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Cheap, Good, and Wife Friendly Speakers?

post #1 of 183
6/2/09 at 5:23am
Thread Starter 
Ok guys, here my little short sad story...

I was planning to buy the HTIB Onkyo 9100Thx, few months saving money to get it this week. But, my dear wife saw the picture of the speakers and freak out!!

The speakers of that package are huge and bulky, and they are black and "it does NOT go with our decoration."

So, as I'm a brand new HT buyer but Audiophile since long time ago, I want to ask for some help to buy a speaker system or either to buy each pair separately.

THE CHALLENGE:
Silver color, under 500$ and GREAT TO MATCH WITH THE Onkyo TX-SR706 THX 100w x 7ch

I need 7.1 all ward wired (nothing wireless). I can mount the front speakers and center on the wall. The back also but only if they are small (wife issue). Surround can't be mount on the wall (no wall on one side). Also, I like the slim floor standing style (my wife likes it also). The less I drill the better for my relationship jeje...

Thanks for all the inputs!!
Onkyo TX-SR706 THX 100w x 7ch Theater Receiver SILVER $499.00
Remaining butget 401$-501$
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post #2 of 183
6/2/09 at 6:59am
Energy Speakers make some nice speakers for low cost. These here should fit the bill with there small size. The system has 5 of the same speakers which is ideal. They can be found here in your budget.
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post #3 of 183
6/2/09 at 8:25am
Spent way too much on that nice receiver only to pair it with cheap budget speakers. You should return it get something a few hundred buck less and add that toward you speakers. The Onkyo 706 is totally overkill for what you want to spend on speakers. Check out Ascend acoustics HTM-200 SE they are $278pr and $148 for the center. If you set on keeping that receiver your speakers budget should be around $700-$1000. If not just return the 706 and get a HTIB that comes with a receiver.
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post #4 of 183
6/2/09 at 8:46am
Quote:


Energy Speakers make some nice speakers for low cost.

He said wife friendly.....Im not sure you guys are aware of this but women have a different taste then many here do

Think funiture grade looks, wood grains etc. Definitely not black speakers that stick out in every room.

Example of Wife friendly speakers.......




AV123 does this well, they make speakers that women have less problems with.
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post #5 of 183
6/2/09 at 8:49am
Quote:


THE CHALLENGE:
Silver color, under 500$ and GREAT TO MATCH WITH THE Onkyo TX-SR706 THX 100w x 7ch

Silver??? hmmmm....

btw, your speakers should cost 3 or 4 times the price of your equipment. Someone else posted you should sell the AVR, I will 2nd that....spend $300 on an AVR and $1000 on speakers!!
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post #6 of 183
6/2/09 at 9:48am
You could look into the Energy RC-Mini series...

http://www.vanns.com/shop/servlet/it..._c=site_search
http://www.vanns.com/shop/servlet/it..._c=site_search (note that the color in this pic is not an accurate view of the cherry finish...look at the first link for a better representation)

3 RC-Mini Centers up front (they can be used vertical or horizontal, though vertical is more ideal)....and 2 RC-Mini bookshelves for surrounds.

Vann's has a good deal on these in Cherry, and a few $$ more for them in Rosenut. For the above setup, you'd be looking at $670 for them in cherry, $710 in rosenut. Of course, you'd have to go with something less expensive than the Onkyo 706....maybe the 606?

If you're set on going with the 706...you could go with 5 RC-Mini bookshelves all the way around. In cherry, this will run you $550.
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post #7 of 183
6/2/09 at 10:08am
Insignia NSHT51.
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post #8 of 183
6/2/09 at 10:10am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by mbyrnes View Post

Energy Speakers make some nice speakers for low cost. These here should fit the bill with there small size. The system has 5 of the same speakers which is ideal. They can be found here in your budget.

That's a really nice system! I like the stand!

But, the receiver is 7.1... should I be loosing too much of it??
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post #9 of 183
6/2/09 at 10:13am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by gtpsuper24 View Post

Spent way too much on that nice receiver only to pair it with cheap budget speakers. You should return it get something a few hundred buck less and add that toward you speakers. The Onkyo 706 is totally overkill for what you want to spend on speakers. Check out Ascend acoustics HTM-200 SE they are $278pr and $148 for the center. If you set on keeping that receiver your speakers budget should be around $700-$1000. If not just return the 706 and get a HTIB that comes with a receiver.

Uppppss, I thought "as the HTIB 9100THX has almost the same receiver, and it costs 993$ I probably can get the same buying the receiver and nicer (looking wise) speaker"...

Do you think I'm wrong?? honestly?
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post #10 of 183
6/2/09 at 10:14am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by penngray View Post

He said wife friendly.....Im not sure you guys are aware of this but women have a different taste then many here do

Think funiture grade looks, wood grains etc. Definitely not black speakers that stick out in every room.

Example of Wife friendly speakers.......




AV123 does this well, they make speakers that women have less problems with.

Wooooooooww this is definetely MY WIFE friendly jaja they look expensive though!
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post #11 of 183
6/2/09 at 10:17am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by penngray View Post

Silver??? hmmmm....

btw, your speakers should cost 3 or 4 times the price of your equipment. Someone else posted you should sell the AVR, I will 2nd that....spend $300 on an AVR and $1000 on speakers!!

Yeee man, I'm being discoreged so far ...

I JUST placed the order today morning, I guess I will cancel it and fight like a man....

"Babe, I promise I will wash the dishes all this year" <--- I hate that jeje
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post #12 of 183
6/2/09 at 10:26am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by alphaiii View Post

You could look into the Energy RC-Mini series...

http://www.vanns.com/shop/servlet/it..._c=site_search
http://www.vanns.com/shop/servlet/it..._c=site_search (note that the color in this pic is not an accurate view of the cherry finish...look at the first link for a better representation)

3 RC-Mini Centers up front (they can be used vertical or horizontal, though vertical is more ideal)....and 2 RC-Mini bookshelves for surrounds.

Vann's has a good deal on these in Cherry, and a few $$ more for them in Rosenut. For the above setup, you'd be looking at $670 for them in cherry, $710 in rosenut. Of course, you'd have to go with something less expensive than the Onkyo 706....maybe the 606?

If you're set on going with the 706...you could go with 5 RC-Mini bookshelves all the way around. In cherry, this will run you $550.

I like the speakers, I wonder if the onkyo 606 does the upconvertion from s-video to hdmi.... I ran hdmi cables from the "basement" under the flooring. (before installing it), and I did not run anything but that and coax. Later, I found out if you go into a receiver component, composite or s-video, you got to go same or less quality. Otherwise, buy one that does the upconversion to hdmi like onkyo 706...

Now, is the quality the same with a HTIB like the 9100THX than the 706+Vann's deal you mentioned??


Quote:
Originally Posted by Raymond Leggs View Post

Insignia NSHT51.

Wouldn't that be too cheap?
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post #13 of 183
6/2/09 at 10:28am
Quote:


Wooooooooww this is definetely MY WIFE friendly jaja they look expensive though!

HUGE sale for the Cherry finish, $175 shipped last week for a pair!!

http://www dot av123 dot com//index....mart&Itemid=37

Sales still going on.....I have a pair in my office. I also build speakers as a hobby and I can not build something better for this price!
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post #14 of 183
6/2/09 at 10:31am
Not a bad price for a pair of speakers 175.00 shipped...Here is another option and wife approved. Although "less expensive" sounds better than cheap.
http://www.aperionaudio.com/catalog/Speakers,19.aspx
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post #15 of 183
6/2/09 at 10:41am
Quote:


Here is another option and wife approved.

My wife does approve of black speakers anywhere, different strokes
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post #16 of 183
6/2/09 at 11:20am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by penngray View Post

HUGE sale for the Cherry finish, $175 shipped last week for a pair!!

http://www dot av123 dot com//index....mart&Itemid=37

Sales still going on.....I have a pair in my office. I also build speakers as a hobby and I can not build something better for this price!


It seems like a good option to me. Now, my only concern is how to find a sub, to match with...

How would you compare the 9100thx speakers to these??


Quote:
Originally Posted by browninggold View Post

Not a bad price for a pair of speakers 175.00 shipped...Here is another option and wife approved. Although "less expensive" sounds better than cheap.

Nice! like the price also...

But, the Sub would break my pocket :S


Quote:
Originally Posted by penngray View Post

My wife does approve of black speakers anywhere, different strokes


Can I marry her???
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post #17 of 183
6/2/09 at 11:23am
Quote:
Originally Posted by penngray View Post

My wife does approve of black speakers anywhere, different strokes

Aperion does offer a nice cherry veneer.

But to stay within the OP's budget, he'd have to go with the 4B and 4C...
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post #18 of 183
6/2/09 at 11:25am
The ELT525M that Penngray listed might be a great option. The price is outstanding with the current sale.

I have a pair in rosewood, and I'm using them for desktop audio. Very nice speakers.

The drawback is that they're very inefficient....83dB sensitivity. But with the 706, you'd have a good bit of power feeding them. As long as you're room isn't too big, you'd be alright.

How big is the room size?
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post #19 of 183
6/2/09 at 11:52am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by alphaiii View Post

The ELT525M that Penngray listed might be a great option. The price is outstanding with the current sale.

I have a pair in rosewood, and I'm using them for desktop audio. Very nice speakers.

The drawback is that they're very inefficient....83dB sensitivity. But with the 706, you'd have a good bit of power feeding them. As long as you're room isn't too big, you'd be alright.

How big is the room size?

16'*16' (one side wall, the other goes to the dinner room, kitchen etc...)

What should I look on speakers to be good with the 100 Watt 706?
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post #20 of 183
6/2/09 at 1:02pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by miguelajjam View Post

16'*16' (one side wall, the other goes to the dinner room, kitchen etc...)

What should I look on speakers to be good with the 100 Watt 706?

The ELT525Ms are absolutely goregeous (sound and looks), but I'm not sure if you're going to be able to fit 7 of them for under $500. If you don't mind waiting and saving and building your speaker system piece by piece, you could first start off with a 2.1 system and then add more later.

If your wife wants them now, the Energy ACT6 speakers listed above is a good choice, or the Energy Take Classic 5.1 system for the same price.

If you can cancel your order for the receiver, I'd do it. The 606 or the 607 will be fine for your needs.
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post #21 of 183
6/2/09 at 1:13pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by miguelajjam View Post



Wouldn't that be too cheap?

Maybe.
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post #22 of 183
6/2/09 at 3:07pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by blackzarg View Post

The ELT525Ms are absolutely goregeous (sound and looks), but I'm not sure if you're going to be able to fit 7 of them for under $500. If you don't mind waiting and saving and building your speaker system piece by piece, you could first start off with a 2.1 system and then add more later.

If your wife wants them now, the Energy ACT6 speakers listed above is a good choice, or the Energy Take Classic 5.1 system for the same price.

If you can cancel your order for the receiver, I'd do it. The 606 or the 607 will be fine for your needs.

Well, I like them... I'm going to try my wife soon... How would you compare these speakers and the setup to the HTIB 9100Thx?? I don't want to expend more to get less. Even though my wife would like it, I can disregard her opinion and but the HTIB... I'm just trying to be nice to her.

Would I be getting a better system than the HTIB 9100Thx???
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post #23 of 183
6/2/09 at 3:41pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by miguelajjam View Post

Well, I like them... I'm going to try my wife soon... How would you compare these speakers and the setup to the HTIB 9100Thx?? I don't want to expend more to get less. Even though my wife would like it, I can disregard her opinion and but the HTIB... I'm just trying to be nice to her.

Would I be getting a better system than the HTIB 9100Thx???

Bad news guys... My lovely wife didn't like them... I think I would buy a HTIB like the 6100, and start sleeping out of the room... Who cares when the HT will be outside. =D I would buy other speakers later on.

Now, would you guys do that or would you buy a separated onkyo and NICE front, Center, and sub... cheaps sur, back???? It would be my first HT, but I really like music and sound.
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post #24 of 183
6/2/09 at 4:26pm
Purchase in this order front left and right, sub, center, then surrounds. Don't buy Onkyo speakers. If your going to keep the Onkyo 706, look at internet direct brands like, AV123, Axiom Audio, Aperion Audio, HSU Research, Ascend Acoustics. If I were you buy a good 2.1 like someone else mentioned then as funds become available get you center then surrounds later. Don't do the "i'll buy cheaper everything so I can get more" you actually get less in the long run and will have to upgrade more often, which will cost more. You said you were upgrading later anyway so spend your budget now on 2 fronts and a sub and then the rest when you plan to upgrade later.
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post #25 of 183
6/2/09 at 7:09pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by gtpsuper24 View Post

Purchase in this order front left and right, sub, center, then surrounds. Don't buy Onkyo speakers. If your going to keep the Onkyo 706, look at internet direct brands like, AV123, Axiom Audio, Aperion Audio, HSU Research, Ascend Acoustics. If I were you buy a good 2.1 like someone else mentioned then as funds become available get you center then surrounds later. Don't do the "i'll buy cheaper everything so I can get more" you actually get less in the long run and will have to upgrade more often, which will cost more. You said you were upgrading later anyway so spend your budget now on 2 fronts and a sub and then the rest when you plan to upgrade later.

+1

A great 2.1 will beat a crappy 5.1 system any day, in my opinion.
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post #26 of 183
6/2/09 at 7:27pm
Quote:


Bad news guys... My lovely wife didn't like them

Wow, time too build yourself a MAN room
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post #27 of 183
6/2/09 at 7:28pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by alphaiii View Post

The ELT525M that Penngray listed might be a great option. The price is outstanding with the current sale.

I have a pair in rosewood, and I'm using them for desktop audio. Very nice speakers.

The drawback is that they're very inefficient....83dB sensitivity. But with the 706, you'd have a good bit of power feeding them. As long as you're room isn't too big, you'd be alright.

How big is the room size?

Well, their size dictates that they should be in a small room period, his requirements made me assume a small room too....At this size I care little about sensitivity...now if we are talking custom HT rooms then I have some experience and detailed opinions on that

Small speakers = small room performance no matter what you buy.
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post #28 of 183
6/2/09 at 7:33pm
tsto has some wharfedales in silver might want to look into those.

http://www.tsto.com/cgi-bin/TSTO.sto...f/Catalog/1075
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post #29 of 183
6/2/09 at 7:49pm
Have you considered these? Little outside you budget, but good bang for the buck. You may even be able to go with a 5.1 setup.

http://www.vanns.com/shop/servlet/it...-omnisat-v2-ss



Good luck.
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post #30 of 183
6/2/09 at 8:01pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by gtpsuper24 View Post

Purchase in this order front left and right, sub, center, then surrounds. Don't buy Onkyo speakers. If your going to keep the Onkyo 706, look at internet direct brands like, AV123, Axiom Audio, Aperion Audio, HSU Research, Ascend Acoustics. If I were you buy a good 2.1 like someone else mentioned then as funds become available get you center then surrounds later. Don't do the "i'll buy cheaper everything so I can get more" you actually get less in the long run and will have to upgrade more often, which will cost more. You said you were upgrading later anyway so spend your budget now on 2 fronts and a sub and then the rest when you plan to upgrade later.

+1. If you buy the cheaper Onkyo HTIB speakers you might as well just grab a $200-300 receiver and save yourself some money. I second the choice for a good 2.1 over a average to below average 5.1-7.1 setup anyday.
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