New Home Theater Setup

I am new to the home theater world. I currently only use a simple but very good sound bar and subwoofer. I am looking to move on to a full surround experience. My budget for the front two speakers (left and right) is under $1,000. I would like to keep cost lower but I also expect to pay some for good quality speakers. I will also buy the matching center for whatever fronts I choose. I do want floorstanding speakers. I am currently looking at the Denon 2112ci receiver for my system. Here are the current floorstanding speakers I am looking at now:

Polk Monitor 70 Series I/II
Polk RTI A7
Energy RC-70
Energy CF-70
Klipsch RF-62
Klipsch RF-82
Wharfedale Diamond 10.6

I am very new to all this and I was hoping for some suggestions on a speaker that I am currently looking into or if there is another brand/speaker that I should look into. Thanks again for taking the time to help me out, any suggestions will be very helpful.

Wow thank you to everyone who has responded. This community is such a big help! I will definitely look into those speakers, after doing more research and prior to reading any of the responses to my post I had felt pretty good about the Klipsch rf-62/82. But after reading the suggestions it looks as if I will be doing some more research on the other suggestions. I meant to post originally, but my use will probably be about 60% Gaming/ 30% Movies (Blu-Ray)/ 10% Music. I am not sure if that will change any of the suggestions. I was able to get a quote for the Klipsch RF-62's at $350 each. I am not sure if that is a good deal or not on those. Also I was able to get a quote on the Denon 3312 for around $600, seems pretty good. I will look into the receivers suggested but I was primarily looking at the Denon based on the Airplay option and the overall reviews.

Thanks again for all the suggestions, this has been a big help for a newbie at the HT World. Especially since I am only use to seeing the big named commercial brands, I never knew that there was so many brands!

How are those KEF iQ90's for gaming and movies? Also for general cable tv viewing? This may be a newbie question, but please bare with as I am not sure what all the crossover frequency talk is about. But I have been reading everywhere that with a subwoofer you will change the fronts to small with a crossover at 80Hz. As I was looking at the KEF iQ90, I noticed that the crossover frequencey says 180Hz, is that a good thing or bad thing?
Edited by TVMan1414 - 6/7/12 at 8:56pm

Regarding the receiver, I also liked the higher-end Denon's because they have the Audyssey MultEQ XT, which what I can tell from reading the forums is a great thing to have on the receiver. It does not appear that the Onkyo NR616 has that higher end Audyssey software, is that correct?

Okay I have actually re-done my speaker option list. I will say after the price and suggestions on the KEF iQ90, I am very impressed with how that one looks. I have read a lot of good reviews regarding that brand and speaker. But after doing more research I have found a couple new speakers to look at. Any input on these would be very helpful. Thanks again for everyones support, I am getting closer to deciding the setup I want.

Front Tower Speaker Options, matching center and surrounds/rear will be chosen based on towers I go with:

KEF iQ90
Klipsch RF-62
Klipsch RF-82
JBL L880
JBL L890
Definitive Technology 8020
Definitive Technology 8040
Energy V6.2

Specifically the Energy V6.2, does anyone have an opinion on this speaker, can't find much about it.

Thanks again for everyone's input!

Haha yes you are correct, my original budget was $1,000 for the pair but after I have done some more research I increased my budget just a bit. Plus I can also shop around and see who will offer for the lowest price. I must say that I have only actually gotten to test/hear the Definitive Technology 8040 and Energy CF-70 speakers at Best Buy. But boy do the Def Tech 8040 sounds so good and the fact that they have built in subwoofers made them sound even better! Unfortunately a lot of the speaker options on my list I won't be able to test/audition because no one around my area carries these models.

Thanks again for your input on these speakers, I love to hear from people that have experience with the model/brands of speakers on my list. I have read a lot of good things about the Def Tech 8040's as well. How do the Def Tech 8020's compare?

Looks like I will be adding the Def Tech 8040's to my final list of options.

Thanks so much everyone!

Okay, sorry to keep bothering everyone but I have narrowed down my list one last time. I will say I am still really gravitating towards either the Klipsch RF-82 II or Definitive Technology 8040ST's. The system will be about 60% gaming / 30% movies / 10% music.

Thanks again for everyone's input and suggestions!!!! This will be my first home theater setup!

I am going with the Denon 3312 receiver.
My center and surrounds will match whichever front tower speakers I choose.**I am considering whichever has floor-standing speakers will have the better center channel to go with them**....I know the Klipsch RC-62 is a great center but not sure on the others.

Definitive Technology 8040ST
Klipsch RF-82 II
PSB Image T6
KEF iQ90
Wharfedale 10.7
JBL L890

Thanks,


TVMan1414

Any input will be greatly appreciated!!