Suggestions for a new 5.1 Home Theater

[marklabonte]

I am putting together a home theater in my basement and would like some help. I have my centre channel and front left and right speakers (klipsch reference series) but would like suggestions for the surrounds, sub woofer and the receiver. My budget for the surrounds is $500 each, sub-woofer $500-$600 and the receiver $1100.

I have heard that Yamaha is a good choice for the receiver but don't know what to do about everything else.

The home theater will be used almost exclusively for movies, television and X-box.

Thank you.

 

[DD66000]

For surrounds you want to stay with what floats your boat, in your case, Klipsch reference.
As for a receiver go with whatever brand has the features you want @ the price you're will to pay. I prefer HK, Marantz, Pioneer.

 

[marklabonte]

For surrounds you want to stay with what floats your boat, in your case, Klipsch reference.
As for a receiver go with whatever brand has the features you want @ the price you're will to pay. I prefer HK, Marantz, Pioneer.

Any suggestions for subs in my price range?

 

[DD66000]

As I built my own subs, I can't tell you which current brands are best or which is the best bang for the buck. But the ones that seem to keep being mentioned are SVS, HSU, Velodyne.

 

[j_garcia]

At the ~$600 price point, I'd say HSU VTF-2 mkIII or SVS PB12. How big is your room?

 

[marklabonte]

At the ~$600 price point, I'd say HSU VTF-2 mkIII or SVS PB12. How big is your room?

My room is 15' by 20'. Any suggestions for a receiver? I don't need multiple rooms but would like 1080 upconverting, at least 3 hdmi inputs and decent power. Also I want a receiver that has all the dolby functions and DTS-hd ( I believe that is what it is called).

 

[j_garcia]

No idea on receiver - whatever the current Yamaha is should do fine I would imagine, around your price point. I haven't kept up with receivers, so I am not sure what features the current models have, but there should be at least one from all mainstream manufacturers that will meet your specs at $1100. I also have a preference for Marantz and H/K.

 

[Highbar]

I am putting together a home theater in my basement and would like some help. I have my centre channel and front left and right speakers (klipsch reference series) but would like suggestions for the surrounds, sub woofer and the receiver. My budget for the surrounds is $500 each, sub-woofer $500-$600 and the receiver $1100.

I have heard that Yamaha is a good choice for the receiver but don't know what to do about everything else.

The home theater will be used almost exclusively for movies, television and X-box.

Thank you.

If I were you I would take some of the money you have earmarked for your receiver and put it to your sub.

I agree that you should just stick with some bookshelves from the Klipsch Reference line for your surrounds and since Klipsch are very efficient to drive you wont need a ton of power to hit high volumes. Any mid level Yamaha, Pioneer, Onkyo, or Denon will have enough power and all the features you are looking for.

That will free you up to around $1000 for your sub which will be much better for your room. Look around the SVS site and see what you like.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Yeah, I would spend like $100 each on the surrounds (Klipsch) & move that budget to the subwoofer.

http://www.jr.com/klipsch/pe/KLP_RB10/

Call J&R and talk to Jacques and tell him that 6Ave can sell the Denon 3808CI for $1100. He should be able to match that.

If you want to go separates, I would go with Emotiva UMC-1 Pre-Pro for $700 + Emotiva UPA-7 (125w x 7ch Amp) for $539.

 

[AVRat]

Depending on the type of surround you’d like, the Klipsch RB-51/RS-42 will be sufficient. As well as the RB-10 mentioned above.

For the receiver, J&R has the Pioneer 1019 on pre-order for $500 and meets your requirements.

The money saved with these items could be put toward a better sub like the HSU VTF-3 MK3 or Epik Sentinel.

 

[agarwalro]

If I were you I would take some of the money you have earmarked for your receiver and put it to your sub.

I agree that you should just stick with some bookshelves from the Klipsch Reference line for your surrounds and since Klipsch are very efficient to drive you wont need a ton of power to hit high volumes. Any mid level Yamaha, Pioneer, Onkyo, or Denon will have enough power and all the features you are looking for.

That will free you up to around $1000 for your sub which will be much better for your room. Look around the SVS site and see what you like.

+1

Surrounds are more flexible in that you dont necessarily need to tone match them to the front and center speakers (movie use), but is advisable if you intend to listen to multi-channel music.

The room is fairly sizable. Maybe you can look into putting 2 subs for $1000 or so. Hsu and SVS make excellent subs and their value can only be beaten by DYI efforts. AH recently did a comparison between 2 subs vs 1 of the same cost. There are pros and cons to both approaches, but in general, 2 subs give better integration and frequency response.

 

[marklabonte]

If I were you I would take some of the money you have earmarked for your receiver and put it to your sub.

I agree that you should just stick with some bookshelves from the Klipsch Reference line for your surrounds and since Klipsch are very efficient to drive you wont need a ton of power to hit high volumes. Any mid level Yamaha, Pioneer, Onkyo, or Denon will have enough power and all the features you are looking for.

That will free you up to around $1000 for your sub which will be much better for your room. Look around the SVS site and see what you like.

I saw a the Yamaha htr6180 and rxv863 for around $850. Would these suffice?

 

[marklabonte]

+1

Surrounds are more flexible in that you dont necessarily need to tone match them to the front and center speakers (movie use), but is advisable if you intend to listen to multi-channel music.

The room is fairly sizable. Maybe you can look into putting 2 subs for $1000 or so. Hsu and SVS make excellent subs and their value can only be beaten by DYI efforts. AH recently did a comparison between 2 subs vs 1 of the same cost. There are pros and cons to both approaches, but in general, 2 subs give better integration and frequency response.

Do you need a special set-up for multi-channel music or is that just the norm now? Forgive my ignorance.

 

[lsiberian]

Yes I would spend only enough for 500 dollar receiver and up your subs.

For surrounds just get a pair of Klipsch satellites. I'm sure they have some cheap pairs. Put your main money into your subs.

 

[lsiberian]

I saw a the Yamaha htr6180 and rxv863 for around $850. Would these suffice?

I think that's overkill you are spending too much on your receiver.

Subs are far more valuable.

spend no more than 500 on your receiver.

 

[agarwalro]

Do you need a special set-up for multi-channel music or is that just the norm now? Forgive my ignorance.

For movies the front stage (mains + center) need to be tonally matched so that when the audio pans from one side to the other, the movement is seamless. In movies, the surrounds are used mostly for effect and ambiance. So tonal match between surronds and the front soundstage is not mandatory.

An ideal front sound stage will be the same speaker used as L, C, R.

For multi channel music, this concept is extended to all speakers involved since the mix may contain significant audio on the surround speakers and you want the sound to pan seamlessly across the entire (360 degrees) soundstage.

An ideal multi channel music setup consists of the same speaker used for all channels.

 

[krzywica]

I second and thrird the repositioning of the budget to the sub especially as this will be a HT only room.

I would look at the RX-V 665 which is an excellent receiver and has 4 HDMI ports and does upconverting to 1080P. This can be had for around $500.

Your room is not that big, but if you budget will allow I would say go for an HSU VTF3 MK3. Or two HSU VTF2 MK3's.

I have a VTF2 MK3 (see sig) and it is more than enough for my room. The sound is just fantastic.

I would also go with the surround speakers that are linked as they will be fine for HT usage. If you were to be doing multichannel music playback I would say get some really good surrounds, but those will do for HT.

 

[lsiberian]

If you have space limits on your subs. And want to just have a nice bells and whistle receiver. The Onkyo 905 is a steal at accessories4less. It comes with the best AS XT which makes the sound stage seamless for home theater. When set up correctly. However that depends on your subs size requirements.

 

[Highbar]

Do you need a special set-up for multi-channel music or is that just the norm now? Forgive my ignorance.

No, you don't need anything special for multi channel music next to a player that will play the discs.

As everyone has said. $500 maybe $600 will get you everything you need in a receiver, you don't need to spend a ton, speakers and subs will impact your sound much more than anything else you get. I know this sounds funny coming from someone with a $1K plus receiver but I got mine for less than $600 Had I now gotten the deal I did I would have never got it. If you like the Yamaha line the 665 is plenty for anyone.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I'll elaborate on the surround speakers.

I used the DefTech SM450s in the past for Surrounds.

Now I use the BP7001SC.

I can't tell the difference.