Suggestions for 5.1 theater system around $1500 or less (speakers)

[design1stcode2n]

Hello everyone. I built a new family room last year and just used some exist, old, bad speakers and its finally time to get something better. I’m willing to spend around $1,500 for a 5.1 system and it will be powered by a Yamaha RX-V663 receiver (basically it can run 95watts to 7 speaker channels).

I know didily squat about audio, I mean didily so I’ve been browsing some forums including this one for speakers and apparently the brand names I’m used to hearing about don’t seem to be talked about here. That tells me they spend a lot on advertising and are probably more the HTIB crowd.

So for home theater as in Blu-ray movies, video games and HD TV what would you guru’s recommend?

My room specifics are 20x20 with vaulted ceiling, I don’t want towers for my fronts as my animals and kids could knock them over or into the walls like they have done already (some 15yr old JBL’s).

I’m currently looking at the Aperion 5B Fusion SD I'd post a link but this is my first post...

With the size of the room it would probably benefit from a 6B but I’m going to catch hell for buying the 5B which is a grand cheaper. My wife like many doesn’t understand the need for speakers since you know “the TV has speakers” according to her.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Davemcc]

That's a pretty big room for small speakers. I suggest that you also budget for a subwoofer or two as part of a decent HT setup. How you manage your wife about this issue is entirely your problem.

The subwoofer(s) will relieve the main speakers of having to produce the bass portion of the audio and allow these small speakers to handle their duties more cleanly and effectively.

 

[WmAx]

OP: The Yamaha is not very powerful, and the Aperion package you specified has a very low efficiency. You won't get very good dynamic capability here.

I'm going to recommend Ascend Acoustics CBM170SE for all speakers (L, R, C, RL, RR, RC). This is because not only is sensitivity higher, the CBM170SE has drivers with motors of unusual capability to cleanly produce very high SPLs. They are a great monitor/HT speaker.

I would recommend two good quality 10" or 12" subwoofers, one placed on each side of room, for optimal/seamless integration to the CBM170SE units. Set speakers to SMALL, xover set to 85Hz or higher. 100 is optimal, and if you have a twin set of subs as suggested, you'll benefit doing this.

I have extensively analyzed this speaker system, and I do not make such recommendations lightly. Despite the average look, this speaker is using extremely high quality drivers considering the situation; these motors are usually only found on much more expensive systems IME. The crossover is well designed. This speaker is extremely linear/accurate. I have verified it to have about +/- 1.25dB response from 100Hz up to 16kHz. -3db is at about 75Hz. A 5 channel set up would leave you with just enough left over budget to get a couple of Elemental Designs 10" ported subwoofers. You would have very substantial dynamic capability for the entire audible bandwidth and SQ above what is usual.

-Chris

P.S.: The Ascend CBM-170SE is 4 Ohms nominal despite manufacturer specification stating 8 Ohms.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

I wonder how CBM170SE compares with Klipsch B-3 ?

 

[shadyJ]

I would go with Infinity Primus speakers, not only because they are good speakers, but they will make room in the budget for subwoofers. Two Primus p162 fronts, a Primus c350 center, and two P152 rears wouldn't cost more than $600. Don't be fooled by the inexpensive price, these are terrific speakers. This gives you a decent budget for subwoofers, and at this time I would turn to Outlaw Audio's sale, where you could get two Outlaw LFM-1 Plus subs for $1k, and I think that would be powerful enough to rock that room.

Something else I would look at is packages from Hsu Research, SVS, or Elemental Designs, which are packages of good speakers that will come with great subwoofers too. I don't think any of their packages will match a Primus/Outlaw setup for value, though.

 

[SopRage]

I highly recommend the Ascend system as well. I've had a very similar system for a few years now and I'm still crazy about it.

 

[templemaners]

OP: The Yamaha is not very powerful, and the Aperion package you specified has a very low efficiency. You won't get very good dynamic capability here.

I'm going to recommend Ascend Acoustics CBM170SE for all speakers (L, R, C, RL, RR, RC). This is because not only is sensitivity higher, the CBM170SE has drivers with motors of unusual capability to cleanly produce very high SPLs. They are a great monitor/HT speaker.

I would recommend two good quality 10" or 12" subwoofers, one placed on each side of room, for optimal/seamless integration to the CBM170SE units. Set speakers to SMALL, xover set to 85Hz or higher. 100 is optimal, and if you have a twin set of subs as suggested, you'll benefit doing this.

I have extensively analyzed this speaker system, and I do not make such recommendations lightly. Despite the average look, this speaker is using extremely high quality drivers considering the situation; these motors are usually only found on much more expensive systems IME. The crossover is well designed. This speaker is extremely linear/accurate. I have verified it to have about +/- 1.25dB response from 100Hz up to 16kHz. -3db is at about 75Hz. A 5 channel set up would leave you with just enough left over budget to get a couple of Elemental Designs 10" ported subwoofers. You would have very substantial dynamic capability for the entire audible bandwidth and SQ above what is usual.

-Chris

P.S.: The Ascend CBM-170SE is 4 Ohms nominal despite manufacturer specification stating 8 Ohms.

Have you ever tested Ascend's CMT-340SE or Sierra-1's? I've been debating between those speakers for a while, but leaning towards coughing up the extra $$$ and going with 3 vertical Sierra-1's across the front...

 

[sholling]

I know you don't want towers but to fill a room that size without having to over-rely on the sub you are going to need some super sensitive speakers. Especially since I refuse to set crossovers any higher than 80hz. Above that point the location of the subwoofer becomes obvious to the listener and you get the ping-pong effect with your attention bouncing back and forth between speakers and sub. Something up at or above 93db@1watt should do the trick for you but that doesn't give you a lot of choices at your price point. A pair of Infinity Primus P362 towers, a PC350 center, and a pair of P162 bookshelves for surrounds would set you back $600 and leave you $900 for a decent sub or better yet a pair of subs.

If you must have bookshelf speakers then I'd look at Klipsch. Klipsch has a long established reputation for producing major volume with darn little amplifier power. The problem is that you either love the Klipsch sound or you don't. If you consider this route then I would for sure get to a store and audition them. And if possible I'd move up the speaker food chain and start with 3.1 system with a plan to come back later and add surrounds and a second sub. The lowest that I would consider on the Klipsch food chain are the RB-51 bookshelves ($390/pr) with an RC52 center ($320). However if you can stretch your budget a few hundred I'd move up to RB-61 bookshelves ($500) and RC-62 center ($500). The front ported designs of the 61 and 62 will make placement a bit easier (a selling point with the wife). I personally like Klipsch speakers but they can be fatiguing if they aren't your thing. Add surrounds next year or put them on your Christmas wish list and you're styling.

For the sub (based solely on reputation) I'd probably consider something like an eD A5-350, perhaps a pair of A2-300. Either way I'd call eD and have them help you size the sub. I'd also check with SVS. You can never have too much sub.

 

[design1stcode2n]

Thanks everyone, the more I’m reading the more I’m thinking I may need to go with floor speakers as the space is just too large (Guess I can just push the wires in and patch the holes). I looked at some of the Klipsch systems, the PL3 and RF-52 (although I’m not quite sure why that have two similar systems at similar prices). A bit higher than I wanted to spend but they seem like a good value (perhaps substitute the sub for one from eD or SVS).

I think one of the reasons I was leaning towards the Aperion Audio systems is the customer service; 30 day in home free trial, can upgrade within 12 months and just pay the difference (so can go from a 4T $325 to a 5T $495 and just pay the $170 difference) and they have a nice look to them as well.

 

[SopRage]

Ascend's customer service is nothing to sneeze at either; however, you do have to pay shipping if you send them back (I believe).

Have you considered using CMT-340s for L/C/R and CBM-170s for surrounds? I don't think you'd have a hard time getting those CMT-340s to fill that room. I don't want to speak for him, but I think much of what WmAx had to say about the 170s applies to the 340s as well since they use the same drivers (just with an added woofer).

Also, for what it's worth, I think you'd find the Ascends to be much more accurate than the Klipsch.

 

[design1stcode2n]

The more you search the more you find it seems. I spoke to the guys at ED and it’s a 30-40 wait for subs. While doing more research I came across a deal on Klipsch XF system so 2 XF-48’s, 2 XB-10’s, XL-23 and XW-500d all for under $2,000. Going to do a bit more research but that seems like a good deal to me.

 

[lsiberian]

The more you search the more you find it seems. I spoke to the guys at ED and it’s a 30-40 wait for subs. While doing more research I came across a deal on Klipsch XF system so 2 XF-48’s, 2 XB-10’s, XL-23 and XW-500d all for under $2,000. Going to do a bit more research but that seems like a good deal to me.

Good design makes good speakers. Just like it does software. There are a lot of products out there, but most of them aren't well designed. The Ascends system has been taken apart and fully analyzed by Wmax. He's even got graphs of their response somewhere. From the pictures they appear to be very good quality speakers built properly. Still I think you could save money with a couple pairs of behringer 2030ps most people can't tell the difference between a centered system and an uncentered one. That would leave you with 1200 to spend on subs and receiver. If you have tools you could easily build your own sub. The design patterns that make for good speakers are bracing, and acoustic treatment. The Ascends use corner bracing every few inches. This is better than most speakers out there, but you are on a budget.