Good Midrange speaker from 2.0 to 5.0 to 5.1 incremental upgrades (1 Viewer)

[tjcinnamon]

So I just put gene c. through ringer. He warned it's easy to get carried away: he's right... (and I'm sorry) What started as a comparison of HTIB systems from Best Buy turned into getting a set online then building a set part by part online. I think I found the receiver I want (Onkyo HT-RC360). However, I'm totally stuck on the speakers: For packages I'm looking at: Energy Take 5.1 Classics $400 MartinLogins MLT-2 5.1 $330 Onkyo SKS-HT540 7.1 $180 Otherwise, I'm looking at an incremental build: Fronts - $200 Center & Sattelites: $400 Sub: $250 What would be a killer build within those price ranges? Or would the speaker packages I'm considering fill the bill. (7.1 is not out of the question based off of my room configuration. I frequent a lot of computer upgrade forums/sites and often times they'll have best mid-range budget systems, then they list off a bunch of configurations that would work well within a price range. I guess that's what I'm going after here. Also if there are sites that do configs within a budget reviews that'd be helpful as well. Well pandora's box has been opened and my girlfriend will be none to happy with this Thanks in advance, JOe K.

 

[David Willow]

It is hard to say which speakers you will like unless you listen to them yourself. Looking at your list I would strike the Onkyo's off right away. Onkyo is not a speaker company. Both Energy and ML have fans but again, it is what you like. Given your budget I would look at this package from Fluance and add a sub from Lava.. Stick around you will no doubt get other suggestions. Good luck with the new obsession.

 

[tjcinnamon]

Thanks! More than one person has suggested the Fluance. My only issue with those is that they are towers and I don't think they'd look nice in my living room. Are those bookshelf ones wall mountable?

 

[tjcinnamon]

What about the Martin Logan MLT-2's or the Def Tech 60.6's? Thanks, JOe K.

 

[Spankydahamstr]

What about the Martin Logan MLT-2's or the Def Tech 60.6's? Thanks, JOe K.

I would encourage a build part by part from Def Tech if you go that route. 3 Procenter 1000's or 2000's for the r/l/c is wonderful. I run 3 2000's with an Onkyo and MLT-2 as 7.1 satellites sounds great but as the others have said go out and test run them at a store. The plus on getting the MLT-2 box is that is comes with a Sub now mind you it isn't a great sub but depending on your preference it may do the job for you and save you some money. My 2 cents Good Luck and Happy testing!!

 

[tjcinnamon]

I'm going with a paradigm separates 5.0 build (~$600): Fronts -> Paradigm Micro V.6 Bookshelf; Satellites -> Paradigm Cinema 90 CT Bookshelf; Center -> Cinema 200 Center (apparently this series is new). I'll get the sub later. Should I stick with Paradigm or go Lava for the sub? Thanks, JOe K.