[jeffw_00]

Hi - my family room/home theater is 14' x 11', and the screen is a 32" Sony CRT HDTV. The current sound system is a 2-ch Onkyo receiver and a 3-piece NHT sub/sat system (unamplified sub).


It's time to go 5.1. (I'll be buying a new Onkyo receiver and re-purposing the current one). I'm looking to spend only hundreds of dollars and need a non-fancy, reasonably good sounding 4-piece system (3 front speakers and a powered subwoofer). I'm amenable to getting new surrounds if they're part of the package. Front L/R sats should be on the small side (preferably no more than 9" high), and center speaker will mount either on the wall behind/above the TV, or possibly below it on the cart. Room is easy to wire.


I'm a retired audiophile, so I know all the lingo, specs, etc, but haven't followed this corner of the market for years. Like Onkyo, I'm looking for brand recommendations that are well-built but not fancy or over-priced.


All comments welcome - THANKS!

/j

 

[jeffw_00]

bump? help? 8-}

 

[griz_fan]

"Hundreds of dollars" is a very wide range. How 'bout dialing that in to a more specific amount. $500? $800? $999?


In that price range, Onkyo is a popular choice for the receiver, and for good reason, but there are others out there, such as Denon, Yamaha and Pioneer. It's a good time to buy receivers

And, there's lots of options for speakers, too. But, a more precise budget is needed. Also, how do you see yourself using this? mostly movies, Blu-Ray or DVD? Any music? what other gear will you need to tie into this?


Based on that info, I think you'll get some good info.

 

[jostenmeat]



Quote:
Originally Posted by jeffw_00 /forum/post/14695453


Hi - my family room/home theater is 14' x 11', and the screen is a 32" Sony CRT HDTV. The current sound system is a 2-ch Onkyo receiver and a 3-piece NHT sub/sat system (unamplified sub).


It's time to go 5.1. (I'll be buying a new Onkyo receiver and re-purposing the current one). I'm looking to spend only hundreds of dollars and need a non-fancy, reasonably good sounding 4-piece system (3 front speakers and a powered subwoofer). I'm amenable to getting new surrounds if they're part of the package. Front L/R sats should be on the small side (preferably no more than 9" high), and center speaker will mount either on the wall behind/above the TV, or possibly below it on the cart. Room is easy to wire.


I'm a retired audiophile, so I know all the lingo, specs, etc, but haven't followed this corner of the market for years. Like Onkyo, I'm looking for brand recommendations that are well-built but not fancy or over-priced.


All comments welcome - THANKS!

/j

As you say, you're familiar with audio. The first idea, off the cuff, that comes to mind... is to keep your speakers! I'm sure you have them for good reason. Honestly, I'm not so sure that you will actually prefer a horizontal speaker, above the TV. If you are viewing straight on, its very possible that you might in fact prefer only two speakers up front, especially if your stereo speakers throw a wide stage and image well. They are probably standing in free space, which is helpful.


Search keyword: phantom


Now, I do vote to get a powered sub... or at least get a dedicated amp for the existing sub. You can get a pro amp for cheap. Some brands have noisier fans than others, but swapping them is as easy as swapping a computer fan, or so I've heard.


You will need a receiver, however, to obtain LFE.


Then, you can scour used classifieds for some NHT surrounds. Sure, the exact same model as the fronts would be nice, but if you stay within the same brand, you're doing decently well in matching terms already.


Just some ideas. Shouldn't break the bank too badly.

 

[smellyhash]

Yea budget would be nice but here are the options as i see them.


1:Yea the onkyo reciever you want is prob the 606 well look up the Yammy 663 and the Pio 1018. all under 500.


2: @ www.svssound.com click on systems and look at the SBS-01 system it is 999 with a 10 in sub 1149 with a 12in sub. Right now they are 10% off that.

 

[jeffw_00]

Ok - this is a start - thanks - let me be clearer

1) i have a separate budget for the receiver, will probably get a mid-range Onkyo (a 606 or 706 - that range)

2) speakers - I'd LIKE to spend a few hundred, but could be convinced to spend several if that's what it takes to get quality. My current front speakers are in the corners of the room, just below the ceiling (one on a shelf, one on a bracket). I made a boo-boo, I can tolerate 12" of height, but I'd like a real center speaker. So that's why I was relegating the NHT's to the back, so I can get 3 new matched speakers for the front. The only names I know to check are NHT and Boston Acoustics, so what I was really asking was - what names pop up here commonly with good recommendations in the space I'm looking? I can then hit those sites myself and pick what i need.


Thanks!!!

/j

 

[jostenmeat]

In all honesty, your best improvement is probably be going to lower the speakers to ear level, and pulling them further away from the boundaries. If this is impossible, I might consider spending on treatments instead. FWIW, but pretending that all of the above are impossibilities . . .


the Ascend 170 is the best I've heard at the price point for stage and imaging. I own some PSB Images that i think are pretty decent, and particularly very good with HT due to dynamic ability. The main weakness I heard with the Ascend in the particular setup/room was a lack of articulation down low. So, that's one thing to check out. There are tons of others if you just scan the list of threads here. Tons.

 

[jeffw_00]

agreed - but my goal is not so much to get the best sound, as to just add surround to the room. I'll look at the Ascends - thanks

/j

 

[jeffw_00]

so if money wasn't an object i would go for

2* NHT-Two +

NHT TwoC +

NHT Ten


but for less than 1/2 the cost I can get Boston Acoustics Horizon..

2* HS50 +

HS225 +

HPS 10SE


which also appear to be highly regarded?

thanks!

/j

 

[jeffw_00]

bump?

How about it guys - NHT vs Boston Acoustics - pros? cons?

thanks!

/j

 

[jnickrand]

How firm are you on that 9" height on the satts? A smallish speaker that I'd give serious consideration to would be the PSB Alpha B1. It's about 12" high by 7" wide and 9.5" deep.

 

[jeffw_00]

see my post above

"I made a boo-boo, I can tolerate 12" of height"


I'll look at the PSB - thanks - is there a matching center speaker?

 

[mitch5669]

they may be too big for you but how about these

http://www.acoustechspeakers.com/sho...pe=7&spkrID=38

you can get these for 110 a pair



the pbs has a center
http://www.psbspeakers.com/products/...lpha-C1-Center


and

http://www.psbspeakers.com/products/...ies/Alpha-CLR1

 

[jeffw_00]

Thanks - I'll look at the BICs as well. I've always had a softspot for BIC since I bought their 2-speed cassette deck in the late 70s. Great concept actually.