First system, recommendations please (Polk and HSU)

[hotmessengerix]

I am putting my first audio system together. Decided going against a HTiB cause they sounded pretty muddled from what I heard. I have a budget of $1000. I have decided to go with just the two main speaker towers in the front (my display is a 58" plasma) and a sub in the back. Please suggest if I can do better than below

2 polk monitor 60
1 HSU STF-2
Onkyo 605 amp

Of course, this does overshoot my budget by around 150. But Iam thinking the system will be worth it Please advise if I can do better than this in any way. Are the polks too bright (my requirement is 60% music and the rest movies). Also, i want to ensure that my sound will definitely sound better than a out of the box HTiB like the onkyo SR800 for example. Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

[mazersteven]

IMO you can do a lot better then those Polks.

What is your speaker budget?

 

[hotmessengerix]

IMO you can do a lot better then those Polks.

What is your speaker budget?

Keeping 400 for the amp. Rest is for the speakers. I guess the STF-2 comes at around 350. That leaves me with around 250 for the front speakers. I guess, i can go around 100 over budget. Hopefully, shipping doesnt kill me. My basement where I intend to put this system is around 14' by 21'.

 

[mazersteven]

Just a little more gets you these

http://av123.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=245&category_id=16&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=37

I would hold out for now on the sub to get better mains. Use those funds. JMO

 

[mazersteven]

PSB Image T45 Tower

Click on "Deals"

www.saturdayaudio.com

 

[hotmessengerix]

Thank you. That looks good. But unfortunately, I live in NJ. This is only a in-store deal. Cannot buy it on the net. Regarding av123 open box items, the description of the damages scare me. Probably pure psychological, but I would rather have a defect free set to start with. In terms of sub, I am willing to compromise and get a starter sub instead of the HSU. In terms of mains, I have decided to up my budget 500. Any other options that you feel that I might have.

 

[rnatalli]

In terms of sub, I am willing to compromise and get a starter sub instead of the HSU.

I wouldn't compromise your sub! You will regret it later. Can you wait and save a little more?

 

[hotmessengerix]

I wouldn't compromise your sub! You will regret it later. Can you wait and save a little more?

Thats hard. I really need to do something with my basement and get a party going in a couple of weeks (something special ). Lets say I keep the HSU STF-2 as my sub and onkyo 605 for the amp. Whats my best bet for a pair of mains within 500. I will be happy as long as I get clear crisp sound that beats a "run of the mill" HTiB. When I have the money, I will push these to the rear and get something better. Please please help.

 

[furrycute]

I think either Circuity City or Amazon is having a closeout sale on the Polk Monitor series or the RTi series (read it on some bargain hunting sites). Check those 2 places out. The discount is apparently very steep.

 

[hotmessengerix]

Thanks. That was my initial query. I was set on Monitor 70. But based on what I read about polks in general, many seem to think that they are bright. Even in this thread, mazersteven advised that I could do better than the polks. Hence the apprehension to go for them. A bit confused now

 

[calnbs]

Based on my research, two great budget speakers are Elemental Design and BIC America: Acoustech or Venturi.

Check their owner's thread:

Bic:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=990726

http://www.bicamerica.com/

eD:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=924325&highlight=eD
http://www.edesignaudio.com/index.php?cPath=2_42

 

[hotmessengerix]

Based on my research, two great budget speakers are Elemental Design and BIC America: Acoustech or Venturi.

Check their owner's thread:

Bic:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=990726

http://www.bicamerica.com/

eD:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=924325&highlight=eD
http://www.edesignaudio.com/index.php?cPath=2_42

Thank you. Will look at both these options. If anyone else has some other options. Please let me know.

 

[hotmessengerix]

I found two speakers that I can probably stretch to - Acoustech HT-88 (available at Overstock at 550/pair) and BIC America Venturi DV84 (available at Buy.com for 360/pair). Any suggestions between the two ? Is the Acoustech HT-88 a "warm" speaker?


(Iam still going with the HSU STF-2 and Onkyo 605)

Almost ready to pull the trigger as soon as I get some direction on this.

 

[Midcow2]

Here are my thoughts

Thanks. That was my initial query. I was set on Monitor 70. But based on what I read about polks in general, many seem to think that they are bright. Even in this thread, mazersteven advised that I could do better than the polks. Hence the apprehension to go for them. A bit confused now

The speakers will make the most difference in your sound. You can allways add a sub later; the Hsu you have chosen is a good sub. The EMP system below comes with a sub.

You might want to consider the Audioholics EMP speaker systems which are supposed to be pretty good and are on sale right now. They have a EMP ECA 5.1 system regualr $1499 on sale for $729.99
http://store.audioholics.com/product/1837/17/emp-eca-5-1-speaker-system---black

If you could swing a little more the EMP EF50T 7.1 speaker sytem regular $2254 on sale for $1099 would start you with a really awesome systme.
http://store.audioholics.com/product/1833/17/emp-ef50t-7-1-speaker-system


Also as far as an AVR, an excellent one to start with is a Yamaha RX-V663 $499 or an Onkyo TX-SR605 $499 or Marantz SR4002 $549.

That would make you total cost in the range of $1100-$1600 and you would have an excellent system. Again the speakers arem ost important; you could spend less on a AVR but you would only save an additional $200 or tops $300 and would probably want to upgrade sooner than you might want too!

Good Luck.

There are many other options but a good pair of tower speakers and a reasonable AVR are the minimum places to start.

 

[hotmessengerix]

Thanks. I could not find many many reviews for EMP outside of audioholics. Are they an established brand? Moreover, I prefer the towers to the small bookshelf. I think Iam almost convinced with the below

Acoustech HT-88 mains
HS-100 sub (just saving some bucks instead of going with the HSU STF-2)
Onkyo 605

Will wait till tomorrow to see if I get any more suggestions and then pull the trigger.

Thanks everyone.

 

[calnbs]

hotmessengerix,

The best review I can say up to date about the Acoustech is the one I linked to you at avsforum.com. It is recent and most extensive. BICs been around for quite some time so they are not an overnight company. BICs built the Acoustech to compete against Klipsch. They are horn tweeters and so they are very efficient speakers. From my research, most owners feel that despite being horn tweeters, it's not as harsh as Klipsch's. Acoustech was design for Home Theater use but still sound very good for music.

The Venturi are BIC's older model. Some prefer the Venturi over Acoustech as far as music goes. There are also a few reviews here at audioholics.com, you just have to do a search.

People have different taste so it's really hard to so this is the ONE or this isn't the ONE. These reviews and suggestions are just opinions trying to point you towards a direction. Feel free to jump on the avsforum's Acoustech thread and ask any questions....I find them very helpful and seems they are quite active in responding back.

Acoustech for the longest time was the choice I wanted to go with but eventually increased my budget and headed another direction. From my readings, Acoustech's strong points was that they are a great bang for the buck speakers, especially their center and sub.

 

[Midcow2]

Emp

Thanks. I could not find many many reviews for EMP outside of audioholics. Are they an established brand? Moreover, I prefer the towers to the small bookshelf. I think Iam almost convinced with the below

Acoustech HT-88 mains
HS-100 sub (just saving some bucks instead of going with the HSU STF-2)
Onkyo 605

Will wait till tomorrow to see if I get any more suggestions and then pull the trigger.

Thanks everyone.

As I understand it they are an online version of RBH which is a pretty good speaker company. They are a newly formed online outlet through Audioholics.
Look at http://www.rbhsound.com/

I just checked the Acoustech HT-88 mains are very efficient (98 dB) which mean they will sound loud with very little power. Could really find a review on them though.

The Onkyo 605 is a very good AVR.

I am not sure what the HS-100 sub is? If you buy a cheap sub you will regret it. I would stick with you original choice: Hsu STF-2 ($349) or SVS PB10-NSD ($429). If this is too much $$, you would be better off to get a sub later.

 

[hotmessengerix]

As I understand it they are an online version of RBH which is a pretty good speaker company. They are a newly formed online outlet through Audioholics.
Look at http://www.rbhsound.com/

I just checked the Acoustech HT-88 mains are very efficient (98 dB) which mean they will sound loud with very little power. Could really find a review on them though.

The Onkyo 605 is a very good AVR.

I am not sure what the HS-100 sub is? If you buy a cheap sub you will regret it. I would stick with you original choice: Hsu STF-2 ($349) or SVS PB10-NSD ($429). If this is too much $$, you would be better off to get a sub later.

Thanks midcow2. Actually I meant the Acoustech H-100 sub (not HS-100). Now that you mention, I might actually go with HSU STF-2. But I have heard some good things about HS-100 too. Apart from the x-sub (av123) and HSU, they seem to be the other good sub that folks swear by.

 

[jcPanny]

Bookshelf speakers

AV123 is risk free on their bookshelf speakers and Aperion offers the same for all their models. AV123, SVS, Ascend, and Aperion all have some good options in the $300/pair range. I recently added the AV123 ELT525 speakers to my system for the surround channels. They are a compact monitor that sound good and look great, especially for $300/pair. For $4-500/pair you have some higher end options including the entry level Usher bookshelf speakers.

I started my system with a nice pair of bookshelf speakers, the Onix Ref 1's for about $500 used and gradually added an SVS sub, Ref 100 center, ELT525 surrounds, and an Emotiva amp.

SVS and HSU are good options for the sub.

If you are spending $400 for bookshelf speaker and $400 for the sub + shipping, you could buy the EMP floorstander 5.1 system that is onsale for $900 shipped.

 

[stevos2005]

I would seriously give the B&W 686 speakers a listen.