Receiver with AS-F2.2 floor speakers

[Virgil]

Hello all. This is my first post on audioholics so if I say something stupid just bare with me.

I have been reading the forums hear recently, and for a while was considering purchasing a 5.1 system and had my eyes on the Athena .5's (which came highly recommended from all of you and other reviewers. HOWEVER -- after talking with my mother and father (ie the ones with the money, this is for our living room) they said they would like just two large floorstanding speakers in front. This is fine with me as I love classical music of all varieties and believe it would sound fabulous on floorstanding speakers.

Previously I was intending to buy a mid-range Yamaha receiver like the HTR-5850, an adequate DVD player like the Samsung HD-850, and the Athena .5's like I said. Now I am considering some of the inexpensive but quality floorstanding speakers from Athena -- the AS-F2.2:

http://www.athenaspeakers.com/model-AS-F2-2.htm

And I was wondering: would I still want to purchase the Yamaha receiver to tie the DVD player, TV, and floor speakers together, or will the fact that I'm not purchasing a 5.1 home theatre system make me want to look for something else?

peace

 

[Spiffyfast]

That setup will work great for you and you will love the Athena's, great speakers. Go ahead and get the Yamaha receiver and it will be ready if they ever want to add surround sound at a later time, might as well plan for the future now and now have to upgrade.

 

[Virgil]

hey spiffy, thanks for the fast reply (like the pun?)

My biggest worry was that the Yamaha receiver wouldn't be able to route enough power to the large floorstanders in front, but apparently that won't be a problem (I think).

thanks again

 

[Buckeyefan 1]

hey spiffy, thanks for the fast reply (like the pun?)

My biggest worry was that the Yamaha receiver wouldn't be able to route enough power to the large floorstanders in front, but apparently that won't be a problem (I think).

thanks again

The Athena's you are looking at are an excellent choice. See if you can't nab a Pioneer 1015 for the same price as the Yamaha.

 

[BJP]

Previously I was intending to buy a mid-range Yamaha receiver like the HTR-5850, an adequate DVD player like the Samsung HD-850, and the Athena .5's like I said. Now I am considering some of the inexpensive but quality floorstanding speakers from Athena -- the AS-F2.2:

Hi Virgil, make sure with whatever DVD player you go with that it has an optical output. The 5850 does not have coax input, that's why I went with the 5760 . Those Athena's will sound great though.

 

[Virgil]

why do I have to have optical output? forgive my neophyte questions.

Wes

 

[Buckeyefan 1]

why do I have to have optical output? forgive my neophyte questions.

Wes

You don't need an optical. You need at least a digital coaxial for your dvd player to your receiver. Some say optical lacks the precision of coaxial. You really should spend the extra $$ and get the 5890/1500 or Pioneer 1015/9100/9300. It's just a few tanks of gas, you know.

 

[Virgil]

haha, well i'll have to say that is a good way to look at it, although I'm not sure my parents (whom I am doing the research and purchasing the system for) would buy it. Maybe "50 loaves of bread" would work better.

peace

Wes

 

[Buckeyefan 1]

haha, well i'll have to say that is a good way to look at it, although I'm not sure my parents (whom I am doing the research and purchasing the system for) would buy it. Maybe "50 loaves of bread" would work better.

peace

Wes

Do you have a budget to work with? What's the grand total? We can put a killer system together for you.

 

[BJP]

why do I have to have optical output? forgive my neophyte questions.

Wes

Coax and optical gives you 5.1 sound. You could use L/R audio connections, but you will have to use Dolby ProLogic II, which is good, but DD and DTS are so much better.

 

[Virgil]

digital?

5.1 for only two speakers in front? How does that work?

Also, if you care to know my folks said they were willing to spend $1000 on the new home sterero/theatre. That includes:

Receiver
2 front speakers
DVD player

the DVD player doesn't have to be great, as we're not really techies and won't be playing any crazy expensive media or whatever all the functions and gadgets on expensive DVD players is for. Correct me if I'm wrong.

At this point the main competitors for my money are:

HK-AVR235 ($350 at J&R computer and music world)
Athena AS-F2.2 floorstanding speakers ($500 at audio advisor)
Some moderately priced panasonic DVD player ($100)

all things considered that should be around $1000

any suggestions?

peace

Wes

 

[mulester7]

any suggestions?

....Virgil, ya' need to come out-of-pocket for a $250 sub to place in the middle of the mains under the TV set for Mom and Dad....I suspect Dad, would see to it, that you were asked over to eat, LOT'S more, after the installation....

.....and Virgil, ain't that a grand CHEAP way to feed that woman you're married to?....huh?....what?....speak up, Son....

.....hmmmm, so, your bride would field-dress about 370, huh?.....

.....(drumming fingers)....

.....Virgil, ya' need to come out-of-pocket for $250, Son.....

 

[jaxvon]

Another option...

The BIC system strikes again!

2 pr BIC DV62SIB bookshelves
1 BIC DV62CLR Center

$346.87 Shipped at Amazon

1 BIC V1220 Powered Subwoofer: 190.99 shipped at X-10

This comes $537.86 shipped for an entire 5.1 speaker setup. You just need to furnish the stands and cables.

I like the rest of your choices. You may want to check out the Pioneer DV-578A Universal player.

 

[Buckeyefan 1]

HK-AVR235 ($350 at J&R computer and music world)
Athena AS-F2.2 floorstanding speakers ($500 at audio advisor)
Some moderately priced panasonic DVD player ($100)

Very hard to beat for the money. You'll do fine without a sub with dual 8" woofers, as long as the towers are somewhat near corners. I like your choice of receiver.

If you want to come in well under $1000, or add a sub for around $1000 total, you might consider these:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00012F7CI/sz-ce-20/ref=nosim/102-9309406-7691321

http://www.x10.com/electronics/allcategories/electronics/caraudiovideo/speaker/subwoofers_and_enclosures_bic_america_V1220.html?41bd8fbcce55b90842d7feab

 

[mulester7]

.....Virgil, if your Mom and Dad will view the TV from a couch or chairs in the middle about 15 feet from the TV, try placing your two mains out beside the TV on both sides, imaging at about 8 feet of stereo seperation, pointing to the location where your parents will sit....

.....elevate them, if at all possible, where they are imaging above the level of seated heads, and if possible, elevate the TV to be between the imaging....even one foot of raising the imaging, has an amazing effect for the chamber, and sure, too high is not good, and yes, you need a sub to correct and cover for the floor-standing mains not being on the floor.....

....if'n I had one sub and two mains, and that was it, the sub would go on the floor evenly split between the mains....and it would for sure be front-firing....and it would make the overall sound like the mains were doing it.....

.....and Virgil, Mom, for sure, won't want the pictures falling off the walls....but yeah, Dad will crank that sub when she's at the market.....

.....Buddy, I watched a "BIG" framed-picture about 4 feet wide with gold wood-frame disappear behind a plush couch one day, haha....whompy cornerhorns with bass tone-control at 5 o'clock, haha....LOUD....mercy....I'm glad those BIG mid-range metal horns are gone.....

.....Virgil, we'll expect a report......

 

[BJP]

5.1 for only two speakers in front? How does that work?

Sorry about that Virgil. I've got to read posts more carefully . If your just going for 2 towers than don't be concerned about the coax/optical connections.