(EDIT) If the below is Too Long to Read then don't. Just tell me what you would do with $1200 when I have a pair of Onix Reference 1.5's and a NAD 320 bee stereo integrated. I want to move towards home theatre, however music is most important to me.
Hello,
Just joined the forums. Everyone here seems very helpful.
Down to business. I'm pretty retarded when it comes to audio/video stuff and so if I seem a little slow appologies in advance.
A few years back I bought a set of Onix Reference 1.5s and a NAD 320bee stereo integrated. Nevermind sources for now. I moved out of my dads place shortly after that and haven't really listened to that system in a while, but I loved it except that it always seemed like the Ref 1.5's wanted more power than the NAD wanted to give. I'm a big boy now, just bought a condo and while i'm renovating the place currently I'm looking to set up a home theatre... (well three channel and a sub for now) and use the NAD for a separate stereo system.
My first question is if anyone thinks the NAD 320bee doesn't have enough power to make the Ref 1.5 shine in stereo. It might have been me, but i often thought it didn't or that the sound was too sterile or something. The detail was always there it seemed, but maybe not so much warmth. Then again that might be the Ref 1.5s themselves that seemed sterile. I dunno I got a great deal on them and didn't get to audition.
So these are the two main components I have: NAD 320BEE and ONIX REF 1.5's. Now I'll tell you what I'm looking for, my budget and i'd love to hear all your opinions.
I want to make 5.1 possible in time, but I don't mind waiting on the surrounds if it's outside my budget for now. Music is the most important to me as of right now, but I've never spent much time with a 5.1 setup for movies/games. However, I Just ordered a 50inch panasonic plasma. Problem is, the best place to mount this sucker is over my fireplace... However, it could be arranged differently and i'm going to try to put it on a wall where it can be viewed eye level and so I can have a center channel underneath without making my TV even higher!
Budget is $1200 for now but can add on more later.
Theres a Onix REF 100 center channel on audiogon right now for $355 which matches my REF 1.5s and those 3 could make my fronts to my home theatre. There is this reciever the Onkyo HT-RC260 (i'd link it but it's my first post... won't let me) which looks like it has enough power (I hope) and features I like for $275. Then I'd need a sub which I haven't looked into at all.
I also need to think about if I can't work the TV on a different wall then above the fireplace I think that the Onix REF 100 center channel below the TV sitting on the mantel might make the TV intolerably high. But I don't know. If you think it is I was thinking about something like the Energy Micro's 5.1 at $399 and do something else with the components I have.
This would leave me with the NAD 320 BEE to use in a stereo setup. I'd sort of like bookshelves or at least something I can place off the ground with this stereo setup as it will be in my basement and I have a slight fear of the basement flooding a few inches as it seems there is a few water lines. I had a guy snake the pipe but before i place any expensive speakers down there I'd like to live there a year.
Given my components and situation, what do you think? Give me your opinion.
