Recommended Speakers for VSX-D812K Receiver

[gexamb]

Hey everyone, I am new to this forum the HT AV scene as well.

I have a Pioneer VSX-D812K receiver lying around and I want to take full advantage of it but I have no speakers.

1. Is this receiver worth the money to invest in?
2. Which speakers will go best with this receiver?
3. How much will it cost me for the speakers?

specs are 600-700w total 6 channel surround sounds x 100w each channel at 8ohms.

NOTE* this receiver and set of speaker are not going to be used for HT system. I will be going to connect it to my computer in my room. The sound will be coming from a SoundBlaster X-Fi Titanium sound card (one of the best) via optical connection to the Pioneer via optical. Sound will be used for movies (STD, HD, BluRay), music, and gaming.

Is it practical or worth it to use this receiver with a computer setup?

Thanks in advance for the help.

 

[gexamb]

anyone have any input?

 

[gexamb]

would I be able to build my own DIY loudspeakers to be able to work with the above mentioned receiver?

if so, i was thinking of using one of these Madisound kits:

madisound. com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=8525

or even this set:

Dayton HTS-1200B

would this work with the Pioneer D812k?

would it be more cost effective (and also considering the quality of sound) to build my own or buy a pre-made speaker set to be used in a pc application like i mentioned in comparison to these pc speakers?:

newegg. com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16836121120&Tpk=z5500

my plan is to have a 5.1 or 4.1 (no center) setup. if the DIY route would work, I can first start out with just a 2.1 setup, and if i like the results i can buy another set for the surround sound setup.

regarding the subwoofer, I already have one from my existing setup. the current speakers i have is 2.1 CyberAcoustics set, but the thing is the one of the L or R ports on the amp located on the sub has died out and i am running on one speaker. I was thinking of being able to use my sub (8") as a separate dedicated sub (since it has its own amp). but controlling it would be a little wierd and maybe impossible. IDK, im just throwing some ideas out there.

wat do you guys think? are any of my suggestions plausible? i want to keep the budget under $200 for the whole thing. it is a little low, but i am not aiming for HT quality, just a little bit better than what i have now.

 

[lsiberian]

would I be able to build my own DIY loudspeakers to be able to work with the above mentioned receiver?

if so, i was thinking of using one of these Madisound kits:

madisound. com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=8525

or even this set:

Dayton HTS-1200B

would this work with the Pioneer D812k?

would it be more cost effective (and also considering the quality of sound) to build my own or buy a pre-made speaker set to be used in a pc application like i mentioned in comparison to these pc speakers?:

newegg. com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16836121120&Tpk=z5500

my plan is to have a 5.1 or 4.1 (no center) setup. if the DIY route would work, I can first start out with just a 2.1 setup, and if i like the results i can buy another set for the surround sound setup.

regarding the subwoofer, I already have one from my existing setup. the current speakers i have is 2.1 CyberAcoustics set, but the thing is the one of the L or R ports on the amp located on the sub has died out and i am running on one speaker. I was thinking of being able to use my sub (8") as a separate dedicated sub (since it has its own amp). but controlling it would be a little wierd and maybe impossible. IDK, im just throwing some ideas out there.

wat do you guys think? are any of my suggestions plausible? i want to keep the budget under $200 for the whole thing. it is a little low, but i am not aiming for HT quality, just a little bit better than what i have now.

DIY isn't cheap if you don't already have the tools.

You will need to following.

Safety Goggles, and ear plugs. A mask if you plan to use MDF.

Plunge Router with Jasper Jig and a high quality spiral upcut bit(Whiteside).

Circular Saw with high tooth blade for cutting plywood or MDF.

DC attachments for your saw and router. They are really a must IMO. Otherwise you will be covered in dust and have all sorts of bad stuff in the air. Especially for MDF.

Several clamps(The more the better) 16" or longer> Quick ones are the best, but bar ones are cheap and titebond.

Orbital Sander for cleaning edges for gluing.

Your materials of course. HD and lowes have sheets that are 2' x 4' in size that are much easier to handle than a full sheet. I suggest those unless you have help.

What quality do you want your speaker to be?

Hi-Fi is a lot of work. So be preparred to take your time.

I suggest you start with a DIY subwoofer to get your feet wet. Loudspeakers are much more challenging.

The Madisound kit is sold out ATM. But if you want advice on it I currently use the kit for my front 3 speaker setup. Just let me know.

 

[sholling]

You didn't say what you want t use it for. Music? Home theater? Budget? It makes a big difference.

I'll toss out some ideas for you but it's based on reputation only, I haven't heard them. Plus speakers are the most subjective part of any system. What I love you may hate and what you love I may hate. That disclaimer aside I'll toss out two ideas but I'd buy from someone that accepts returns just in case you hate them. I'll assume a $400-600 budget.

If it's primarily for music I'd just buy a pair of full range tower speakers. The VSX-812 doesn't have all that much power behind it despite Pioneer's claims. It's going to have an easier time driving two very efficient towers than lower efficiency bookshelf or satellite speakers. Plus I prefer towers. For movies you can add an acoustically matched center as money allows. And then when money again allows add surrounds and a subwoofer. This is the route that I'd take. Reports are that this is a really good candidate for the money. Review Matched center

For mainly videos or if you must have a 5.1 system to start with I'd look at the Energy Take Classic 5.1 system that Vanns has on sale for $400. I haven't heard it but it has a decent reputation as a good starter system. Review

The budget buster would be a SVS SBS-01 for $1000.

Again these were tossed out based on reputation and reviews and not personal experience. Your taste may be totally different.

 

[fredk]

If you are handy, I would not think that it is too difficult to put together a basic DIY kit. You can ask in the DIY forum for suggestions for good kits.

Hooking up to your computer will be worth while. I don't know much about your receiver, but I suspect it will be just fine for what you are doing.

If you do a search in this forum on bookshelf, you will find some good discussions with recommendations in your price range. This is a topic that gets covered regularly.

If I were you, with the budget you have, I would look at a pair of bookshelves to start. You will either be happy with what you got, or get an urge to add to your system. If you have an urge for DIY, you can follow up with a DIY sub as money becomes available and add surrounds and a center down the road.

 

[gexamb]

thx guys for all your help.

I actually am very handy and have most of the tools necessary to complete a DIY project. I love car audio and have some experience replacing speakers and making custom sub boxes. only tools i am missing a router.

i thought i mentioned it earlier, but his application will be used for my PC via optical to Pioneer receiver. I just really want to keep the price range down as much as i can.

do you guys think it would be worth it to jump in and DIY the whole thing or go with the Logitech set i posted above?

for the sub, i was actually thinking of taking the amplifier out of the current sub I have and connecting it to the receiver. i believe the sub is 8 ohms and can handle 100 watts and my receiver outputs 100watt each channel. would be a perfect match if it would work.

thanks again guys.

 

[sholling]

i thought i mentioned it earlier, but his application will be used for my PC via optical to Pioneer receiver. I just really want to keep the price range down as much as i can.

I do that in both my family room and my home-office. For my home office I use a pair of Energy C100 bookshelf speakers that I bought on sale for $90 and a TSC T250 subwoofer. Total investment $350. This would be a lot better choice than using computer speakers. But for movies I'd spend the extra $50 and buy the Energy Take Classic for $400.

 

[sholling]

But for movies I'd spend the extra $50 and buy the Energy Take Classic for $400.

Or use the Take Classic surrounds with a larger T250. That would rock.

 

[gexamb]

i got really depressed when i found out the RB kit was no longer available. is this for good?

now i have narrowed my search down to:

Dayton HTS-1200B (5.0) $110

Energy C100 bookshelf (pair) $109

Energy TAKE 5.0 $199

Polk Audio R150 bookshelf (pair) $60 (refurb direct from Polk FleaBay)

what do you guys think about this?

i can start off with 2.1 and then add on if i choose to get the bookshelfs. i plan on using my ported and pre-tuned 8" sub, it gives me nice tight bass.

i can maybe do the c100 as rears and r150s as fronts or vice versa? any suggestions?

thanks again

 

[jostenmeat]

Whatever you do, don't buy those Polks. They are maybe the worst speakers I've ever heard, not including the little computer speakers that they throw in the box, or laptop speakers. A little girl could punch a hole in those cabinets.

Your budget ceiling is $199? Energy is a well known value leader; Canadian company that benefits from NRC research, as does PSB and Paradigm for instance.

One type of speaker you can look at are monitors, such as made by KRK and Behringer. Known for very high value.

 

[gexamb]

umm i dont know if i should have monitors, maybe it wont hurt i do a little bit of recording and editing every now and then.

ms40's any good?

on another note, if i used the c100's as my fronts, would it be effective or sufficient enough to put the polks as rears? i might be able to get em really cheap, possibly $45 a pair.

at that price level it would not hurt to try.

 

[lsiberian]

thx guys for all your help.

I actually am very handy and have most of the tools necessary to complete a DIY project. I love car audio and have some experience replacing speakers and making custom sub boxes. only tools i am missing a router.

i thought i mentioned it earlier, but his application will be used for my PC via optical to Pioneer receiver. I just really want to keep the price range down as much as i can.

do you guys think it would be worth it to jump in and DIY the whole thing or go with the Logitech set i posted above?

for the sub, i was actually thinking of taking the amplifier out of the current sub I have and connecting it to the receiver. i believe the sub is 8 ohms and can handle 100 watts and my receiver outputs 100watt each channel. would be a perfect match if it would work.

thanks again guys.

What is your budget.

I suggest you build a cabinet with dense bracing(oak or metal) and a constraint layer.

Use 13 birch ply for the exterior and use particle board or concrete for the inner layer. Use 1/4 inch peel n seal in(cheap version of dynamat) In between the interior and exterior.

Line the interior of the cabinet with 2" 6lb mineral wool. Make sure to cover it with fabric to prevent it from getting on your drivers. Put 4" on the back wall.

Flush mount the drivers.

Build a sealed design. Porting brings many issues with it to speakers. It's best for subs.

This post is full of information that I've gleaned from Wmax and others I plan to do these for my own speakers. Sadly I haven't yet done this. So you can't just go look at my build.

These things combined will net an acoustically neutral cabinet.

Check out my MBM project for helpful software tools and necessary tools for building a speaker.

My goal is to show people the principles.

 

[fredk]

I would stay away from the Logitec speakers.

Don't give up on DIY yet. You can try Parts-Express for kits. I do not know anything about any of these kits, but there may be someone here who does.

I would also post your question in the DIY Forum. You might get a better response from speaker builders there.

Another alternative is to look at the second hand market: Something like Paradigm Atoms or a PSAB bookshelf.

Do some searches on bookshelf speakers. Here is another thread that gives a couple of options in your price range. There is lots of info out there if you do a little digging.

 

[gexamb]

i think i have made my decision on my setup. i am thinking of going with the Dayton BR-1S or MTX Monitor 5i kits:

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=302-019

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=300-643

Are these good choices? Which one would you guys recommend for a PC application? i am leaning more toward the BR-1S kit. it would be a very fun project to do.

Again i thank everyone for their input on helping me. i really started to build a good knowledge base for myself on HT audio. will never go back to looking at pre-made over-rated in-store products ever again.

 

[gexamb]

well, i looked up the Madisound site today and saw that since the RB1-kit was so successful, they will be selling the new RB2-kit. only difference is new/different tweeters from the original. same price too $59/pair

so i am now adding this kit to my post above. my decision will be between these three kits.

http://www.madisound.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=35_428&products_id=8525