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How Much Did You Spend on Your 5.1 Speaker Sysyem? - Page 2

post #31 of 85
1/30/08 at 8:31am

Re: How Much Did You Spend on Your 5.1 Speaker Sysyem?

Being an avid audio/videophile, these are issues I got out of the way with women I dated. If they gave me grief over my hobby, adios baby!

Fortunately, my wife is very supportive as she benefits as well.

Just in speakers (7.1)... about $6500.
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post #32 of 85
1/30/08 at 9:16am

Re: How Much Did You Spend on Your 5.1 Speaker Sysyem?

I don't think there's a entry fee, so much as a personal threshold.

On my computer, I have a pair of good headphones and a crappy audio set of speakers. The speakers are for games, and whatnot, the headphones are for music.

My living room setup is designed so I don't have to make a choice between speakers that showcase the slings and arrows behind me, and speakers/headphones that sound good with music. I'm not completely satisfied, but it's not as if I think that I'm living with a perpetual compromise.
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post #33 of 85
1/30/08 at 10:01am

Re: How Much Did You Spend on Your 5.1 Speaker Sysyem?

$2250, not including my sub, but my sub is DIY and didn't cost that much My system performs well for music, movies and gaming - no complaints on any front.

I agree, there is no entry fee, but me personally, I wouldn't go LESS than about $1k for a complete 5.1 system. A package like the SVS offers a lot of value for that price.
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post #34 of 85
1/30/08 at 10:44am

Re: How Much Did You Spend on Your 5.1 Speaker Sysyem?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Robert_J
12" Stryke AV12 (3) - extra subs
12" Blueprint 1201 (1) - extra sub
10" Blueprint 1001 (3) - extra subs
12" Ascendant Audio Atlas (2) - extra subs
10" MTX 5200 (3) - extra subs
10" Lambda Acoustics (2) - extra subs
12" Adire Audio VP12 (1) - extra subs
12" TC Sounds OEM (2) - extra subs
12" SVS Ultra driver (1) - extra sub
10" Cerwin Vega VMAX (2) - extra subs


-Robert

Robert, what do you do with 20 'extra subs?' I'm guessing that it's hard to part with something that you made from complete scratch.
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post #35 of 85
1/30/08 at 11:58am

Re: How Much Did You Spend on Your 5.1 Speaker Sysyem?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dingiswayo
Robert, what do you do with 20 'extra subs?' I'm guessing that it's hard to part with something that you made from complete scratch.
Some are not being made or are so expensive that I can't afford them anymore. To get a similar driver to the Stryke AV12, I'd need to get an Audiopulse Epic for $299. Even though Lambda Acoustic subs are available from AE Speakers, I picked my pair for around $100. They are now built on a per order basis. Not cheap. The SVS ultra was $150 shipped. SVS wants $575 for it and you have to already own an Ultra sub from them.

A couple will be going into my living room system. A couple will go into my office. I'll be building subs for friends and family. Maybe sell some locally. But there's no substitute for experience when comparing software simulations to actual builds and how they sound. Underhung voice coils vs. overhung. Copper sleaved pole pieces vs. XBL^2 top plates. It's my hobby and it keeps me at home. My wife doesn't have to find me out hunting or on a golf course. I'm at home building things.

-Robert
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post #36 of 85
1/30/08 at 1:36pm

Re: How Much Did You Spend on Your 5.1 Speaker Sysyem?

Or on here helping folks build subs (experienced that myself). Nice.
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post #37 of 85
1/30/08 at 5:55pm
Thread Starter 

Re: How Much Did You Spend on Your 5.1 Speaker Sysyem?

Quote:
Originally Posted by JeremyErwin
What sort of music does your wife enjoy?

Thanks for asking, Rock 60's thru current - no country

hyghwayman

P.S. Sorry about the delay in answering your question.
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post #38 of 85
1/30/08 at 6:48pm

Re: How Much Did You Spend on Your 5.1 Speaker Sysyem?

I've got about $4k into my speakers and $10k into my whole HT system. For between $1 - 1.5k you can get yourself into a very nice speaker package that will do great for both music and movies. Some other excellent ID companies besides SVS are Ascend, AV123, Aperion, and Axiom. I don't know about all of them but I do know AV123 will allow you to demo their speakers in your home for 30-days with free return freight if you decide to return them. That offer may only apply to their smaller monitors which just happen to be in your price range.
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post #39 of 85
1/31/08 at 10:09am

Re: How Much Did You Spend on Your 5.1 Speaker Sysyem?

i have 7.1 set up ran by my aging Denon 3801.


Axiom M60 and VP150 $1400
side & rear B&W LM1 $ 700
SVS + amp $ 600

total $2700
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post #40 of 85
1/31/08 at 10:41am

Re: How Much Did You Spend on Your 5.1 Speaker Sysyem?

Quote:
Originally Posted by hyghwayman
Thanks for asking, Rock 60's thru current - no country

hyghwayman

P.S. Sorry about the delay in answering your question.

That's funny... I'm into 60's rock (50's too actually) thru current and my wife is into country.
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post #41 of 85
1/31/08 at 11:12am

Re: How Much Did You Spend on Your 5.1 Speaker Sysyem?

Quote:
Originally Posted by hyghwayman
Thanks for asking, Rock 60's thru current - no country

hyghwayman

P.S. Sorry about the delay in answering your question.

Wouldn't it be nice to actually hear the drums, and the bass guitars? A lot of 60s music is surprisingly well recorded, and good front speakers are not wasted on them. Modern Pop music is another story...
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post #42 of 85
1/31/08 at 11:57am

Re: How Much Did You Spend on Your 5.1 Speaker Sysyem?

I've had my receiver and 5.1 for about 6 years now, and while I don't remember the breakdown, I spent about $1200. I think the receiver was around $500, but I'm not positive.
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post #43 of 85
1/31/08 at 2:15pm
Thread Starter 

Re: How Much Did You Spend on Your 5.1 Speaker Sysyem?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Gary Seven
That's funny... I'm into 60's rock (50's too actually) thru current and my wife is into country.


I like country, would you be willing to trade

All the best,
hyghwayman
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post #44 of 85
2/1/08 at 9:47am

Re: How Much Did You Spend on Your 5.1 Speaker Sysyem?

My own setup was "collected" over a few years, and nothing in it was full price. I started with a pair of JBL S38 speakers, and then added two more pair from an online auction site. My sub is a JBL 12-inch, and it will be the next thing to go. (I replaced the dead amp with an outboard one) The "free" HT amp that came with my original speaker purchase was replace with a much more capable one at half price on closeout.

So, just for amp and speakers, I have $2700 worth of stuff for $1600.

This year, on Jan 1, I pried open my piggy bank and grabbed a 65" RP DLP for $1800. My wife got new countertops for $2k. Life is sweeeeeeet!

I think I might spend my federal bribe money on a new sub...buy American? Oh yeah!
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post #45 of 85
2/1/08 at 2:13pm

Re: How Much Did You Spend on Your 5.1 Speaker Sysyem?

About nine years ago I spent a little over $2,000 on Paradigm Monitors all around and a Paradigm subwoofer. I am sure this setup would be over $3,000 today.
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post #46 of 85
2/3/08 at 8:14am

Re: How Much Did You Spend on Your 5.1 Speaker Sysyem?

In the last 2 years,I've bought and sold so many sets of speakers,I've lost count of the cash spent.
Current speaker setup,about $4k.Cost of the wife thinking I'm nuts,priceless
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post #47 of 85
2/3/08 at 2:15pm

Re: How Much Did You Spend on Your 5.1 Speaker Sysyem?

My first system? a $499 Kenwood HTiB.

Currently PSB Platinum speakers & SVS Subwoofer.
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post #48 of 85
2/4/08 at 9:31am
Thread Starter 

I showed my wife some of these replies and.....

realized she'll never understand!

Now I'm not getting any younger and at 42 my number could come up any time. I did show her some of the replies to my ? and she had the nerve to say the wimpy HTiB speakers were fine , I just need to get my hearing checked . I tried to argue the point that the wimpy HTiB speakers were mono (1 speaker per box) and that they could never reproduce sound effectively. Her reply was yeah but there's 5 of them plus the sub. Then went on to say that when our youngest son (14) moves out I could get any speaker system I wanted, I told her by then I could be pushing daisies!

I will get my speakers now not later no matter what the cost, I will sell the wife and buy my speakers and she knows this too! I use to have other hobbies (fishing, camping/hiking, bowling, tennis and billiards) but had to cut back or stop them all together after being rear-ended (Auto Accident) in 2004, that's when I got hooked on HT. So, with that said I want to thank everyone again for all of your support, replies and wisdom.

hyghwayman
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post #49 of 85
2/4/08 at 10:54am

Re: How Much Did You Spend on Your 5.1 Speaker Sysyem?

They aren't mono. It's just that they'll never be able to reproduce sound as loudly and clearly as a two-way or thee-way speaker.

And, I don't care how good your wife's hearing is. She won't be able to hear the pounding of an Oliphant charge on a wimpy subwoofer.
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post #50 of 85
2/4/08 at 11:07am

Re: How Much Did You Spend on Your 5.1 Speaker Sysyem?

I personally have about $775 or so invested in the speakers in my 5.1 surround system. I have been into stereo and HiFi since high school, so my equipment is a mixture of old school stereo speakers with the rest of the 5.1 surround kind of filled in with a mixture of stuff, but mostly from Cambridge Soundworks.

Here is what I have currently:

Mains: Polk Monitor 10A's (Early 80's vintage stereo speakers bought off e-bay. I think I paid about $250 for the pair, but it's been a while.)
Center: B&W Center Channel 600ifs (Local pawn shop find. About $125.)
Surrounds: Cambridge Soundworks MovieWorks 5.1 Surround (About $200 for the pair about 10 years ago if memory serves.)
Sub: Cambridge Soundworks 10" Powered Sub (About $200 or so again about 10 years ago if memory serves.)
Total: $775

Of course you will need to add a receiver to this package to power everything up.

This system is very adequate for my needs and I think shows what can be put together on a budget. I plan on doing some upgrading of the system when I upgrade to an HDTV sometime within the next year, but I won't do a lot. I will probably just try to find (or build) a center channel speaker that better matches my Polk 10 mains. The 10" sub will not make you feel like you are in an earthquake either, but it fit my goal of filling in the bottom end and giving you a bit of the rumble.

Later,

Treker
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post #51 of 85
2/4/08 at 11:57am

Re: I showed my wife some of these replies and.....

Quote:
Originally Posted by hyghwayman
I tried to argue the point that the wimpy HTiB speakers were mono (1 speaker per box) and that they could never reproduce sound effectively.
Like Jeremy stated, they aren't mono. A single driver is working in what we call "full range". Your HTiB speakers will never effectively reproduce the entire spectrum of sound but that doesn't mean it is not possible. A Fostex 8" driver in a proper enclosure would probably sound great. There are dozens of web sites devoted to single driver speakers (link to one of many).

-Robert
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post #52 of 85
2/4/08 at 1:41pm

Re: I showed my wife some of these replies and.....

Quote:
Originally Posted by Robert_J
There are dozens of web sites devoted to single driver speakers (link to one of many).
Robert, I think the WAF is a bit low for most of those.
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post #53 of 85
2/4/08 at 2:32pm

Re: How Much Did You Spend on Your 5.1 Speaker Sysyem?

I browsed the gallery and there are a lot of traditional looking speakers. At least the designer/builder isn't try to a 3" into a tiny, plastic enclosure and tell everyone how good it sounds. (I had to get a Bose jab in somewhere) The physics just don't stand up any scrutiny.

-Robert
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post #54 of 85
2/5/08 at 8:26am

Re: How Much Did You Spend on Your 5.1 Speaker Sysyem?

Front speakers: $1000
Centre channel: $400
Surrounds: $800
Rear Surrounds $600
Receiver: $1200
Subwoofer: $650
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post #55 of 85
2/5/08 at 9:27am

Re: How Much Did You Spend on Your 5.1 Speaker Sysyem?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Robert_J
I browsed the gallery and there are a lot of traditional looking speakers. At least the designer/builder isn't try to a 3" into a tiny, plastic enclosure and tell everyone how good it sounds. (I had to get a Bose jab in somewhere) The physics just don't stand up any scrutiny.

They remind me of bose, in a way, with their waveguides. However, they are big (out of necessity), which means that the style of the cabinetry is open to criticism. Thus, potentially low WAF.
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post #56 of 85
2/5/08 at 11:46am

Re: How Much Did You Spend on Your 5.1 Speaker Sysyem?

With the receiver and the sub about $6000, but thats CDN dollars. When I bought the stuff the dollar was about 75 cents so doing some quick math about $4500 USD.
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post #57 of 85
2/5/08 at 7:29pm

Re: How Much Did You Spend on Your 5.1 Speaker Sysyem?

Current 5.1 w/ receiver, $2300, but it's much more because of the constant upgrades. It's hard but remember this, buy the best you can now, stretch your budget because if you go low end, you end up paying more as you end up selling at lost to buy the next level up.
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post #58 of 85
2/6/08 at 11:32am

Re:

Quote:
Originally Posted by hyghwayman
I showed my wife some of these replies and.....realized she'll never understand!

Now I'm not getting any younger and at 42 ....when our youngest son (14) moves out I could get any speaker system I wanted, I told her by then I could be pushing daisies!

I will sell the wife and buy my speakers and she knows this too! I use to have other hobbies (fishing, camping/hiking, bowling, tennis and billiards) but had to cut back or stop them all together .

hyghwayman


Some people are not intterested or can't tell the difference in quality for audio. Some people can't tell the difference between a good pair of boots and a roll of duct tape. You'll never sell the idea that way.

So...only 4 years before you get permission to waste as much money as you want? not bad. I'm 47, so I'm just five years down the road from you. fortunately, my wife doesn't mind my little hobbies.

Here is a thought...figure out how much money you've saved by not bowling and fishing, and see if she'll let you spend that amount on something you can do. Point out how therapeutic it will be to have a subwoofer massage every evening. If you need to, drag out a chick flick and...no, never mind.

If you can, find something she wants and see if you can give each other those things as a present. A completely remodelled kitchen with stainless steel appliances in trade for a killer HT worked for me! (btw, the kitchen cost a LOT more)
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post #59 of 85
2/8/08 at 10:02am

Re: How Much Did You Spend on Your 5.1 Speaker Sysyem?

People can kill w/ lawn mowers

Quote:
Originally Posted by JeremyErwin
One of the nice things about a good sound system is that it can make the movie's score that much more enjoyable. After watching 'King Kong' with my brother, I brought up the subject of "Dead Alive", Peter Jackson's contribution to zombie splatter flicks.

To tell the truth, I was not that interested in the film, having seen it once in college-- I thought it a bit silly, really. But when I brought it home, and we watched it together, I found that the score tied the film together-- excess became ballet. The Karo syrup was choreographed...

So I'm sure that all of the guys here remember being dragged to chick flicks. And though you may have tried to remain stoic, unmoved by the sappiness, your efforts were resisted by the music sweling in he background, peeling away that cynicism and forcing tears into your eyes at the worst possible moments. They don't call them tearjerkers for nothing...

Anyway, perhaps your wife will find this effect to be endearing, or at least amusing.
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post #60 of 85
2/9/08 at 2:13pm

Re: How Much Did You Spend on Your 5.1 Speaker Sysyem?

Quote:
Originally Posted by hyghwayman
$300.oo
$500.oo
$1000.oo
$1500.oo
$2000.00
or Much More,

My reason for asking this question is that my wife thinks I've lost my mind wanting to spend 1k for a 5.1 system from SVS (SVS SBS-01 5.1 system).
Don't let your wife see my post... I spent $220 in grad school, about 10 years ago. I got 3 pairs of KLH satellites on sale from BestBuy for $20 per speaker, and the KLH subwoofer for $100.

Then I got a job, and bought a car, then a house, then got married. New speakers just can't make the "buy" list, alas. And now, my wife tells me we need furniture! And, to my surprise, speakers don't count as "furniture".
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