How do you think I did?

[funked up]

I recently put together my first home theater system and didn't want to break the bank while I did it. This is what I got for all together about 800 bucks. Reciever-Sony STR-DG 510, Center Channel-Infinity Primus C25, Main speakers-Sony SSF-7000, Surrounds-Sony SSB-1000, Subwoofer- Velodyne VX-10, Line Conditioner-Monster HTS 1000 stage 2, subwoofer cable-monster 600 series, speaker cable 14AWG proffesional speaker wire from local stereo shop. The only thing I don't like about the system is that my mains don't match the center channel, but I already had the center channel(great deal on ebay) and the speakers that matched that were out of my price range. I pieced this all together from ebay and sales on various websites. So I'm just throwing this out there to see of how people think i did for the amount of money I spent. Overall I'm pretty happy with it. One day i'll have the system that i really want, but that will have to wait until I'm more than just a year out of college. I didn't include the price of my sony tv and dvd player as I already owned those. Thanks - feel free to point out where you think I may have gone wrong.

 

[flippo]

Something better and cheaper

The following link is to something that would blow away what you got. Not trying to be mean but think this is a much better system.

http://www.tsto.com/cgi-bin/TSTO.storefront/474de6030082e9f42740ac1003410609/Product/View/2632

Others please comment. I would change your mind if I were you.

Denon make good receivers and Mirage is a very good speaker company that is much better than Sony

 

[ParadigmDawg]

He has already bought all this and he probably cant return it if he bought it on ebay and various other used places.

To the OP,

If the system sounds good to you and you think you got good deals then that's all that matters. Enjoy it, it is a fun hobby!

The following link is to something that would blow away what you got. Not trying to be mean but think this is a much better system.

http://www.tsto.com/cgi-bin/TSTO.storefront/474de6030082e9f42740ac1003410609/Product/View/2632

Others please comment. I would change your mind if I were you.

Denon make good receivers and Mirage is a very good speaker company that is much better than Sony

 

[j_garcia]

At the $800 price point, I probably would have left out the line conditioner. Other than that it sounds like you did good for what you spent. I wouldn't have gone Sony for the receiver, but that's just me.

 

[Alex2507]

I looked at your other thread and just did a quick search for some Primus 250 floorstanding speakers which are a match for the C25. I came up with nothing but they are out there. I'm sure that if you keep looking they will turn up for around $250. Then you could have a 7.1 system with the front all matched. As a matter of fact I have a pair. I'm not sure that I want to sell them but am positive that I don't want to ship them. Where are you located? Maybe you want to sell your C25. The possibilities are endless.

 

[j_garcia]

The current Priumus line is on sale at Crutchfield. I don't think they changed much, so they will likely be a close enough timbre match.

 

[Alex2507]

The current Priumus line is on sale at Crutchfield. I don't think they changed much, so they will likely be a close enough timbre match.

Agreed. The trick though is to not pay full price. Mine were $200 for the pair. 50% off a few years back at COMP USA. The OP was talking about $500. There's no need for all that spending to get some 250's.

 

[funked up]

At the $800 price point, I probably would have left out the line conditioner. Other than that it sounds like you did good for what you spent. I wouldn't have gone Sony for the receiver, but that's just me.

Yeah I was a bit sceptacle about the sony reciever also after doing some research online, but my parents have a very similiar one, and I was happy with the way that sounded(I wouldn't quite consider myself a audiophile yet). And i found this one on a pretty good deal online. But I am curious as to what everything would sound like with a better reciever. On the other hand i've read allot of things that say lean towards spending your money on speakers and not the reciever so thats what i went for. Thanks to everybody for your input. As for the primus 250's, the sony ssf7000 are a much larger speaker and i like to listen to just music allot, which doesn't even envolve the center channel, so i figure having the bigger speakers for that would be better. Maybe not, but that was my thinking anyways.

 

[funked up]

The following link is to something that would blow away what you got. Not trying to be mean but think this is a much better system.



Others please comment. I would change your mind if I were you.

Denon make good receivers and Mirage is a very good speaker company that is much better than Sony

I clicked on your link but didn't see anything that was a 5.1 system with reciever for anything close to 800 bucks, and as far as my budget goes even the 800 bucks was pushing it.

reply to later post - the line conditioner was a hard choice for me to go with, but i wanted a good surge protecter and was intriuged by line conditioning, i would of never paid full price for it, found it on ebay for what i though was a good deal 75bucks. I didn't notice a big change in the highs and mids, maybe a little cleaere, but it seemed to have a good effect on the subwoofer, bass seems tighter and more defined. Oh and by the way, none of the things I bought were used or refurbished, all brand new.

 

[Davemcc]

Yeah I was a bit sceptacle about the sony reciever also after doing some research online, but my parents have a very similiar one, and I was happy with the way that sounded(I wouldn't quite consider myself a audiophile yet). And i found this one on a pretty good deal online. But I am curious as to what everything would sound like with a better reciever. On the other hand i've read allot of things that say lean towards spending your money on speakers and not the reciever so thats what i went for. Thanks to everybody for your input. As for the primus 250's, the sony ssf7000 are a much larger speaker and i like to listen to just music allot, which doesn't even envolve the center channel, so i figure having the bigger speakers for that would be better. Maybe not, but that was my thinking anyways.

You are on the right track. If you consider AV a hobby, then improving your system piece by piece over time is half the fun. As your budget improves and your expectations grow, you can add whatever component will make the greatest improvement at the time. In the meantime, you have all the basics covered. Relax and enjoy it.

 

[funked up]

Agreed. The trick though is to not pay full price. Mine were $200 for the pair. 50% off a few years back at COMP USA. The OP was talking about $500. There's no need for all that spending to get some 250's.

I wanted some larger floor standing speakers, i believe i was looking at the p362s(?) when i quoted the 500 dollar price range.

 

[Alex2507]

I wanted some larger floor standing speakers, i believe i was looking at the p362s(?) when i quoted the 500 dollar price range.

http://www.theaudiovideosource.com/1PrimusSeries.html

Don't ask me why they don't have 'em now but if you look here you can see the C25 and the 250's have the same size drivers. I think the 360's have a different center that they match up with that is not listed here. I do know that there is a smaller center that didn't work with my 250's very well at all that is not listed here. Every so often the Primus line shows up at the HarmanAudio store on eBay. Both places offer a full warranty.

Any chance you can find a center that matches the Sony's? That seems like the most frugal solution.

 

[funked up]

I could buy the CN-5000(?) from sony its the only center channel they have on there website, besides ones the come the HTIBs, that i believe matches the ssf7000 speakers, it has dual 5 and3/4" speakers and 1" tweeter. The primus C25 has dual 5 and3/4" speakers and a 3/4" tweeter. So its really only a slight difference between the two in speaker size, and i believe the C25 to be a nicer speaker than the sony. My question is would it be worth buying an inferior speaker to replace a better one so that the center will match the main speakers when the center channels are as similiar as they are?

 

[Alex2507]

How does it sound to you? I'm sure it's better than before you got it all hooked up.

Like one of the other posters mentioned, you could relax and enjoy. When the money comes upgrades come. Personally I like to drool over an upgrade for about a year. That's the sweetest part.

 

[funked up]

How does it sound to you? I'm sure it's better than before you got it all hooked up.

Like one of the other posters mentioned, you could relax and enjoy. When the money comes upgrades come. Personally I like to drool over an upgrade for about a year. That's the sweetest part.

Yeah i think thats what i'm gonna do. I finally have it all pieced together(i've been wanting a HT system for about the last year and 1/2), and I do like they way it sounds. So atleast for now i'm gonna leave it alone, enjoy some good movies and music, and start saving for some upgrades. I never realized how easily it could be to get hooked on audio. I think I've found a hobby that i'll be able to enjoy for a long time. Thanks for everybodys input.

 

[Crackerballer]

The best thing you can do is do tons of research and buy used/second hand. Both will save you SO much money. I ordered my sony receiver before doing research, and had it turned around and headed back before they even delivered it.

Definately keep your eyes pealed on Audiogon.com and Ebay, as well as J&Rs, Frys, and a few other internet retailers. Stuff going on sale at the end of model runs and such can be had for great prices. Use Bizrate and Froogle as well as Amazon to price stuff as well.

And most of all, POST ON HERE. There are alot of people on this board with alot of good info and first hand experience.

 

[flippo]

Link

When I posted the link it linked to a denon 1803 av receiver with 5 mirage bookshelf speakers and a Mirage subwoofer, all for 599$. As a brand, Mirage is a much better brand for speakers than Sony (not saying Sony is trash - don't take me wrong). Mirage is built by the same company that make Energy brand and Athena brand speakers.

I just checked and the tsto site and the package is still there just go to www.tsto.com and then click on specials. The next page will have a mirage system for 895$ (nice deal also). When that page comes up, on the right side it will say may we also suggest the following products. Choose the displayed system and that is the system I was talking about.

I know the speakers are not floor standers but I believe the Mirages will be a lot better sounding in the midrange and highs the bass up to 80hz will come from the sub.

Just a suggestion and I am not saying what you got is horrible!

Cheers, Flippo