$270 BIC H-100
$280? BIC VK-12
$220 BIC PA-120 (any news on how these do?)
$325 A2 - 250
$220 Velodyne DPS-10
$300 HSU STF-1

considering also the...
$350 HSU STF-2 (upgrade worth it?)
$120 TSC ASW-10
$120 Dayton SUB-100 HT Series 10"

I've given myself a budget of $200 -$270 on a cube sub, but if I can, I'd like to spend less. $600-$700 for the total system. So if I spend $300 on the sub, only $300-$400 to work with for the other speakers (might just start with 2.1 then move up to 5.1 later, but I'm impatient, and might spend all my christmas money on myself if i start with 2.1...)

Used for Movies/Gaming/music (60%/30%/10%). Another goal is to sound significantly better than the Bose Acoustimass speaker system that my bro insists on buying for himself (seems only way to convince him is to get my own set and prove it). Aesthetics aren't a top priority, but it'd be nice. I prefer black or something that matches one of my receivers.

I'd like to buy before Christmas, and given my limited budget + inexperience in sound would the spendier subs be of any benefit to me? ie. I was at Fry's watching the Three Doors Down DVD and the Polk Audio Monitor 60's sounded better than the TSi series, some big JBL and Klipsch towers too (clearer? crisp i guess is the word, but i DO like to feel my bass).

Auzentech Prelude Soundcard
Harman Kardon 146 or Yamaha RX-V363 (have both due to bidding craze on ebay).

Will start off in a ~10'x14' bedroom and then to a ~15'-20' living room.

(Depending upon the price of the sub) Will likely be paired with:

Polk Monitor 40's/TSC TSBL 6.5"
or
AV123 ELT525M/Acculine A1/ BIC HT-64

Would the selected Subs+Speakers be a good combo at all?

Also wanting to know if there are any subwoofer deals going on right now that I might be interested in...


Any other suggestions?

You want to feel the bass then the A2-260 it is.

considering also the...


I've given myself a budget of $200 -$270 on a cube sub, but if I can, I'd like to spend less. $600-$700 for the total system. So if I spend $300 on the sub, only $300-$400 to work with for the other speakers (might just start with 2.1 then move up to 5.1 later, but I'm impatient, and might spend all my christmas money on myself if i start with 2.1...)

Used for Movies/Gaming/music (60%/30%/10%). Another goal is to sound significantly better than the Bose Acoustimass speaker system that my bro insists on buying for himself (seems only way to convince him is to get my own set and prove it). Aesthetics aren't a top priority, but it'd be nice. I prefer black or something that matches one of my receivers.

I'd like to buy before Christmas, and given my limited budget + inexperience in sound would the spendier subs be of any benefit to me? ie. I was at Fry's watching the Three Doors Down DVD and the Polk Audio Monitor 60's sounded better than the TSi series, some big JBL and Klipsch towers too (clearer? crisp i guess is the word, but i DO like to feel my bass).

Auzentech Prelude Soundcard
Harman Kardon 146 or Yamaha RX-V363 (have both due to bidding craze on ebay).

Will start off in a ~10'x14' bedroom and then to a ~15'-20' living room.

(Depending upon the price of the sub) Will likely be paired with:



Would the selected Subs+Speakers be a good combo at all?

Also wanting to know if there are any subwoofer deals going on right now that I might be interested in...


Any other suggestions?

if i was you i would get the eD A3-200 for $350 shipped

ahh. the room is spinning. so many options. i can't seem to decide now. each time i think i might be set on something, another one pops up. i thought my heart was set on the vk-12 then the HSU designed Daytons pop up. I'm not an audiophile so it might not make a difference.

i sure do like the ed's but they're out of my price range at the moment. $300 is already cutting it by a bit. i've allocated about $600 for the whole speaker system, so if i spend $300 i'm stuck with only $300 on the fronts, surrounds, and center. what is a good ratio for price i should use for a sub? 50% sub 50% satellites? 1/3 woofer 2/3 speakers?

i keep thinking i'll just go cheap and get the 10 inch dayton, or 10" tsc's but i can't bring myself to click on the buy button. they'd be nice, but if i'm shelling out $350 for a whole 5.1 might keep but not sure if i'll like it system then i might as well make it $700 and turn it into a keep for as long as i can because i love it and don't ever want to see it gone system... but i'm also worried that system might become the i spent too much money for this system that to my ears sounds similar or worse than the cheaper system i thought i wouldn't love. i want to audition the energy like tsc's but i'm afraid of their as of yet iffy support. the BIC's are an almost guaranteed gamble as practically everyone loves them, and it seems like any sub that Mr. HSU helped create seems to work wonderfully. What is the cheapest aided in design by Mr. Hsu sub out right now? I want something close to the real thing, but not the full price.

and what do you all think about pairing the sub with a sound bar instead of a full on center channel (saves some space)... http://www.parts-express.com/pe/pshowdetl.cfm?Partnumber=300-684

can my low end yamaha rx vr363/hk 146 even handle these outlandish dream subs/speakers?

Well if you want to cut your budget get the vk-12 on a buy it now... use the live.com cashback 25% which you get deposited in your paypal within 60 days... $75+ off man!

If I were trying to build this system for $600, I'd get the Bic PA-120 (since its probably the best value) and 4 Polk towers (Monitor 50/60 or R50's) on one of Fry's blow out sells. They run amazing deals on those things very regularly. Last one I saw the R50's were $59 each, Monitor 50's $89. Newegg had the Monitor 50's at $80 or $90 just a couple weeks ago. I would recommend bookshelves for rears since they don't really get much play, but truth is, you're going to be hard pressed finding matching ones for less than the good tower sales. With such a tight budget, I would initially forgo a center and just "Phantom" (simulate) it. Pick one up later when you have some extra cash. Since you're self professed non-audiophile, the matching center would probably crush your budget for what you would likely perceive as a marginal gain.

If I were trying to build this system for $600, I'd get the Bic PA-120 (since its probably the best value) and 4 Polk towers (Monitor 50/60 or R50's) on one of Fry's blow out sells. They run amazing deals on those things very regularly. Last one I saw the R50's were $59 each, Monitor 50's $89. Newegg had the Monitor 50's at $80 or $90 just a couple weeks ago. I would recommend bookshelves for rears since they don't really get much play, but truth is, you're going to be hard pressed finding matching ones for less than the good tower sales. With such a tight budget, I would initially forgo a center and just "Phantom" (simulate) it. Pick one up later when you have some extra cash. Since you're self professed non-audiophile, the matching center would probably crush your budget for what you would likely perceive as a marginal gain.

Cool. I was at Fry's the other day, again. This time I went with a dude that sings a bit, loves his music, but listens to his tunes on logitech x540's (very very limited budget). We pretty much agree that the monitor 50's were the best option there. Clean sound for me again. He didn't go into details, he just said they sound the best. All the other speakers sound muddy I guess? There were a set of Bose, large JBL's and a TSi set. The monitor 50's are $99 a tower for the maple ones. $230 for the other finishes. I prefer the cherry or black so I said not now to the Fry's guy.

Although I noticed a huge difference when the center was on. Maybe it's just because it seemed to get louder, but almost richer sound at the same time. Made me really think about adding a center. At the same time it seems like it was almost overpowering and louder than the fronts. so yah... not sure what to make of it.

I'm thinking hard now. If I can get the Polk Monitor 50's for about $150 for a pair I'll most likely buy them. Just wondering if the Monitor 40's are that different since I can get them for that price right now anyhow. They are bookshelf speakers, but seem to be the exact same without the tower base (Helps a lot in my somewhat crowded room at the moment). Buy 3 sets and go 6.1? ;p

Black Friday's almost here, might as well wait. Hoping someone pops up with some amazing deal i can't pass up. In the meantime my two rx-v363's and harman kardon 146 are rotting in their boxes since I can't seem to decide which to keep...

Then again this is a sub thread so I'm waiting on the vk-12's to be in stock again on ebay. if a black friday deal pops up for something similar at a better price point i'm headin out that way.

First off it wont be to hard to sound better then the acoustimass especialy in that price range.Any of the mentioned subs will blow away the bose !! It just isnt a real sub. I lean
towards the Bic H-100 . It will give you good bass and leave you enough change
to go 5.1 . If considering Polk You might consider the RTI line
RTI6 go for around 180$ on ebay
RTi4 150$
csi3 125$
Bic h-100 250$
that gives you a quality system all within your budget.

Thanks for all the help guys. I got a Gateway KAS 303 5.1 system (HSU Ventriloquist Center + clone sats + HSU STF-2 /w 150watt amp) for $200 shipped + AV123 ELT525M's. The sub is amazing. I love rockin the first scene of The Matrix Reloaded.

Now I'm wondering if it's worth it to get another of these for 4.2 surround and sell the 10 sats (2 centers for rears)? or should I just throw the $200 into surrounds and a true center since I only have the ELT525M's.