Music lover looking for good inexpensive HT.

[BaSiC Evil]

Good morning.

Looking for some nice HT speakers that handle music well.

My room is 19' X 13'8". The entertainment setup will be setup facing the narrower side of the room (West to East) See Attached diagram.

The entire room is brick walls with a terazzo floor. The system will be used for 60% movies, 40% music.

My budget is $900. Please make some suggestions.

 

[jcPanny]

Entry level HT

In your price range, don't settle for a HTIB.
You can put together a 5.1 bookshelf system with Athen Audion series or Bic Venturi speakers. Add a budget subwoofer and a lower end receiver from Yamaha, Onkyo, or Denon. The Yamaha HTR-5840 and Onkyo 502 are good choices in the $200 price range.

 

[BaSiC Evil]

My budget is $900 for the speakers, not the whole package.

 

[mulester7]

My budget is $900 for the speakers, not the whole package.

.....do you have the means, and any experience of working with wood and screwdrivers, and such, to consider a DIY Kit?....I WILL build some of those GR Research 2's, for sure, before I'm done....$1060 for four....build one more for a center, and with two quality clean subs in the front, and cheap clean watts, you would have a Mighty transparent system, Sir....JGarcia impressed me when he said they "floored" him at first breath....four 901's with two-high direct, and two low on the sides did me the same way....I wasn't lying about them two equalizers, either....twooooooooooo, haha.....anyhow, these GR Research 2's, give specs in the up-to $1500-$2000 range for speakers that inhabit true Audiophile woods, and probably higher on the +/- db spec....+/- "1.2" db-variance, top to bottom....and 1.2 db's is it's worst offense, with every other level measured being inside that, which equates to transparency-rare....no, I don't work for them, but I will build a pair for $530, trust me.....

 

[j_garcia]

I trust you will, Mule.

Basic, your room sounds like it is going to be quite bright. I'd consider either some speakers that are a bit relaxed on the highs or some basic room treatments. $900 is a decent budget, but you may not be able to squeeze a serious sub into that, and with a room that size, you're going to need a decent one.

In December, SVS will be releasing a complete 5.1 package and the pre-order (November) price is right in your range, including the PB-10 sub. Sounds like a very good deal to me...

Next, I'd say look at www.ascendacoustics.com Check the "system advisor" thing where you can configure your own system to the budget you're looking at. Very nice speakers, IMO.

 

[rikmeister]

OK here are some suggestions. I would go to this site

www.audiogon.com you can buy used ones there saving around 50%. that means you can get 1800.00 worth of speakers. also since the front three are the most critical. why not just buy the front three and add the rest later. just my .02

 

[mazersteven]

I trust you will, Mule.

Basic, your room sounds like it is going to be quite bright. I'd consider either some speakers that are a bit relaxed on the highs or some basic room treatments. $900 is a decent budget, but you may not be able to squeeze a serious sub into that, and with a room that size, you're going to need a decent one.

In December, SVS will be releasing a complete 5.1 package and the pre-order (November) price is right in your range, including the PB-10 sub. Sounds like a very good deal to me...

I agree with j garcia about the SVS speaker system complete with the SVS sub PB10-ISD.
Pre-order prices below.

Sales start on or about Thanksgiving day (24 November 2005):

Full 7.1 package (6 SBS-01 mains, SCS-01 center channel, plus PB10-ISD subwoofer): $999*

Full 5.1 package (4 SBS-01 mains, SCS-01 center channel, plus PB10-ISD subwoofer): $899

www.svsubwoofers.com

I would also recommend Paradigm Mini Monitors ($400 a pair) with a SVS sub
($429).

Or you can get a pair or Paradigm Studio 20's ($800 a pair) and add to it as you go.

www.paradigm.com

 

[Sheep]

I agree with j garcia about the SVS speaker system complete with the SVS sub PB10-ISD.
Pre-order prices below.

Sales start on or about Thanksgiving day (24 November 2005):

Full 7.1 package (6 SBS-01 mains, SCS-01 center channel, plus PB10-ISD subwoofer): $999*

Full 5.1 package (4 SBS-01 mains, SCS-01 center channel, plus PB10-ISD subwoofer): $899

www.svsubwoofers.com

I would also recommend Paradigm Mini Monitors ($400 a pair) with a SVS sub
($429).

Or you can get a pair or Paradigm Studio 20's ($800 a pair) and add to it as you go.

www.paradigm.com

Im backing this, Excellent suggestion! .....J_Garcia, OHhhh so had you going there.

Sheepstar

 

[MacManNM]

How can you guys recommend speakers that you have never heard?

 

[mazersteven]

How can you guys recommend speakers that you have never heard?

Who said I haven't heard them?

 

[j_garcia]

(SBS) I'm comfortable making that recommendation without hearing them. Looking at the specs (flat is good, was that not the question?) and reading the first review of them, as well as their existing reputation for quality and the fact that they've been developing them for quite some time now, I'd say they are going to be solid performers at this price point. I'm hoping to have a chance to hear a set during the first shipment, if all goes well.

 

[Tomorrow]

How can you guys recommend speakers that you have never heard?

Mac,

Wow, we finally agree on something and I tried to give you a big ol' green chiclet for this badly needed statement. And guess what.....NO MORE CHICLETS! LOL. So, here's a big smooch from me, instead. ;-()

 

[BaSiC Evil]

I agree with j garcia about the SVS speaker system complete with the SVS sub PB10-ISD.
Pre-order prices below.

Sales start on or about Thanksgiving day (24 November 2005):

Full 7.1 package (6 SBS-01 mains, SCS-01 center channel, plus PB10-ISD subwoofer): $999*

Full 5.1 package (4 SBS-01 mains, SCS-01 center channel, plus PB10-ISD subwoofer): $899

www.svsubwoofers.com

I would also recommend Paradigm Mini Monitors ($400 a pair) with a SVS sub
($429).

Or you can get a pair or Paradigm Studio 20's ($800 a pair) and add to it as you go.

www.paradigm.com

Well, this sucks. I just got of the telephone with SVS and I was inquiring as to whether or not I would be able to get the a stereo pair and the center along with a sub and they flat out said no. The only way to get the center is in the pre-done 5.0, 5.1 and 7.1 setups.

I already have my rears in the ceiling and don't want to have extra speakers kicking around. The extras will only tempt me to build another system somewhere else in the condo.

 

[j_garcia]

Sorry. Ron mentioned that the other day, that the center could not be purchased separately, nor could a L-C-R set be purchased. Something about too many SKUs due to the sheer number of possible combinations or something goofy like that. They also won't be selling single satellites for 6.1.

Take a look at the Ascends. You can configure a very nice package of 3 CMT-340s and a sub if you don't need the rears.

 

[mazersteven]

Well, this sucks. I just got of the telephone with SVS and I was inquiring as to whether or not I would be able to get the a stereo pair and the center along with a sub and they flat out said no. The only way to get the center is in the pre-done 5.0, 5.1 and 7.1 setups.

I already have my rears in the ceiling and don't want to have extra speakers kicking around. The extras will only tempt me to build another system somewhere else in the condo.

Wait, Wait, Wait. What's the problem here? Sell the speakers you don't want. Lot's of people are looking for good speakers, and don't want to purchase a whole system. List them on E-bay. You'll most likely get your money back
($200) without losing anything.

I wouldn't let that stop you from getting these speakers.

 

[MacManNM]

Who said I haven't heard them?

Because you haven't. If you had, you'd be jumping and screaming saying how great they were.

 

[BaSiC Evil]

Wait, Wait, Wait. What's the problem here? Sell the speakers you don't want. Lot's of people are looking for good speakers, and don't want to purchase a whole system. List them on E-bay. You'll most likely get your money back
($200) without losing anything.

I wouldn't let that stop you from getting these speakers.

This would not be as big a problem if I lived in the United States. I live in the Bahamas and I would not be even slightly to my benefit to do what you suggested. All goods entering the Bahamas are subject to Customs duties which is 55% of the invoice price + shipping. For me to break een on the speakers I would be charging someone 60% above what they could purchase the units for in the USA.

I am still thinking about going ahead with the 5.1 though and putting the speakers aside and coupling them with a sub for a stereo setup maybe in the bedroom or office.

 

[mazersteven]

All goods entering the Bahamas are subject to Customs duties which is 55% of the invoice price + shipping.

OUCH. But that's what you get for all the wonderful weather.

 

[Shadow_Ferret]

Why can't you buy the 5.1 system and still use your rears? Then you'd have a 7.1 system with the new speakers as sides.

 

[BaSiC Evil]

Why can't you buy the 5.1 system and still use your rears? Then you'd have a 7.1 system with the new speakers as sides.

The room has already been wired for 5.1 and I do not want to have the electrical guy go back in the ceiling to have this done for 7.1

The layout of my room is for functionality and HT, not just for HT. I am very particular about the look of the room.