[coolguy2010]

I am looking for some decent speakers for my media room whose size is approx. 12X16 feet with a step, painted dark green and built as a media room. There are 4 outlets in the ceiling for speakers but I think I want to go with small speakers instead of ceiling speakers for the surrounds.


I am a newbie in this field and just looking for some good speakers for watching movies (90% of time) and playing Kinect (10%). I have Optoma HD20 projector and just purchased Pioneer VSX-1120-K receiver. Though the receiver is 7.1, I think i would go with 5.1 set up for now and upgrade to 7.1 later. I have read about Polk, Energy take and Klipsch speakers on this forum but still very confused about what to go with.


I would appreciate any suggestions on what i should go with. I am thinking about something within 1K...the lesser the better...!!!!

 

[zieglj01]

Go to www.bostonacoustics.com and click on Shop Boston - then

click on refurbish products - then move down to the E40 speakers.

You can get 5 of these for your speakers - they are higher quality

level speakers, which use to sell for $800 a pair. Then for the sub -

go to www.hsuresearch.com and look at their subwoofers - they

make good subs. Look at the STF -2 or VTF-1 subs.

 

[coolguy2010]

Thanks Jim for your advise..It looks like the E40 speakers are out of stock...are there any other suggestions for speakers

 

[sholling]

You could go with Infinity P162 as mains ( review ), a PC250 , and P152 as surrounds which should leave enough money for a Hsu VTF-2 .

 

[zieglj01]

The Boston would have been nice.

The Infinity is a good option - also, go to www.ac4l.com or

Amazon and look at the KEF kht2005.3 speaker system

 

[ExToker]

Coolguy,


Have you checked your local Craigslist? Theres always quite a few full sets, including sub here.

 

[coolguy2010]

I have not checked Craigslist but will do that..thnx for your suggestion!

 

[coolguy2010]

Can someone provide their suggestion on Energy RC-50 for 2 front speakers...someone told they were on sale for 525$/pair. With my 1K budget, i am thinking abt going with a 3.1 set up now and upgrade later.


Or is it better to go with KEF kht2005.3 set mentioned above for 800$


Appreciate any feedback.

 

[zieglj01]



Quote:
Originally Posted by coolguy2010 /forum/post/19618177


Can someone provide their suggestion on Energy RC-50 for 2 front speakers...someone told they were on sale for 525$/pair. With my 1K budget, i am thinking abt going with a 3.1 set up now and upgrade later.


Or is it better to go with KEF kht2005.3 set mentioned above for 800$


Appreciate any feedback.

A tower is a better choice over a sub/sat system - however, in

a room your size, they may be too much of a good thing.

 

[ExToker]

My line of reasoning on towers/bookshelfs for LR is that the towers will have the tweeters already placed at/around ear height.

With bookshelfs, you likely will need a stand, which can be pretty expensive and leave you with the same investment (if not more) than the towers.

Might as well take the extra woofer/subwoofer in the towers. Also, you should have a better rolloff into the sub with the towers.

 

[coolguy2010]

Ok..i think i will have to go little over 1K but hopefully it will be worth it...this is what I am trying to finalize - appreciate your feedback!


Infinity Primus P362 (2) - 400$

Infinity Primus P162 (2) - 160$

Infinity Center PC350 - 200$

HSU VTF-2 MK3 - 569$


Total - 5.1 setup = 1329$


I want to know if the Energy RC-50 front speakers will be better than P362 for extra 200$.


Also, Crutchfield has most of these speakers "Open Box" for 10-15$ cheaper...Are there any risks with going with Open Box.


Also, about the subwoofer, read about the SVS subwoofer which is little cheaper..any other suggestions for a good quality but slightly cheaper sub. Will the VTF-2 MK 3 be "too much" for my room size?


Thanks all for your input!!!

 

[crazyrob425]

The energy's would be better but $200 better its hard to say. The infinity primus line are great speakers


The HSU will not be too much for your room


There are cheaper alternatives but they don' come with the HSU name

 

[zieglj01]

If you like it heavy and loud - then you may be happy.

 

[ExToker]

+1 on the VTF-2, especially with it on sale now

That would be my personal choice also.

 

[coolguy2010]



Quote:
Originally Posted by zieglj01 /forum/post/19632458


If you like it heavy and loud - then you may be happy.

Hmm...I really do not want heavy and loud per se...would like the sound to be more detailed, crisp and clear for movies etc...is this not a good choice for that?

 

[zieglj01]



Quote:
Originally Posted by coolguy2010 /forum/post/19632535


Hmm...I really do not want heavy and loud per se...would like the sound to be more detailed, crisp and clear for movies etc...is this not a good choice for that?

That system will be good for movies - And it will get loud in a

12x16 room - then again, that is why there are volume controls.

Make sure you have room to sit back from the towers, if you

are sitting back from the 12' section.

 

[sholling]



Quote:
Originally Posted by coolguy2010 /forum/post/19632167


Ok..i think i will have to go little over 1K but hopefully it will be worth it...this is what I am trying to finalize - appreciate your feedback!


Infinity Primus P362 (2) - 400$

Infinity Primus P162 (2) - 160$

Infinity Center PC350 - 200$

HSU VTF-2 MK3 - 569$


Total - 5.1 setup = 1329$

IMO the P362 is an outstanding bang for the buck entry level tower. Just keep in mind that every speaker is a compromise especially entry priced towers. To reach that price point the manufacturer has to cut a corner or two - either cheap drivers or cheap crossovers, or a cheaply made cabinet. In this case Infinity chose to stick with good drivers and decent crossovers and saved instead on the cabinet bracing and cabinet stuffing. That's why I think the P162 sounds just slightly better in a small to medium sized room. Where the P362 shines is in large rooms where there added output comes into play. I'm not telling you to buy one over the other, just giving you information to base a decision on.

Quote:
I want to know if the Energy RC-50 front speakers will be better than P362 for extra 200$.

I wish I could help but I've never heard them side by side, however the matched RC-LCR centers are bloody expensive if you can find one. If you're going to spend that much then consider the OneCall BA VR3/VRC bundle which I've owned. It will eat the Infinity's lunch if placed with enough room for the rear ports to do their job. However like the Energies the VRC/VRC bundle is a budget killer and the Infinities are fine speakers.


Speaking in general keep in mind placement options. Speakers sound best with some distance from any walls and that's especially true of any rear ported speaker which need at least 18-24 inches of space behind and beside them for the port to do its job optimally.

Quote:
Also, about the subwoofer, read about the SVS subwoofer which is little cheaper..

Compare apples to apples. The VTF-2 is a very musical 12" vented subwoofer. The very nice SVS PB10-NSD was a 10" and the 12" PC12-NSD is a lot more money. What I recommend that you do is contact Hsu Research, SVS, Epik, and Elemental Designs and have them each size you a sub. They will almost all slam each others products but none will try to oversell you. Have room dimensions including attached spaces ready when you call. eD will probably be the least expensive but there's usually a wait. Personally I like the Hsu.

Quote:
Will the VTF-2 MK 3 be "too much" for my room size?

There's almost no such thing as too much sub. You can always turn "too much sub" down, you can't turn too little sub up past 100%.

 

[ExToker]

Where you located coolguy?

Frys has a pretty good deal on the 362's for PU only. Also, BB is a big pusher of Klipsch products. They are pretty good for movies so you might want to stop in and audition them, if there is one nearby.

 

[coolguy2010]



Quote:
Originally Posted by ExToker /forum/post/19632833


Where you located coolguy?

Frys has a pretty good deal on the 362's for PU only. Also, BB is a big pusher of Klipsch products. They are pretty good for movies so you might want to stop in and audition them, if there is one nearby.

I am located in Dallas, TX and have a few Fry's and Best Buy's around. I think I'll stop by Frys and find out abt the 362's which online shows for 149$ cheaper than 200$ at Crutchfield.

 

[avichayil]

If you need my subjective opinion, my neighboring apartment has the Infinities in the exact same floor plan as my place. To put it kindly the RC-50's blow his away. Now I'm not sure he calibrated everything correctly and we are both running sans subwoofer. You need to remember the MSRP for a single RC-50 is almost more than an entire set of infinities (not that price means anything). You should try them both out with your own ears if possible.