Need help buying speakers for my 18X20 family room

So is $299 your budget?

I would start with something along THESE They're are quite piratical, and inexpensive for what they do, and compare to other speaker system out there, you'll still have a little cash left over for a AVR like Denon, or Onkyo which will give you plenty of bang for your buck.

Good luck

DJoel

You need to get 5 of the Infinity P153 speakers @ $50 each = $250 delivered.

Get a Dayton 12" subwoofer for $166 delivered.

Get a Harman Kardon AVR 2600 for $385 delivered.

3D video & Multiroom Audio:

http://www.harmankardon.com/EN-US/Pr...PID=AVR%202600

I would even try to swing a second sub, for a room that size, for a more engaging movie watching experience.

Djoel

Best buy carries the Energy CF series and that is what I bought when I upgraded last summer. If you like the Energy speakers, I suggest going to vanns.com. They carry the CFs along with other product lines from Energy that may be cheaper.

After going to vanns website over Memorial Day weekend I couldn't pass up the great deals for the Energy RC line of speakers. They have gone back up since but they may have another sale, just need to have good timing with that.

I agree that the Hsu setup is a good way to go. If you are in the orange county, CA area they have a showroom for customers, at least I think that is where it is. I have not heard the speakers but I do have a Hsu subwoofer and it is pretty amazing.

Well, her (feels weird since I usually say "his") Max budget us only $800.

I have a room exactly that size 18' x 20' family room. I'm using a single 12" PL200 sub. It's enough. Won't win any awards or bragging rights, but will shake the walls like crazy.

I'm guessing the Dayton 12" sub is similar to the PL200.

Yes, a 2.1 or 3.1, with the purchase of surrounds later, will help your budget a bit.
If you were to spend 400 on a good sub and 200-250 each on some solid bookshelves...you could get tower/center to move upfront in "phase 2"...

Yes indeed..


1+

This great advice, I would definitely do 3.1, and move the fronts to the rears.

Djoel

I'm pretty sure she'll say our system Most of us guys say, My system

DJoel

fwiw, in a room your size and your budget starting out with 2.0 or 2.1 and adding the rest of the system piece by piece would be best way to go to get great overall sound for tv and music. "way" better than 5.1 htib sets just a suggestion would be a pair of energy rc-10 bookshelves for $250 at vanns and the premier acoustics pa150 sub for $400 at acousticsound designs and a denon avr 1612 for $170 at accessories4less its a manufactures refurb. at an authorized dealer and i know its not 2 zone but you can pick up a good reciever pretty cheap for daughters room

That would be very beneficial for you at the start given your budget, that way you can get great speakers and add more to 5.1 as someone already mentioned. A solid 2.1 or 3.1 is a good way to start. Someone mentioned the energy rc10s, I agree the rc 10s are great speakers for front L & R and they are less than the RCs that best buy carries. I am an energy fan so I know the sound...as far as the infinities, I haven't heard them but at least on paper they are comparable to the energies.

I think they're too small--not that they wouldn't work, but I think it is possible to assemble a more satisfying system for the money.


I realize that you're on a different track now regarding recommendations, but I still want to point out that the VT-12 is just four tiny Bose-like satellites and a slightly better center speaker that helps make up for some of their deficiencies (with some additional compromises). Even the center speaker doesn't have a real tweeter, though--just the same (or similar) 2.5" mid-high driver that the satellites use. Maybe it sounds better than I'm imagining, but there are reasons for my doubts.


That's a very good system for the price, although what I would do is substitute the following items for their counterparts:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16882269026
http://www.accessories4less.com/make...eceiver/1.html

Total: only $730, with a higher-quality subwoofer


HSU Research is located in Anaheim:
http://www.hsuresearch.com/contact.html


HSU subwoofers are terrific in every way, and their larger speakers are very good values, but I have serious doubts about the VT-12 (part of the Performance 2 package) specifically.


They're better than the Take 5.1 Classic, most definitely. I would seriously recommend the Infinity system (with my modifications) unless you'd prefer to start with a 2.1 system and build it up over time.


That's not a bad idea in general, but I'd caution against the RC-10 (or any speaker from a discontinued series) because it may be difficult to find matching speakers in the future (unless there are millions of them stored in warehouses or Energy is still secretly making more of them ). They are nice speakers, though, for a heavily discounted price.


The AVR-1712 has two zones:
http://www.accessories4less.com/make...eceiver/1.html

So does the AVR-791, for that matter, but for $10 more, eh, why not step up to MultiEQ XT?

Do you have a Fry's in NorCal? They carry the Infinity line. They're on closeout down here, so you might find them at good prices - or they might be gone by now!

Boston A250 - and they have a black grill.
http://www.accessories4less.com/make...A-White/1.html

It is not easy to find places to audition - you can always buy speakers
from a place that has a 30 day return policy. You can buy bookshelves
to test out the sound signature, of a product that you are interested in.
http://www.onecall.com/product/Bosto...ker/_/R-115578

I own the Denon 791, it is good

The Infinity is not too big for your room. The speaker choice is yours to make.
The Infinity will sound a little more lively and forward. The Pioneer will sound
more polite and balanced.

The Denons do a good job, with efficient power handling in surround mode.

I've been in the same position as you, not sure what system to get, while trying to keep a budget. That kind of went away when I purchased the Denon 2312 tonight for under $500 through helpful advice from comments received on AVS. The speakers have been a tough one for me, but it's reassuring to see the P153's being suggested. I just wonder with them, are they too large to hang on a wall? Does anyone have this same speaker setup that could give their opinion. Maybe this will help calif_mom also.

My room is 12x15

You have to call J&R's and talk with a sales rep. The online price is higher than what they'll sale it for.

http://www.jr.com/

You have the Ohm thing backward. Any receiver can drive the Infinity speakers. Whoever told you you need a higher end one doesn't know what they are talking about. It's the LOW impedance (lower ohm) speakers that need a higher end receiver. If the Infinity speakers were 4 ohm, I would say go for a better receiver.

If you can stretch for the Primus c351 center, I would go for it. It will be more powerful than the c250, and well worth the upgrade in my opinion. The Primus mid-range drivers are excellent.

Denon is a highly regarded brand but I don't know much about specific models, sorry. It isn't a big deal to skip the surrounds, as they are by far the least important channels of sound. The front left/right is the most important, followed arguably by the subwoofer. The Infinity Primus p363 is a great choice. The center is important too if you watch a lot of movies.

I used to drive my P362 in my 18' x 20' family room with the cheap Denon 391. Works just fine.

Keep an eye on Amazon Warehouse. Last week, they had a Denon 3312 for $461! That lasted about 3 hours!

Now the Denon 2312 is $538.

Amazon Warehouse sells open-box items, NOT REFURBISHED.

I don't trust any refurbished AVR, which means it was DEFECTIVE and then REPAIRED.

And just like the open-box items at Best Buy, these Denon come with the same new Denon warranty. I asked Denon myself and I've bought a few open box Denon AVRs from Amazon Warehouse.

Just make sure the item is from Amazon Warehouse, not from other 3rd party stores on Amazon.

The Denon 2112 is $399, which is also Multi-Zone & Network.
Edited by AcuDefTechGuy - 6/11/12 at 12:18pm