What can I get for $1500-$2000

[audionewb]

Hello Everyone,

I am new to this forum and am revamping my home theater setup...Just purchased a new Panasonic plasma and would like to get the best audio setup in the $1500 to $2000 price range. What can you guys recommend in this price range? I assume I need an AV receiver, and speakers...is there anything else? With this budget, how do you think I should allocate between receiver and speakers? We will mainly be listening to TV and movies. Since I don't really know anything about audio, as much detail as possible would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

-Shawn

 

[BMXTRIX]

Shawn - as others have suggested, you may want to look at the Yamaha RX-V2400 receiver which is last years model, but will suit you awesome as your A/V receiver. It will handle all your video switching needs and give you a fair amount of power for whatever speakers you end up using.

If I were you, I would set about $1,000.00 or so aside for the speakers and go get that receiver. Check for some recommended speaker packages in that price range. I really don't have any information other than what I have seen on www.bestbuy.com for speaker packages - and there MUST be better deals than that out there, though the JBL package does look decent at about $1,200.00.

Oh - stay away from Bose.

What information are you looking for otherwise?

 

[audionewb]

Rx-v2500

Thanks for your response....Very helpful.

It looks like I can pick up the RX-V2500 for an extra $75 - $100...do you think it is worth it to go with the newer model, or do you think the RX-V2400 is better?

I have been looking at the speaker reviews on this site and am having trouble deciding which ones to go with. I would like a compromise between size and performance...basically I don't think my girlfriend will like any speakers that are TOO big. Anyway, good surround and base are important to me...Any other thoughts with these requirements in mind. What do you think of the "Mordaunt-Short Avant Premiere Plus System" or the "RBH Sound CT-5.1 System"?

Thanks again for your help.

-Shawn

 

[BMXTRIX]

I really - REALLY - will stay out of speakers. I went from Kenwood speakers, part of a $300.00 HTIB solution, to Definitive Technology speakers at several grand. I kind of missed the entire price point you are in, and have not looked very hard for other speakers since I am happy with what I have (they are very large though).

The RX-V2400 should be on sale or available from stores in the $600.00 range. If you are paying much more than the 1500 or 2500 may be the way to go. The 2400 only makes sense if the price is significantly lower than the 2500. Lots of very good pricing on eBay as well.

A simple post of "I have about $1,000.00 to spend on a 5.1 speaker setup, what are a few packages or individual speakers that meet my needs." post in the speaker section may yield better results than in this section of the site.

I think subwoofers are a really big issue as I am not thrilled with the Def Tech sub that I have and the best I have ever heard is the very smooth, very powerful Velodyne HGS series, which is out of your price range. There is a LOT of discussion on subwoofers though.

 

[audionewb]

Thanks again, that was very helpful.

 

[Leprkon]

a couple of options on the speakers...

assuming BMX leaves me a grand to work with (more or less), I'd recommend the following:

put together a decent Athena package from bestpriceaudiovideo.com for a grand, you should be able to piece together the best Athena has to offer. they have free shipping right now.

get a set of Infinity Alpha 50 mains, an Alpha Center or 37C center, and get free Infinity Primus 150 surrounds from crutchfield.com. you'll be squeezed for a sub to fit in the budget if you get the bigger center, but if you order one main speaker at a time, you can actually get two sets of free surrounds- one set of surrounds and one for the "prescence" speakers (useful only for the more advanced Yamaha receivers like the 2500).. (a solid option to that would be to get the Alpha 20's as mains, if you really only have room for a bookshelf speaker, and the money you save will easily get you a sub)

if you prefer the Polk Audio stuff, they (crutchfield) have a free sub if you make a package buy and all of it is free shipping.

go to accessories4less.com and look at the Mordaunt-Short speaker packages. They have some excellent sub-included packages for $ 750 to $ 1000 and they throw in decent speaker wire free.The MS speaker are very highly regarded on this site. You could get the smaller package and still get some prescence speakers and be under $ 1,000.

you might look at one of the smaller HT systems at axiomaudio.com they make excellent quality stuff, but you would definitely be in the bookshelf-speaker price range.

a final option is bhphotovideo.com where you can find a complete JBL Northridge package for about $ 1,100. As a general rule, not many people here are big on the commercial lines of JBL's, but it's a full package at a decent price.

happy hunting !

 

[Yamahaluver]

When you are picking up your Yamaha receiver, ask for an audition of Yamaha NS-777 speakers, they are very good for the price.

 

[libor]

Save some more $ and get good speakers. PSB,Paradign,Polk etc. Stay away from yamaha,sonny etc. way to commercial. Soon you run out of rooms for them,because upgrade is way of audioholic.

 

[MDS]

What in the hell does 'way too commercial' mean? Aren't PSB, Paradigm, and Polk commercial? They are companies that are in business and sell their products through various 'commercial' channels, like say Circuit City (Polk) and A/V stores.

 

[Rob Babcock]

I second the recommendation for Athena- they make pretty darn nice speakers for the price. Infinity also makes some stuff in the range you're looking to spend that will do, too.

My advice would be to allocate about $500-600 for the receiveer and $1400-1500 for the speakers. Digital technology changes rapidly, but the speakers should last for many years (barring a bout of upgraditus . The speakers will be the main factor, gear-wise, to the sound you'll get, so don't skimp- buy the best you can afford.

My personal choice in that range would be Monitor Audio Bronze B's. Depending upon the deal you find, you may be able to get the sub, too, for the $1500. If not, I honestly suggest getting the speakers now & a sub a ways down the road. IMOHO, it simply makes no sense to compromise too much on speakers. If you do, you'll likely simply replace them in a year or so. Then all the $ is down the drain.

 

[Nick250]

Spend no more than $500 for the receiver and spend the rest on speakers. 95% of the sound you hear is speaker choice and room acoustics. Onkyo, Denon, Yamaha are all have fine receivers in $400 to $500 range and with each properly set up I submit you could barely (it at all) hear the difference between them (or their $750 counterparts) in your living room. Speakers are just of opposite with hugh differences sound and what sounds good to me may sound terrible to you. Speaker choice is very, very, subjective. Audition as many speakers as your can. There is an accurate old truism. Four hundred dollar speakers and a thousand dollar reviver will not sound very good. On the other hand one thousand dollar speakers and a four hundred dollar receiver will sound darn good. Think speakers, speakers, speakers. IMHO, YMMV, yadda, yadda.

Nick

 

[jaxvon]

Not too sure about recievers, but I know that Axiom Speakers are highly acclaimed. Here's a system, sub and all, for a little over 1600.

Epic Grand Master

Plus, shipping is free right now from Axiom! Woohoo!

Anyway, just wanted to put in my 2 cents.

On a side note, since you're trying to minimize costs, I'd suggest that you go with cable from Blue Jeans Cable,Impact Acoustics, or Parts Express. Keep in mind that Parts Express also carries some high-priced esoteric cables that are really a waste of money. I'd advice you to get your interconnects from Blue Jeans or Impact Acoustics and perhaps some Sound King speaker cable from Parts Express. Of course, you could also just get the whole setup from Impact or Blue Jeans.


I hope this helps!

 

[hopjohn]

value brands

You've already been given some pretty good advice. Some brands worth investigating based on my own resesarch and personal listening experience for high value to price ratios. Athena, Boston, psb, and BIC America, and Lower end Klipsh and Paradigm models. Let your ears make the final verdict.

 

[tallman45]

My vote would be for the Athena's, it is easy to get the AS-F2's or 1's on clearance at BestBuy. The AC-C1 is on sale this week, finding B2's will be hit or miss at BestBuy.

Do not forget to budget for cables and mouting hardware

Start with a 1014 receiver, it should suit you well, if it does not pan out they are popular so selling it used will be easy if you want to upgrade for some reason.