Suggestions for a ~$700 5.1 setup?

[scosp]

Okay, my TV's shoddy built in speakers make a really annoying, consistent hum, so I've replaced them with my old, even shoddier eMachines PC speakers which are plugged into the headphone jack. So I'm really desperate for an upgrade.

I've already placed an order with The Speaker Company, however, they seem to be running out of inventory. The order was sent 10 days ago and haven't had any updates; I think I'm SOL. So now I'm looking for a different route.

Details ...

- Would like a 5.1 setup
- ~$700 budget (have wiring/cables)
- Receiver is Pioneer VSX-21TXH
- Medium sized room
- L/R floorstanding or bookshelf, it doesn't matter to me; I just want good value. Although the rears will be mounted.

Currently interested in SVS' 5.0 set, which includes 4x SBS-01 and a SCS-01 Center on sale for $399. They have a complete 5.1 set also, but I really don't think I need the $400-500 subwoofer as I'm living in an apartment. Instead, I'm looking at the BIC Acoustech H100 which is ~$220. Keep in mind I need to factor in stands for the L/R and mounts for the rears.

Please feel free to give suggestions. I'm not an audio expert at all and am open to any advice (esp. if you can find better deals!)

 

[Adam]

Welcome to the forum!

Nice choice of the VSX-21. My friend has one and loves it. I have the VSX-23 and am happy, too.

The SVS system is the first thing that came to my mind, given the current pricing. I wouldn't worry about having "too much" sub at this point. You don't have to crank it, after all. However, having a good sub is a very nice thing, IMO. How long do you plan on being in that apartment, and do you plan on using this system in a house or larger place later on?

 

[JerryLove]

three pairs of Behringer 2030p's will put you out $450. Spend the rest on subs.

See also http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=60890 (and a few others)

 

[scosp]

@Adam
I don't have any plans of getting my own house anytime soon. I really don't want to go overboard with the sub because I'm already getting complaints with my Klipsch ProMedia's.

@JerryLove
Thanks for the input.

Can anyone comment on Behringer 2030p vs SBS-01? Also, wouldn't it be better to have a dedicated center channel instead of a bookshelf?

 

[j_garcia]

The behringers will be more neutral, but the SVS package IMO is a great bang for the buck at the current sale price. Even the PB-10 sub will be a LOT overkill compared to the ProMedias though (do it anyway )

 

[Transmaniacon]

You could look into the Polk Monitor series at Newegg. They are a great value speaker and you could get a 5.0 set-up for about $470 (2 Monitor 60s, 1 CS2, Monitor 30 Pair).

The TSi line at Best Buy are good to demo because they are identical to the Monitors, but with updated appearances. The TSi400 is comparable to the Monitor 60. Give these a listen because Polk speakers are known for being bright, and some people do not like this sound quality.

You could stick your remaining budget into a subwoofer, the Premier Acoustics PA-120 is what I would recommend, the cherry in both the Polks and sub is pretty sharp looking imo.

PA-120 ($230): http://www.sounddistributors.com/buynow.asp?action=detail&prid=197&crid=57&cat_name=Powered+Subwoofers

Puts you right at $700

 

[KASR]

Fluance has a great offering!

http://www.fluance.com/fluan5speaks.html

Leaves plenty of scratch for a sub!

 

[Seth=L]

Fluance has a great offering!

http://www.fluance.com/fluan5speaks.html

Leaves plenty of scratch for a sub!

I've heard and read that Fluance is very second rate, one notch above garbage. I could be wrong, but no one of note really "raves" about them.

 

[KASR]

I've heard and read that Fluance is very second rate, one notch above garbage. I could be wrong, but no one of note really "raves" about them.

I've always wondered about them, that's for sure - I've never heard them before - so that's good to know!

 

[sholling]

In an apartment I would avoid going with any kind of subwoofer and instead buy a pair of full range towers and an acoustically matched center. Hopefully TSC will be getting some more TST2s in again soon. That's the route I'd take.

 

[Transmaniacon]

Furthermore, you could go with the Polk Monitor 70s, from what I have heard, they are a good full range choice and can stand without a sub woofer just fine. Monitor 70s and Monitor 40s with a CS2 center would be a nice system.

 

[njedpx3]

three pairs of Behringer 2030p's will put you out $450. Spend the rest on subs.

See also http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=60890 (and a few others)

I agree with JerryLove. Get these Behringers for $130.99 from Amazon.com (free shipping) http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000QF2T1M/ref=asc_df_B000QF2T1M986137?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&tag=googlecom09c9-20&linkCode=asn&creative=380341&creativeASIN=B000QF2T1M

So now total is only $392.97 That leaves $307.03 for subs.

You can get one Dayton SUB120-HT for $155.23 and have $151.80 left over http://www.amazon.com/Dayton-SUB-120-Watt-Powered-Subwoofer/dp/B000C9NV78

A better sub, but it will push you slightly over your budget is the SVS PB10.NSD for $449. That would be $141.97 over unless you possibly could find a b-stock one. http://www.svsound.com/products-sub-box-10nsd.cfm

Good Luck!

Forest Man

 

[JerryLove]

In an apartment I would avoid going with any kind of subwoofer and instead buy a pair of full range towers [..]

Why is that?

Towers will be larger and harder to position. They will have greater problems with resonance (they are not nearly as stiff as comparable bookshelves), and they will offer less upgrade flexibility.

What do you see as the disadvantage of bookshelves/subs?

 

[Seth=L]

He could always get two dayton subwoofers.

 

[sholling]

Why is that?

Towers will be larger and harder to position. They will have greater problems with resonance (they are not nearly as stiff as comparable bookshelves), and they will offer less upgrade flexibility.

What do you see as the disadvantage of bookshelves/subs?

Towers are larger and can sometimes be harder to position. But not always. You still need to position bookshelf speakers off the floor and away from the back wall to let the ports function which means buying stands. Second you probably are not wall hanging the TV in an apartment. That means that the TV will be on a stand 8-15" from the back wall anyway.

Full range towers really have 3 big advantages for a low cost apartment system.

1. Plenty of bass for music without the floor thumping, wall shaking bass that drives neighbors crazy.
2. The woofers aren't pointed at the floor like many subs - a big deal if you have down stairs neighbors.
3. In many cases a full range tower can be more efficient and require less power to drive.

Later if you decide that you want a bit more bass for movies the you can always add a sub, cross over at 40hz, and only run it when the neighbors aren't home.

A pair of TST2 is $400-500 shipped depending on if they are on sale. A pair of Polk Monitor 70 are often on sale for under $400. Budget another $120 for an acoustically matched center and you're good to go. It's just a mater of finding a pair who's sound you like.

 

[JerryLove]

Towers are larger and can sometimes be harder to position. But not always. You still need to position bookshelf speakers off the floor and away from the back wall to let the ports function which means buying stands. Second you probably are not wall hanging the TV in an apartment. That means that the TV will be on a stand 8-15" from the back wall anyway.

Your statement requires that bookshelves all have rear-firing ports. I don't believe I've ever recommended a bookshelf with a rear-firing port.

You can buy a stand: making it like a tower. You have the added advantages of being able to hang it on a wall, put it on a shelf, etc; unlike a tower.

Full range towers really have 3 big advantages for a low cost apartment system.

1. Plenty of bass for music without the floor thumping, wall shaking bass that drives neighbors crazy.
2. The woofers aren't pointed at the floor like many subs - a big deal if you have down stairs neighbors.
3. In many cases a full range tower can be more efficient and require less power to drive.

Later if you decide that you want a bit more bass for movies the you can always add a sub, cross over at 40hz, and only run it when the neighbors aren't home.

Again you make assumptions which are this time self conflicting. A tower cannot be both full range and lack the range of a sub "floor thumping bass". A tower in this price range is very unlikely to be full range, and very likely to be very resonant (said resonance will translate into the floor if you haven't isolated the tower: making if floor thumping).

Also, many subs (including every one I've recommneded) have forward-facing drivers.

A pair of TST2 is $400-500 shipped depending on if they are on sale. A pair of Polk Monitor 70 are often on sale for under $400. Budget another $120 for an acoustically matched center and you're good to go. It's just a mater of finding a pair who's sound you like.

A dayton 12" and 2030p's will cost you <$300 and give you a flatter response, less resonance, and a wider frequency response.

Also, unlike the tower, you can turn down the gain on the sub.... to stop that floor-rattle while still hearing the talking. You can even turn it off.

On the up side: towers will make mid-bass integration simpler. Some will prefer the look (WAF). There are some excellent full-range, and near-full range towers: but not at this price point.

 

[scosp]

About subwoofers ...

I'd really like a "tight" and "accurate" sub. Nothing too boomy (though the option to make it boom would be fun.) I'm probably going to keep it way down except when watching movies.

With that in mind, does the Dayton hold the best value? Nobody seemed to comment on the H100. Please share your thoughts on the best sub in the $150-250 range.

 

[JerryLove]

With that in mind, does the Dayton hold the best value? Nobody seemed to comment on the H100. Please share your thoughts on the best sub in the $150-250 range.

They Dayton is a bit boomy. The fix to the dayton to tighten it up costs $3 plus gas to your local Walmart.

The Dayton is a very good sub in or near its price range. Obviously, as you move into subs several times the cost: you are going to find better options.

 

[sholling]

You can buy a stand: making it like a tower. You have the added advantages of being able to hang it on a wall, put it on a shelf, etc; unlike a tower.

Ok I'll buy into that with front ported speakers. I'm sort of curious though why you wouldn't want the two mains to be 2031Ps? I haven't heard them but my philosophy is I want my mains to go town below 60hz even with a sub. That's why I suggested a pair of mains that would go comfortably down below 50hz. That's low enough bass for most music without the thump thump thump of subs reaching down to 20hz. That's just my way of looking at things after dealing with apartment and condo life for half of my 53 years. Again out of simple curiosity do the $140 2930Ps sound better than the larger and only slightly more expensive ($180) 2931Ps?

Again you make assumptions which are this time self conflicting. A tower cannot be both full range and lack the range of a sub "floor thumping bass". A tower in this price range is very unlikely to be full range, and very likely to be very resonant (said resonance will translate into the floor if you haven't isolated the tower: making if floor thumping).

I'll stand corrected. Instead of full range perhaps I should have said closer to full range or "near full range", or near enough to full range to live with without a subwoofer. This solution also works well with a sub because you can still turn off the sub when the neighbors are home without losing mid-bass. As much as I love bass I've just had to many neighbors that complained about deep bass more than simple volume. Again I don't don't disagree with you it's just a philosophical difference. I would think that a pair of the 2931s if they sound as good a the 2930s might be a happy solution that fits both of our world views.

I respect your opinions (and the Audioholics review praising the for near field use) have me just curious enough that I may pick up a pair of 2930s for my computer and then move my Energies to a secondary TV room. The my Energies sound good but you need to be at least 4-5 feed away to really appreciate them to their fullest - and 5.1 on a PC is a waste for me.

 

[mazersteven]

@Adam
I don't have any plans of getting my own house anytime soon. I really don't want to go overboard with the sub

There is no such thing as "OVERBOARD" when it comes to subwoofers.

It's all about the bass being accurate. With proper placement, and calibration you will control the bass output.