Speaker Choice Help

[jaxvon]

I need to get a 5.1 setup of speakers for my dorm room next year. They need to be inexpensive, be able to handle fairly high SPLs, have good fidelity, and handle HT well.

For music, they're going to be playing everything. I listen to mostly classic rock (Steely Dan) and jazz. My roommate is more rock oriented (Audioslave, Coldplay, etc). We both listen to a lot of other stuff though, including rap and R&B.

HT will be important too. We're going to have a PS2 connected to the setup as well as have it doing movie duty.

Current brands under consideration (but no definite setup yet):

-Axiom
-Bic
-Rocket
-Paradigm
-B&W

For budget, I'm trying to go low cost and still get excellent sound and volume. I'm thinking maybe around $1200 for the 5 satellites...but nothing is set in stone yet. Cheaper is better, but not if I can make a big step up in sound for a few hundred more.

My sub, I'm already 75% sure is going to be an SVS PB-10. For the money, I can't find anything else that sports its specs. Yes, it's front ported and I know some people don't like that. However, I am open to suggestions.

Don't worry, I am budgeting for acoustical stuff. Reciever, not sure about either. I'm also open for suggestions on this stuff too.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Buckeyefan 1]

That's easy

That's easy. These will rock for a song and a dance. I only had two of them, and they are still going strong - even after 4 years of some hard partying.

Here's some of the sad crap we used to listen to.
REM, The Cure, Guns N Roses, Heavy D, 311, Blues Traveler, Digital Underground, MSB-don't ask if you don't know, Slick Rick and Doug E Fresh

 

[jaxvon]

Okay, so where's the best place to pic up the Bic's Buckeye?

Oh, and btw, OSU SUCKS!*


















*Due to the fact that I am a student at the University of Michigan, I am required by law to hate and/or insult all other opposing universities, regardless of the situation. I am also required under penalty of death to insult OSU and/or MSU.

 

[jaxvon]

Oh cmon, Buckeye. I know you lurk here enough to have seen my reply...

 

[Buckeyefan 1]

Oh cmon, Buckeye. I know you lurk here enough to have seen my reply...

Sorry, although I work out of the house, I still have calls in the field to make. Man business is slow.

Yeah - college football. Man, I bleed scarlet and gray. About the only thing Michigan has going for itself are nice golf courses. I made it up to the Ryder Cup last year in Michigan, just northwest of Detroit. Man, was that impressive. You have a few nice lakes, too. But as far as that football team - you really need to get past Notre Dame before you start worrying about getting your tails kicked by us. I will say you have one heck of a recruit. You better play him. No sense in wasting talent. He could turn into a Clarette on ya! Kevin Grady RB 5-10 230 East Grand Rapids, Michigan. I may be going to our 2nd game against Texas. Should be a barn burner. Just remember - November 19th, we will be there to school you...again.

As far as the BIC's go, try the 800# on the site, or go to yahoo shopping.com; shopzilla.com, or google/ebay for pricing. You'll find the center is going for around $120 shipped, and each set of bookshelves for around $100 shipped. $330 is what you'll pay with a 7 year warranty and 5 speakers. Not too bad.

 

[jaxvon]

Thanks for the reply..

So what would you recommend? A set of 62's all around (and the matching 62 center)?

 

[jaxvon]

Alright, I think I know what I'm gonna get. Looks like I'll be opting for 4 DV62s and a DV62 center. Now I just need to decide on my sub (SVS, Hsu..other?), reciever, and DVD player.

 

[Buckeyefan 1]

Thanks for the reply..

So what would you recommend? A set of 62's all around (and the matching 62 center)?

That's the set.

 

[Tom Andry]

How much do you want to spend on a sub? The SVS goes for $429. Have you considered the Outlaw LFM-1 $579? Gene's about to post the ep500 review which I'm fairly sure will be glowing. But that's a whole chunk of change above the other two.

I haven't heard the BIC speakers, but I will say that the Axioms have treated me really well. You could have 4 m2ti's, the vp100 center, and the ep350 sub for $1,239.75 shipped from the factory outlet. Or switch the fronts for m22ti's (reviewed well here) and get the svs and pay about the same. Just a couple of thoughts.

 

[jaxvon]

If I had more money, I'd probably go for the Axiom set. Unfortunately, I'm a college student and I'm poor. Besides, if my speakers get abused, I won't feel as bad watching a $100/pair speaker get busted as I would a $440/pair speaker. From good online retailers, I can get 5 Bic speakers for around $300 before shipping and no tax. Even with a PB12 ISDV, I'm coming in at less money. Of course, I wouldn't go for that because that would be rediculous overkill in my room.

The sub thing...

Well, I plan on using my setup for everything. And a lot of movies need that low bass. The only subwoofer in the <$600 price class that seems to have 20Hz extention is the SVS. My only reservations about this sub is the fact that it is front firing with a front port.

Still looking for other suggestions...

 

[jaxvon]

While we're on the topic for suggestions, I wanna ask about reciever opinions (not the right topic for this area, but it's my thread, I can hijack it if I want).

I'm looking into going with a HK AVR335 or AVR435. Both seem like good options. Are there any other recievers that I would do better with in this price range? Most likely looking for new only.

 

[Buckeyefan 1]

While we're on the topic for suggestions, I wanna ask about reciever opinions (not the right topic for this area, but it's my thread, I can hijack it if I want).

I'm looking into going with a HK AVR335 or AVR435. Both seem like good options. Are there any other recievers that I would do better with in this price range? Most likely looking for new only.

Only the Yamaha 1015 and 5890 come to mind in that price range.
Wait, don't tell anyone about this. Here you go.
www.ubid.com/actn/opn/getpage.asp?AuctionId=10427617

 

[jaxvon]

Waahhh....why do I have to be poor now...

I'd go for that refurb if I had the cash right now, but I don't. I'll keep my eyes peeled though...

So that's a no on the HK? I was under the impression that they made good stuff (thinking about maybe going AVR435).

 

[Porcupine]

Maybe Bohlender-Graebener like me?

> I'm thinking maybe around $1200 for the 5 satellites.

You can get a complete 5-speaker set of Bohlender-Graebener Z-series speakers for about $1400. The exact same ones I just got, except I didn't get the center channel speaker...not enough $$$, plus I don't even own a decent surround sound receiver (I had a cheap crappy one which broke and I am throwing it away now).

The problem is that an accordingly good surround receiver will cost a painful amount. Probably almost $1000 I would think. That's why I just have my BGs set up as 2 separate stereo systems...one for my TV and one for my computer...both with very good quality stereo receivers in the $300 range each. You probably need a 100-watt per channel receiver or more for BGs, otherwise when you play loud you might clip and break the ribbon tweeters. And 100-watt per channel 5.1 receivers seem to cost a ton.

 

[Porcupine]

My current stereo receivers are an Onkyo TX-8511 100-watt/ch and a Harman Kardon HK-3480 120-watt/ch. I bought the HK a month ago but never used it until 2 hours ago when I finally got my BG towers to hook it up with.

I myself just went through the process of receiver hunting and went with the HK. At least for the stereo receivers, HK and Onkyo seemed like "better deals" than the Yamaha, Kenwood, etc. I'm sure Yamaha and whoever probably makes awesome quality stuff, but I think HK and Onkyo are more worth it.

 

[Buckeyefan 1]

The HK's are great. I was just adding to them as options.

The Denon 3805 was at $1 earlier today. I would have never thought it would have gone to over $600 so fast. Sorry.
Stick to HK, Yammy, and Pioneer.

 

[jaxvon]

So then, would you say the AVR435 from HK would be about equal to a Yammy 1500, and a Pioneer...what?

I've seen a decent price around $550 for the 435 online with all the warranty and goodness. And it's a much better price than a comparable Yammy.

I'll have to check out a local hi fi shop that carries Yammy and see how I like it. I don't know of any HK dealers in the area.

Aight thanks. Keep the tips and suggestions coming.

 

[Takeereasy]

Hi Jaxvon

Have you considered the HSU VTF-2. It is specced very close to the SVS sub and is downward firing and rear ported. In a review by Tom Nousaine this sub went to 20hz at 93db, identical to the specs SVS are claiming. It may be a smidge more expensive but it is also better looking IMO.

For receivers are you willing to consider the Harman Ebay store? I read where you said you'd prefer new, but then you also said you'd be happy with the refurbed Denon. One of the guys on this site picked up a refurbed 7200 for $530. That is one heck of a deal so you could probably get your best price on a Harman from that site. I'm not always a big fan of the refurb idea, but when it comes with full mfg. warranty, I don't know how you could loose.

For speakers I can't comment on the Bic's, I've never heard them, but the closest dealer to me that sells HSU also sells Bic speakers. I plan to remedy my not hearing the Bic's at the same time I am auditioning the HSU subs. I can't suggest anything in the same price bracket as those BICS so I won't bother trying to. Good luck with the purchase. Congrats on being so patient, I wish I'd been.

 

[jaxvon]

I'm considering it. The price of the 12" Bic sub looks quite nice ($200 online, shipped), but I can't imagine that it would have the quality that the VTF-2 could produce. With taxes and all, the SVS is a little over $490. The
Hsu will be $524, which isn't bad at all.

I'm not going to be getting my reciever for a little while due to insufficient funds. However, I do plan on picking up 2 pairs of the DV62 bookshelves off Ubid soon because the $96 price ends on the 26th. Shipping will be $34 for the two pairs, but that's still a hell of a deal.

After that I'll grab my center, reciever sub, and other stuff.

 

[jaxvon]

Any more suggestions right now guys?