Any home audio Gurus here?
Im going to can my crappy home theater in a box RCA 5.1 set, and by can i mean give it to my parents. I'm looking to get a nice set of loudspeakers. I want to start with two decent satellites and a sub then move to some cabinets and move the satellites back for surround sound, then finally get a nice center channel.
Ive been looking around and I think I'm going to go with Acculine for my speakers. They seem to have some nice stuff that is affordable.
http://www.theaudioinsider.com/product_info.php/p/acculine-a1r/products_id/114
Those are the satellites i want to start with. a pair.
http://www.theaudioinsider.com/product_info.php/p/acculine-asub/products_id/68
and the sub.
Im not sure on receivers. What should i look for? I don't want to spend a ton, between 300-500 on it.
http://icrontic.pgpartner.com/search_getprod.php/masterid=63935416/search=Yamaha%20RX-V663BL/st=product/sv=image
This yamaha is one that is said to be very good for the price, but a lot of people say that pioneer make the best... i dont know.
Anyone, suggestions?
Ive been looking around and I think I'm going to go with Acculine for my speakers. They seem to have some nice stuff that is affordable.
http://www.theaudioinsider.com/product_info.php/p/acculine-a1r/products_id/114
Those are the satellites i want to start with. a pair.
http://www.theaudioinsider.com/product_info.php/p/acculine-asub/products_id/68
and the sub.
Im not sure on receivers. What should i look for? I don't want to spend a ton, between 300-500 on it.
http://icrontic.pgpartner.com/search_getprod.php/masterid=63935416/search=Yamaha%20RX-V663BL/st=product/sv=image
This yamaha is one that is said to be very good for the price, but a lot of people say that pioneer make the best... i dont know.
Anyone, suggestions?
0
Comments
I love Polk speakers, mainly because i love to have a better Mid and Low for my rears. I would suggest The Polk Audio RTi Series (A1 Linked) they are more money, but they are a much better speaker.
http://www.crutchfield.com/App/Product/Item/Main.aspx?g=37900&i=107RTIA1B&tp=186
Fronts - Klipsch Reference Series RF-XX These have better Mid and Highs, and for the price you cant beat them sound wise. (RF-82 Linked)
http://www.crutchfield.com/App/Product/Item/Main.aspx?g=12000&i=714RF82B&tp=185
Center - I have to go back to the Polk here CSi A6 Center channel, they are matched to the RSi Rears you have and if you wanted to go Polk all around you could easily. Yes I know its 500 for a single speaker but considering that 85% of your voices will come out of this speaker you really dont want to go cheap out. (CSi A6 Linked)
http://www.crutchfield.com/App/Product/Item/Main.aspx?g=12100&i=107CSIA6B&tp=189
Subwoofer - Really anything out there will do as long as you have your cross over set properly. I would stay away from Sony, Yamaha and Boston Acustics. If you want the really deep tones get a bigger sub, if you want more of an initial punch to the sub go with a smaller sub. 8" For a punch 10" for a mix and 12" for Low tones. (10" Klipsch Linked)
http://www.crutchfield.com/App/Product/Item/Main.aspx?g=12300&i=714RW10DB&tp=187
Receiver - 100% Preference. I personally like Yamaha and for the cost you cannot beat Yamaha. I do like Denon and Marantz too. Stay away from Sony, Onkyo. Make sure it has HDMI Switching for future use also. I recommend. (Linked Yamaha RXV663)
http://www.crutchfield.com/App/Product/Item/Main.aspx?g=10420&i=022RXV663&tp=179
That's my two cents for a great sounding 5.1 Surround Sound system. Keep in mind that the quality of wire you use will make a big difference. MOre importantly is to measure and place your speakers properly. The number one problem most people have is improperly placed speakers.
To the OP: Check out http://www.avsforum.com/ for researching your home theater setup. That place is an absolute wealth of information on all things HT.
Elemental Designs builds some insane subs with high quality components and sells 'em direct for a more-than-reasonable price. I run their subs in my car and have nothing but high praise for them. I haven't gotten around to putting together a new HT setup, but I have heard their stuff in a demo room and it's phenomenal. Definitely the best value going in HT subs, and very tough to beat their value for speakers -- but I think that Klipsch Reference towers do sound a little better (For a lot more money!).
Onkyo is basically a stipped down cheap version of an Integra. I had a good stint with them for about a year mainly because of cost, but they have horrible life span. I had too many service calls with Zone 2 and Main Zones just quit working all together. So that is why I don't recommend them. When they work, they are great and when they don't you are going to have problems non-stop.
Also for those of you who are HUGE Pioneer junkies... Just a note, that Pioneer Receivers are the EXACT same internal components as a Denon. All they did was change the On Screen Display. IMO Pioneer Receivers are over-priced.
Yes I meant Gauge, as long as it is actually copper and that it is stranded. 1/2 of the wire sold at Best Buy is NOT copper.
Why stranded? Aside from ease of installation there isn't a difference in current carrying capacity between stranded and solid conductor. The current carrying capacity is a product of the cross sectional area and the properties of the wire(al/cu). Which comes out to around 5-6 amps per square mm without active cooling for copper if I remember correctly.
I'm sure that isn't what you were saying, but I was fearful someone else could have read it and got the wrong impression. I couldn't tell you how many times someone has tried to tell me a thousand little strands could carry more current than one solid strand with the same cross sectional area. The basis of their argument is surface area and that is just not true.
Because with Stranded wire you maximize your surface area. Considering that the elecrtons travel along copper not through copper, you get better transference of signal on stranded wire compared to solid. At least that is what I have been taught from many engineers from Yamaha and Denon.
Edit, did a quick look at wikipedia and it seems that stranded is the way to go for audio signals because as frequency increases the current travels near the surface of the wire.
http://gizmodo.com/363154/audiophile-deathmatch-monster-cables-vs-a-coat-hanger
Umm spend the extra $50 and get copper Speaker cable...
http://www.mcmelectronics.com/product/58-12840
nice find sir, looks like i can get 50 feet of 12gauge for 30 bucks from that site, will probably. go with that
Haha yea, my dad just got that magazine in the mail the other day and my eyes got real wide when I saw the price of their cables.
http://www.klipsch.com/products/details/rb-61-home-theater-system.aspx
Pretty much eats my entire budget for the system so the receiver will have to wait, but i'm getting the stuff direct from the manufacturer at cost ($650) so i couldn't pass it up.