Looking for help on 5.1 budget system

[Jhunt256]

Hi all. I am finishing my basement and I am to the point of starting to buy the components for my HT.

When it comes to audio (brands, type, size, ETC) I am really not well versed. I have done a ton of research, but it seems every time i start to look things up, new/contradicting information comes to light.

I need help with picking out an HT or stereo setup. What kind of information should I provide?

When creating a new thread in the Speaker forum for help with recommendations for an audio setup, be sure to include


Here are the basics
1) Speakers - $1000, Receiver $300-400 (Max $1500 for all)
2) Your listening interests: Movies and tv shows mainly.
3) Your existing audio equipment (make/models) None. I am fresh here.
4) The size of your room. I have a 17.5' by 14.5' by 8'. My room does open to the stair case and a small hall way.
5) Any placement restrictions. No
6) Any aesthetic or size concerns. No
7) Any equipment you are already considering (or would not consider). Remove the spaces

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I am open to really all suggestions. I would prefer a 5.1 with the option to go up from there.

 

[shadyJ]

You can get a great system for $1,500 with some diligence. I think that Klipsch system wouldn't be bad, but I think you can do better in several respects. First of all, if I were going to buy Klipsch, I would go for the RP series. I would skip the standard reference series. The Klipsch sub is a bit weak too.

Here is a system that is roughly $1500:
Canton GLE 426 front left-right
Canton GLE 455 center
Polk T15 speakers for surrounds. They have keyhole mounts, but if you need mounts, get the VideoSecu side-clamping mounts
Hsu VTF-2 mk5 subwoofer. That is a very powerful sub though, if you don't listen at loud levels, here are some alternatives that would save you some money: Monoprice Monolith 10" THX Select, SVS PB-1000, Hsu VTF-1 mk3.
Yamaha RX-A860 AVR. I like Yamaha for their reliability.

 

[Jhunt256]

Thanks looking into these now. I had not even considered canton... mainly cause I dont know them well

 

[HTfreak2004]

Another potential option is a better pair of main speakers with great imaging mated with a sub. When done right you can delay purchasing your centre and surround speakers for a while and decide if you even want to add them. I was watching Dolby Atmos videos on YouTube with only the my mains (paradigm studio 100v3 and paradigm sub 15 and honestly a great set of main speakers can hold their own even in a 2.1 setup, a lot has to do with the room and where the mains are placed relative to room boundaries and your main seat. If your main seat is away from the rear wall and in the middle third of your room’s length surround is a perceivable. The sound reflections aren’t as accurate as having actual surrounds but at louder listening levels our ears are bombarded with direct sound and reflected sound of boundaries. With all that sound happening and changing so rapidly there simply isn’t enough time for our ears to process exactly the source of the sound anyway. Remember sound should image from behind your speakers making them disappear that is good imaging. I purchased my gear for 5.1 surround over 15 years (2004-2018) I first started with my paradigm studio 40s v2 as my mains which later became my surrounds after I purchased the paradigm studio 100 v3 for mains and paradigm cc570 centre a year later. The next year I upgraded from a JVC 5 channel receiver to my Anthem AVM 20 processor and Anthem MCA 50 5 channel amp. It took me 14 years to acquire the paradigm sub 15 since I wasn’t in a fully detached home. Anyway my point is with a hobby like Home Audio & HT take your time. If you buy a good quality product from a company you like it will sound great even after those products are discontinued or 15 years later. Probably the worst decision you can make it buying everything on a limited budget. The problem with that approach is financial situations change throughout the years. I spent $25k after tax over 15 years. It’s one of my hobbies that costed me $1670 per year. That's only $32.00 per week. When you only see the price tag and the front end load up front it turns many off. On the other hand a 350000 house with interest is around 475000 paid in 25 years. Which breaks down to 365 per week. It’s all perspective. Anyway if your set on 1500 all in I like the site shadyj recommended for his speaker recommendations. Have fun!