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Newb here looking for a cheap 5.1 speaker setup (500-750$?)

post #1 of 37
11/24/10 at 2:35am
Thread Starter 
I have a TV but no speakers and the built in tv speakers suck
Not really looking to spend over 750. As long as it sounds decent and not like total trash I'll be happy.

I will be using this for mostly gaming, but some movie watching as well.

I saw these recommended in an earlier thread with mostly favorable feedback on them.

Polk Audio RM 95 5CH Satellite Speaker System - 250$ on newegg (d'oh, can't include hyperlink yet.)

What else would I need to go with this? 1 subwoofer, and a receiver, correct? (any recommendations on those?)

Really appreciate any input or advice you gurus could give me
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post #2 of 37
11/24/10 at 3:16am
Thread Starter 
Well, I went ahead and impulse bought the aforementioned speakers. Lol, whoops.

Still looking for recommendations on subwoofer/receiver. And anything else is also appreciated..
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post #3 of 37
11/24/10 at 4:58am
How much money left are you willing to spend?
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post #4 of 37
11/24/10 at 5:06am
Thread Starter 
Not on a strict budget..but maybe 400 more?
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post #5 of 37
11/24/10 at 6:38am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Delita View Post

Well, I went ahead and impulse bought the aforementioned speakers. Lol, whoops.

Still looking for recommendations on subwoofer/receiver. And anything else is also appreciated..

That was a little quick there - not even Thanksgiving yet.
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post #6 of 37
11/24/10 at 9:16am
That leaves about 200 for a receiver and 200 for a sub. That's cuttin it really close.

Denon AVR-391 At Crutchfield for $199 (thats just the first place I looked)

BIC Formula F-12 Subwoofer (many online stores for less than $200)
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post #7 of 37
11/24/10 at 9:23am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by zieglj01 View Post
That was a little quick there - not even Thanksgiving yet.
Haha oh well. Not really looking for the deal of the century. I saw they had received good reviews and 250 doesn't exactly break the bank either
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post #8 of 37
11/24/10 at 9:31am
Thread Starter 
Ill check those out.

I saw on amazon there are two different polk subs for 100 and 200, respectively. Good reviews an amazon, do you know if they are ok?
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post #9 of 37
11/24/10 at 12:41pm
If you can spend $600 on a receiver and subwoofer you will be handsomely rewarded

-Denon AVR-1611
-Bic f12 subwoofer
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post #10 of 37
11/24/10 at 12:59pm
^^wow that bic sub seems like a good deal. From what I hear its probably worth the extra $100 to get that instead of the polk sub.

here's another sub company that's been getting some good reviews lately
http://www.lavasubs.com/10_inch/powe...subwoofer.html
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post #11 of 37
11/24/10 at 1:00pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by crazyrob425 View Post

If you can spend $600 on a receiver and subwoofer you will be handsomely rewarded

-Denon AVR-1611
-Bic f12 subwoofer

I was thinking about getting a cheaper subwoofer..I mean, I don't really plan on blasting stuff

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...=ATVPDKIKX0DER

Polk Audio PSW10 10-Inch Monitor Series Powered Subwoofer (Single, Black

cheap, only 100$. I can afford the bic 12 (and the 600$ setup you just mentioned), just wondering if it's really worth it.

As for the receiver, it looks like i'll have to do a lot more research unfortunately
is there a big difference between the Denon 391, 591 , and 1611??

Again really appreciate the help you guys.
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post #12 of 37
11/24/10 at 1:04pm
I think you'd be pleasantly surprised by how much positive impact a better sub can have in a home theater. Skimping on the sub, especially going with one of the piss-poor low-budget Polk subs, is a VERY bad idea.

The Polk PSW10 is simply horrible...
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post #13 of 37
11/24/10 at 1:05pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by palehorse View Post

I think you'd be pleasantly surprised by how much positive impact a better sub can have in a home theater. Skimping on the sub, especially going with one of the piss-poor low-budget Polk subs, is a VERY bad idea.

The Polk PSW10 is simply horrible...

Okay, that's all I needed to hear. I'll go for the Bic sub.

Now for the receiver..
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post #14 of 37
11/24/10 at 1:23pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by palehorse View Post

I think you'd be pleasantly surprised by how much positive impact a better sub can have in a home theater. Skimping on the sub, especially going with one of the piss-poor low-budget Polk subs, is a VERY bad idea.

The Polk PSW10 is simply horrible...

I agree 100% with this. Everyone has a budget they want to stick to or even stay under, but cheaping out on a sub is a bad bad idea.

Better subs do amazing things to round out a home theater.
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post #15 of 37
11/24/10 at 1:25pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Delita View Post

Okay, that's all I needed to hear. I'll go for the Bic sub.

Now for the receiver..

Try to find used or factory refurbished. I just got an Onkyo TX-SR707 for $300...this thing was 3x that price last year...the only "shortcoming" it has is no support for 3D but I have no interest in that. Buying used gets you so much more!
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post #16 of 37
11/24/10 at 2:52pm
You can get that 707 from shoponkyo.com for $335 shipped with 1 year warranty. 20% off on refurb products for Thanksgiving plus $10 discount for first time club onkyo purchase..
http://www.shoponkyo.com/

sign up for club onkyo to get the discounts.

http://www.shoponkyo.com/detail.cfm?...il=1&ext_war=0
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post #17 of 37
11/24/10 at 5:54pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by afrogt View Post

You can get that 707 from shoponkyo.com for $335 shipped with 1 year warranty. 20% off on refurb products for Thanksgiving plus $10 discount for first time club onkyo purchase..
http://www.shoponkyo.com/

sign up for club onkyo to get the discounts.

http://www.shoponkyo.com/detail.cfm?...il=1&ext_war=0

ok cool, I think I'll get that one then if it'll be sufficient and compatible with what I have so far. Thanks a ton for the advice guys
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post #18 of 37
11/24/10 at 6:12pm
Thread Starter 
also, anyone have any idea how many hdmi cables I might need for this new setup? will there be any other cords I need to buy so hook up the speakers and stuff? (from what I understand the actual speakers will be wireless? or am i totally wrong here) I bought the polk rm 95 speakers btw

(talking about the 5 speakers, subwoofer, & receiver)



And once everything arrives, I'll be plugging my 360 into the receiver with an hdmi cable, correct? Then the receiver feeds into the TV with another hdmi cable?

(sorry, ..this'll be my first receiver so I really don't know what I'm doing)
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post #19 of 37
11/24/10 at 6:17pm
You will need speaker wire, not HDMI cables, to hook each of the 5 speakers to the receiver.

Then one HDMI cable to hook the 360 up to the receiver and one from the receiver to the TV. For each additional component (ie. Cable Box, Bluray) you will need an additional HDMI cable to the receiver.

You will also need a sub-woofer cable to hook the receiver to the sub.

Goto: www.monoprice.com to buy all the cables, they are a awesome website that will save you a ton of money versus best-buy or even walmart. Not to mention the quality of their stuff is top notch.
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post #20 of 37
11/24/10 at 6:22pm
So pretty much what I have below. Go with the lowest gauge (thickest) your budget will allow.

Two of these of whatever length you require.
http://www.monoprice.com/products/su...09&cp_id=10240

One of these:
http://www.monoprice.com/products/su...09&cp_id=10236

And a spool of this stuff:
http://www.monoprice.com/products/su...09&cp_id=10239
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post #21 of 37
11/24/10 at 6:22pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by avichayil View Post

You will need speaker wire, not HDMI cables, to hook each of the 5 speakers to the receiver.

Then one HDMI cable to hook the 360 up to the receiver and one from the receiver to the TV. For each additional component (ie. Cable Box, Bluray) you will need an additional HDMI cable to the receiver.

You will also need a sub-woofer cable to hook the receiver to the sub.

Goto: www.monoprice.com to buy all the cables, they are a awesome website that will save you a ton of money versus best-buy or even walmart. Not to mention the quality of their stuff is top notch.

Understood. So do I need just one speaker wire? (sorry if these are really dumb questions). And one additional HDMI cord? All I have is my xbox 360 right now..
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post #22 of 37
11/24/10 at 6:24pm
Thread Starter 
What's the purpose of the additional coax cable. For TV, right?


So basically the receiver is like the computer that takes in all the information and sorts it
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post #23 of 37
11/24/10 at 6:30pm
The coax cable is too hook the subwoofer up to the receiver.

The receiver is kinda the brains of the operation, simply put.

It takes in the audio and video data from the 360. Passes the video signal on to the TV. Process the audio and then send it out to the 5 speakers and one subwoofer.

The speakers connect through a positive and negative speaker wire, which you will have to cut to length yourself (may want to pick up a set of wire strippers while you are at it, you can use a knife in a pinch but it is a pain in the ass). The subwoofer uses a coax connection instead of a positive and negative speaker wire.
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post #24 of 37
11/24/10 at 6:31pm
Oh, and yes you will only need one spool of speaker wire, but it will need to be long enough to cut 5 wires that will reach your speakers.
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post #25 of 37
11/24/10 at 6:32pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by avichayil View Post

The coax cable is too hook the subwoofer up to the receiver.

The receiver is kinda the brains of the operation, simply put.

It takes in the audio and video data from the 360. Passes the video signal on to the TV. Process the audio and then send it out to the 5 speakers and one subwoofer.

The speakers connect through a positive and negative speaker wire, which you will have to cut to length yourself (may want to pick up a set of wire strippers while you are at it, you can use a knife in a pinch but it is a pain in the ass). The subwoofer uses a coax connection instead of a positive and negative speaker wire.

Thank you so much for breaking it down for me. I consider myself a pretty bright guy but I really just have no experience at all with this stuff!
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post #26 of 37
11/24/10 at 6:45pm
There is no way in hell you will fit 12ga wire in those speakers. I barely was able to fit 16ga in my Polks which have the similar hook ups

So I woulf not go bigger than 14ga
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post #27 of 37
11/24/10 at 6:49pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by crazyrob425 View Post

There is no way in hell you will fit 12ga wire in those speakers. I barely was able to fit 16ga in my Polks which have the similar hook ups

So I woulf not go bigger than 14ga


I'll get the 14ga thanks.

It'd be nice if Polk told you what the speakers were optimized for or the biggest size you could use
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post #28 of 37
11/24/10 at 7:24pm
Speakers aren't optimized for a specific wire gauge. The wire gauge you need is actually determined by 1. How far away the speakers are and 2. How much wattage you are trying to push through the speakers (How loud you plan on playing your speakers. The guide linked below will tell you the minimum gauge you can use, but there is no harm in going overboard.

http://www.roger-russell.com/wire/wire.htm
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post #29 of 37
11/24/10 at 7:33pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by avichayil View Post

Speakers aren't optimized for a specific wire gauge. The wire gauge you need is actually determined by 1. How far away the speakers are and 2. How much wattage you are trying to push through the speakers (How loud you plan on playing your speakers. The guide linked below will tell you the minimum gauge you can use, but there is no harm in going overboard.

http://www.roger-russell.com/wire/wire.htm

yeah i dunno, I doubt i'll have a problem.

I live in an apartment and won't be blasting my music out of courtesy for neighbors. Hell, I'm not even sure I need a sub to be quite honest. (I know subs are something that can be pretty disruptive/loud)

I just had to get speakers because I have trouble hearing from my tv speakers. It's like sometimes dialogue will be to quiet then all of a sudden someone will shoot a gun and it'll be loud as hell!!!
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post #30 of 37
11/24/10 at 7:38pm
Those Polks are pretty small, you will be glad you got a sub. I live in an apartment as well, the subs disturbance level depends on the build quality of your apartment. Some of the cheaper apartments I lived in earlier in college, I could hardly use a sub. I have upgraded to nicer apartment now, but kept a cheap velodyne sub since I can't really play at high volumes. That sub you got is a great performance/price deal though.
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