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3.1 setup, what should I upgrade to?

post #1 of 52
4/15/12 at 7:35am
Thread Starter 
I currently have Onkyo HTCC160 & Klipsch 300hd setup in a 3.1 config in my living room. My room does not allow for a surround sound setup so I'm looking at different options.

My receivers says its 80 watts per channel, I'm not sure it that is rms or max.

My speakers are placed on the tv stand, one on each side of the tv with the center channel in the middle.

I was looking at the Polk Monitor 40 2 way bookshelf speakers and the Polk monitor 60 floorstanding speakers.


I want the best sound for watching tv and movies I can get since I can't have surround sound. (I never listen to music)

What type of speakers should I be looking at to achieve this without spending much money.

Should I be looking at 2 way, 3 way, or 4 way speakers?

Do the floor standing 3 and 4 way speakers hook into just one port on my receiver or do they connect to different ports so that I can get more than just 80 watts going to all of them?
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post #2 of 52
4/15/12 at 10:21am
the biggest thing is a budget, what is your budget?

2, 3, 4, way designs are not really something you should be too worried about. 2 and 3 way designs are more common, and less complicated, espcially if they have 1st or 2nd order crossovers. Personally Im more of a 2-way fan, Keep it simple stupid, especially if they are phase aligned 1st order crossovers.


You should buy what you like the best. Polks are OK speakers if you have a tight budget. Otherwise, look at brands like Energy, Monitor Audio, PSB, NHT, Focal and Boston Acoustics. They should all be able to be purchased online. IMO, for the money, they present the best price to performance ratios available
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post #3 of 52
4/15/12 at 12:25pm
Thread Starter 
Budget would be $400. The tv stand they will be on is 52" long so that's the farthest the speakers would be apart. Would I be better with 2.1 or 3.1?
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post #4 of 52
4/15/12 at 12:44pm
Start with 2.1 and add a center later. A good entry level sub in your budget range for HT usage is the BIC F12. That will leave you a little over $200 for the front speakers.
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post #5 of 52
4/15/12 at 3:18pm
Thread Starter 
I don't even know if it is worth it to get a sub. My wife hates the one I have now, she does not want to see it so I had to put it up near the ceiling in a back corner hidden behind a plant. I also have to turn it to -16 on the receiver or she complains that all she hears is boom boom boom.
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post #6 of 52
4/15/12 at 3:39pm
If I wasn't "allowed" to have a sub, and my upgrade budget was $400, the choice would be clear, Monitor 70's. Only problem is, if the speakers have to much bass you cant just turn the bass down like you can with a sub. I never understand people who complain about to much sub?
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post #7 of 52
4/15/12 at 3:46pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by callas01 View Post

the biggest thing is a budget, what is your budget?

2, 3, 4, way designs are not really something you should be too worried about. 2 and 3 way designs are more common, and less complicated, espcially if they have 1st or 2nd order crossovers. Personally Im more of a 2-way fan, Keep it simple stupid, especially if they are phase aligned 1st order crossovers.

You should buy what you like the best. Polks are OK speakers if you have a tight budget. Otherwise, look at brands like Energy, Monitor Audio, PSB, NHT, Focal and Boston Acoustics. They should all be able to be purchased online. IMO, for the money, they present the best price to performance ratios available

Dont forget paradigm. Excellent speakers for the $$.
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post #8 of 52
4/15/12 at 3:47pm
Thread Starter 
I also just found out she does not want floor speakers either. She says they are too big and bulky. The satellites I have out now I can't get her to stop putting pictures in front of them because she says they are ugly. Lol
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post #9 of 52
4/15/12 at 3:48pm
It is very worth it to have a good sub. The one that came with that Klipsch set is not very good. That's why is sounds "boomy" to your wife. Have you calibrated your system? ran Audyssey?
Go 2.1, for now. but don't skimp on the sub... it's going to do the hardest work, and thereby take strain off your receiver, and allow your speakers to handle the higher notes, like from 80hz and up. For mainly movies, I would look for something that handles at least down to the low to mid 20 hz range. Don't buy cheap tools.
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post #10 of 52
4/15/12 at 3:51pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jay1 View Post

If I wasn't "allowed" to have a sub, and my upgrade budget was $400, the choice would be clear, Monitor 70's. Only problem is, if the speakers have to much bass you cant just turn the bass down like you can with a sub. I never understand people who complain about to much sub?

I would take a pair of paradigm Titan monitors (if you could find them now) over a pair of monitor 70's any day. They are large bookshelves. They are built better, sound better, and would most likely cost less or equal with stands. But, if it is bass you're after, the 70's will do it but the overall sound won't be as good or detailed.

OP, do a search on the audiogon website, most likely you would find them there. I got mine for 300 which replaced a pair of monitor 70s and couldn't be happier.

Heres a side by side comparison of the two.
LL
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post #11 of 52
4/15/12 at 6:08pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks for the input guys.
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post #12 of 52
4/15/12 at 7:46pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by dunan View Post

I would take a pair of paradigm Titan monitors (if you could find them now) over a pair of monitor 70's any day. They are large bookshelves. They are built better, sound better, and would most likely cost less or equal with stands. But, if it is bass you're after, the 70's will do it but the overall sound won't be as good or detailed.

OP, do a search on the audiogon website, most likely you would find them there. I got mine for 300 which replaced a pair of monitor 70s and couldn't be happier.

Heres a side by side comparison of the two.

Id personally take anything over polks, but thats just me.

OP, look at the Pioneer bookshelfs available online or at best buy. They sound much better then any Polk or Klipsch seakers I have heard, and they cost like $150 /pr. Use the rest of the money on a sub like the Hsu STF-1. very nice and easy setup. the hsu has nice tight bass. not boomy.

http://www.hsuresearch.com/products/stf-1.html
http://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-SP-BS4...4544308&sr=8-1
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post #13 of 52
4/15/12 at 8:17pm
Thread Starter 
I like the pioneer speakers you linked. I would really like a good wireless sub, but everything y'all are recommending are wired subs.
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post #14 of 52
4/15/12 at 8:30pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by kyleax1 View Post

I like the pioneer speakers you linked. I would really like a good wireless sub, but everything y'all are recommending are wired subs.

I have never used a wireless sub or speakers, and I don't think I would on the low-end
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post #15 of 52
4/15/12 at 8:33pm
PSB Century 500
http://www.ebay.com/itm/PSB-Century-...item337493d4c4

Paradigm Monitor 3
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Paradigm-Mon...item1c26030386
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post #16 of 52
4/15/12 at 8:34pm
Thread Starter 
Placement flexibility would be nice
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post #17 of 52
4/15/12 at 8:43pm
Thread Starter 
Would putting the bookshelf speakers sideways affect the quality of sound?
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post #18 of 52
4/15/12 at 8:53pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by kyleax1 View Post

Would putting the bookshelf speakers sideways affect the quality of sound?

How much height do you have?
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post #19 of 52
4/15/12 at 8:57pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by zieglj01 View Post

how much height do you have?

36"
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post #20 of 52
4/15/12 at 9:05pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by kyleax1 View Post

36"

Then I would not turn the speakers sideways - it will affect the
dispersion pattern and soundstaging - the majority of bookshelf
speakers, are not designed as L/C/R speakers.
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post #21 of 52
4/15/12 at 9:31pm
Thread Starter 
The problem I am going to have with bookshelf speakers is the tv takes up the whole stand so the only place to put them is behind the tv. The satellites work well in that sense because they are small enough to be behind/under the tv without being blocked.
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post #22 of 52
4/15/12 at 9:35pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by kyleax1 View Post

The problem I am going to have with bookshelf speakers is the tv takes up the whole stand so the only place to put them is behind the tv. The satellites work well in that sense because they are small enough to be behind/under the tv without being blocked.

Can you do some wall-mount flat panel speakers? It looks like
that, or tower speakers.
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post #23 of 52
4/16/12 at 12:06am
Thread Starter 
I don't really want to cut into the wall. What about higher quality satellites?
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post #24 of 52
4/16/12 at 1:43am
Quote:
Originally Posted by dunan View Post

I would take a pair of paradigm Titan monitors (if you could find them now) over a pair of monitor 70's any day. They are large bookshelves. They are built better, sound better, and would most likely cost less or equal with stands. But, if it is bass you're after, the 70's will do it but the overall sound won't be as good or detailed.

OP, do a search on the audiogon website, most likely you would find them there. I got mine for 300 which replaced a pair of monitor 70s and couldn't be happier.

Heres a side by side comparison of the two.

7.5" 2-way, very nice. I have no doubt those speakers will smash the polks. Seems like the market is $500+ though

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Paradigm-Tit...item33748537da

OP, can you post a pic of your tv area so we can clearly see what you're talking about in regards to size constraints?
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post #25 of 52
4/16/12 at 5:33am
Quote:
Originally Posted by kyleax1 View Post

I don't really want to cut into the wall. What about higher quality satellites?

On-wall is hanging on the wall > not in-wall, which is cutting holes
into the wall.
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post #26 of 52
4/16/12 at 7:14am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by zieglj01 View Post

On-wall is hanging on the wall > not in-wall, which is cutting holes
into the wall.

Ya, I read that wrong. The wife does not want on wall and I was thinking about in wall, but that's not something I want to do either.



Quote:


OP, can you post a pic of your tv area so we can clearly see what you're talking about in regards to size constraints?

I can after I get home from work tonight.
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post #27 of 52
4/16/12 at 1:08pm
Thread Starter 
I found some smaller bookshelf speakers that might do the trick for me, but I am not familiar with any of them.

Energy Veritas V-Mini $153 each

Boston Acoustics Classic II CS23 $82 each

Energy CB-5 $100 each

NHT SuperZero 2.0 $100 each


They all seem very similar except the SuperZero is a little different.
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post #28 of 52
4/16/12 at 1:30pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jay1 View Post


7.5" 2-way, very nice. I have no doubt those speakers will smash the polks. Seems like the market is $500+ though

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Paradigm-Tit...item33748537da

OP, can you post a pic of your tv area so we can clearly see what you're talking about in regards to size constraints?

And they certainly do

The ones I got were the v.5 but have a v.6 center. I was lucky enough to find them on audiogon for a killer price. That's why I put the disclaimer 'if you can find them' lol. The guy that sold to me is a regular on the forum I believe.
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post #29 of 52
4/16/12 at 1:40pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by kyleax1 View Post

I found some smaller bookshelf speakers that might do the trick for me, but I am not familiar with any of them.

Energy Veritas V-Mini $153 each

Boston Acoustics Classic II CS23 $82 each

Energy CB-5 $100 each

NHT SuperZero 2.0 $100 each

They all seem very similar except the SuperZero is a little different.

Unfortunately your sound may be very thin IMO with any of those without a sub because of the 4.5" woofers. Maybe look into the HSU HB-1 MK2's? Those will run you close to your budget and give you great sound for the price and put out satisfactory bass.
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post #30 of 52
4/16/12 at 1:46pm
classic case of get a new wife

seriously, with the limitations you are imposing (or are being imposed upon) what is wrong with the current setup? You have the sub near the ceiling? how does that even work? You put a shelf all the way 8-10 feet up? Maybe you need to get textured spray paint and color the speakers so that they look "Artisan"

http://www.krylon.com/products/make_...xtured_paints/
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