Looking for new Setup $400

[ARKaMAN]

First I will show you what I have had for the last 6 years.
I would post pics but I can't post limit or something.

I have a Pioneer - Stereo Double Cassette Deck Receiver RX-550

AC120V 60Hz
260W 350VA
SERIAL No. MJ3946792 U

For Speakers I have 2 Pioneer CS-M551. There are suppose to be a thierd speaker but my friend wreaked it before he gave me the speakers.

Frequency rage 32 - 20000Hz
Impedance 8
Maximum Power 150W

They sound good, but are very bright and don't have much bass. I am missing the Sub though. Maybe I should just get a Sub? I was wondering what would be a good set of speakers to get. Plus a receiver. I was planing using SPDIF from my PC. I listen to Techno, Trance, and Drum & Bass.

 

[shadyJ]

I would go for a sub. The problem is it is hard to get a real hard-hitting sub for 400. I would up your budget to 600 and get a Hsu VTF2 mk3 or a Elemental Designs A3-300, they will far outclass lesser priced subs. Trust me on this, I am big on bass heavy electronic music. D'n'B, dubstep, trance, etc, subs will make that stuff sing.

 

[Adam]

Welcome to the forum!

After doing a little research, there are other posts on the web about those speakers being bright without much bass. People seem happy with that Pioneer RX-550, though, saying that it can play pretty loud.

How big is your room? That's an important consideration for a subwoofer.

 

[ARKaMAN]

Welcome to the forum!

After doing a little research, there are other posts on the web about those speakers being bright without much bass. People seem happy with that Pioneer RX-550, though, saying that it can play pretty loud.

How big is your room? That's an important consideration for a subwoofer.

13 x 14 x 8 ft

 

[ARKaMAN]

Well my Receiver RX-550 has no Sub connection on the back just Front Speakers & Back speakers. I am not sure what to do.

 

[Adam]

Well my Receiver RX-550 has no Sub connection on the back just Front Speakers & Back speakers. I am not sure what to do.

A number of subs have speaker-level connections, allowing you to connect the front (or back) speaker wires to the sub, then connect the front (or back) speakers to the sub. The sub passes the power along to the speakers, but the sub manages the crossover and filters out the low frequencies from going to the speakers. That can work quite well, especially for a stereo set-up.

 

[Adam]

As one example, the BIC F12 ($185 at Amazon) has speaker-level connections.

 

[zieglj01]

And if you want a receiver for now - look at this
http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/ONKTXSR508/Onkyo-TX-SR508-7.1-Channel-3-D-Ready-Home-Theater-Receiver/1.html

Or this one
http://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-VSX-820-K-Home-Theater-Receiver/dp/B0039XQL2G/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1313358200&sr=8-4

For 2.1 - these receivers will have enough power

These speakers will out perform the Pioneer ones
Boston VR1
http://www.amazon.com/Boston-Acoustics-Black-Floorstanding-Loudspeaker/dp/B003E97P8O/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1313358665&sr=8-1

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

$275 could get you HSU designed BIC PL-200 at AcousticSoundDesign
(use name my own price option)

which also have high level (speaker) inputs& output to integrate with pioneer speakers.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I think 3 of the BIC subs are HSU clones.

Adam mentioned the $185 F12. It has the BASH 150W amp & 12" sub. The cabinet and overall aesthetics is less than the BIC H100.

The H100 is $220. It also has the 150W BASH amp & 12" sub, and the aesthetics is a lot nicer than the F12.

BoredSysAdmin mentioned the 3rd one - the $279 PL200, which has the same aesthetics as the H100, but a more powerful 250W BASH amp.

I think all three are decent for < $300 subs. but as shadyJ mentioned, any $600 subs from HSU, Epik, Rythmik, & Elemental Design will outperform any of these low-end subs for sure.

But what about subs in the $400-$500 range?

I don't think they will be any better than the 3 BIC/HSU clone subs. If you want a significant improvement, I believe you need to shell out $600.

BTW, I think I had the same Pioneer speakers when I was in college. They did sound pretty good. I would just get a subwoofer.