CurtPalme.com Home Theater Forum

Willie · Joined: 13 May 2006 Posts: 169 Location: Green Bay

Greetings,

I am not much of an audiophile since my hearing is pretty typical for a mid 50's guy who spent many years in front of a Marshall stack without ear protection. I am building a new home and with it a new theater with updated components. I do have a fairly limited budget for audio (approx $2000). The theater size will be 14'X16'. The projector is a 9500LC.

I am looking for recommendations on speakers to check out. I am guessing they will be driven by an Onkyo 805 or something similar. I realize that opinions will be all over the place, but I need to start somewhere.

FWIW, in my current theater I am using JBL Studio Series speakers driven by a Sony STR-525; pretty pedestrian, I know.

Thanks,

Willie

ecrabb · Posted: Sat Aug 30, 2008 3:29 pm Post subject:

Do some searches here - you have some options. If you spend $800 on the 805, that leaves you with about $1200 for a 6.1 system - which is a little tight, but not too bad. If you spend $600+ on a sub, that leaves you with $600 for six channels. You may have to bump up the budget a little, or skimp on the AVR (you can always easily upgrade that later). Your room is on high side of small/low side of medium, so you still have a few affordable options, as long as you're not expecting miracles.

Check out:
http://www.aperionaudio.com

3 systems close to your price range:
http://www.soundandvisionmag.com/speakers/900/cinema-grand.html

AV123 has some high-end gear, but also has smokin' sales on less expensive speakers, making them very affordable, as in your price range:
http://av123.com

Then, there's always used where you can get much more performance for the dollar. That may be the most cost-effective option if you can be patient (easier said than done, I know - especially if you're finishing a new HT). Still, you might be able to get a system that initially cost close to $2000 or even $2500 for close to your $1200 budget - especially since you're a 3 1/2 drive from Chicago. People are dumping stuff all the time, and expensive audio equipment doesn't tend to hold a lot of its initial value.

SC

ecrabb · Posted: Sat Aug 30, 2008 3:36 pm Post subject:

Oh, one other thing... If you can, you might wait at least a few weeks to buy the AVR. CEDIA is next week, and Onkyo will likely announce a new lineup. The 805/875 series were announced at CEDIA last year, and started shipping in the November/December time frame. So, even if you don't want to wait that long to buy a new model, there may be some discounts on 805 or 875 when the new models are announced.

Consider refurb, too as a way to stretch your budget. I bought my fairly high-end Marantz AVR which originally sold for $1200 for about $700. In fact, I just looked and Accessories4Less has the silver 805 in stock for $569.

http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/ONKTXSR805S/Onkyo/TX-SR805-7.1-Channel-Home-Theater-Receiver-SILVER/1.html

SC

Bucketfoot · Joined: 17 Mar 2006 Posts: 698 Location: Centennial, CO

ecrabb · Posted: Sat Aug 30, 2008 3:59 pm Post subject:

Wow, that is a smokin' deal. I'd get the AV123 system, and use an old receiver or a cheap low-end new receiver until I saved up the coin to by the AVR I wanted later. Upgrading an AVR is SO much easier than upgrading speakers.

SC

Willie · Joined: 13 May 2006 Posts: 169 Location: Green Bay

Thanks for the recommendations.

What I am seeing is that $2000 is doable but may not be a realistic budget; bumping it to $3K will be helpful.

Willie

Bucketfoot · Joined: 17 Mar 2006 Posts: 698 Location: Centennial, CO

You might also want to check out this one at AV123. It includes a Denon receiver (don't remember the model).

http://av123.com/component/page,shop.product_details/flypage,shop.flypage/product_id,272/category_id,51/manufacturer_id,0/option,com_virtuemart/Itemid,37/

Nashou66 · Joined: 12 Jan 2007 Posts: 16171 Location: West Seneca NY

I highly recomend you go audition the Phase Technolgy line of their flat piston speaker, I'll link you to their top of the line floor model but they all sound great. I have the book shelf that are about 600 a pair maybe more i cant recall, i have had them for over 10 years. Love them. eventualy i want the PC9.1's i am linking here:

http://www.phasetech.com/products.html?product_id=PC-9.1

Great great speaker, they are the ones who invented and patended the soft dome tweeter and make speakers for most major companies who sub contract them out.

Not very well known by the masses but only a few discerning ears.

Athanasios

GEBrown · Joined: 08 Mar 2006 Posts: 729 Location: Denver

Spanky Ham · Joined: 22 Mar 2006 Posts: 5643 Location: Comedy Central

Willie,
You need to give some more info like how big is the screen. Are you going to use a perf screen or solid screen? Ecrabb gives some good advice. High end used equipment doesn't hold its value to well. Even better is DIY speakers. When people sell their DIY speakers, they tend to go for cheap because of lack of brand name. There are a lot of DIY guys in the midwest, so you should be able to find some DIY speakers being sold. As for name brand, I sold my PSB Stratus Golds (no I) for $550 last year.