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Thoughts on system options

post #1 of 21
7/21/11 at 3:03pm
Thread Starter 
I am going to set up my first home theater. I want some input on my ideas.
So I have two options. Piece together my own set or buy a speaker package.

For my piece together option, here is what I have come up with:
Sony SS-F7000 Towers (Left and Right channels)
Polk Audio CS10 (center channel)
Polk Audio PSW10 (Subwoofer)
Sony SS-B1000 Bookshelfs (Surround L&R)
And all driven by either the Sony STRDH520 or Onkyo TX-SR309 for the receiver.

Possible changes to this system would be going with the SS-F6000 towers instead of the 7000 OR switching the Polk Audio CS10 with the Sony SS-CN5000 to free up a bit of money so I can upgrade the subwoofer from the PSW10 to the BIC America F12.

Another assemble my own system option is:
Pioneer SP-C21 center
Pioneer SP-BS21LR (front L&R)
Bic America DV32B (surround L&R)
Bic AMerica F12 Sub
Same Sony or Onkyo receivers as above.

The option for the buy a speaker set and receiver option are this JBL 5.1 set paired with this Pioneer Elite receiver from Costco for $599.

A fourth possible option is the Jamo S506 paired with the Jamo 210W subwoofer with the same receiver choices as the first set. You get a $50 discount if you buy the 506 and sub as a combo.

Any thoughts? I'm for sure open to suggestions on other speakers or receivers, but the total for the system has to be under $650. I can't go over even a little bit.
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post #2 of 21
7/21/11 at 3:20pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by jdevenberg View Post

I am going to set up my first home theater. I want some input on my ideas.
So I have two options. Piece together my own set or buy a speaker package.

For my piece together option, here is what I have come up with:
Sony SS-F7000 Towers (Left and Right channels)
Polk Audio CS10 (center channel)
Polk Audio PSW10 (Subwoofer)
Sony SS-B1000 Bookshelfs (Surround L&R)
And all driven by either the Sony STRDH520 or Onkyo TX-SR309 for the receiver.

Possible changes to this system would be going with the SS-F6000 towers instead of the 7000 OR switching the Polk Audio CS10 with the Sony SS-CN5000 to free up a bit of money so I can upgrade the subwoofer from the PSW10 to the BIC America F12.

Another assemble my own system option is:
Pioneer SP-C21 center
Pioneer SP-BS21LR (front L&R)
Bic America DV32B (surround L&R)
Bic AMerica F12 Sub
Same Sony or Onkyo receivers as above.

The option for the buy a speaker set and receiver option are this JBL 5.1 set paired with this Pioneer Elite receiver from Costco for $599.

A fourth possible option is the Jamo S506 paired with the Jamo 210W subwoofer with the same receiver choices as the first set. You get a $50 discount if you buy the 506 and sub as a combo.

Any thoughts? I'm for sure open to suggestions on other speakers or receivers, but the total for the system has to be under $650. I can't go over even a little bit.

Buy the Jamo setup, and go to www.accessories4less.com and buy yourself an Onkyo 508 there for about the same you'd spend on the 309.
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post #3 of 21
7/21/11 at 3:25pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by callas01 View Post

Buy the Jamo setup, and go to www.accessories4less.com and buy yourself an Onkyo 508 there for about the same you'd spend on the 309.

As good of a deal as that is on the 508, the shipping puts me over budget. by about $20, and as much as I know it is worth it, I can't go over the 650.

EDIT: After looking a bit, found it used from Amazon Warehouse for $175 with free 2 day shipping since I have amazon Prime. So, the 508 would be a receiver option.

EDIT 2: Would it be better to get the Jamo with the Polk Audio PSW10 so I have a bit more money to get a nicer receiver? I live in an apartment so a big, powerful sub may go wasted since I wouldn't be able to crank it up.
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post #4 of 21
7/21/11 at 3:52pm
I'd completely skip the PSW10, it is a POS.

At least get the BIC V1020 as your sub.

If you must buy a POS sub, at least buy this POS...
http://www.amazon.com/BIC-AMERICA-V-...1288613&sr=8-1

Otherwise...Have no clue why you are "jumping around" on your 5.0 speakers. If you buy Sony, buy ALL Sony. If you buy Polk, buy ALL Polk. If you buy BIC, buy ALL BIC...

I second the S606, it has a price that makes it hard for anything else to compete.

And, in all honesty, if you are "aiming that low" for a subwoofer...forgo the sub and spend the money on a better center or better surrounds. If you went with the Sony towers(especially the 7000), a $100 sub is going to do NOTHING for the system. Spend the $100 elsewhere...

Better receiver(NR609, Denon 1712, 1912)
Better surrounds...If you went BIC, get 2 pairs of DV62, instead of a 62 and 32. (or even DV64, DV62 and DV62CLRS...and forget the sub)
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post #5 of 21
7/21/11 at 3:59pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by schan1269 View Post


Otherwise...Have no clue why you are "jumping around" on your 5.0 speakers. If you buy Sony, buy ALL Sony. If you buy Polk, buy ALL Polk. If you buy BIC, buy ALL BIC...

I second the S606, it has a price that makes it hard for anything else to compete.

I didn't know it was important to get all one brand. I'm new to this as all my previous systems have been HTIBs. I can buy all one brand.

The main reason I am looking at low end subs is to free up money for a nicer receiver, since my budget doesn't allow for both to be better. Which would be more beneficial? A better sub or better receiver? Basically with the Jamo set up I can either spend $150 on the sub and $200 on the receiver or $100 on the sub and $250 on the receiver.

This system is not my end game, but my first step. In a year or two when I buy a house, I can upgrade to a better sub, receiver, or speakers. If I get a $100 sub now I'll upgrade to something much nicer in a year or two. If I get a low end receiver I will buy a better one in a year or two. I'm just of the mindset right now that I'd rather upgrade the sub in a year or two than the receiver.
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post #6 of 21
7/21/11 at 4:36pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by schan1269 View Post


And, in all honesty, if you are "aiming that low" for a subwoofer...forgo the sub and spend the money on a better center or better surrounds. If you went with the Sony towers(especially the 7000), a $100 sub is going to do NOTHING for the system. Spend the $100 elsewhere...

Better receiver(NR609, Denon 1712, 1912)
Better surrounds...If you went BIC, get 2 pairs of DV62, instead of a 62 and 32. (or even DV64, DV62 and DV62CLRS...and forget the sub)

Thanks, that is why I came to this sort of site. I think I may go with the Sony towers and use the $100 to get a better receiver since it is the component of my system I see my self least likely to upgrade in a year or two. If I do the 7000's, the CS500 center, and the BS1000 surrounds that leaves me around $320 for a receiver. I can add a sub around Christmas and probably spend $200 on it, like the F12.
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post #7 of 21
7/21/11 at 4:51pm
what if you went and just bought a nice pair of left and right speakers and a receiver, and just saved up some more money for a sub and a center, then more for the surrounds. then you wouldn't have to buy again in 2 yrs when you get a house.

Maybe buy the best pair of bookshelfs you can find that you can use as surrounds later.
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post #8 of 21
7/21/11 at 5:05pm
Thread Starter 
I do have a really crappy set right now that I could use as surrounds (its a 3.1 setup but the sub and receiver are integrated and going out, so at best I have two surrounds and a center). If I got bookshelfs now I would want a sub cause I do want some base. The only reason I was okay with going without a sub with the sony's was cause they would produce decent base on their own.
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post #9 of 21
7/21/11 at 5:46pm
If those speakers you mention are from a 3ohm 1000w PMPO system, do NOT use them with an actual receiver.

Personally, I see nothing wrong with buying a decent $350-ish receiver(Denon 1712/Onkyo RC360). If all your sources are HDMI, the 1712 is fine, if not buy the 1612 and stick with 5.1.

The Sony speakers are better than they deserve to be...considering their cost.

It is up to you if you go 2.1 or 5.0. If you went with the Sony 7000 you can afford to do 5.0, just like with the Jamo 606 set.

These two options are just about the same price...and either would be a good choice...

HT RC360 with the BIC DV64 or 84.

Denon 1612 with the Sony SS-F7000, SS-CN5000 and SS-B1000
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post #10 of 21
7/21/11 at 5:52pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by jdevenberg View Post

Thanks, that is why I came to this sort of site. I think I may go with the Sony towers and use the $100 to get a better receiver since it is the component of my system I see my self least likely to upgrade in a year or two. If I do the 7000's, the CS500 center, and the BS1000 surrounds that leaves me around $320 for a receiver. I can add a sub around Christmas and probably spend $200 on it, like the F12.

Good audio quality comes from the speakers not a receiver. Give us your firm budget and we'll tell you what is your best option. Honestly alot of members here know deals and prices better than google can tell ya

schan1269 is giving you great advice, listen to him
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post #11 of 21
7/21/11 at 5:59pm
Thread Starter 
How about the TX-NR509 for the receiver? I could do that with the Sony 5.0 set up. I just checked my speakers and they say they are rated at 200 watts at 8 ohms. I'm sure that these are very inflated. It is a "Theater Logic" white van set (I didn't buy it, I traded a 2 year old GPS for it). If I used the two speakers from that set and got the Sony towers and center, I could swing a TX-NR609.
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post #12 of 21
7/21/11 at 6:00pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by crazyrob425 View Post

Good audio quality comes from the speakers not a receiver. Give us your firm budget and we'll tell you what is your best option. Honestly alot of members here know deals and prices better than google can tell ya

schan1269 is giving you great advice, listen to him

Firm budget (as stated in the OP) is $650, no more.
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post #13 of 21
7/21/11 at 6:12pm
http://www.accessories4less.com/make...eceiver/1.html With Jamo S606 HCS3 5.0 set and save up for a subwoofer down the line. Thats the best audio quality you can get on a budget though personally I am against the Onkyo 508's

Or
2 pairs of Polk Monitor 30's from Newegg.com, $180, cs1 center, $65 and Bic V1020 subwoofer from amazon, with a Pioneer VSX-820

A firm budget of $700 would allow for a better receiver in my opinion.

Audio electronics are an investment there shelf life isn't as long as your ipod or cell phone when you make the right purchases
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post #14 of 21
7/21/11 at 6:13pm
If you want to use those TL speakers...

Take out one of the woofers first and make sure all the wires are connected to everything inside. I've seen some of those that had "bi-amp capability" and one of the sets of binding posts wasn't connected to anything inside the speaker.

The big problem with White Van Scam speakers is...there is absolutely no quality control. If you can find a way to connect a Fluke to it, you can find out if the 8ohm is real or not.

But, I am guessing that whatever you end up with(S606/SS-F7000/DV64) will trounce those things so badly...you'll end up disconnecting them anyway.

As for the 508/9...it, like the Denon 1712, does not have HDMI upconversion(which the 1612/1912/RC360/NR609 do). If you are only connecting HDMI, or can live with non-HDMI connected to the TV for the video(VCR/Wii/early Xbox)...then you don't need HDMI upconversion.

Honorable mention...
Denon AVR 591 if you can find one...
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post #15 of 21
7/21/11 at 6:22pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by crazyrob425 View Post

http://www.accessories4less.com/make...eceiver/1.html With Jamo S606 HCS3 5.0 set and save up for a subwoofer down the line. Thats the best audio quality you can get on a budget though personally I am against the Onkyo 508's

Or
2 pairs of Polk Monitor 30's from Newegg.com, $180, cs1 center, $65 and Bic V1020 subwoofer from amazon, with a Pioneer VSX-820

A firm budget of $700 would allow for a better receiver in my opinion.

Audio electronics are an investment there shelf life isn't as long as your ipod or cell phone when you make the right purchases

I know $700 would be better, but $650 was pulling teeth, there is no way I can go $700.

All my sources are HDMI so upconvert is not really a concern. I have an Xbox 360 Elite connected via HDMI, a bluray player (HDMI), and no cable, and if I get it it would be HD. Thats why the 509 over the other.
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post #16 of 21
7/21/11 at 7:34pm
Coming from a crappy white van set up the Sony speakers will sound just fine for you. Sony speakers are the least expensive option out there that will give you at least passable audio (much better than passable if you aren't an audiophile) and will leave you more cash to spend on your reciever. With the Sony towers, you don't need a sub right away. Save up for a quality sub later.

Get b1000's for your surrounds and ditch the whit van speakers. They aren't worth keeping at all and will do nothing but bring down the audio quality of your system, even one as cheap as a Sony setup. I know this from personal experience.
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post #17 of 21
7/21/11 at 7:43pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by jdevenberg View Post


I know $700 would be better, but $650 was pulling teeth, there is no way I can go $700.

All my sources are HDMI so upconvert is not really a concern. I have an Xbox 360 Elite connected via HDMI, a bluray player (HDMI), and no cable, and if I get it it would be HD. Thats why the 509 over the other.

$300 on a receiver steps you up to the base model Denon's which generally are more reliable around here than the onkyo budget receivers

Jamo s506 is worth looking at and with a Bic v1020 k and a onkyo 508 factory refurb or pioneer vsx-820 would be in your budget or only $10 more. Figure you buy coffee daily that's just 2 or 3 cups extra for something that will out live the caffine benefit of them
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post #18 of 21
7/21/11 at 9:00pm
Thread Starter 
Pioneer VSX-520-k, Jamo S506, and Bic America F12 for a total of $656.76. I think I will go with that. Unless the Bic V1020 would be a better match than the F12, then I'll go with the V1020.
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post #19 of 21
7/21/11 at 9:21pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by jdevenberg View Post

Pioneer VSX-520-k, Jamo S506, and Bic America F12 for a total of $656.76. I think I will go with that. Unless the Bic V1020 would be a better match than the F12, then I'll go with the V1020.

Only reason I said v1020 to keep you in your budget
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post #20 of 21
7/21/11 at 9:25pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by crazyrob425 View Post

Only reason I said v1020 to keep you in your budget

Ya I think I'll have to do the 1020, I forgot about cables.
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post #21 of 21
7/22/11 at 1:02am
Thread Starter 
Thank you all for the advice and tips. I am now considering 4 different systems from what I originally posted based on buying all in one brand for speakers. There is a Boston set, Sony set, BIC America set, and a Polk Audio set. All have the Pioneer VSX-820-K as receiver and BIC F12 as the sub, and all are under my $650 budget for a full 5.1 set up. Thank you all.
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