Can someone help? (1 Viewer)

[lapko33]

Hey guys, Sorry I am going to ask this because I am sure others have asked before but here it goes. I would like to buy something that has a set up of a left right and center speaker plus a sub. I can not do rear speakers because the shape of my room. There would be no place to put the speakers. I do not know anything about this stuff so if someone could post a link to something that would work great for me that would be awesome. I plan on using a ps3 to play games and as a blue ray player. If this system could hook up to an ipod that would be great as well. I can spend up to 1K US but would rather keep it around 600 - 700 range or lower. I am not even sure if this price is okay or not. I am not really that good with hooking things up so easier the better. Thanks Guys for your help and sorry again if you are getting tired of answering noobies' questions. -Jeff

 

[Jim Mcc]

So you're talking about a receiver also? 3 front speakers and a sub?

 

[Al.Anderson]

All current receivers are easily configured as 3.1 (the 3 represents the three front speakers; the .1 represents the sub). A 3.1 set-up is quite appropriate for someone who does have any place for additional speakers; however one note, the 4th and 5th speakers are called surrounds and are placed to the side (just behind the listener), not the rear. For what it's worth, the 5th and 6th speakers go in the rear. So what you want to do is purchase a receiver and speakers separately. This is no problem whatsoever. You'll only need a few conenctions (one for the PS3 and one for the iPod; plus one or two spares). You can hook up an iPod to any receiver, but some offer special iPod modes that enhance the comporessed signal. You can get a very nice set-up for $1k. I'd recommend allocating about $300 for the receiver, $300 for the sub, and $400 for the L/C/R. (You'll need about $100 for cables, so adjust accordingly.)

 

[lapko33]

Thanks Al, I honestly do not have a single clue on this kind of stuff. Could you put some suggestion on what brand/ model to get? Also you said $100 in cable. Could you list the items I would need to buy to set this up? Thanks -Jeff

 

[Martino]

OK - not much to go on - here is a basic 3.1 speaker package with a receiver and all wires needed for $507.01 minus shipping costs and all links needed to get them. When you get all of the goodies - in the receiver you would set the speaker size to small - set the surround speakers to OFF, and the sub to ON... Bookshelf speakers: Pioneer SP-BS21-LR Bookshelf Loudspeakers Pair - $99.00 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882117405 3rd party review: http://hometheaterreview.com/pioneer-sp-bs21-lr-bookshelf-loudspeaker-reviewed/ Matching Center Channel: Pioneer SP-C21 Center Channel Speaker Each - $79.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882117404 OK sub for the system: Dayton Audio SUB-1200 12" 120 Watt Powered Subwoofer $129.00 http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?PartNumber=300-629 Receiver: $179.00 Pioneer VSX-821-K 5.1-Channel 3D Ready A/V Receiver http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882117397&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8JunctionRSSDailyDealsnana&AID=10521304&PID=4175897&SID=1ike18nujb6q9 -- + cables for your system: If you don't want to spend a lot on your cables...here is an example of an order from monoprice....=== $19.03 Speaker Wire: 50 ft of 16 AWG, in-wall rated - $7.28 http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10239&cs_id=1023903&p_id=2822&seq=1&format=2 banna plugs - 6 needed at $1.67/pair = $10.02 -- these will be used to connect your left, center and front speakers to the receiver. http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=104&cp_id=10401&cs_id=1040115&p_id=2801&seq=1&format=2 For the powered sub - depends on how far away from your receiver your sub will be - need to connect an RCA sub cable between your receiver and your sub: You would then connect 1 end of this cable to the sub out on your receiver, and the other end to the sub itself. Then plug in the sub and you are good to go there. 25' sub cable - $1.73 (cheaper if you don't need one that long...) http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10218&cs_id=1021810&p_id=655&seq=1&format=2 -- Total budget: 510.31 -- For an upgraded Great Sub - if you like your bass: Sub: Epic Legend - $500.00 http://www.epiksubwoofers.com/legend.html With receiver and wire: $881.31

 

[lapko33]

Thanks alot Martin, Quick Question. I was talking to a guy I work with about this stuff. He just built a new house and wants to upgrade. He has Energy 5.1 Take Classic Home Theater System http://www.amazon.com/Energy-Classic-Theater-System-Black/dp/B001202C44 He got them last year. He told me he would sell them to me for 200. Is this a good deal? They seem to get great reviews. I know it is 5.1 but I can always work with extra speakers correct. Would this be better to get than getting the other speakers that you listed. Could I still run theses speakers with the Pioneer VSX-821-K 5.1-Channel 3D Ready A/V Receiver that you listed? Thanks for your help.

 

[Martino]

Is this a good deal? They seem to get great reviews. I know it is 5.1 but I can always work with extra speakers correct. Would this be better to get than getting the other speakers that you listed. Could I still run theses speakers with the Pioneer VSX-821-K 5.1-Channel 3D Ready A/V Receiver that you listed?

That speaker system comes with the sub as well - so you could get these and just the receiver and wires and be OK...yes they would work together - and you would have 2 extra speakers to add to the back if you wanted to later. $200.00 for energy fronts and sub would be OK - the sub is only an 8" one and is a little week - but for the money you could get the receiver and try it out. If you wanted to upgrade the sub, the 12" one I listed above would be a good upgrade. I like the energy classic system - and have set up 2 systems for friends using them to stay in budget and they are both happy with them. You can get those new for $352.00....so you would be saving $152 by getting them used. For used gear I usually offer 1/2 price of new ($176) and make sure you check out the speakers first - need to ensure that he did not blow up anything...being only a year old they hopefully are still in OK condition, but you never know...

 

[lapko33]

Thanks a lot Martin. Yea he said I could stop and check them out anytime I would like. He is a good guy and I trust him. He is the kind of guy that would worry that I didn't like them month later and would take them back. He doesn't like selling used items. I am going to listen to them and I think I will go with that if they sound good. I might upgrade the sub after a while since I am saving money. Also this might be dumb but could i put the back speakers on a stand? Is that hard to do. Do they make certain stands for certain speakers? If that is a possibility I might be able to hook them up as well. Thanks again

 

[Martino]

Speaker stands for the rears would work - depending on your setup you may need them for the front as well...you just have to figure out how to run the wires. The wire I listed above is approved to run through walls or under the floors. I have my rear speakers on stands, and went under my house to run the wires. a cheap set of stands ($9.35) for these can be found here: http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=109&cp_id=10828&cs_id=1082819&p_id=3022&seq=1&format=2 Hooking up speaker stands is very easy to do - looked through the reviews and the above has worked with the energy speakers... These stands would work for the small energy speakers - but not the pioneers if you decide to go with those you would need larger stands.

 

[lapko33]

Thanks for everything Martin, You made this so much easier and less stressful for me as well. I am not sure how I will run the speakers wire to the rear speakers yet but for only 10 bucks I mise well buy two of them and if I can't use them for the back I'll use them for the front two speakers (I can place the front two on my entertainment stand if I use them for the back). Thanks again and I will probably place the orders for everything when I get home from work tonight. -Jeff