Matched Speaker Importance

[Mathcr]

I have a choice for starting a HT system. I could buy a HTIB package for $500 to $800 or use speakers that I already have and buy a more expensive amp/cd player and sub woofer. I have a $250 Definitive center channel speaker, a pair of Model Seventeen speakers and a pair of Surround speakers from Cambridge Soundworks. Any suggestions would be appreciated, our HDTV arrives soon.

Mathcr

 

[j_garcia]

Welcome. I'd look at picking up some better mains, then you can use the Seventeens as surrounds and/or use the other CSW surrounds for rear center(s) for 6.1/7.1. Matching the front three is highly recommended, but you can get away with a mismatch until you can afford a matched set. Better speakers will go a lot further toward improving sound that a better amp, providing your current one is decent. I'd look for mains that you really like and plan to get the matching center down the road. A nicer amp is not going to make lesser speakers sound better. I owned a pair of Seventeens for a while and I was not impressed with them. What are you currently driving this stuff with?

 

[Mathcr]

No amp yet

Thanks for the response, I do not have an amp yet, the old one did not make the move to Florida. The room is small, 15 x 20, with just a couple of feet behind the sofa. Because of this I was considering just two rear speakers.

 

[j_garcia]

6.1/7.1 isn't really a necessity, IMO. I had a 6.1 setup and when I moved I had to go back to 5.1 - no big deal; still sounds great. Maybe you could use the left over speakers in another room? I'd use the best of the CSW speakers for the surrounds and invest in some good mains.

If <$800 is your budget, you could probably still swing both some speakers and an inexpensive receiver, but it might be pushing it to include a sub too. There are some decent low cost subs that might do the trick, but that will eat into your other components then. At that price point, I'd say $400-500 for the receiver and $300-400 for a good pair of speakers. You might look used for some Def Tech mains to go with your center too, somewhere like www.audiogon.com

An HTiB at that price point will get you everything, but in most cases, won't sound better than what you could put together yourself over a little time.