recommendations for floorstanding speakers or HTIB

[gregfi]

I'm planning on buying a new HDTV in the somewhat-near future. To complement it, I'm looking for a decent sound system. I'm not an audiophile (...obviously, otherwise I would already know the answers to these questions.)

I'd like to have some surround sound capability, but music's really more important to me. I'm looking to spend in the $500-$800ish range on this project. Am I better off going with a HTIB, or a stand-alone receiver with floor-standing speakers, and surround speakers that merely do a decent job (i.e. aren't McDonald's intercoms)? How obvious would it be if there's a gap in quality/tonality between the floorstanding speakers and the other surround speakers?

I'm leaning towards the latter option - something along the lines of an Onkyo SR-606 with some yet-to-be-determined floorstanding speakers. It's hard to find an authoritative source for reviews of "budget" floorstanding speakers. What's the best set of floorstanding speakers in the < $500 range? < $300 range? What's the best bang for the buck?

If I'm headed in the wrong direction, what would you recommend?

Thanks,
Greg

 

[-Kevin-]

I'm planning on buying a new HDTV in the somewhat-near future. To complement it, I'm looking for a decent sound system. I'm not an audiophile (...obviously, otherwise I would already know the answers to these questions.)

I'd like to have some surround sound capability, but music's really more important to me. I'm looking to spend in the $500-$800ish range on this project. Am I better off going with a HTIB, or a stand-alone receiver with floor-standing speakers, and surround speakers that merely do a decent job (i.e. aren't McDonald's intercoms)? How obvious would it be if there's a gap in quality/tonality between the floorstanding speakers and the other surround speakers?

I'm leaning towards the latter option - something along the lines of an Onkyo SR-606 with some yet-to-be-determined floorstanding speakers. It's hard to find an authoritative source for reviews of "budget" floorstanding speakers. What's the best set of floorstanding speakers in the < $500 range? < $300 range? What's the best bang for the buck?

If I'm headed in the wrong direction, what would you recommend?

Thanks,
Greg

Take a look over at The speaker company.
http://www.thespeakercompany.com/Floor-Standing-C8.aspx

They are a relatively new internet direct company. These towers are identical, minus the color of the tweeter, to the "Sapphire" line that used to be sold at tweeter and received lots of positive reviews.
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=638522

From what i've read the best performing towers in that line are the ST1 and the ST3.

 

[Davemcc]

It looks like you are on the right track but I would suggest that you find the best deal you can on a decent receiver, then spend as much as humanly possible on a good set of front speakers. Add the rest of the components at a later date as the budget allows. That way, you will get the best possible music quality right now with a clear upgrade path that will give you a way, way better system over time than you could get by trying to get everything right now with the current budget.

 

[3db]

It looks like you are on the right track but I would suggest that you find the best deal you can on a decent receiver, then spend as much as humanly possible on a good set of front speakers. Add the rest of the components at a later date as the budget allows. That way, you will get the best possible music quality right now with a clear upgrade path that will give you a way, way better system over time than you could get by trying to get everything right now with the current budget.

Good advice. Its a pain to rebuild a system twice from the ground up. Do it right the first time getting some decent and like Dave says, build upon that instead of having to replace everything all at once.

 

[m_vanmeter]

the "T" series from www.thespeakercompany.com are a good option as mentioned already. Another option is the great sale prices on Polk Monitor 50/60/70 tower speakers at Amazon.com and Newegg.com and the surrounds can be Monitor 30 or 40's. A subwoofer from HSU Research, BIC, Velodyne or Parts Express "Dayton" line would round out the system.

There are really good sales now on the Onkyo SR606 a/v receiver and Pioneer VSX series receivers. A source of factory refurbished units from Marantz and Onkyo is www.accessories4less.com (a factory authorized reseller so the factory warranty is good).

Good Luck

 

[fredk]

If this is primarily for HT use, look at bookshelf mains and allocate a little more towards the sub and surrounds, particularly if it is in a smaller room.

Also, if space allows, you could then use a 3rd bookshelf as a center for the best movie dialog sound.

I like what Davemcc wrote as well.

 

[snowhiteboiler]

I'm in the same boat as you, not an audiophile, and not a lot of money to spend on speakers. I have a set of the Edesign 6t6 towers and I couldn't be more happy with them... I've enjoyed them both while watching movies and listening to music. There is a review of them posted on the forum here someplace I am pretty sure and I know that they are on sale over at the website right now, too.

 

[Highbar]

The Audioholics store just put up a nice sale on EMP speakers this morning. They are very close to RBH speakers since they are their lower priced line. They are a little more than you wanted to spend but are a great deal at the prices. Take a look here.

 

[rickdog81]

Emp & Rbh

The Audioholics store just put up a nice sale on EMP speakers this morning. They are very close to RBH speakers since they are their lower priced line. They are a little more than you wanted to spend but are a great deal at the prices. Take a look [

Have you heard these EMP or RBH in general. Read alot of good reviews and thinking of pulling the trigger. Only thing holding me back is size. EMP are all 4" speakers and I can get other systems in similar price range with larger speakers. I don't care about speaker size or loudness. I want clarity and a range to compliment home theater use. If the EMP 4" speakers produce better audio than other 6.5" speaker towers (like BIC acoustech) then I will jump all over it. Relatively new side brand from RBH so not many reviews from owners only Gene fro audioholics which also sells the speakers. Doesn't seem unbiased.