Entry level bookshelves vs high-end sats for a small room

Hi!
I'm a newbie to good home theater systems though I've been reading a few months now!

I am based in India where every component is about twice as expensive as elsewhere...so please help me sort out this confusion! Thanks!

I am planning to purchase the Marantz NR1402

I am planning to buy a 5.0 BS/5.1 sub-sat system to go with this for a 150 sqft room-budget around 800-900$

From all my reading and out of availability - I have found the following:

Bookshelf system:

1) Pioneer SP-PK21BS (5.1) which I can get here for about 700$

2) Infinity Primus P153x4 + PC251 center channel for about 900-1000$(estimated)

3) Pioneer SP-PK41BS+SP-PK21BS (5.1) which I can get here for about 900$


Sub-Sat

1) Polk Audio TL350 if I can manage to ask someone to get them from USA- around 700$

2) Def Tech ProCinema 800 5.0 at about 700$- from USA

3)Energy Take Classic 5.1 at about 700$- from India

paired with a ~350$ Paradigm Cinema Sub/350$ Wharfedale SW150 sub



I wanted to know if these higher-end, high rated sub-sats can compare with the lower end bookshelves...for 50% music and 50% movies in a small room!

Considering my relatively constrained options and budget, please help me out deciding!

Any 600-700$ 5.0 sat system from USA would do, or a 300-400$ 5.0 BS system I can get here for the same price?

Thanks!

Great!
Thanks a lot for the replies!
The thing is I just Cant exceed 1000$ as of now...not for a while actually

Doing a little digging I found that I can get

1) 5x NHT SuperZeros I can get over ebay at around 1100$. That means no Sub.

2) Boston acoustics A25x4+ Center A225C +ASW250 Sub= 1100$

3) Infinity Primus P153x4+PC351= probably 1000$ with delvery. No Sub.

4) Pioneer SP PK 21BS 5.1 package= 800$

5) Polk Audio TL350+ Paradigm Cinema 100 Sub = 1000$

Based on the following what would you suggest? I can't afford a Sub if I go for the high-rated NHTs and Infinity's...will that work well?
Or should I prefer the cheaper Pioneer?
Or can the not-too-common, expensive-driver made TL350 do the trick in a much smaller proportion?


The worst part is I cant audition most of these systems easily here...I'll maybe have to buy online.
Thanks!

PS: I have an old pair of Philips bookshelves. A bit too bright...not that great but they're decent.
Would you recommend getting a front 3 bookshelf system and subwoofer and pair these Philips up for the surrounds?
Or should I stress on matching out 5 speakers for best movie quality and not care about a sub right now?

PPS: I read in a review that the A225C center isnt that great...would a similar priced center channel speaker sound better?

Thanks again

Hmm..thanks for the advice

Now after reading about NHT Superzero 2.0s...My head's kind of fixated on them
I Might be able to get 5 for 900$-if i Do, I think I'll buy them and pair up an 8" sub!

However, I Nearly own a Marantz NR1402 now, do you think the 50W/channel output will be able to drive them at the relatively low efficiency?
Its a small room- 3x4.5 metres with a viewing distance of 3, will it be decently loud enough?



Another option thats popping up is a pair of Cambridge S30s...how would that work out within the system? Or will the difference in

And the Boston Acoustics A25x4+ A225C is always there

Ok so final (almost verdict)....

5 NHTs + sub are going beyond my budget. a bit way beyond.

3 NHT SZ + 1 pair Cambridge S30+sub, I can Just afford.

Cambridge audio s30x4 plus unknown center plus sub I can afford

Boston Acoustics package is also crossing the limit at 1100.


So can I pair a front 3 NHT package with CA S30s for surrounds? Or will they mismatch?
I thought in this way I could at any time switch the front pair and check...


Since I live far away auditioning/returning arent valid options...so will the mixing be too risky? Or will an entire Cambridge set outdo the mixing?

Thanks guys for some great inputs...I was stuck in the research and speaker hunt for way too long...and I'm (this) close to deciding!

Please throw in your final inputs before I buy!

Frankly, I just got tempted by the SuperZero reviews.... the mentioned clarity and imaging seemed brilliant! I don't need my speakers to go too low as I will be getting a sub.
However the CA s30 look amazing too, but in the limitation of my knowledge to reading, they seem to be slightly lesser in definition than the SZ
The CA package alone and SZ with CA I can afford...not the complete SZ package

In case the matching is very hard...I'll stick to CA. Just up to what suggestions I get now

Great! I'll proceed with the combined order then...and try both front and rear combos for the 2 brands...and choose accordingly!
Thanks for your inputs! I'm so excited I'm finally getting my first system

Hopefully everything with delivery would arrive within 2 weeks

If I do manage to get them...I'll post my opinion

Sorry to bump this thread...but there's always room for more doubt :P

I suddenly hear great things about the Wharfedale Diamond 10.1s.
At the same price...for pure sound...which of the following would you suggest?

Surrounds as of now will be my old Philips bookshelves...

1) 3.1 Wharfedale Diamond 10.1x2 + Diamond 10 Center + Wharfedale SW150

2) 3.1 NHT SuperZero 2.0x3 + NHT Super 8 Sub

3) 3.1 Cambridge Audio S30 x3 + some sub

4) 3.1 Energy RC10x2 + Energy RC center + some sub.


Again...sorry to bump but this is so confusing without the chance to audition!
I lean towards the NHTs purely out of reviews...