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help with mid level 5.1

3612 Views 30 Replies 15 Participants Last post by GordonPears, Nov 5, 2008

aika

Discussion Starter · Jan 15, 2008

Madam and Gentleman,

Hello I am shopping for a 5.1 audio system I hope you can help me with. I currently have the Yamaha 1800 receiver and it needs some speakers. I am looking for a speaker system that has great audio as well as aesthetics and customer service. I would have bought the Radiient Calypsos but they are out of stock. I would buy the Aperion 5.1s but they are a bit more than what I want to pay.

Price range is $500 max, hopefully I can snag them off ebay for even cheaper.

Right now I am interested in the Boston Acoustics MCS100. If they were piano gloss black I probably would already have bought them.

Are they any good? Can you list a system that outperforms them in the qualities described earlier? Infinity?

Thank you for your time.

EDIT - For the standard go to the store and audition responses, I typically do not rely on store auditions as room set up, background noise, salesman, and settings of the system all come into effect. I weigh the opinions of audiophiles here on this site much more heavily. Thanks again.

1 - 20 of 31 Posts

quadriverfalls

· #2 · Jan 15, 2008

Quote:
Originally Posted by aika /forum/post/12826774

EDIT - For the standard go to the store and audition responses, I typically do not rely on store auditions as room set up, background noise, salesman, and settings of the system all come into effect. I weigh the opinions of audiophiles here on this site much more heavily. Thanks again.

That's why you need to audition in YOUR home if at all possible.

But, honestly, at $500 for a full blown 5.1 system.... you are probably looking at something HTIB. And frankly.... unless your ears are made of tin.... none of those are going to.... ("looking for a speaker system that has great audio").... fit the bill at all. Whether you audition them in advance or not.

aika

Discussion Starter · #3 · Jan 15, 2008

scratch the above post

Does anyone have any experience or heard good about the JBL CS6100?

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quadriverfalls

· #4 · Jan 15, 2008

Quote:
Originally Posted by aika /forum/post/12826935

scratch the above post

LOL.... well you can "choose" to ignore it if you wish. But, the REALITY of the matter is....

$500 for a full blown 5.1 system won't get you very much.... certainly not "mid-level" gear.
$500 for a full blown 5.1 system won't even get you a "higher end" HTIB.
No one (supposed "audiophile" or not), can TELL you what's going to sound good to YOU.

You would be MUCH better served if you took your $500 budget and started with a decent pair of R/L mains and gradually built your system to 5.1 as you could afford to.

But, you can bury your head in the sand and choose to ignore all of the above if you want. It really doesn't matter to me one way or the other.

Good luck in your search!

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aika

Discussion Starter · #5 · Jan 15, 2008

Thank you for the above responses. It is not that I choose to bury my head in the sand. Quite the opposite, I choose to listen to the experience of people who have already gone through what I'm going through.

If you can not point me in directions of systems that have either impressed you or not in the price range I specified, there really is no reason to post. However, you are more than welcome to.

EDIT - Quad, money is not really break the bank. I just do not want to spend $2000 for speakers when all I intend to use them for is gaming and dvds.

quadriverfalls

· #6 · Jan 15, 2008

Quote:
Originally Posted by aika /forum/post/12827059

If you can not point me in directions of systems that have either impressed you or not in the price range I specified, there really is no reason to post. However, you are more than welcome to.

Why THANK YOU.... I think I've EARNED that right.

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aika

Discussion Starter · #7 · Jan 16, 2008

Right now I'm looking into:

1. HK HKTS 15

2. JBL CS6100

I really like the finish of the JBLs, I don't know.

Snoopy82

· #8 · Jan 16, 2008

aika,

check out the def tech procinema 600 and mirage nanosats, both very good 5.1 systems. Personally I prefer the def tech for movies because the direct radiating design is more directional than the omnipolar used in the nanosats. Both are very nice, however, and if you look around you can probably get a deal from abt or ultimate electonics for ~$600.

aika

Discussion Starter · #9 · Jan 16, 2008

Thanks so much.

Logic_BomB

· #10 · Jan 16, 2008

Other people's experiences are great but just understand that it's like getting the opinions of food critics - they may rant and rave but in the end you may eat the best or worst meal you've ever tried. Just keep that in mind. My ears aren't yours and what I think sounds awesome is not what the guy next to me thinks.

That being said, $500 is low budget for this hobby. I spent a bit over $2000 on 2 floorstanding speakers (and a rather inexpensive amp) and I consider them to be just a stone's throw over the mid-range point.

To be a bit more helpful, here are the internet-direct brands people often point to that get rave reviews:

www.**********
www.theaudioinsider.com
www.ascendacoustics.com
www.aperionaudio.com
www.hsu.com

But look at it like this, you are asking for great customer service, great sound and great appearance for about 83.33 per speaker. I hope you find what you are looking for but keep it in perspective - you don't have a lot of cash to work with for what you are asking. Would you ever ask someone to help you find great picture, great service and great appearance in an HDTV for $500?

Good luck and let us know what you decide on and how you like it!

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aika

Discussion Starter · #11 · Jan 16, 2008

Thanks for the HSU link, I've been needing a good parasite cleansing.

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kip_

· #12 · Jan 16, 2008

Quote:
Originally Posted by aika /forum/post/12827973

Thanks for the HSU link, I've been needing a good parasite cleansing.

http://hsuresearch.com/

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aika

Discussion Starter · #13 · Jan 16, 2008

The HSUs have great reviews, along with the DefTech 600. I love the piano finish on the 600, it matches my tv and stand perfectly. But the price. I might as well get the Aperions at those prices.

Thanks for the replys some great recommendations. I'll try to snipe some deftechs off ebay.

Davidt1

· #14 · Jan 16, 2008

If you are not set on piano black, these are great sounding and very wife friendly. I challenge anyone to find a better system for the same price.

http://www.tsto.com/cgi-bin/TSTO.sto.../View/2516&2D1

http://www.tsto.com/cgi-bin/TSTO.sto...duct/View/2515

aika

Discussion Starter · #15 · Jan 16, 2008

Thank you for the suggestion. My wife is ok with anything so long as I give her $200 lol.

I have the Whalen tv stand from BestBuy, it has shiny black glass with dark cherry wood legs that also match my dinner table and couch legs. After looking into the procinemas, I found they also come in gloss white. I think actually the white would look better to give a little contrast to my main set up and at the same time not stand out on the walls.

I'm just thinking out loud. Thanks again.

tysonmax

· #16 · Jan 16, 2008

Thats a tough price point, but something like this is better than some HITB.

http://www.fluance.com/fluan5speaks.html

You'd still need a sub but you could get the BIC H-100 for $249 shipped.

AirAl

· #17 · Jan 16, 2008

Aika, for what its worth, I've been looking for a 5.1 speaker set for my ht setup in that price range too. I'm a novice. I actually was looking at the Boston Acoustics MCS-130 system. A notch above the MCS-100, the 130 has 3 center channel type speakers, two for fronts and one as a center, two smaller rears, and a 10", 200W sub. I haven't heard the system, but that's what I was gonna try. That should tell you just how much of a novice I am. lol. The MCS-130 retails at $800, but can be found on Ebay for $500. I actually ordered them but the ebay store shipped me white ones instead of black... grrrr.... I was so po'd I just demanded a refund. Didn't bother listening to the whites before returning them, which was a mistake. Anyway, I'm instead going to mimick the MCS system with a similar system made up of components from partsexpress.com. I'm going to try their Dayton gear... 3 center channels, two satellites and a 10" sub. $268 for that system, which is ungodly inexpensive. I've seen a lot of good reviews on Dayton gear, but it isn't high end, probably just better quality low-to-mid level gear than the HTIB stuff. I'm hoping that this custom arrangement rivals the MCS-130 system, but at almost half the cost. I'll post back when I get them.

My budget system or the MCS-130 are one option, but from what I've read, bigger fronts make for a better music listening system. Using 3 centers is sort of a compromise between satellite fronts and tower fronts. For DVD's and gaming, you might not need tower fronts, but might appreciate a little richer sound that the compromise provides. That Fluance system seems like a great price for a tower front 5.1 system. Add a sub and you'd be set. Not black though.

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aika

Discussion Starter · #18 · Jan 17, 2008

Thanks for the suggestions.

As an update, I am still at a loss.

ahartig

· #19 · Jan 17, 2008

http://svsound.com/products-sys-sbs_black.cfm

5.1 with good sub for 999

double your budget, you'll love it

tkdee

· #20 · Jan 17, 2008

The Cerwin Vega CVHD 5.1 system has been known to drop down to around 600 bucks. I've heard mixed things about it, but for games I think it would be pretty good.

The elemental designs cheapest 5.1 package is about 630 including shipping would also be another pretty good option.

Both are a bit over your budget though.

1 - 20 of 31 Posts

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