If you had $1500 and no HT audio system...(help me pick!)

[sureshot]

...what would you buy?

I’m having trouble making a decision on a home theater audio purchase, so I thought it best to simply lay out the situation and hope the good ppl here will point me in the right direction…

I am looking for a 7.1 HT Speaker + Receiver setup; currently I am using the built in speeks on the HDTV and an ancient 2.1 computer audio music setup (criminal). The ‘living’ room is approx 16 x 19, but has more airwave space to fill with 12’ ceilings, an adjacent dining room adding another 10’ of width, and a kitchen adding an additional 8’ of depth but half-blocked by an 8’ wall (Sorry if that is confusing). It is a stand-alone, brick house.

My emphasis is on listening to music, but surround is nearly as crucial for movies. Budget is $1500.

Receiver – Ease of use is important, as well as heat tolerance as it will be in an enclosure. Quality is key as I hope to keep it for some time…the ability to use SIRIUS and/or stream web radio (shoutcast) would be nice, but isn’t a deal breaker. Keep it in the $450-600 range...

Speakers – Front speakers are important as I will be using it for music moreso than movies…would this make floor-standing speakers more worthwhile? I’ve been considering the Klipsch HD500 or quintet + Sub (noob picks?), then adding 2 front floor speakers for music…I’ve also been looking at the Klipsch B-20 5.1 setup…(in no way am I stuck on the Klipsch brand BTW). If you can’t tell, I have no idea which setup works best for music…

So anyways, I’ve hit a wall in my research and really need some direction from you, the HT expert. Any comments/advice is helpful and VERY appreciated. Thanks again..

 

[GranteedEV]

http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/MARSR5004/Marantz/SR5004-Dolby-TrueHD-PLIIz/dts-HD-MA-AV-Receiver/1.html

+

http://www.emptek.com/special_f300t_e10s.php

+

http://www.hsuresearch.com/products/stf-2.html

 

[Matt34]

Another option using the same receiver as GranteedEV recommended.


4x Intimus 4B Satellite Speaker

1x Intimus 4C Center Channel Speaker

1x Epik Legend Subwoofer

 

[shadyJ]

Another suggestion
Onkyo TX-SR608 -sirius ready, 400
Infinity Primus p152, 75 each x 6 = 450
Infinity Primus c350, 190
Elemental Designs A3-250 subwoofer, 450

Total is just under 1500 shipped

Another possibility
Onkyo TX-sr608, 400
Behringer 2030p 75 each x 7 = 525
Hsu Research VTF2 or Outlaw Audio LFM-1 Plus, 610

Total is just over 1500 shipped

The difference between the two systems is the first has a more powerful center channel, and the second has a more powerful subwoofer.

Don't forget you have to buy cables and accessories, those things add up! get that stuff from monoprice or ebay. Many reliable ebay vendors actually have better prices than monoprice if you look. Whatever you do, don't buy cables at electronics stores like bestbuy or radio shack, the markup is insane.

 

[zieglj01]

Just to make it more interesting - Get a Marantz refurbish receiver from
AC4L. Then go to Emotiva.com and look at the Ultra 10 subwoofer. Then
go to bostonacoustics.com and click on Shop Boston - Then click on
refurbish products. Move down to the E40 speakers - Get 7 of these and
you will get a good musical and movie experience. Do not under estimate
the E40 speakers - I have owned them and they are good. There is a lot
on this thread to look at. Good Luck.

 

[sureshot]

Thanks for all the good suggestions..

quick question - should I be worried that the Marantz SR5004 was released in April '05? Do mfrs typically update software/firmware while they are still selling?

 

[GranteedEV]

First of all, the SR5004 came out last year - in fact I don't think its product lifespan even lasted a full year... it was a minor update to the SR5003 (only differences I can think of was going from Dolby PLIIx to including PLIIz + Bluetooth support) which came out in 2007 IIRC

Firmware shouldn't be an issue. In fact, if avatar hadn't thrown the HT industry a curveball and forced manufacturers to upgrade to the HDMI 1.4 / 3D spec, we probably wouldn't even have an SR5005 right now. No, firmware wouldn't fix that BUT -

The SR5004 is as up-to-date as need be for modern blu-rays.. Unless you're intent on getting a 3DTV in the very immediate future, there aren't any "modern" features the 5004 doesn't have. Hell, even the SR7002 is a fine choice, and that came out in 2007. Even that has Dolby TrueHD and DTS-MA (which mind you even then aren't vital - my PS3 decodes these into PCM via HDMI if I want it to!). I wouldn't go as far back as the SR8001 because it only uses HDMI 1.2, but you could definitely go as far back as their x002 series receivers and not skip a beat.

 

[sureshot]

First of all, the SR5004 came out last year - in fact I don't think its product lifespan even lasted a full year... it was a minor update to the SR5003 (only differences I can think of was going from Dolby PLIIx to including PLIIz + Bluetooth support) which came out in 2007 IIRC

Firmware shouldn't be an issue. In fact, if avatar hadn't thrown the HT industry a curveball and forced manufacturers to upgrade to the HDMI 1.4 / 3D spec, we probably wouldn't even have an SR5005 right now. No, firmware wouldn't fix that BUT -

The SR5004 is as up-to-date as need be for modern blu-rays.. Unless you're intent on getting a 3DTV in the very immediate future, there aren't any "modern" features the 5004 doesn't have. Hell, even the SR7002 is a fine choice, and that came out in 2007. Even that has Dolby TrueHD and DTS-MA (which mind you even then aren't vital - my PS3 decodes these into PCM via HDMI if I want it to!). I wouldn't go as far back as the SR8001 because it only uses HDMI 1.2, but you could definitely go as far back as their x002 series receivers and not skip a beat.

Well that is a relief....Amazon's page for the SR5004 said this - Date first available at Amazon.com: April 18, 2005..it had me a little spooked

As for the speakers you suggested, the wife threw down her 1 veto card due to the color...guh! Also, I wasn't sure what to make of buying an extra Sub when the 5.1 set came with one already? Any other speaker suggestions are appreciated..

Do you think it worthwhile to get the 3/5yr extended warranty?

Thanks again for taking the time..

 

[GranteedEV]

As for the speakers you suggested, the wife threw down her 1 veto card due to the color...guh! Also, I wasn't sure what to make of buying an extra Sub when the 5.1 set came with one already? Any other speaker suggestions are appreciated..

I love that rosewood color, so classy especially since they dropped those yellow kevlar drivers. =(

...The WAF wins again.

Anyways that set I listed has a quality sub, but it's a 100w sub for listening to music at reasonable volumes. It'll give you nice bass notes from a piano or a bass guitar but for a the other sub I recommended is likely more of an explosions, earthquakes, cannon fire, torpedoe blast, shot gun blast, in-your-face home theater sub. Also look into this fella:

http://www.edesignaudio.com/product_info.php?cPath=2_41&products_id=407

 

[JerryLove]

Got one. Love it.

 

[jumpnblues]

For speakers: www.svsound.com


Tom

 

[motomouse]

I will offer you B&W 801 Matrix for sale but you will have to squeeze more money for amp

 

[Substance-P]

What parameters did your Wife present (does she prefer black or dark wood, etc). Do you have a prefernece for floorstanding, satellite speakers, etc.

 

[sureshot]

What parameters did your Wife present (does she prefer black or dark wood, etc). Do you have a prefernece for floorstanding, satellite speakers, etc.

Black or otherwise solid dark...she doesn't care if they are floorstanding or bookshelf.

If floorstanding speakers are superior to bookshelf speeks in a 'music' (2.0 or 3.0) mode then that's my preference (up front), but I can't seem to find anything definitive saying so...satellites are fine for the rest of the setup.

 

[zieglj01]

Go to onecall.com and look at the Boston VR1 tower speakers and the
VRC center speaker. A good bookshelf will compete in the midrange
and the highs - however, a tower with good bass is hard to beat.

 

[sureshot]

Go to onecall.com and look at the Boston VR1 tower speakers and the
VRC center speaker. A good bookshelf will compete in the midrange
and the highs - however, a tower with good bass is hard to beat.

How does the BA VR3 stand up to the SVS STS-02 towers?

The more I read about SVS the more I like, but they seem to be more geared towards movies than music..any truth to that?

I also hesitate because the Marantz SR5004 + SVS STS 5.1 + PB10 would overload my budget by $700..

I see now why ppl agonize over HT purchases.

 

[Whitey80]

I'm pretty certain i would buy an RCA HTIB from RadioShack and $1400 worth of crack to convince myself they sounded good

 

[GranteedEV]

I'm pretty certain i would buy an RCA HTIB from RadioShack and $1400 worth of crack to convince myself they sounded good

They'd be too bright under crack, you should switch to opium to get that subtle tube warmth that true audiophiles seek.

 

[sureshot]

I'm pretty certain i would buy an RCA HTIB from RadioShack and $1400 worth of crack to convince myself they sounded good

point taken.

 

[KEW]

I'm pretty certain i would buy an RCA HTIB from RadioShack and $1400 worth of crack to convince myself they sounded good

I guess the question is will $1400 buy enough crack to keep him humming along throughout the divorce proceedings.