.

Would love to hear more opinions on these choices!

Looking nice!

 

[Fritzie]

Depend on what you need on a receiver? More power or more features? The Yamaha has more power than the 1100(4k though). Get your wires here.

Do you think that the 105W vs. 80W will be noticeable? Another poster said that wattage wasn't that critical and that it would take a significant increase (100%) to really hear the difference.
I really like the Bluetooth and WiFi features but I see that modules can be added to the Yamaha.

 

[afterlife2]

Depends how loud you play. If the 2100 is ideal for you get it. You don't want to be sorry if you didn't + it has more power than the 1100.
Look $50 less: http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/denavrx2100w/denon-avr-x2100w-7.2-receiver-with-wi-fi-bluetooth-airplay/1.html

 

[Fritzie]

Depends how loud you play. If the 2100 is ideal for you get it. You don't want to be sorry if you didn't + it has more power than the 1100.
Look $50 less: http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/denavrx2100w/denon-avr-x2100w-7.2-receiver-with-wi-fi-bluetooth-airplay/1.html

Well I love loud. The 2100 is still $100 more than the 1100...hate to sound cheap but I am really trying to stick to the budget.

Here's a new question...if you guys were going to spend a little more than you planned would you spend it on wattage or speakers? My gut says better speakers would make more if a difference than an extra 15 watts?

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

I agree speakers are much more important than extra 15w on amp

 

[tyhjaarpa]

Well I love loud. The 2100 is still $100 more than the 1100...hate to sound cheap but I am really trying to stick to the budget.

Here's a new question...if you guys were going to spend a little more than you planned would you spend it on wattage or speakers? My gut says better speakers would make more if a difference than an extra 15 watts?

Speakers for sure. Tho speakers you have are good for budget. How ever if you need some features from amp that costs more then it is worth the upgrade there.