Javier_A
Auditioning
- Joined
- Dec 10, 2002
- Messages
- 12
I am trying to help out my father in law get his first home theater system. However, the budget is low so I'm trying to do some magic with what I can work with, and I was hoping some help from you guys. This would be for a medium size bedroom. I've already purchased the new Onkyo TX-SR501 receiver ($262, very good price!), and I pretty much have the cables picked as well. This leaves not more than $500 for the speakers. The speakers must also be small. I've checked out a few speaker packages and narrowed down to three, and this is where I need some opinions:
- Paradigm Cinemas: I have Paradigms myself (Monitor 7s, CC-370, ADP-370s, PDR-12), so it was an obvious first choice for me to go back to Paradigm. I demoed the Cinema 90s all around, with the Cinema CC and PDR-8. I thought they were good, although maybe a little "boxy" sounding at times, but the price falls out of the budget. This Thursday my local dealer is having a private sale, so we'll see what I can get, but I think it would still be too much. I estimate the 4 Cinemas and center would be $370, and the sub around $250. If I can find a cheaper sub, maybe it can work out. Any suggestions?
- Cambridge Soundworks: I demoed the Movieworks 108 package (http://www.hifi.com/store/category.c...item=k1pkmv7xx). Somehow, I seem to think they sounded a little better than the Paradigms. Could this be true? Comparing the specs between these and the Cinemas, the CSWs seem a little better on paper, except for the sub, which was expected since the CSW sub is about half the price of the PDR-8. I can get these for $425 including a 15% discount that they have right now.
- Acoustic Research HC6: Unfortunately I haven't been able to demo these because I cannot find them anywhere, and I've looked around. Some stores told me they were being discontinued. Regardless, after reading several good reviews about them on magazines and on forums, I would be willing to get them, and they appear to be the best value. They sell them at etronics.com for $299 + $45 shipping. Not bad for a speaker package that is supposed to have a list price of around $700 I think. This would be well within budget and leaves some room for maybe a universal remote, DVDs, etc.
Can anyone please give their opinions about the choices above? Do you have any other recommendations besides the ones listed above? Thanks in advance for your help!!!
- Paradigm Cinemas: I have Paradigms myself (Monitor 7s, CC-370, ADP-370s, PDR-12), so it was an obvious first choice for me to go back to Paradigm. I demoed the Cinema 90s all around, with the Cinema CC and PDR-8. I thought they were good, although maybe a little "boxy" sounding at times, but the price falls out of the budget. This Thursday my local dealer is having a private sale, so we'll see what I can get, but I think it would still be too much. I estimate the 4 Cinemas and center would be $370, and the sub around $250. If I can find a cheaper sub, maybe it can work out. Any suggestions?
- Cambridge Soundworks: I demoed the Movieworks 108 package (http://www.hifi.com/store/category.c...item=k1pkmv7xx). Somehow, I seem to think they sounded a little better than the Paradigms. Could this be true? Comparing the specs between these and the Cinemas, the CSWs seem a little better on paper, except for the sub, which was expected since the CSW sub is about half the price of the PDR-8. I can get these for $425 including a 15% discount that they have right now.
- Acoustic Research HC6: Unfortunately I haven't been able to demo these because I cannot find them anywhere, and I've looked around. Some stores told me they were being discontinued. Regardless, after reading several good reviews about them on magazines and on forums, I would be willing to get them, and they appear to be the best value. They sell them at etronics.com for $299 + $45 shipping. Not bad for a speaker package that is supposed to have a list price of around $700 I think. This would be well within budget and leaves some room for maybe a universal remote, DVDs, etc.
Can anyone please give their opinions about the choices above? Do you have any other recommendations besides the ones listed above? Thanks in advance for your help!!!
