Need help selecting a 5.2 system

[jcl]

Hi All,
I procrastinated and seem to have missed the Infinity Primus 362 sales. Now I'm looking for other suggestions for a 5.2 home theater setup. We've moved and my old Boston Acoustics 9000 system is overwhelmed in the space.

The room is a 16'x18' family room with vaulted ceilings from 8' to 16'. Open floorplan so the whole space is probably 7k cubic feet. Pretty lively with a wall of windows on one long wall, windows and stone fireplace on another and hardwood floors partially covered with a rug. The central heat / AC return is in the adjacent room, and sounds like a small jet engine. Fixing that will be my best upgrade, but i'm not ready to undertake it yet.

Listening is 50/50 split between music and movies with moderate levels. WAF is a major issue so slim towers and small subs will be an easier sell.

Budget is max 2k, less is better. Power comes from an Onkyo HTRC-180 so 4 ohm speakers shouldn't be a problem. I'm not afraid of the refurb or open box route but not so sure of used, at least for matching mains and center. Based on the room size I'm thinking towers.

B & M mid-fi dealers in the area are very few. They seem to have folded, gone high end, gone to customer installer model, or have gone to flat screen TVs with audio as an afterthought. As such most of my listening has been at BestBuy/Magnolia and Frys and so pretty compromised. I don't mind ordering over the internet if there is a return policy.

I've listened to the primus 362 and cascade 9s. Thought the 9s sounded weak but that was probably the listening room and level setting. I've seen some classia 336s on sale, any thoughts on those? The Audioholics review is difficult to interpret. Should I simply scoop up some remaining 252s?

Also auditioned the ML Motion 10 and 12 and thought they were very shrill. Heard Polk RTIA 7s and I was pleasantly surprised, I didn't hear terrible highs often attributed to Polks on the forums. Def Tech BP7006s sounded even better, but a bit more than I want to spend and I not sure about bipolar design in the room.

Any thoughts on the Emptek F300t package? I'm not sure how they relate to the well reviewed RBH TK-5ct, other than looking similar. I'd resell the sub from the package and it would leave a good amount in the budget for ID subs.

How about JBL ES 80's or 90's?

I've seen the Energy RC 30 & 50 tower deals drying up too. Went to listen to the Energy's but the dealer in the area folded. The PSB Image towers seem a little too deep to fit in the space.

Has anyone heard the Monitor Audion Bronze line?

For the subs I'm thinking a pair of sealed 10" or 12" to keep the size down. Emotiva, SVS, or ED most likely depending on budget remaining. Perhaps a velodyne mini vee 10 open box or refurb.

Thanks in advance

 

[bandphan]

2 of these

and this would be a good little system that plays loud.

 

[GranteedEV]

Any thoughts on the Emptek F300t package? I'm not sure how they relate to the well reviewed RBH TK-5ct, other than looking similar. I'd resell the sub from the package and it would leave a good amount in the budget for ID subs.

EMP flat-out makes nice speakers, even if it's not the exact same think as the TK-5ct, I'd bet the differences would require rather critical listening. I'd definitely recommend it based on how much I like my e55tis. I probably wouldn't bother selling the sub, maybe just hook it up to your computer.

that would probably leave you with the budget for a pair of epik empires or a used PB-13U or something. For 1200 dollars you could prolly even DIY a pair of 15" LLT sonosubs running on the two channels of an EP2500.

 

[jcl]

Thanks for the responses

Like the title says thanks for the responses.

Bandphan - Those sensitivity numbers for the svs sats give me pause, 82db & 84db. The onkyo already heats up like a hot plate with my 89db rated BAs. I'm not sure it would last powering those.

As to the subs I guess I wasn't detailed enough. I'd love a pair of Epik Legends or the like. However, when I mentioned sealed subs I'm thinking of it for small size. My current sub is 16"x12"x16" and that's already too big for the wife. I might be able to keep them in the corner and bring them out to the sweet spot for movies. However, not if they're 80+ lbs. I was thinking more along the lines of an SVS SB12-NSD.

Thanks Again

 

[zieglj01]

Your sealed subs will end up being around $1100 - You can go to
bostonacoustics.com and click on Shop Boston. Then click on the
refurbish products link. You may find the speakers there. Yes, the
Martin Logans sound shrill - I was disappointed. Also, Look over at
onecall.com for the Boston VR1 tower speakers and the VRC center
speaker. You can choose another Boston series for surrounds. If
the budget allows - then look at the VR3 towers.

 

[it502]

I'm also in the market for a system. Good luck