A Bose question -- SO not for me (1 Viewer)

[STLMIKE]

A friend of mine just got an RPTV for his living room and wants to set up a 5.1 system. He is also in the process of remodeling his basement and putting in a dedicated HT (FPTV, 7.1, etc.).

Due to the wife factor, he wants very small speakers for the living room. He would also like to keep the receiver, speakers, rack, and stands at around $1000. There's no sense for him to spend big $$ upstairs in addition to the big $$ he's going to spend downstairs.

Given that he is going to put a "real" HT into his basement and that this will be temporary/secondary in the living room, what would be a good alternative in the $350-400 range instead of the entry level Bose cube set that Sam's Club sells for $369?

In the $1000 range, there are a lot of options, but I haven't seen much in the sub-$500 range.

Thanks,
Mike

 

[HowardGjr]

I think the Energy Take 5.2 is in this ball park. I certainly would be in this ball park if he could find it on the used market. Audio Review shows most of the street prices between 600 and 7000 dollars.

Take care.
Howard

 

[Myo K]

i wouldnt recommend buying a bose cube setup, since i think their design of boxed sets follow the idea of "once bose all bose" imo
check out some paradigm, nht and mirage speakers, i think their low end speakers fit that price range.

which bose setup does sams club sells? personally if you want to build any kind of home theater that you would remotely take seriously along with ideas of future upgrade potential, id stay away from any bose package. personally i dont really enjoy the way bose sounds from any of their speakers, they all sound muddy to me, people tell me bose offers crisp highs, but i dont hear it.

 

[Jeffrey Forner]

I also recommend the Energy Take 5 speakers. They're very small and sound far better than any Bose package out there.

Also, I recommend he look at a low-level Onkyo or Denon receiver to power that set-up (at least if he wants to keep it all under $1,000.

 

[Myo K]

if youre looking into entry level onkyo receivers, make sure to check if they decode dd 5.1 properly, a good chunk of the entry receivers had no/defective lfe channels.

 

[LanceJ]

If you don't mind a 20+ year old design (still sounds/looks good IMO) that is sold (and still made as far as I know) by Radio Shack but with an RCA nameplate, I've got the speakers for you!

The PRO-X44AV

I use their big brothers as my rear channels--these have a 5.25" woofer instead.

Nope they aren't real efficient but that little high-excursion 4" woofer in small rooms like kitchens is quite amazing (that excursion is why they are miniature power sponges). And as a midwoofer for a 2-way satellite I think they would be great. These speakers have a warm & smooth sound--probably not great for techno or acid rock but for HT I think they would do fine. Five of these heavy little Mighty Mouse speakers should cost only around $200; that leaves $300 for a subwoofer. They come in white too.

Don't blow them off because of the Radio Shack origin. When these first debuted was when Radio Shack's "Realistic" audio brand name was making stuff equal to the Pioneers and Kenwoods of the time. Or the age: some things just remain good!

LJ

 

[Jamie Doucette]

Yet another shameless vote for the Energy Take 5.2

http://www.energy-speakers.com/take5...rs_system.html

 

[JohnKim]

i own mirange avs-200s for my fronts and a avs-100 for my center which are supposed to be almost identical with the energy take's except for a different tweeter

so i vote for them as well for a compact speaker...they mirages have more laid back cruved look while the takes are sharper with gloss finish which have the more -class-y look but i think they're great

 

[Eric C D]

Here's a little bit of specific advice, then some general:

First the specific: A name I haven't heard mentioned lately is Home Theater Direct (hometheaterdirect.com). As well, Cambridge Soundworks (www.hifi.com).

But in general, the most important thing in a good sat/sub system is to get satellites that reproduce down to the crossover in the receiver (may need to be 100 or 120 hz when dealing with small satellites), and then a sub that goes up to that amount.

If the receiver only has an 80hz sub crossover but the satellites don't go that low, you're kind of stuck. But if you match those up and use the "small" speakers and "all bass goes to sub" settings, you pretty much can't go wrong.

enjoy,

Eric

 

[Andrew Pezzo]

Another vote for Energy Take 5.2. I had one and was amazed at much sound those small speakers put out. Worth an audtion at the very least.