Looking for a new setup - requesting help / suggestions

[gsxr69]

Hi All,

I am by no means an audiophile but love good quality music and want to setup a new home theater system and wanted your help / suggestions.

Budget: $4,000 - 5,000 (Would not mind buying used, looking for best bang for my buck)

Room Size: Living room, 700 - 800 sq foot with vaulted ceilings

Listening preferences (Both my wife and I, please don't judge)

50% music, 50% movies / TV

We like listening to most music genres, classical, instrumental, beach bar / lounge music, hip-hop, R&B, Jazz, Blues, old school classics (Frank Sinatra, Louis Armstrong etc...) are a few we spend most of our music listening time on.

We like instruments and vocals to be clear with a great focus on the mids, don't like overbearing highs and we like a bit of an over emphasis on bass however, the bass needs to be tight and not boomy.

Equipment I have bought / ordered so far:

Denon AVR X3300 (50% off from Fry's) can still be returned
Klipsch 12" down firing sub (bought this when it was on sale for $190) cannot be returned
Polk audio LSiM 705 (Fronts) and 706 (Center) (Ordered it through Adorama 50% off sale) but backordered so, has not shipped as yet so, can be returned.

Finally, I am sorry if I did not provide all the information necessary but please be patient with me and ask away.

 

[shadyJ]

The Polk LSi speakers are very good, and the Denon AVR should do very well. The Klipsch sub is pretty meh, but at least it did not cost much. I would go for a Hsu VTF3 mk5 sub at its present deal, it is so far beyond the performance of the Klipsch sub that they are incomparable. The LSi speakers deserve a much better sub than the Klipsch anyway.

 

[gsxr69]

The Polk LSi speakers are very good, and the Denon AVR should do very well. The Klipsch sub is pretty meh, but at least it did not cost much. I would go for a Hsu VTF3 mk5 sub at its present deal, it is so far beyond the performance of the Klipsch sub that they are incomparable. The LSi speakers deserve a much better sub than the Klipsch anyway.

That is good to hear, thanks for the recommendation, I will check out the Hsu VTF3 mk5

 

[lovinthehd]

Seems you have a good start and at this point I'd agree with a better sub as Shady J mentioned. Beyond surrounds what else are you thinking about adding?

 

[gsxr69]

Seems you have a good start and at this point I'd agree with a better sub as Shady J mentioned. Beyond surrounds what else are you thinking about adding?

I have not thought about what else to add, any recommendations?

 

[lovinthehd]

I have not thought about what else to add, any recommendations?

Were the main speakers ordered unheard or are these speakers you're familiar with and like?

Aside from a better sub (or subs) and the surrounds, what do you have to play content on? If you don't need a new bluray player then maybe add some content to enjoy.

 

[wldock]

Hi, I'm a past Polk Audio LSiM703/706C, RT5000, and several other RT, f/x, etc. model owner here.

Oh man, too bad you did not pick up the LSiM702 F/X surrounds during the sale. I'm not sure I would pay $1499 for surrounds but at $749 it will be worth it to have all speakers timbre matched. They are available on Amazon for $799.95 w/ free shipping: https://www.amazon.com/Polk-Audio-LSiM702-Performance-Surround/dp/B007JXVJ38 Run, don't walk!

Also, a couple of very capable and convertible subs is what your system deserves given this is a 50/50 system. Well INTEGRATED AND TUNED subs can take your system to the next level for music and movies. Myself I generally like sealed subs for music. Going with a ported sub and plugging the ports for music offers the convertible options for the best of both worlds.

Two of the 15" VTF-3 MK5 HP on sale for $739 each should give you all of the clean sealed or ported bass that you will need in that size room.... OR .... you might be fine with two of the 12" Outlaw Audio Ultra-X12^2 subs on sale for $999 for the pair! http://www.outlawaudio.com/mofcart/BlackFriday16.html

So, surrounds and subs are what you need to make the system complete. Put that Klipsch sub up for sale on craigslist, Offer Up, Letgo, forums, etc.....

As far as the Polks......the LSIM705 and 706C are the gems of the line. The 705 is the most balanced and the 706C is just a beast of a center. Awesome sound, dialog, clarity, and center anchored bass from all seats! At 50% off you have a ton of performance and great looking speakers that will fit in a living room decor.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I don't know about the Polk, but I definitely love that contemporary design.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Budget: $4,000 - 5,000 (Would not mind buying used, looking for best bang for my buck)...

Room Size: Living room, 700 - 800 sq foot....

Denon AVR X3300 (50% off from Fry's) can still be returned
Klipsch 12" down firing sub (bought this when it was on sale for $190) cannot be returned
Polk audio LSiM 705 (Fronts) and 706 (Center) (Ordered it through Adorama 50% off sale) but backordered so, has not shipped as yet so, can be returned.

I think keep the Denon 3300. Return the rest. Then talk later.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

about 10 years ago I have heard practically entire range of Polk bookshelves and nothing impressed like LSi/9 did. That said they were way too expensive.
I assume that updated LSi/M series continue the tradition of decent sound and a terrible (at msrp) value.
Since you bought them at 50% - is LSiM705 towers at 1.5k for a PAIR (normally same price for each) - you got a decent deal. these measure at

FR: 34 Hz to 20 kHz ±4.6 dB
Impedance (min, norm) - 2.8/5 ohms
Sensitivity : 86.5 dB
More here: http://www.soundandvision.com/content/test-report-polk-audio-lsim-speaker-system-page-3

To me this tells is these need serious power if you like to play these at elevated levels. Denon 3300 is no slouch, but it might choke on 2.8ohm impedance then pushed

I would like to suggest better alternative: these:
http://philharmonicaudio.com/BMR Philharmonitor.html

They measure 30Hz - 20kHz (+/-2db) - which means play even more bass and more accurate at it than Polk. Side by side - you'll enjoy music more from BMR, but for HT uses - you won't notice the difference.

This would be a matching center:
http://philharmonicaudio.com/PhilMTMCenter.html

and Yeah - the sub you bought, sorry - it a polished turd. it doesn't belong with either Polks or BMR. In fact you better off running either of them without sub at all than with this Klipsch.

Only Klipsch sub which is half decent is this one: http://www.klipsch.com/products/thx-ultra2-subwoofers - it's a passive (it doesn't have amp) so you need to add an amp as well:
http://www.klipsch.com/products/ka-1000-thx-amplifier
Oh, and did I mentioned ideally you should get a pair of each? Yeah - these WAY too expensive.
HSU, Rythmik, SVS and PSA make much better subs.
For niche, but top notch, products there exquisite canadian made Funk and US made - Seatons