Home theater options- Budget $1000

[VikramNeranki]

Hi All,

I’m looking for home theater options for a budget of $1000. I’m more or less convinced that I would be going with SVS PB1000 or SB1000 subwoofer ($500) . But yet to decide between the two.
What are my options for surround, center channel and tower speakers?
Also which one do you suggest between PB1000 and SB1000? I have decent acoustics.

 

[shadyJ]

What is included in this budget? AVR as well as speakers? Because if so, I would not budget a $500 sub into a $1000 system. It would make for a lop-sided system.

 

[VikramNeranki]

What is included in this budget? AVR as well as speakers? Because if so, I would not budget a $500 sub into a $1000 system. It would make for a lop-sided system.

Thanks for the reply. Yes my budget is including the sub woofers. From what I have heard/read so far, we get bang for the buck by investing more on the sub woofers with a low budget like mine.... But would love to hear other perspectives.

 

[JerryLove]

You are budgeting for speakers and sub. Anything else that needs including? AVR? Source? TV?

 

[VikramNeranki]

You are budgeting for speakers and sub. Anything else that needs including? AVR? Source? TV?

I am looking only for speakers and sub at the moment. I have AVR, source and TV already.

 

[yepimonfire]

$500 for speakers isn't a lot. How big is your room?

Sent from my moto e5 play using Tapatalk

 

[VikramNeranki]

$500 for speakers isn't a lot. How big is your room?

Sent from my moto e5 play using Tapatalk

The room is roughly 30’*15’ in dimension

 

[shadyJ]

I am looking only for speakers and sub at the moment. I have AVR, source and TV already.

Between the SB1000 and PB1000, go for the PB1000. The SB1000 should only be considered when floor space is at a premium. The Monoprice Monolith 10" THX and Hsu VTF-1 mk3 are also great alternatives here.

However, that does not leave so much room for speakers. But I think it is still doable. Here is a system that gives you very nice front stage speakers and a OK surround speakers: get some RSL CG3s for front left/right and a CG23 for the center. For the surround speakers, use some Monoprice MP-65RTs, or Dayton B452-AIRs, or Polk T15s. I think such a system would sound very nice.

Another option that would be good would be an all Dayton MK442 setup, if it can be arranged. The Dayton MK442 is a great cheap speaker. You could do a 7 channel system of just those and it would be very good for the money- plus it would leave you more money for an even better subwoofer. Check out a Hsu VTF-2 mk5 for something that is more powerful than any of the 10" woofer subs mentioned above. The Outlaw Ultra-X12 is also a very powerful sub, somewhat more expensive, but looks nicer.

 

[JerryLove]

The room is roughly 30’*15’ in dimension

How far is your listening position from where you expect to put the speakers?

 

[JerryLove]

get some RSL CG3s for front left/right and a CG23 for the center. For the surround speakers, use some Monoprice MP-65RTs, or Dayton B452-AIRs, or Polk T15s. I think such a system would sound very nice.

Another option that would be good would be an all Dayton MK442 setup, if it can be arranged. The Dayton MK442 is a great cheap speaker.

My worry would be (undistorted) SPL. His room is 15'x30'.

The RSL's you listed, for example, is 87 db SPL @ 1 watt, 1 meter distance. If he's at ~4m, that's a peak (and I worry about quality at peak) of 95db.

I mean: 95db is pretty darn loud; but it's below what I'm used to aiming for peak performance for a given listening position; and I'm worried about those speakers in that room.

 

[Verdinut]

It would take only 60 watts to get 95 dB at a distance of 14 feet, so the speakers can handle that kind of power.

 

[JerryLove]

It would take only 60 watts to get 95 dB at a distance of 14 feet, so the speakers can handle that kind of power.

How does that math work? 14' is just over 4m.

So 1w@1m = 87db
Double the distance: 1w@2m = 81db
Double again: 1w@4m = 75db
Multiply the power by 10x 10w@4m = 85db
Multiply that by 10x: 100w@4m = 95db

And that's slightly less than 14ft while he may actually be farther back than 14ft (we don't know his listening position yet)

Where did you get your "60w" from?

 

[shadyJ]

My worry would be (undistorted) SPL. His room is 15'x30'.

The RSL's you listed, for example, is 87 db SPL @ 1 watt, 1 meter distance. If he's at ~4m, that's a peak (and I worry about quality at peak) of 95db.

I mean: 95db is pretty darn loud; but it's below what I'm used to aiming for peak performance for a given listening position; and I'm worried about those speakers in that room.

He just doesn't the budget for a surround sound system with a really wide dynamic range. He might be able to get a 2.0 system that can handle a 4m listening distance, but 4m is somewhat far back.

 

[snakeeyes]

That budget makes me think of the used market. Lots of people upgrade constantly so deals on used gear gets you a lot more in that tight budget. Otherwise double that budget or a bit more. You will get the equivalent of IKEA if you force it into that budget. (All parts eventually would be upgraded is my guess and that $1,000 is wasted)

 

[JerryLove]

He just doesn't the budget for a surround sound system with a really wide dynamic range. He might be able to get a 2.0 system that can handle a 4m listening distance, but 4m is somewhat far back.

94db: https://www.klipsch.com/products/reference-theater-pack

With 200w peak handling, that would be 108db peaks @ 4m

 

[JerryLove]

That budget makes me think of the used market. Lots of people upgrade constantly so deals on used gear gets you a lot more in that tight budget. Otherwise double that budget or a bit more. You will get the equivalent of IKEA if you force it into that budget. (All parts eventually would be upgraded is my guess and that $1,000 is wasted)

I agree. The used market offers some real advantages here.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

Large room, tiny budget and I don't know but guessing lower end avr = total sum - this calls for highly dynamic and good sounding 3.0 with expansion as budget allows.
My 2c is http://www.ascendacoustics.com/pages/products/speakers/cmt340m/cmt340m.html and a matching center. In this room, you'd need to spend least $1000 for sub alone to get good bass.

 

[shadyJ]

94db: https://www.klipsch.com/products/reference-theater-pack

With 200w peak handling, that would be 108db peaks @ 4m

Lol, 94dB with 200w peak power handling is wildly optimistic for a design like that. I guarantee you that speaker set has nowhere near those kind of specs.

 

[zieglj01]

HSU Vtf-2 sub
http://www.hsuresearch.com/products/vtf-2mk5.html

3 each Boston A26 bookshelf speakers for the front 3 channels -- on special
https://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/bosa26gba/boston-acoustics-a26-6.5-2-way-bookshelf-speaker-gloss-black-each/1.html

2 each Boston SoundWare for surrounds -- on special
https://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/bossoundwareblka/boston-acoustics-soundware-4.5-speaker-atmos-dts-x-on-wall-speaker-black-each/1.html

This puts you around $1000

 

[VikramNeranki]

My seating position would be approximately 12 feet from the TV