Speaker/system recommendations for a newbie

Hey All,

This is my first post on the forum and I have read a few articles and posts. There is some really useful information for folks like me (read: dont' know much about audio) here.

SETUP
I have a 40" Bravia, blue-ray player and directv. I also have a NAS where I store music + a couple of iDevices & a PC. As you can tell, I lack a good way of listening to music as PC is not in the living room + PC speakers are not the best way, So, got a little bonus and thought, why not get one

The living room is 14'x15' and has an open kitchen + dining area which adds another 9'x16'. There is island + hanging cabinets between the kitchen and living area. The TV is one corner of the living room on the opposite end of where the kitchen is.

NEED
I am looking to setup a system to serve both audio and home theatre needs. I am not an audiophile, so reasonably sounding music is good. I do listen to a variety ranging from rock to classical and from vocal to instrumental.

PLAN
So, I did some research and am thinking of Denon AVR-1713 as the heart of the system. Why not Denon AVR-1613 or Denon AVR-1513? Well, 1513 doesn't have airplay or networking support and 1613 doesn't have Audyssey MultEQ XT (do I need it?). Though, we plan to move into our home in a few years, I don't think I need 7.1 for the next 4-5 years so paying extra for 1913 doesn't make sense. Now, this is where is gets confusing.

HELP... HELP
I know I don't want floor speakers as they would need space behind them which I don't have. I am looking at book shelf and I am able to spend around $1000 in all. I don't want to run wires, so want to stick to 2 front + subwoofer/center-channel. Any thoughts on polk TSi200 for the front? They can easily do to the side when I decide to move to 5.1 setup. Any other suggestions?

Also, which makes more sense a center-channel or subwoofer? something like CS10 or PSW110. Or do you think just having the 2 fronts is good enough for this size of a room

Thanks!

Thanks for the input! I am in Pittsburgh, PA. The RTi6 definitely looks like a good choice.

Any thoughts on the receiver?

Thanks
Edited by aptdweller - 8/29/12 at 8:13pm

Any other suggestions? Definitive Technology StudioMonitor 350 seems to be another popular recommendation on the forum. How does it compare to RTi6? Also, for the size of the room, do I need something with a little more power?

Thanks!

Thanks Elihawk!

Any thoughts on Boston Acoustics A 25? I posted on another thread, so if you are seeing both then sorry for cross-posting.

If i am correct, they haven't introduced new center channel with newer DT SM and recommend DS-8040hd. I am thinking that when I am ready for 5.1, I move 350 to the side & get towers for the front & match center with the towers. I don't see 5.1 happening for the next 3-4 years as don't want to pull wires with every apartment move.

Any recommendations for sub-woofers? Would something like Energy S10.3 Subwoofer work?

Thanks!

So, I went to best buy to take a look & listen. The salesperson was an older gentleman who did not push anything and seemed to be very knowledgable. Well, I know little about speakers & avr, so everyone sounds smart me this what he told me:

• Floor speakers will work fine if I leave 6 or more inches of space behind them
• I should do fine without a subwoofer if I go for floor speakers

This he suggested after we decided that bookshelves might not fit well on our TV stand. Is he right??

I will go to a magnolia store tomorrow as they have wider collection. In another post, I saw kef iq70 being recommended. Any other suggestions? There a few sales this weekend, so will like to take advantage of those.

For avr, I am leaning towards avr-1713. Though, avr-2112ci is another option as I am getting it for the same price as avr-1713.

Thanks for your suggestions & help.

Thanks Postrokfan! I think if i have to have something on floor than i would rather have speaker Do you think I can do without a subwoofer with iq70? Any recommendations on center channel and/or avr listed in my earlier post?

Thanks again.

How do the Polk monitor70 and bp8b compare to the kef iq70? Also, any suggestions on centers for the 3 speakers? Thanks

On newegg, Klipsch WF-35 Icon-W is selling for 299$. It fits in my budget but is it an overkill for a 15'x14' room? I can't find centers for iq70. Definitive Technology Bipolar BP8B are $249.

Thanks!

Thanks Hookedonc4 and cel4145!

I will check out DefTech at magnolia, if I make it there today.

cel4145: subwoofers are planned for next year I am thinking for now I can skip the center as the room is not too big & then later use iq70's as side/rear, so I can match center with new fronts.

So, went to magnolia @ best buy and listened to a few speakers. We listened to definitive, energy, klipsch & bowers and Wilkins. We liked bowers and wilkins 684 the best. They were clear and crisp with a good mix. Definitive was to much bass and wife didnt like the sound of energy at all. It is a little over budget but we can handle it. What are your thoughts??

Thanks Postrokfan! Unfortunately there are no kef dealers I can find in my area. I can order from newegg & they have a 15% restocking fee + shipping. One thing I learnt today is choice of speakers is more a matter of personal choice than anything else. Definitive's very highly recommended by many but we didn't like it at all. May be it was the setup @ best buy. I will check if 685 & 683 are available at a local shop.

Thanks cel4145! I have posted on kef owners thread asking if anyone has iq70 in the Pittsburgh area and is willing to demo them for me.