Hey all,

I've been a lurker on these forums for a little over a year now, starting from when I was searching for a nice HDTV and later a receiver. Well, that ended with me getting a nice 1080P Samsung unit, and an Onkyo 606 receiver, both for a steal, and I am very satisfied with both of them.

And now it's time for new speakers, so I figured I'd come right on back to where I've been helped so much so far.

First things first, I'm on a bit of a tight budget, $400 or so, and I was originally thinking of getting a 5.1 setup with that (something like the Energy Take Classic with an ESW-V8 or a BIC H100). However, from doing some reading on here, I found that some people suggest spending that on a nicer 3.1 setup, then just getting two surrounds down the road to complete the system. That's where I come to you guys.

Like I said, I have a 606 receiver, and the room this is going in is about 15x18. I use about 80% HT/Gaming and 20% music, and would prefer good, clear sound over straight up volume. My budget is ~$400, and my only other requirement would be the sub cannot be downward firing, as the people downstairs may not be too happy about that. I also love shopping deals, and am more than happy to do some legwork in order to get a better product at a cheaper price.

So, are there any suggestions you all have? Is the idea of going with a good 3.1 first a sound one? I have speakers left over that I can use for the surrounds temporarily until I have the scratch to get some good ones to compliment the new stuff, even. Or should I just go with the Energys and go straight for the 5.1 now?

Any help will be greatly appreciated, and always has been.

Thanks,
quick

Hey all,

I've been a lurker on these forums for a little over a year now, starting from when I was searching for a nice HDTV and later a receiver. Well, that ended with me getting a nice 1080P Samsung unit, and an Onkyo 606 receiver, both for a steal, and I am very satisfied with both of them.

And now it's time for new speakers, so I figured I'd come right on back to where I've been helped so much so far.

First things first, I'm on a bit of a tight budget, $400 or so, and I was originally thinking of getting a 5.1 setup with that (something like the Energy Take Classic with an ESW-V8 or a BIC H100). However, from doing some reading on here, I found that some people suggest spending that on a nicer 3.1 setup, then just getting two surrounds down the road to complete the system. That's where I come to you guys.

Like I said, I have a 606 receiver, and the room this is going in is about 15x18. I use about 80% HT/Gaming and 20% music, and would prefer good, clear sound over straight up volume. My budget is ~$400, and my only other requirement would be the sub cannot be downward firing, as the people downstairs may not be too happy about that. I also love shopping deals, and am more than happy to do some legwork in order to get a better product at a cheaper price.

So, are there any suggestions you all have? Is the idea of going with a good 3.1 first a sound one? I have speakers left over that I can use for the surrounds temporarily until I have the scratch to get some good ones to compliment the new stuff, even. Or should I just go with the Energys and go straight for the 5.1 now?

Any help will be greatly appreciated, and always has been.

Thanks,
quick

If budgets are tight the 3.1 would be my recommendation. Though frankly I'd probably just go for 3 or even just 2 and wait on the subwoofer. $400 for 3 speakers + sub is not going to get you a decent sub. You might want to try using your TVs speakers as the center.

Emotiva is clearing out their smaller bookshelf monitors for $150/each. People have been quite pleased with their larger speakers.

http://emotiva.com/erm1.shtm

Polk's refurb store on ebay has some VERY good deals on their speakers, though the degree of the bargain does vary, from week to week and product to product.

http://electronics.shop.ebay.com/items/Home-Audio__W0QQ_catrefZ1QQ_flnZ1QQ_sacatZ14969QQ_ssnZpolkdirectQ Q_trksidZp3911Q2ec0Q2em282

A very good choice for now would be the av123 x-sls along with an x-cs both in satin black (lower price).

These speakers will be much more satisfying than loading up with cheap energies or the like.

Energy RC10's (http://www.vanns.com/shop/servlet/item/features/542695295/energy-rc10?v_c=GoogleBase&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=542695295), Tweak City Audio WAF-1's (http://tweakcityaudio.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=21&category_id=7&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1), Ascend CBM-170 SE's (http://www.ascendacoustics.com/pages/products/speakers/cbm170/cbm170.html) or Ascend HTM-200 SE's. (http://www.ascendacoustics.com/pages/products/speakers/htm200/htm200.html)

I'm repeating myself around here, but check out Harmanaudio's Ebay store. Bargain prices on Infinity and JBL speakers factory direct with warranties.

The Energy package you mentioned is respectable, but no sense in blowing your wad on it now if you're willing to keep saving a bit and build the system as you go. You'll end up with a more satisfying system if you plan well. The center will be important for what you want (mostly gaming and HT). So, I'd consider going 3.0 first, then add a quality sub, then add the surrounds. You could even surf Craigslist for a bargain pair of surrounds to fill the gap. Some people advocate a phantom center (Ie, nonexistent). So, you could go 2.1 now and then go center. Maybe shopping around and prices can make that initial decision for you. I use my system for games, music, TV, and movies, and since I rarely can play it really loud, I'd much rather have my big center speaker than my sub--if I had to choose. Granted, for music, the sub is indispensible as I have monitors for mains, but you are reporting only 20% music.

here's some pretty good polk deals on newegg, monitor 60s and the center
Polk Audio Monitor 60, cherry 117.99
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.aspx?nm_mc=AFC-SlickDeals&cm_mmc=AFC-SlickDeals-_-NA-_-NA-_-NA&Item=N82E16882290018

CS1 cherry center
$67.99 with code EMCLXNN64
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882290021&nm_mc=AFC-SlickDeals&cm_mmc=AFC-SlickDeals-_-NA-_-NA-_-NA

I haven't heard them but a lot of people like them, personally I was in the same situation as you, on a tight budget, and I went infinity primus p362 and infinity c350, for 3.0. Upgraded sub next, then went surrounds last as they are by far the least important. Here's a link to a place that sells the primus speakers if you want to take a look,
http://www.theaudiovideosource.com/InfinityPrimus.html
the shipping is high, but I hear you if you call them they sometimes will waive the shipping fees just to give you another option

The V8 is a great sub and is a bargain at the moment ($225 shipped at wwstereo), even if its only 8". Having said that, your best bet is to go 3.0 at the moment. Any old speakers can be used for surrounds in a pinch since there is so little material there compared to the mains. The critical thing is to match the center to the mains so its best to buy all three at once (same brand, same line). The sub can be from any respectable maker and doesn't need to be matched. Good subs start at $300-$350 and every extra dollar over that gets you a lot more (up to a point).

Those Polk's listed above by slippery44 look good value to me.

I don't know EMP other than they're affiliated somehow with RBH, but 5 matching speakers with dual 5.25" drivers and a tweeter for $200 (total, for all 5) with free shipping sounds like a pretty good deal to me, especially considering they used to sell them for $209 each:

http://www.emptek.com/ef30csys.php

That's pretty darn cheap for 5 speakers with dual 5.25" drivers.