Need 5.1 Speakers ($1K budget) in Canada Room 10W x 17L x 8H

[matryx]

I'm new to audio here. I'm researching on what speakers to get with my Panasonic 50" TH50PX80. I'm going to be using a PS3 for blue-Ray. I haven't decided on a receiver yet but since speakers are the most important part I would like to start there. If you can suggest me a receiver also that will help me greatly.

Predicted usage: 50% movies/TV, 30% games, 20%music
Budget: $800-1000 speaker/sub, $300-500 receiver.
I would like to save as much money as possible since I would need some extra money for speaker wires and other equipment to set up my system.

Realistic budget for a 5.1 system $1500, but I might go for a 3.1 system if I need to and add speakers later on.

Keep in mind I live in Canada and we don't got all the good ID that the US has. I'm mostly be shopping around BB, Futureshop, and 2001 Audio Video. If there are any ID in Canada that you know of please list them.

 

[fredk]

Hmm... With most of your use being around movies and games, you might want to up your speaker budget a little so you can get a good sub.

I suspect you want a fair amound of rumble and shake for gaming and movies.

For that size room and for your use, I think bookselves and a sub would be a good 2.1 starting point you could build on.

Of the US ID sub vendors, SVS is the only one I know that has a distributor in Canada. You can buy through Sonic Boom Audio.

Axiom is a Canadian ID company.

If you really need to stretch you're $ you could also consider buying used through audiogon, canuckaudiomart.com, or your local craigslist.

If you go the brick & mortar route, check out other stores than BB and other big box retailers. PSB is a Canadian manufacturer that offers good value. Find someone that carries that line and give them a listen as well.

 

[Davemcc]

Shop local. If you live in an area that can support BB, FS and 2001, there has to be some local audio shops to deal with that have decent brands. That's a pretty tight budget over here even for two speakers, sub and receiver. The lowest decent receiver is $500. The cheapest SVS sub is $500. That doesn't leave much for speakers even though they should be the first and most important part of the system.

Because of the budget limitations here, I would even suggest getting a pair of really good main speakers and a receiver. Get the sub later.

 

[jamie2112]

SVS would be a great option as they have Canadian distro...I think you could get a pair of SCS-1's and a pb 12 sub for your budget or you could do a 5.1 system with a sub for about 1350......http://www.svsound.com/products-spks-scs01.cfm

 

[Exit]

If you want to stay under $1000 for the speakers and a sub you should look at the SBS-01 System for $999.

http://www.svsound.com/products-sys-sbs_black.cfm

 

[jostenmeat]

Questions for the canucks:

Isn't PSB, Paradigm, Totem(?), Energy(?) all Canadian? I know the first two are for sure. Are the prices still very different from those in the US? If so, that's weird. Thanks.

 

[matryx]

After some research I have decided to go with the SBS-01 system from SVS.
That set will cost me around $1300 taxes in and I can pick it up since sonicboomaudio isn't far from my place. Now I need to pick a receiver.

Thanks for all the help.

 

[fredk]

Let us know how you like them Matrix.

Jostenmeat. Yes, they are all Canadian and yes, prices here are still higher. In part, the costs to market and distribute anything in a smaller geographicly dispersed market are higher.

For whatever reason, it also seems to be an open invitation to increase margins.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

If you don't need HDMI, I have a Yamaha RX 659 with an IPOD dock for 200 bucks but shipping may cost a lot.

After some research I have decided to go with the SBS-01 system from SVS.
That set will cost me around $1300 taxes in and I can pick it up since sonicboomaudio isn't far from my place. Now I need to pick a receiver.

Thanks for all the help.

 

[fredk]

Good call Dawg. I picked up a 90wpc Sherwood Newcastle sans HDMI for less than $100 to tide me over until I can afford a Bluray player.

 

[matryx]

Thanks for the offer ParadigmDawg, but I do want HDMI for my receiver.

I'm going to go on Saturday to audition the speakers. This is my first HT system so I will probably like anything after using TV speakers. What am I listening for? Should I bring my own DVDs or something to help me decide if I like the speakers or not? Please provide me with any information that would help me with my decision

 

[fredk]

Yes, many things will sound good compared to tv speakers, but if you take the time to compare speakers directly (side by side in the same room if you can). Take the time to switch back and forth between two sets of speakers several times so you start to hear the differences.

Some people also take notes so that it is easier to remember and compare later.

Definately take material you are familiar with.

If you get to the point where it is between two sets of speakers, see if you can arrange for an in home demo so that you can compare the finalists in your room. Rooms can have quite an influence on sound.

 

[3db]

Thanks for the offer ParadigmDawg, but I do want HDMI for my receiver.

I'm going to go on Saturday to audition the speakers. This is my first HT system so I will probably like anything after using TV speakers. What am I listening for? Should I bring my own DVDs or something to help me decide if I like the speakers or not? Please provide me with any information that would help me with my decision

Here's my advice to you about auditioning speakers.
Bring your own music that you are intimately famaliar with. Its easier to audition with music than a movie soundtrack because we know what instruments should sound like with music as opposed to a bullet whizing thru air or a car being crushed from a movie soundtrack.

What I would do is to take a pad of paper with you, write down the make and
model of each speaker you audition and what you liked and disliked about the
speakers you were auditioning. Was the bass tight and deep or was it boomy and loose sounding? Were the mids life like or were they hollow or just too pronounced? Was the treble irritating and harsh or were they dark and not revealing or were they smooththat made you want to listen for more? How was the imaging?

Bring music with you that you are very familiar with and know quite well. To
make it easier to audition HT speaker systems, listen to the main speakers in 2
channel mode with music. Music is much harder to reproduce accurately then a movie soundtrack so if the speakers do well with music, then they will do well with HT. Speakers that do HT well may not do well with music. When auditioning the center channel of the same brand and series as the main speakers, pick a difficult source like an announcer that mumbles alot. If you can understand what the mumbling announcer is saying, then you have a good center channel.

I would go to speciality stores first and start auditioning speakers first
instead of going to the internet first. Once your likes are determined, you can
mention them here and fellow members can make internet brand recommendations based on your likes/dislikes. The specality stores are better setup acousticaly then the big box stores which will make auditioning a little easier. It will give you an idea of what you like in a speaker.

Keep track of what amp or receiver is powering the speakers you're auditioning. Try to get a receiver/amp that closest resembles what you have or want to get. It just reduces another variable when audtioning speakers.


One thing to keep note off. When auditioning speakers, make sure the volume
levels are matched between the diiferent speaker pairs because the louder
speaker pair will always sound better. Listen to levels that you think you
would listen to most of the time because thats how you are going to be using
them most of the time.

 

[matryx]

So I went down to the electronic shop to listen to the SBS-01 system. The guy put on "House of Flying Daggers" and skipped to the drum scene. I was listening to the scene at -16db and was blown away by the sound. It was so crisp and clear. I could hear every detail happening. This was my first time really listening to a good home theatre system.

Next movie he put on was "Master & Commander" and told me it was one of the best movies for surround sound. He put the scene where the ship was under attack and it was amazing how it sound. I'm really going to enjoy watching movies with this kind of system.

I went to the big chains store after but they were of no help. 2001 Audio Video told me to come back next week because their audio equipment wasn't setup or working correctly. I was on BB and watched Spiderman. I found that the sound was clear and was all muddy. I just heard explosions and a lot of bass I couldn't distinguish.

I think I'm definitely going to get the SBS-01 system. The store owner told me the price was $1,149, but they are going to adjust prices soon because of the recent drop in the CDN dollar. That would bring the system to around $1300 he said. Oh and the receiver he used was Onkyo 705 I think. I'm still not decided on what receiver to get but I'm leaning to towards the Pioneer VSX-1018TXV-K because of the price. I'm still considering other receivers liek the Denon AVR1909/789, Yamaha RX-V663/HTR6160, and the Onkyo TX-SR606.

Thanks for the input guys. 3db I forgot to bring my music and didn't get to audition it with music. I will remeber to do that the next time I stop by there.

 

[fredk]

"Master & Commander" ... I'm really going to enjoy watching movies with this kind of system.

My son jumped 3 feet in the air when the cannons went off! The part where you can hear sailors walking on the deck above you is really cool as well.