I'm gathering components for a basement home theater.
I've got an Onkyo TX-NR696 and will be building a 5.1.2 Atmos system.
I'm actually wired for 7.3.4, but can't afford to fill all the positions.
I've got positions for 2 front subs and 1 rear.
The usual, trying to not break the bank.
The ceiling speakers will be 8" Monoprice units in Backboxes.($100/pair)
But I have 3 different 5.1 speaker sets ups configured in the $1300 price range.
Polk:
S50 Towers (L/R)
S35 Center
S10 Surrounds
Dayton SUB-1500 sub
Fluance:
Reference Towers (XL8F) (L/R)
Reference Center (XL8C)
Reference bipolar surrounds
Dayton SUB-1500
BIC:
PL-28II (L/C/R)
PL-66 surrounds
PL-200 Sub
So, What's your choice?
Thanks in advance
Alright. This is what I'm looking for. "Your choices are bad, here's what to look at"Sorry, those are 3 very bad ways to blow $1300 esp. living in the US where we have far far better options available.
Firstly, what are the dimensions of your basement? Totally enclosed room or open adjacent spaces?
And is this 100% HT use, no music?
OK. Those are a great deal at Harmon, and they have a refurb RC252 as well. But the surrounds blow the budget. Or does matching the surrounds to the LCR really matter that much?Out of those three? Polk by a mile. Get the S30 centre though, it can play deeper and with more authority than the dinky little 3" drivers in the S35.
I would look at the Infinity Reference R263 towers: Infinity REFERENCE 263 | 6-1/2" 3-Way Floorstanding Speaker over all the ones you listed.
You will want to spend at least $500. Start with monolith 10", svs pb1000pro or hsu vtf2 as entry level options.That leaves me with $320 for a sub
This is what I'd get, here:Alright. This is what I'm looking for. "Your choices are bad, here's what to look at"
Room is 12' Wide (TV wall), 23' deep, 7.5' ceiling, short hallway off to one side.
Let's say 90% HT
www.jbl.com
www.harmanaudio.com
You're choices aren't bad. It's just that there a forum darlings that are always recommended. It's up to you and only you to determine what you like. The Polk S60s are a solid choice just not at full retail. Kind of like my Kef Q750s. I really like them but I wouldn't pay full retail for them.Alright. This is what I'm looking for. "Your choices are bad, here's what to look at"
Room is 12' Wide (TV wall), 23' deep, 7.5' ceiling, short hallway off to one side.
Let's say 90% HT
Given the fact that rear surrounds do a lousy 10-15% of the total HT output at best, I would not waste $300 on those Infinity surrounds given the rest of your budget. I'd just get a pair of white Polk OWM-3 for $165 from Amazon, it's of trivial importance if they "match" the front 3 or not.A couple of really good options here. The JBL + VTF-2 hits my price point.
But the Infinity surrounds will make a cleaner install in the rear. + the VTF puts me at $1540.
Given the choice, Infinity vs JBL?
Oh! And Emotiva as well. That lands right at the Infinity price point as well.
I think I'll make room for that VTF Sub. I'll have to think about it. For $560 + 84 Shipping
Agreed, backing off on the expensive surrounds.Given the fact that rear surrounds do a lousy 10-15% of the total HT output at best, I would not waste $300 on those Infinity surrounds given the rest of your budget. I'd just get a pair of white Polk OWM-3 for $165 from Amazon, it's of trivial importance if they "match" the front 3 or not.
If you go cheap on the (far more important) sub just to overpay for the surrounds, you will have huge regrets.
The extension range of the speakers are not important as long as they get to your crossover. You will use a cross over to your subwoofer and none of these speakers will ever be playing 38, 48 or even 60hz. You will probably crossover at 80hz or somewhere near there. So don't get caught up on the low end of a tower unless you care about how they can handle things without a sub woofer. You don't even even need towers in a room the size you're talking about, since you'll be sitting pretty close proximity to the speakers anyways.I'm really on the fence.
The Infinities go deeper, 38Hz vs 48Hz, than the Emotiva
The 3-way RS263 center channel for the infinity is way more expensive than the 2-way RS252 center.
The Emotiva has a 3-way center channel in my price range.
The Emotiva towers are 2-way, Infinitys are 3.
No Towers?The extension range of the speakers are not important as long as they get to your crossover. You will use a cross over to your subwoofer and none of these speakers will ever be playing 38, 48 or even 60hz. You will probably crossover at 80hz or somewhere near there. So don't get caught up on the low end of a tower unless you care about how they can handle things without a sub woofer. You don't even even need towers in a room the size you're talking about, since you'll be sitting pretty close proximity to the speakers anyways.
3 way is superior.
Very best,
Do you plan on doing Atmos later? If yes, then keep in mind that monopoles are strongly recommended as surrounds.Agreed, backing off on the expensive surrounds.
I don't have some fetish about bipole speakers. It's just that, in the room, where the surrounds have to be mounted and the walking traffic, a bipole will mount better, and obstruct less than a speaker sticking out of the wall on a mount.
Mid-bass extension on the SPEAKERS is irrelevant during HT with a subwoofer in play.I'm really on the fence.
The Infinities go deeper, 38Hz vs 48Hz, than the Emotiva
The 3-way RS263 center channel for the infinity is way more expensive than the 2-way RS252 center.
The Emotiva has a 3-way center channel in my price range.
The Emotiva towers are 2-way, Infinitys are 3.
