speaker setup

[stope4]

Not 100% sure what I am doing but do like crisp clear sound. I have an older Bose Lifesyle looking to replace. Wondering what you guys think of these setups? Room is 15' deep x 20' wide. 50% video (cable, blu-ray) and 50% music (cable, wifi, local radio, Ipod).

5 Outlaw BLS or 3 Outlaw BLS and ?
1 VTF-2 MK2
Onkyo TX-NR809

Or
Boston Acoustics VS240
Onkyo TX-NR809

or
5 Cambridge S30 or 3 S30 and ?
1 VTf-2 MK2 or Epik Legend Sub
Onkyo TX-NR809

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

what's your total budget?

btw: There more reliable alternatives to onkyo. I own one myself, in fact essentialy same model, only a few generations older. Knocking on the wood - mine still works fine, but too many people had issues with Onkyo's lately.

 

[Swerd]

Not 100% sure what I am doing but do like crisp clear sound. I have an older Bose Lifesyle looking to replace. Wondering what you guys think of these setups? Room is 15' deep x 20' wide. 50% video (cable, blu-ray) and 50% music (cable, wifi, local radio, Ipod).

5 Outlaw BLS or 3 Outlaw BLS and ?
1 VTF-2 MK2
Onkyo TX-NR809

Or
Boston Acoustics VS240
Onkyo TX-NR809

or
5 Cambridge S30 or 3 S30 and ?
1 VTf-2 MK2 or Epik Legend Sub
Onkyo TX-NR809

For $100 per pair less than the Outlaw price, you should also consider Salk SongSurround Is. They are presented as rear channel speakers for the Salk SongTower, but I know for a fact that these make excellent speakers for any system along with a decent subwoofer.

I've never heard the Outlaw BLS speakers but have always been curious about them. From their description, "Woofer 5-1/4" SEAS driver with diecast magnesium basket treated paper cone, low-loss rubber surround", the woofer sounds as if it might be very close or identical to the one used in the Salk Song series speakers.

 

[zieglj01]

Outlaw speakers were built by Snell - they are a good option.

I own the Snell, that is the sister to the Outlaw - I prefer it over the
Boston - however, except for the bass, the Boston is real close. As
good as the Cambridge is, the other speakers are in a different league.

 

[stope4]

what's your total budget?

btw: There more reliable alternatives to onkyo. I own one myself, in fact essentialy same model, only a few generations older. Knocking on the wood - mine still works fine, but too many people had issues with Onkyo's lately.

Hate to put a number on it cause I am wanting the best bang for the buck for say around $3K. I am willing to buy another Bose System for over $3000 so I guess that is my price range. I do like the fact the the Bose speakers are very small but have the room for bookshelves and from a lot of reading think I will get better sound.

 

[stope4]

what's your total budget?

btw: There more reliable alternatives to onkyo. I own one myself, in fact essentialy same model, only a few generations older. Knocking on the wood - mine still works fine, but too many people had issues with Onkyo's lately.

what would you suggest?

 

[stope4]

Outlaw speakers were built by Snell - they are a good option.

I own the Snell, that is the sister to the Outlaw - I prefer it over the
Boston - however, except for the bass, the Boston is real close. As
good as the Cambridge is, the other speakers are in a different league.

what about a sub with the Outlaw?

 

[zieglj01]

what about a sub with the Outlaw?

The Epik Legend is my choice

My second choice
Outlaw (most likely an HSU design)
http://www.outlawaudio.com/products/lfm1plus.html

Or the HSU VTF-2 MK3

 

[stope4]

Finally settled on a setup and have been tinkering with the setup for about a month. Settled on the following:

Receiver - Yamaha RX-A2000
Speakers - 4 Outlaw Bookshelves, 1 Outlaw Center
Sub - Epik Legend

Can't believe how good the system sounds. Havn't even run the auto setup Yamaha offers. Just been playing with setup manually and this system sounds good already for both music and video. The Outlaws w/ the Epik are really something else. Love the clarity when the sound is low and medium with the Epik sitting in the background just thumping away. Love the power during movies when the big sounds come in. Talking is very clear and understandable. Hell, my wife even complimented the way it sounds and looks, even though she was not a big fan of us going any route that took up space.

 

[zieglj01]

Good decision, Good show - I am happy that you are happy.
I do not run auto set up - it wears me out.

 

[timoteo]

I agree thats a nice setup you have. Good to hear that you & wife are happy with the results. Great choice on avr too! I also have the RX-A2000 & love that thing. Very easy to navigate around the menus & an overal great receiver

I would absolutely give the auto setup a wirl. The new advanced YPAO that ours has is a nice calibration system. It gives the sound that last bit of tweaking to fine tune the sound. In my opinion it doest HAVE to be used but i do like the extra refinement it added to my speakers. Helped flatten out the frequencies a little. Its a breeze to run it, im not sure why it would tire anyone out. If you run all 8 mic placements the whole process takes only 15min if that.

Just make sure to go in after you run it to set all speakers to small & crossed over somewhere between 60hz & 100hz depending on your prefference. Have your subwoofers volume knob on the sub itself, set somewhere between 25-50% before running YPAO. Check distances it sets & thats about it. Give it listen & go from there!!!

Congrats & ENJOY!!!!