Home Theatre Speakers

[Sandan]

Looking for some

Mid cost under $1,000, no idea where to start

 

[jw7]

Looking for some

Mid cost under $1,000, no idea where to start

paging dreamcastrocks...

It's been 10 years since I've bought home theater speakers, but I know there are some sites like cnet.com and avforums.com that have a lot of discussion on this. I'm sure there are better ones out there.

Personally, my HT system is old, but it has held up. Energy 5.1. The subwoofer absolutely kicks butt. But I just looked at the Energy website and they are now only selling systems in the $1200-$4000 range. I got mine for about $500, and it is still kicking.

One thing I would suggest is get a DVD of a movie you are familiar with that exploits surround-sound and test it on the different systems. For me, that was Terminator 2. When I first hooked up my system and popped it in, it blew me away with the explosions hitting the subwoofer and the laser beams flying left and right in front of me and behind me.

Good luck!

 

[azmike74]

I haven't purchased anything for a few years either, I went with Bose because of the size of the speakers but have to admit they are far from the best. They work for what I need though, and I got them used from my brother for a pretty good deal.

http://www.audioholics.com/ This site used to have detailed reviews of different equipment, you may want to check it out.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Look into Internet Direct brands. You can get twice the speaker for half of the money. Look into HSU, Elemental Designs, and my personal favorite AV123.

 

[Sandan]

I was hoping the page would reach his ears

I have a new Receiver and I think the sub-woofer is dead and am pretty sure I've nuked one of the old bookend speakers.

So I figured I'd go 7.1 now anyway but had no clue where to start. Now I can go do some useful research. When I get done I'll come back to see what the Master thinks

 

[dreamcastrocks]

I was hoping the page would reach his ears

I have a new Receiver and I think the sub-woofer is dead and am pretty sure I've nuked one of the old bookend speakers.

So I figured I'd go 7.1 now anyway but had no clue where to start. Now I can go do some useful research. When I get done I'll come back to see what the Master thinks

My personal favorite at the moment is the Rocket series from AV123. Absolutely beautiful speaker that can be had for around $2500 for a 7.1 package.

If you are sticking to the $1000 package, then the ELT line from AV123 is a good budget speaker with multiple finishes to choose from.

 

[puckhead]

Follow up questions before I suggest anything:

1. Room size and layout? (closed room/ranch style/vaulted ceilings/sq footage)

2. Mainly music, movies, both, and at what levels? (reference level or average levels)

3. WAF limitations?

4. Is $1000 budget total for speakers and sub?

 

[Dr. Jones]

What is a WAF limitation?

 

[puckhead]

What is a WAF limitation?

Sorry, Wife Approval Factor.

Things like:

Those huge things won't be going in my living room!

Why are there wires behind the couch?

Everything must be alpine white!

That stuff.

 

[82CardsGrad]

I picked up a SWEET Polk sub-woofer a few years ago... Lovin it!

 

[Dr. Jones]

More questions:

1. Why would one need sound deadening panels? Unless I am making a music studio, I can't figure out a need.

2. What is the purpose of a subwoofer sound stand? Vibration??

3. Why are these online places DCR mentions so good? I have never heard of them.

p.s. I will be looking for a 7.1 system soon as well so this was a good thread.

 

[jw7]

I think you should get the Dominator MX-10s.

(Warning: Language)



Kudos to anyone who can name the movie!

 

[MadCardDisease]

Sorry, Wife Approval Factor.

Things like:

Those huge things won't be going in my living room!

Why are there wires behind the couch?

Everything must be alpine white!

That stuff.

It's the reason those Bose cubes are so popular. Wife could care less about great sound. They don't want huge wooden boxes in their family room.

I got around it by doing In-Wall speakers for my front left and right. Large center channel sits in the Entertainment center above the TV. Sub hides in the corner. Rear speakers are installed in the ceiling.

Not my optimal setup but it's high on the WAF. Plus she allowed me to get the Klipsch Reference Series speakers that I wanted so they all matched.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

More questions:

1. Why would one need sound deadening panels? Unless I am making a music studio, I can't figure out a need.

2. What is the purpose of a subwoofer sound stand? Vibration??

3. Why are these online places DCR mentions so good? I have never heard of them.

p.s. I will be looking for a 7.1 system soon as well so this was a good thread.

1. Unless you are trying to build a theater or very serious about sound, you don't. Sound reflects and bounces off of walls, and that typically isn't a good thing.

2. Yep, pretty much, Auralex makes panels specifically to limit the amount of vibration that travels through walls from low frequency sound.

3. You never hear about Internet Direct brands because for the most part, you won't see them in stores. They aren't like Bose, or Klipsch, or Polk Audio.(which I currently own) They don't spend the money on marketing that these companies spend. Compare it to a mom-and-pop store.

Do yourself a service to research some of these brands. The 15' sub that I purchased from AV123 is worth its weight in silver maybe. (it's not worth 120 lbs of gold.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

I picked up a SWEET Polk sub-woofer a few years ago... Lovin it!

Interesting...

I haven't found a Polk Sub that I have liked, and I have an entire line of Polk Audio products. It's their weak link in speakers by far.

 

[DeAnna]

Interesting...

I haven't found a Polk Sub that I have liked, and I have an entire line of Polk Audio products. It's their weak link in speakers by far.

I replaced my small yamaha satellite speakers with Polk and they sound sooo much better.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

I replaced my small yamaha satellite speakers with Polk and they sound sooo much better.

Polk subwoofers are a few classes below the rest of their products. Again, I have a 7.0 setup (again, not the sub) of Polk Audio gear that I have been happy with for the most part.

 

[82CardsGrad]

Interesting...

I haven't found a Polk Sub that I have liked, and I have an entire line of Polk Audio products. It's their weak link in speakers by far.

I've got a 5.1 set up with a Polk DSW pro 500 sub. Works beautifully...

 

[dreamcastrocks]

I've got a 5.1 set up with a Polk DSW pro 500 sub. Works beautifully...

Only because you don't know any better.

A Hyundai works beautifully until you drive a Lexus.

 

[82CardsGrad]

Only because you don't know any better.

A Hyundai works beautifully until you drive a Lexus.

LMAO... true. However, just gotta say that when it comes to sound, I have always been a bit of a snob... Been in and around music my whole life. I never am one to over-spend either, but I do appreciate good quality sound. The Polk sub really does very, very well... It's set up in a pretty large room (15x15). Not sure if that makes a difference as compared to you Polk experiences? I've had it for 7 years and honestly, love it...

 

[dreamcastrocks]

LMAO... true. However, just gotta say that when it comes to sound, I have always been a bit of a snob... Been in and around music my whole life. I never am one to over-spend either, but I do appreciate good quality sound. The Polk sub really does very, very well... It's set up in a pretty large room (15x15). Not sure if that makes a difference as compared to you Polk experiences? I've had it for 7 years and honestly, love it...

You only have a 10' woofer for that big of a room?

I have a 10' MTX woofer that I had custom built when I worked at MTX and it collects dust because it can't fill up the room enough.

I have a 15" sub for a 18 x 12 room or so and that isn't enough for me. I need another.

I'm glad you love the sound you are getting now. We should stop talking or you'll might get the 'upgrade bug.'

 

[82CardsGrad]

You only have a 10' woofer for that big of a room?

I have a 10' MTX woofer that I had custom built when I worked at MTX and it collects dust because it can't fill up the room enough.

I have a 15" sub for a 18 x 12 room or so and that isn't enough for me. I need another.

I'm glad you love the sound you are getting now. We should stop talking or you'll might get the 'upgrade bug.'

Guess it's all a matter of personal taste... I don't enjoy a preponderance of bass. I enjoy an appropriate level of percussion that meshes well with the rest of the sound.
I can't stand the kids with the souped up Scion's, Fart-Pipes blowing away and enough bass pouding out of the car to fill Jobing.Com Arena... That's not quality sound to me... Nothing but irritating noise.

 

[Linderbee]

Guess it's all a matter of personal taste... I don't enjoy a preponderance of bass. I enjoy an appropriate level of percussion that meshes well with the rest of the sound.
I can't stand the kids with the souped up Scion's, Fart-Pipes blowing away and enough bass pouding out of the car to fill Jobing.Com Arena... That's not quality sound to me... Nothing but irritating noise.

It's like you're speaking some foreign language I don't understand...

 

[dreamcastrocks]

It's like you're speaking some foreign language I don't understand...

Woman of my heart..

 

[82CardsGrad]

It's like you're speaking some foreign language I don't understand...

"Preponderance of Bass??" Really?? Here's where that comes from:

In the film Risky Business, after Tom Cruise’s character, Joel Goodsen, has painstakingly reassembled his audiophile father’s obviously high-end stereo system, his father calls him into the room. As a classical work plays, Mr. Goodsen asks Joel what he hears. His son is silent, his mind racing through the possibilities: Could a component be missing? Is something broken?
"A preponderance of bass," his father says, readjusting the equalizer.

Woman of my heart..

Yea, yea, yea... get a room!