Newb, kinda sorta...

[TeKKiE]

Hey guys, didn't know where to post this, so I figured I'd start here

I've been an audiophile for a LONG time, now. I purposefully go to high end audio stores to sit down in demo rooms, just to listen to music fill my soul. I have on occasion held back tears of joy, from beautiful sounds from wonderful speakers.

That aside, now...

I have recently splurged on a new Video setup, which is just lovely, but my currently existing audio setup needs to fast track to the garage, and out of my living room.

This is where I encounter the problem. I'm a HUGE Paradigm/B&W fan, but don't really want to wing the prices, even of that of Paradigm (The poor man's B&W?)

I've also asked a few people more knowledgable than myself in the audio realm, about receivers. Most are telling me that with my setup, I REALLY need DTS-HD or Dolby TrueHD, in order to take advantage of the PS3. Again, price becomes a problem.

I'm not the type of person that likes to build in phases. I tend to want it all up front, and I know this could eventually bite me in the end.

Bottom line is that I'm here to ask you folks about receivers and speakers, that won't kill the wallet, all while sounding very good for the money. The living room is almost an open floorplan, but still rather squared in design. The TV is a new 46" Samsung 6 series, and obviously I'm using the PS3 for playback. I'd like to use HDMI, so I don't have to bother with Optical, although that's fine, too.

Just an idea of what I was looking at:

Denon AVR-2808CI (DTS HD and Dolby TruHD)

Paradigm speakers, Athena Speakers, B&W speakers...

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[trnqk7]

You didn't mention budget, and although I highly enjoy my previous model year Denon (2807) and can vouch for it's quality, a cheaper option that many suggest is the Yamaha RX-V663 which should be about 1/2 the price of the Denon with most of the features. Feel free to check their respective websites for more details.

I would suggest checking out the Yammie and Onkyo also has a few cheaper offerings. For a little more than the Denon, you could also get separates from Emotiva with their new pre-pro and either an older LPA-1 or it's newer replacement, if it's out yet. Several options from them worth checking out if you have time.

Speakers...need more of a budgetary guideline, you mention B&W and that price spectrum is huge, but that you want something cheaper...how much is cheaper to you?

 

[Seth=L]

The Yamaha RX-V663 definitely offers the better bang for buck. It's supposed to have a solid amplifier as well from my understanding it's the same as the RX-V659's amplifier.

 

[jcPanny]

Speaker options

Some people compare the AV123 Onix Rocket series and the Axiom M80's to the paradigm studio series. Check out their forums and see if you can find a local owner who will let you demo their system.

There are some good deals on the closeout Athena speakers, but they are not in the same price and performance bracket as Paradigm and B&W. They are great for an entry level system.

My only other sugestions would be to make friends with a few of the salesmen who can get you the paradigm speakers at cost. Also scan audiogon for some lightly used speakers for about half of the new retail price.

 

[TeKKiE]

Thanks all, for the recommendations. I was running around so much that I didn't have a chance to check back here.

I ended up going with an Onkyo SR605 receiver from Circuit City, for around $430. A friend told me that this was a great receiver, and from reviews and the above replies, it looks like I seemed to have made a good choice.

I had completely forgotten to leave my budgetary constraints in my initial post. I'm actually quite alright with the prices of the Paradigm, it's the subwoofer that was a little out of my pricerange, at first. Now, though, considering I saved a great deal by going with the Onkyo, I think I'm going to go pick up the Paradigms this afternoon

The only thing that the dealer/salesperson recommended different, for the rear channels, were the LM-1's from B&W. I don't think their prices on the LM-1's were far fetched, but I'm wondering if I should go this route, or possibly get two more monitors from Paradigm for the rear channels?

Oh, my budget (before I again forget), is roughly $1500 for just the speaker setup. I'm willing to go a little higher, but not MUCH.

I have two kids, one being almost 2, and one being almost 6. All speakers with the exception of the driver need to be wall mounted, so that kiddos don't try and have fun with the speaker stands, like from my previous audio setup.

Thanks for your input, and I'll be sure to let you know soon what I ended up going with. Maybe I'll even post some pictures in the near future, of the setup

Thanks again!

 

[TeKKiE]

Just a quick update...

I don't know how I EVER lived without a REAL stereo system! I have yet to even install the four bookshelf speakers, and I'm already in heaven. I cannot wait to hear what the complete system sounds like!

The system:
Onkyo TX-SR605 (I know it's a 605, could be wrong with the other characters).
Paradigm Monitor .v5 (Atoms), two pair
Paradigm Monitor C-190 Center
B&W ASW608 subwoofer

I have decided that wall fishing is going to be too taxing, so I'm going to go buy the mounts and have a professional do the installation. This is likely the best way to do it, and it's not too expensive to have someone do the work, for me.

More to follow

 

[TeKKiE]

Hello again everyone! It's been a VERY long time. I troll quite a bit, but never really had anything interesting to say until now.

I have since moved from TX to MD, and currently live in a tri-level townhome that I'm leasing. I've been doing quite a bit of research into wireless transmitter/receivers for my rear channel Paradigm monitors, but I'm really nervous about pulling the plug and buying a wireless setup. I know it's not really "wireless", in that power is required, etc.

I just want to know if they're decent enough that I could utilize them since I want to refrain from modifying the dwelling.

Any suggestions?

 

[k_lewis]

Hello again everyone! It's been a VERY long time. I troll quite a bit, but never really had anything interesting to say until now.

I have since moved from TX to MD, and currently live in a tri-level townhome that I'm leasing. I've been doing quite a bit of research into wireless transmitter/receivers for my rear channel Paradigm monitors, but I'm really nervous about pulling the plug and buying a wireless setup. I know it's not really "wireless", in that power is required, etc.

I just want to know if they're decent enough that I could utilize them since I want to refrain from modifying the dwelling.

Any suggestions?

I have tried a number of wireless audio transmitter setups over the years and never had one that worked reliably or with decent sound quality. A lot of it has to do with other passive interference from cell phones, wifi, remotes, TV, etc. I might suggest looking at one of the 'audio over powerline' solutions, have heard they work quite well since the signal is sent in a digital format over the AC line and then converted back to analogue on the receiver end.

You'll need an amplifier on the receiving end to power the speakers so keep that in mind as well.

This should get you started-
http://www.google.com/search?q=audio+over+powerline&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a

 

[k_lewis]

Thanks all, for the recommendations. I was running around so much that I didn't have a chance to check back here.

I ended up going with an Onkyo SR605 receiver from Circuit City, for around $430. A friend told me that this was a great receiver, and from reviews and the above replies, it looks like I seemed to have made a good choice.

I had completely forgotten to leave my budgetary constraints in my initial post. I'm actually quite alright with the prices of the Paradigm, it's the subwoofer that was a little out of my pricerange, at first. Now, though, considering I saved a great deal by going with the Onkyo, I think I'm going to go pick up the Paradigms this afternoon

The only thing that the dealer/salesperson recommended different, for the rear channels, were the LM-1's from B&W. I don't think their prices on the LM-1's were far fetched, but I'm wondering if I should go this route, or possibly get two more monitors from Paradigm for the rear channels?

Oh, my budget (before I again forget), is roughly $1500 for just the speaker setup. I'm willing to go a little higher, but not MUCH.

I have two kids, one being almost 2, and one being almost 6. All speakers with the exception of the driver need to be wall mounted, so that kiddos don't try and have fun with the speaker stands, like from my previous audio setup.

Thanks for your input, and I'll be sure to let you know soon what I ended up going with. Maybe I'll even post some pictures in the near future, of the setup

Thanks again!

You know that Onkyo 605 is actually quite good. I bought one on special from amazon for a guest bedroom system. I initially did it as an interim solution but have been impressed with the sound quality- Onkyo keeps rocking the scene with budget pricing on quality sounding receivers.

Now if you want a real awesome upgrade in the future that will not break the bank, look for a pre-owned Integra DHC-80.2 on Audiogon or ebay. Will cost in the range of $1500 to $1800 but you'll have something that will knock your socks off. Downside is you'll need a separate multi channel amplifier, if that is not feasible then look for the Integra DTR-80.2 which has the amp built in.

Net result is a pre-pro that competes with $6k and up pre-pros at a fraction of price.