Share your opinions on this Setup AV+Speakers

[sonixpc]

Hi Everybody,

I'm looking to build a home theater for my living room, about 60 cu.ft.

After reading reviews here and there and adjusting my budjet to $1K, i've come up to this decision:

AV Receiver: Pioneer AVX-1020K (7.1, 80W/ch (20-20khz))
Speakers: Klipsch HDT 1000 5.1

I want it 5.1 cause in the near future i'm planing to deploy a 2nd stereo zone for my terrace.

Any opinion, you like it? do they match?

Thanks for your comments.

 

[emaja]

Be sure to listen to the Klipsch before you buy them - or at least buy from a retailer that has a "no hassle" return policy. Klipsch has a particular sound that people either love or hate. I find them fatiguing to listen to as the highs are just too pronounced.

I am very leery of buying any receiver that does not have pre-outs to be hooked to a power amp if you want to use one later. I was looking at that Pioneer and decided to get my Onkyo instead, but neglected to look for pre-outs. While I love the sound, I do regret not having them.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

I'm looking to build a home theater for my living room, about 60 cu.ft.

I hope thats 60 SQ.ft or else your living room is the size of dog house
I'll assume is 60sq.ft and it'll be about 500 cu.ft - Pretty small, almost at the point I'd think sat speakers should be enough, however normally I don't like them for their multiple limitations

After reading reviews here and there and adjusting my budjet to $1K, i've come up to this decision:

$1K is OK starting budget, but besides 2nd zone what else you expect AVR to do? HDMI switching - How many sources have/planned?

AV Receiver: Pioneer AVX-1020K (7.1, 80W/ch (20-20khz))

While this model has decent value/features - I'm not huge fan of none-elite Pioneers due to severe over-specs - don't believe stated 7x80W 20-20Khz - it's just not there - unless it say all channels powered.

Speakers: Klipsch HDT 1000 5.1

Like I said before - I'm not huge fan of Sat+Sub systems especially not at this price point.

IMO you'd be much better of with this system:

http://www.amazon.com/Onkyo-HT-S9300THX-Channel-Theater-Receiver/dp/B003SE6GIA

$800 with Free shipping for brand new system - this deal would be pretty hard to beat. Next best price would from AC4L for refub system - $699+$75 shipping.. under $22 difference - and you get new system - no brainer here.


However - If you really want you can always go a separates route and there still lots of choices.

 

[sholling]

I agree with the others - Klipsch have a love'em or hate'em sound and I'd listen first. I'm also not a fan of non-elite pioneers.

I usually suggest that people start by building the best 2.1 (on your budget CMT-170SE speakers and a Hsu sub) or 3.1 system that they can afford and adding the rest of the speakers later. However if you are set on starting with 5.1 then looking at your $1000 max budget and the 500cuft room size I suggest building your own system. One option might using Infinity's Primus line. I suggest 4x P152 bookshelves and a PC250 center for about $425 shipped. Add a nice starter subwoofer - possibly a Bic V-1220 $175 or Dayton SUB-120. I'm not an expert on < $200 subs but those two are popular and get good user reviews. If you're in an apartment I'd put the sub on a Gramma isolation pad to keep the neighbors happy.

That leaves you enough in your budget for an Onkyo TX-SR608 receiver.

You could save a bit by watching for a Newegg sale on Polk Monitor 30 bookshelves and a CS1 center but I think the Infinities sound a bit better. That's just my personal preference. The Polks have been on clearance sale a lot lately.

 

[Stereodoctor]

Klipsch or junk as I refer to them are a speaker that uses horn tweeters. Horn tweeters are great for outdoor events or large concerts but they lack the dynamic range that you'll find in a conventional speaker. They are also extremely bright and fatiguing as mentioned above not to mention that in the world of horn tweeter speakers, klipsch are not on the radar.
Personally I would recommened looking for something with a soft dome tweeter either silk or some other composition as they are the most versatile and flat tweeters on the market. That is why any reputable music studio will use speakers that have a soft dome for mixing and mastering and monitoring. I hate Polk as well, but for your budget they have a decent home theater in box package that fares pretty well.

 

[sonixpc]

Thank you all for your wise answers.

My aplogogies for not having responded to you earlier (I was sick)... My friend ended up purchasing that setup i mentioned but we havent installed yet. I'll drop my findings once I use it.

Thanks again

 

[yepimonfire]

Klipsch or junk as I refer to them are a speaker that uses horn tweeters. Horn tweeters are great for outdoor events or large concerts but they lack the dynamic range that you'll find in a conventional speaker. They are also extremely bright and fatiguing as mentioned above not to mention that in the world of horn tweeter speakers, klipsch are not on the radar.
Personally I would recommened looking for something with a soft dome tweeter either silk or some other composition as they are the most versatile and flat tweeters on the market. That is why any reputable music studio will use speakers that have a soft dome for mixing and mastering and monitoring. I hate Polk as well, but for your budget they have a decent home theater in box package that fares pretty well.

actually horns have incredible dynamics, klipsch speakers themselves have great dynamics, but they are incredibly bright sounding. i personally love how klipsch sounds but wouldn't buy them because they aren't the most accurate speakers out there. Sonixpc, i would recommend getting a good receiver and good front L/R speakers to start (that are bass capable) and then adding the rest of the speakers later, your front speakers ( left, right, center) are the most important speakers in the setup because nearly all the sound in movies comes out of them, they set the sound stage. my recommendations: http://store.audioholics.com/product/1172/18/yamaha-ns-555-3-way-tower-speaker--each- with a http://store.audioholics.com/product/1174/21/yamaha-ns-c444-2-way-center-channel-speaker

and http://store.audioholics.com/product/3304/18/infinity-primus-p363-floorstanding-speaker--each- with http://store.audioholics.com/product/3306/66417/infinity-primus-pc351-center-channel-speaker and (heres what i have) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882290209 with http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882290213

and for receivers: http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/ONKTXSR607BLK/Onkyo/TX-SR607-90-watts-channel-7.2-Home-Theater-Receiver/1.html http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/MARSR5004/Marantz/SR5004-90w-X-7ch-Home-Theater-Surround-Receiver/1.html

 

[adwilk]

Klipsch or junk as I refer to them are a speaker that uses horn tweeters. Horn tweeters are great for outdoor events or large concerts but they lack the dynamic range that you'll find in a conventional speaker. They are also extremely bright and fatiguing as mentioned above not to mention that in the world of horn tweeter speakers, klipsch are not on the radar.

Typical regurgitation Klipsch bash here... Feel free to ignore, OP...

Klipsch speakers have EXCEPTIONAL dynamics and provide a pretty solid HT experience. For theater setups where little "critical" music listening in involved, I think the Klipsch setup is fantastic for the money for a great HT. Most inexperienced listeners love Klipsch budget HT stuff.

By the way, referring to the reference stuff, Klipsch speakers "brightness" has less to do with the actual horn and much more to do with the xover point on the midrange...

 

[yepimonfire]

Typical regurgitation Klipsch bash here... Feel free to ignore, OP...

Klipsch speakers have EXCEPTIONAL dynamics and provide a pretty solid HT experience. For theater setups where little "critical" music listening in involved, I think the Klipsch setup is fantastic for the money for a great HT. Most inexperienced listeners love Klipsch budget HT stuff.

By the way, referring to the reference stuff, Klipsch speakers "brightness" has less to do with the actual horn and much more to do with the xover point on the midrange...

the xo point is around 1500hz which is pretty low for an xo point, how would the xo point effect the "brightness"?