new complete system recommendations

[jlyttle]

Hello, very new to the forums and still learning. Let me tell you my room setup and the equipment that I am considering, hopefully, you all will keep me from making any big mistakes.

The room is new construction, pre-wired for a 5.1 system. The room is 20'x20', with the TV centered on the front wall, surrounds in the 4 corners.

I want a system that is very good while working on a budget, want good sound for movies and music, will never go over the top on volume except to impress myself when I first set it up. Just normal listening levels. My goal is to get a very respectable setup without breaking the bank.

The TV is already purchased is a Panasonic 50" plasma, the Panasonic TH-50PX60U, $2100 through Amazon. The DVD player is also purchased, the OPPO DV-970HD Up-Converting Universal DVD Player, $149 direct from Oppo.

What is left are speakers and receiver. I initially was going to get the Bose Acoustimass 10, but was quickly disabused of that.

After resaerch, reading reviews, and sticking to my budget, my speaker picks are:
Fronts- Polk RTi4's
Center- Polk CSi3
Rears- Polk RC60is (in wall for aesthetics)
Subwoofer- Polk PSW303 or PSW404 (not sure and open to options here)

My biggest area of confusion surrounds the receiver. I just don't know much about them. I could really use some help here. My setup will not be fancy or elaborate, so I don't need a very expensive piece with features that I will never use. I just want something that will work well and sound good. I am leaning towards the Yamaha RX-V659, but have also looked at the Pioneer VSX-1016TXV. I guess it has HDMI that the Yamaha does not, but do I really need it? The DVD player does, but I can send that right to the TV right?

Anyway, this is what I am looking at, so am interested in any glaring mistakes or better choices in my price range. Total cost (full retail, can save by shopping around) for the speakers and receiver that I am looking at if I go with the bigger sub is $1580, $3850 for the entire home theater system.

Thanks in advance for any advise.

-Justin

 

[jlyttle]

Sorry, I was not clear with my last sentence regarding price. The $3850 total was including the TV and DVD player. The $1580 total included the receiver and all speakers. I know that I can always buy better stuff, but I'm working within a budget!

 

[drivehard]

Infinity Primus system with Yamaha RX-V659 Rx...best bang for the buck me thinks with the current sales at Crutchfield...$1400 with plenty left for cables.

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-iO57IbFGgTM/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?g=12000&I=108P360
$199 shipped each (mains)

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-iO57IbFGgTM/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?g=12100&I=108PC25
$130 shipped (center)

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-iO57IbFGgTM/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?g=37900&I=108P160
$90 each shipped (surrounds)

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-iO57IbFGgTM/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?g=12300&I=108PS10
$300 shipped (sub)

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-iO57IbFGgTM/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?g=10420&I=022RXV659
$500 shipped (receiver) but you can get it cheaper elsewhere

 

[jlyttle]

I need to stick with bookshelves for room aesthetics. My biggest confusion was if the RX-V659 was my best bet in receivers for $500 or less or if I should look at other options.

 

[jlyttle]

Based on equipment lineup, any opinions on which is the best receiver for $500 or less?

 

[Seth=L]

Based on equipment lineup, any opinions on which is the best receiver for $500 or less?

The Yamaha is pretty well regarded. I would however get the Pioneer VSX-1016. It has HDMI switching and is THX certified. It isn't a lightweight either.

For a sub, I would spend about $100 more and get an HSU VTF-2. I would not get a Polk sub, not good value even at a low price.

 

[highfihoney]

THX certified.

Is this certification really an issue nowdays?

 

[Seth=L]

Is this certification really an issue nowdays?

It make certain guarantees.

 

[jlyttle]

Aside from HDMI, any other advantages? Which will sound better? Which will be easier to use? And, am I missing any other models worth consideration?

On the subwoofer, Do I really need the HSU? I understand that it is a better unit. But if I am never going to crank the system and just want good sound at normal listening l;levels, am I going to notice the difference or need a $500 sub?

Thanks again for the advice people, I appreciate it.

 

[Kai]

I have the 659 and love it for its' sound, power and features. To my ears I preferred it over a similarly priced Denon and Pioneer.
However if I were buying it over again today I would save a bit more money and upgrade to a model with hdmi or buy a model in the same price range with hdmi putting any excess funds into the best quality speakers I could afford that sounded great to me. My emphasis would be on front speakers first.
HDMI is the signal transportation method of the future so those that can may as well start now.
Fortunately we usually replace receivers more quickly than we do speakers and for my type of listening preferences, primarily 5.1 tv/movie viewing followed by music, speakers play the pivotal role in my system.

 

[Seth=L]

Aside from HDMI, any other advantages? Which will sound better? Which will be easier to use? And, am I missing any other models worth consideration?

On the subwoofer, Do I really need the HSU? I understand that it is a better unit. But if I am never going to crank the system and just want good sound at normal listening l;levels, am I going to notice the difference or need a $500 sub?

Thanks again for the advice people, I appreciate it.

The quality of Polks subs is below par, I don't find them musical. They don't go very low either. They just don't sound very good to me.

 

[wilkenboy]

Aside from HDMI, any other advantages? Which will sound better? Which will be easier to use? And, am I missing any other models worth consideration?

Pioneer and Yamaha both make an excellent product. If you plan on running multiple sources (DVD, set-top box, game system, etc) to your TV then a switching receiver can really save a lot of hassle (and cost of cabling between your components and TV).

Both of these units are very usable- ease of use is subjective so go find someone that carries these and try them out for yourself.

On the subwoofer, Do I really need the HSU? I understand that it is a better unit. But if I am never going to crank the system and just want good sound at normal listening l;levels, am I going to notice the difference or need a $500 sub?

You sound like me a year ago when I was laying out my budget. I was trying to get a sub for around $200-$350 and some fine folks here and other places advised me against it. In the end, it was one of the best pieces of advice that I received. A good sub lays the foundation for your audio experience - particularly if you watch any action movies! I limped along with a sub from another system in my house that hit the low-mid 30 Hz range for over a year, and when I finally pulled the trigger on my SVS sub that hits 20 Hz it opened up a whole new experience in movies and music.

Don't get caught thinking that you need to match speakers with a sub from the same manufacturer. In most cases a company that makes great speakers doesn't do a great sub, and vice-versa. There are exceptions to this, but Polk is not one of them. I would consider $450-500 the minimum you should spend via an internet direct company like HSU or SVS, and given the space of your room you might want to consider more.

If you are really tight on budget and can't swing more for the sub I would strongly consider two courses of action:

1) pick one up used from a good source - ebay, audiogon, videogon, and the "for sale" locations on this forum and AVS are good spots to look.
2) wait- I know this sounds crazy in this day and age, but save a little more and get a better sub. Its a lot easier overall to save and get what you want than it is to "settle" then decide a year down the road that the $250 or whatever you spent was not enough. I waited an extra 6 months longer than I planned to pick up the sub I really wanted and it was absolutely, completely worth it.

Good luck and let us know how it turns out!!

~Josh

 

[jlyttle]

Well, I won't have very many sources, no game system on this TV, just cable box and DVD player if that affects my decision between the 2 receivers.

I think that I will take you advise on the sub and look at the $500 HSU. THE vtf-2 mk 3 looks like a winner.

 

[wilkenboy]

I have not personally heard the VTF 2 MK3 but from the specs and in emails with Dr. Hsu its basically a lower powered version of the VTF 3... which is an ***-kicker. For $500 it strikes me as a great deal, maybe even a little better than the SVS PB10 but I have yet to see any head-to-head comparisons.

If your room is really 20x20 (x 10?) you have 4000 cubic feet to fill... that's a pretty decent amount. You might want to email SVS and HSU and see what their recommendations are... both companies will give you a straightforward recommendation based on your application (music or moveis), typical listening level, and room size.

Happy hunting! Choosing a sub is fun.

~Josh

 

[jlyttle]

I have not personally heard the VTF 2 MK3 but from the specs and in emails with Dr. Hsu its basically a lower powered version of the VTF 3... which is an ***-kicker. For $500 it strikes me as a great deal, maybe even a little better than the SVS PB10 but I have yet to see any head-to-head comparisons.

If your room is really 20x20 (x 10?) you have 4000 cubic feet to fill... that's a pretty decent amount. You might want to email SVS and HSU and see what their recommendations are... both companies will give you a straightforward recommendation based on your application (music or moveis), typical listening level, and room size.

Happy hunting! Choosing a sub is fun.

~Josh

http://www.hsuresearch.com/products/vtf-2-mk3.html

This page has glowing reviews, and it is rated best in roomes up to 4500 square feet. My ceiling is 11 feet at its highest, but angles down to 7 feet at the sides, so of the 20 feet across, it is only 11 feet high for roughly the middle 10-12 feet...roughly. So my best guess is that the total volume is somewhere around 3500 square feet.

Assuming that my other speaker choices are good for the money, that leaves me with the receiver dilemma.

 

[Seth=L]

http://www.hsuresearch.com/products/vtf-2-mk3.html

This page has glowing reviews, and it is rated best in roomes up to 4500 square feet. My ceiling is 11 feet at its highest, but angles down to 7 feet at the sides, so of the 20 feet across, it is only 11 feet high for roughly the middle 10-12 feet...roughly. So my best guess is that the total volume is somewhere around 3500 square feet.

Assuming that my other speaker choices are good for the money, that leaves me with the receiver dilemma.

The Pioneer has more power than the Yamaha. It will likely be the same in sound quality and characteristics.

 

[wilkenboy]

http://www.hsuresearch.com/products/vtf-2-mk3.htmlAssuming that my other speaker choices are good for the money, that leaves me with the receiver dilemma.

Speakers are completely a subjective thing - go find out what sounds good to you, then try and get the least expensive thing that best emulates that sound. I could point you to Ascend, Axiom, or the Onix line from AV123 as good deals for the money but in the end let your ear decide, then do your best within your budget. I've auditioned the RTI4s and they'll do a good job if you get them at the right price, I just ended up liking a different sound.

Don't stress too much on the receiver. In my opinion you're in the right ballpark with both the Yammy and the Pioneer. Go try them both on for size (I think Tweeter carries the Polk RTI line and these two receivers) and see which works best for you. At this point in the price scale your sound depends more on the speaker than the reciever, especially if you're not trying to push reference levels.

~Josh

 

[jlyttle]

OK, good advice.

I do have a new small dilema: The center channel speaker is too big. It is the Polk CSi3 for $200. I just setup the TV and there is no room for a center that large. (7x20x9.25) Any recommendations for a good substitute?

 

[Nick250]

Aside from HDMI, any other advantages? Which will sound better? Which will be easier to use? And, am I missing any other models worth consideration?

On the subwoofer, Do I really need the HSU? I understand that it is a better unit. But if I am never going to crank the system and just want good sound at normal listening l;levels, am I going to notice the difference or need a $500 sub?

Thanks again for the advice people, I appreciate it.

Hsu makes a $299 sub, the STF-1. I just checked, they are on sale for $250. Grab one while they last.

http://www.hsuresearch.com/products/stf-1.html

Nick

 

[wilkenboy]

OK, good advice.

I do have a new small dilema: The center channel speaker is too big. It is the Polk CSi3 for $200. I just setup the TV and there is no room for a center that large. (7x20x9.25) Any recommendations for a good substitute?

Pics? Or a sketch? There may be a creative solution.

~Josh