Any thoughts on this Yamaha/JBL/Panasonic system?

Nephidoc · 10-25-2007, 12:14 PM

Hi thanks for taking the time to look at this system and give me some "gentle" critique! I'm a neophyte to the extreme so this is what I've put together from about a week of wandering sites and putting things together.

JBL Home Theater Speaker Package, consists of: CSC55 Center Speaker, 4x CST55 Tower/Floorstanding Speakers, and CSS10 Powered Subwoofer
I'm wiring for 7.1 with wallplates- 2 more speakers soon

Yamaha AVR RX-V1800

Panasonic TH-50PE700U 50" Plasma HDTV

Sony Blu-Ray DVD player Model BDPS301

I'm not sure on any DVR yet to go with DirecTV
I have a Tivo unit that is 5 years old

I was trying to keep it around 5K.
This is going in a 20'X15' room that I'm finishing in the basement. It will be used for XM radio listening/CDs/movies/TV.
Wall board goes up this week so I've got to get this stuff bought ASAP.

Thanks again

Stan

Brent_S · 10-25-2007, 01:36 PM

Looks like a nice system, assuming you've auditioned the speakers and like them. I would suggest upgrading the subwoofer...use bookshelf speakers for the surrounds instead of a set of towers and put that money towards the sub if necessary. I'd look at SVS/Hsu/Epik/Elemental Designs...ID companies, but definitely more bang for the buck in the subwoofer department.

If you're considering other speaker options, you could do worse than the Polk RTi series IMO...currently being clearanced at considerable savings to make way for the next gen version.

-Brent

Nephidoc · 10-25-2007, 03:17 PM

Polk Audio PSW303 8-Inch 100-Watt Powered subwoofer
Polk Audio RTi6 High Performance Bookshelf Speakers, Pair
Polk Audio CSi3 Center Channel Speaker
Polk Audio RTi8 High Output Floorstanding Loudspeaker, Single X 2

subtotal = $1,137.80

Wow... that seems like a great deal.

gene c · 10-25-2007, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Wow... that seems like a great deal

And with some good shopping skills and a little luck you should be able to do even better than that. Especially if you ditch that Polk sub for a better one. I've owned RTi's and unless towers are a must might I suggest RTi6's for the front and RTi4's for the rear? RTi8's are nice at the sale price but they really don't offer much over the the 6's and the money could be better spent on a better sub. Are you noticing a pattern here?

And there are several internet speaker brands that might be even better. But if your in a hurry, as Brent said, you could do worse than RTi's.

Bob McElfresh · 10-25-2007, 09:08 PM

Quote:

'm wiring for 7.1 with wallplates- 2 more speakers soon

Ok - here is my standard advice:

- Get CL3 or in-wall rated 12 ga speaker wire.
- Zig-Zag wires between studs and use insulated staples hammered in part way. Years later you may need slack so pull the wire to pop the first staple. Pull again for more.
- Run the wires through electrical outlet box's.
- Pull enough wire to create a un-broken run from amp to speakers. Do not cut. Later you can install wall-plates, but it is cheaper and 'better' to create un-broken runs to start.
- Do not run speaker wires near power wires or with interconnects.
- Run CATV coax for the sub. Buy "F" connectors and "F-to-RCA-Male adapters to make a long sub cable. Plan to put the sub in the corner perhaps 1/3 along the longest un-broken wall.

- Plan to put Internet and Phone line behind your rack. I kid you not - some of these HD DVD players want Internet connection and DirectTV/Dish systems want phone lines to order pay-per-view.

**HTF Ads**

Al.Anderson · 10-26-2007, 06:54 AM

Quote:

Zig-Zag wires between studs ...

Very clever! But I have to ask - why not just leave 10 ft coiled up below where you bring it out of the wall?

Brent_S · 10-26-2007, 09:19 AM

As Gene and I have been alluding to. With a sub, you won't be taking advantage of any extra bass response offered by towers compared to the corresponding bookshelf.

I run RTi38s all around in a 5.1 system in a 24x16x9 room. The 38s are the previous generation of the RTi6. They won't make you forget you want a sub for HT, but on most music, they have enough low end to satisfy. I think the rated 50hz response is pretty accurate, maybe a little more usable below that, depending on room gain.

So, using Polks, my suggestiong would be 6s for L/R and 4s/6s for the surrounds. Stereophile thinks mighty highly of the Rti25/28/4 series, FWIW. Depending on how you're setting up your plasma, you might consider using a 4/6 as your center as well. A horizontal center is always a compromise, although I'm sure something like the CSi series doesn't give up too much as long as your close to on axis. It means parking a speaker since the 4/6 are only sold in pairs, but the a pair of 4s costs virtually the same as a CSi3 using Crutchfield pricing. If you can find a local demo, you might even find going RTi4s all the way around to be acceptable, especially since you're using a sub.

Now back to that sub. I'd suggest something like the SVS PB10 or the entry level Elemental Designs unit at a minimum. Not sure what the corresponding Hsu might be.

Speaking of SVS, they have a 7.0 arrangment of their bookshelf speakers in the B-stock section for $559, if you can live with white speakers. You could also paint to taste if white's not your thing. I've read nothing but good things about the SVS bookshelves. Team them with the PB10 or the PB12 that's in B-stock for $529 and you're out the door for right at $1100.

-Brent

Brent_S · 10-26-2007, 09:29 AM

Ok, to really throw a monkey wrench at you, Mr. Bailey. This sounds like a dedicated media room. Have you considered going with a front projection system instead of the plasma? You can get 720p projectors in the $1-1.3k range. That's easily a 100" screen if your viewing distance will allow. I know, your first reaction is that's not 1080p. However, the rule of thumb is if you're sitting more than 1.5x the screen width away, the human eye can't resolve the extra detail in 1080.

-Brent