Help with making a 5.1 system

[Martiad3]

I've been browsing through these forums a lot, and I just can't find quite what I'm looking for, so I'm posting and asking for help.

I'm currently researching putting together a home theater system, based around the 2006 Sony 50 or 55 inch A2000 SXRD, with a Denon AVR-1906 as the AV receiver. Because of the price on the TV, I'm having a little trouble finding a set of speakers and a sub for my budget: around $1000, preferably under.

I'm really uncertain as to the composition of the system, whether it should be 4 satellites, a center, and a sub (like a slightly modified version of the Audioholics recommended $5k AV system, minus a set of M2i surrounds), or 2 floorstanding with 2 surrounds a center and a sub, or any combination thereof. Like I said, I'm pretty lost when it comes to the audio aspect of the system.

Also, while I really like the Denon AVR-1906, if there is another good receiver for the same amount of money (around $350 online), I'm open for suggestions.

Last question (for now ), what is generally the best way for connecting audio to the receiver: digital optical, or coaxial?

I thank you all for any input you have on this problem of mine, and apologize if the exact thing has been asked before (I just couldn't find it if it was).

-Don

**edit** I don't need wall rattling bass, I have apartment neighbors I need to keep happy so they don't kick me out!

 

[mazersteven]

I've been browsing through these forums a lot, and I just can't find quite what I'm looking for, so I'm posting and asking for help.

I'm currently researching putting together a home theater system, based around the 2006 Sony 50 or 55 inch A2000 SXRD, with a Denon AVR-1906 as the AV receiver. Because of the price on the TV, I'm having a little trouble finding a set of speakers and a sub for my budget: around $1000, preferably under.

QUOTE]

This is an easy recommendation. Perfect fix for what your looking for.

SBS-01 5.1 Set with PB10-NSD $999

http://www.svsound.com/products-sys-sbs.cfm

 

[Nick250]

IMO your receiver choice is fine. About speakers. I have two plans to suggest. Plan one: take your $1k and build around a good set of front speakers. First buy the best pair (two speakers, not four or five) book shelf speakers you can find for ~ $1k. This will mean auditioning as many speakers as you can find for your $1k. Others here will suggest speakers that you buy online. That's fine too.

Next, save up until you have about $600 for a sub and get that. Next save up until you can get the matching center. Next get your surrounds when you have the dough. Plan one will provide you with the highest quality system put together over time. If your system is primarily for music this is the way I would go.

Plan two. Buy a $1k all in one system like the one MazerSteven suggested and be done with it. If your system is mainly for movies, this should serve you well.

I do disagree with MazerSteven about floor standers. I think you should get book shelf speaks. With a good sub they will equal the floor standers, cost less and perhaps sound a bit better. My opinion, others may disagree.

Nick

 

[Maximo]

Would you be willing to invest the full $1000 in the speakers and wait on the sub. The sub may end up being the most expensive speaker in your set up. If the $1000 needs to include the entires setup, I have a few ideas, but you'd be much happier in the long run adding it at a later date.

 

[Martiad3]

Maximo,

I would be willing to invest it all in speakers. It might actually be a slightly better idea because of the neighbors in the adjacent apartments. I'm assuming I'd still get decent bass out of speakers.

One thing I did forget to mention is that this is primarily for movies and TV viewing. Music isn't a priority, though I do listen sometimes (roughly 10% of the time).

From my first post: any idea on the best connection from a source to the receiver just for audio? Digital optical or coaxial?

Thanks for the help.

 

[Nick250]

From my first post: any idea on the best connection from a source to the receiver just for audio? Digital optical or coaxial?

They both work equally well with no difference in the sound between the two. The optical is a bit more fragile.

Nick

 

[JAD2]

http://cgi.ebay.com/New-Polk-RTi4-Black-2-way-Bookshelf-Speakers-PAIR_W0QQitemZ9743035068QQihZ008QQcategoryZ71572QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/New-Polk-Audio-CSi3-Home-Center-Channel-Speaker-Black_W0QQitemZ9740546819QQcategoryZ14992QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Then if you want a sub, this will blow away the SVS system and compete toe to toe with most anything out there!!!

I can vouch for the vendor, purchased from him myself, I did!!!

SVS make make a good sub, but beyond that I wasnt impressed!!

 

[Martiad3]

http://cgi.ebay.com/New-Polk-RTi4-Black-2-way-Bookshelf-Speakers-PAIR_W0QQitemZ9743035068QQihZ008QQcategoryZ71572QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/New-Polk-Audio-CSi3-Home-Center-Channel-Speaker-Black_W0QQitemZ9740546819QQcategoryZ14992QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Then if you want a sub, this will blow away the SVS system and compete toe to toe with most anything out there!!!

I can vouch for the vendor, purchased from him myself, I did!!!

SVS make make a good sub, but beyond that I wasnt impressed!!

So 2 pair of the RTi4's and a CSi3 is what you'd reccommend?

 

[JAD2]

Yes sir if you want Audiophile type speakers.

When I went looking with a budget I listened to pretty much everything out there on the market from BB and CC along with the 4 or so high end shops in town.
For the price I couldnt find anything that compared to the Polks.
I ended up with R series Polks which to me were the best overall deal I ever have listened to. I paid $75 shipped for a set of R-15's and $180 for a set of R-30's. I got the CSi1 center for another $125 and built my own sub for another $125. So for just over $500 I got the whole thing which these compare fairly close to my old Advents, just lacking lows but today Subs make up for that.
The RTi4's for the price of just over $300 to me beat everything in this one shop here locally that had all kinds of bookshelves running up to $800 a pair around the same size. Reviews you can search through google also state how well the RTi's sounded and at these EBay prices you wont find anything it will compare too dollar to dollar.
I didnt go with the RTi's for price reasons only. Yeah they were better than the R's, but not at over double the rate they costed. The RTi's were refined a 'bit' more which to me beat all sub $800 sets I looked at which I wont mention names. I could barely hear the difference, but it was there which tells me 10-15% better sounding tops, but my ear liked the R's also.

 

[WorldLeader]

Though I've never heard them, Ascend is quietly becoming know for making really good speakers for low prices. Do some searches on this site for them and you will get a good idea of how they are perceived.

HSU and SVS make good subs at the $500-$700 price point.

 

[Martiad3]

Thanks a lot for the help. So far the Polks seem the best fit for my price range and for what my receiver can handle. I've still got a couple months before this all comes together, so I'm gonna keep trying to educate myself on the audio side of things.

At least now I've got a reference point to go to.

Thanks again!

 

[billy p]

My 2 cents in the $500.00 or less range if you like the polk line then did you listen to the athena b2's I would put them up against the polks.Just my opion not to many speakers rival them in thir price class.
Ps: If I was starting from scartch I'd bult from the main's on out like NICK250 SUGGESTED!!

 

[jcPanny]

Onix X-LS

Also check out and read the review on the Onix X-LS speakers from av123.com. At $200/pair they are a great option in your budget. Also, read the budget speaker shootout, Axiom and Klipsch reference came out on top.

 

[Martiad3]

Billy, I checked out those Athenas and they did look very nice for their price, I'll have to keep them on my list.

JC: the Axioms look good too, but I just wouldnt be able to get the full use out of them with the receiver I want; but even with a discount, I couldn't get the 5.1 system under $1000.

Thanks for the help guys, and I've got a new question:

The idea of building around a good set of mains has grown on me. Given around $1250, what good pair of floorstanding speakers and a good receiver would you reccommend?

 

[JAD2]

If your going to use a sub woofer, IMO a set of floor speaker whom range should get below 50 hz is kinda somewhat a waste. Your gonna use the sub to crossover in the 60-80 hz range and you want speaker that are witin that range otherwise if they go lower you've spent money on something you wont use.
Now if your like me and use the sub only for movies to give effect, than floors are the ticket. To me a sub adds to fake a depth to the type of music I listen to. Now my boy and his "music", well thats a different story, he sets everything to large and trys to pound the walls down.
You really do need to get out and listen to alot of the suggested speakers people have come up with, because each likes tones done a certain way. When you do, take your favorite CD's and a movie with you. Someone had mentioned the Athena's and in my personal tastes it could not replicate good voices and upper ends. Mids were good, but lacked detailed highs and he may say the same kinda thing for the Polks. The only place I found Athena's locally was Target of all places.
Another thing you could do and I toyed with the idea, is build your own or at-least assemble them. Now we have a place locally thats called The Speaker Place. It carries Morels and Peerless along with a host of other branded drivers. Talking to the owner I was surprised at how many of these highly regarded brand names went to like these places and bought there drivers and assembled speakers at a very high markup price. There are alot of high regarded names out there that dont make any of there drivers, which was something I did not now.
So online you could hit up Parts express which is what I used to get my driver for the sub. Locally I picked up the box and amp from the other place, but he had keyed me onto a good sub that CC carried, highly regarded one that uses a Dayton driver. He didnt carry the Dayton lines, but gave me the driver number and got it from ************.com. Just another idea!!!!

 

[billy p]

Like JAD2 said it's up to your ears to tell the truth! One last point, I said this to another member the other day about budget 1/3 on AVR and 2/3 on speakers equal a nice set up.
GOOD LUCK: BILLY P

 

[Martiad3]

Thanks again, guys. I'll be keeping my ears open while I make my decision!