need help deciding on 5.1 speaker package (1 Viewer)

[RDucky47]

I have my eyse on the Onkyo 606 receiver. with these ild like to run a speaker package:

-Polk Audio RM6750
-Bose Acoustimass 10 (ive read all the badgering of Bose, so please recommend a system instead of posting countless posts on how bose blows)
-Pro Cinema 600

I know there is a huge price difference. I'ld like to be somewhere in the middle.

I have a middle sized living room (15x11?), more rectangular, wider side is where my couch and tv sit opposite each other. its carpeted with concrete and padding beneath it. I have a samsung 56" DLP, an xbox 360 (HDMI), and cable box with component hook up soon to be HDMI i pray. I also have a blu ray player HDMI. currently i have no speaker system other than my tv speakers. i like action movies and sports and would like to ditch the idock for my ipod and use my speaker set up for the music. i have a couch, and a love seat, and wooden end tables and a center wooden coffee table. dont know what else you need. i dont care about how much noise it makes, the neighbors can complain... any recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

Dave (chicago)

 

[Philip Hamm]

Forget the Bose right now. It's worse than both of the other systems you're considering. Either of the others will sound fine and make you happy. There are a zillion such all-in-one 5.1 speaker sets on the market and they're all pretty good IMO. You can't lose unless you buy bose. Check out the speaker systems at http://www.accessories4less.com/.

 

[LanceJ]

Dave: if WAF was not a problem I would look for a system with sats with woofers measuring at least 5.25". To me, those tiny 3.25" "woofers" in the Polks' and most other brands that also use such small drivers end up causing the sound itself to feel small - I don't care what their spec chart says.* This will be particularly noticeable with music, for example bass guitars and male voices and IMO the subwoofer cannot really "make up" for the sats' midbass deficiencies.

The Definitives also use a 3.25" driver though their webpage says the addition of a passive radiator helps the speaker system sound like a larger one. I'll take their word for it since I've never heard this system but I still have my doubts - the laws of physics can only be bent so far.

My own minimum-size woofer preference is a 6.5" woofer (or speakers with well-built 5.25" woofers) which takes care of the midbass spectrum and allows a smooth and pretty much seamless transition to a subwoofer at the standard 80Hz crossover point.

* if you want to see what I mean, compare the sound of a sat with a 3.25" driver with a "regular" sized speaker (say something with an 8" woofer), both crossed over at 80Hz and with the sub turned off.

 

[David Willow]

Hi Dave,

Just gotta know (please don't take it wrong).... If you read all the postings here and other places, why consider them? Really, I'm not badgering, I really want to know. Is their marketing that good?

Now, for my recommended system to listen to: SVSound - Complete Systems

It's about the same price as the Bose and it comes with a real bass. These speakers are a bit bigger then your other choices. If size is important, check out HSU - HSU Home Theaters

 

[Robert_J]

Don't forget about Elemental Designs and AV123. They also sell different speaker packages at different price points.

-Robert

 

[RDucky47]

The bose is more of a max price range that I will consider than actually considering the system. WAF is not a factor. Getting married in august but I pay the bills so tough beans for her. I like the svs sbs 01 and the pro cinema 600. Where can I find an svs system to listen too

 

[Robert_J]

You have so much to learn.

-Robert

 

[RDucky47]

im actually lucky that of the things she is "freaky" about and has to put her $ 0.02 in is actually quite little compared to some of my friends wives/girlfriends. she doesnt worry about much.

 

[RDucky47]

How would a Def tech pro cinema 800 system compare to a svs sbs-01 system

 

[Robert_J]

Unless someone has auditioned both in the same environment then any recommendation is really a guess. Def Tech makes quality gear and no one will dispute that. We are partial to SVS here because they support this forum by paying for advertising and the founders of SVS actually met here when one was helping the other build a subwoofer. Chad from Epik is a member. Ben from Elemental Designs is a member. When a company can provide immediate support for problems and freely share their knowledge and experience then they deserve more than just a casual consideration.

-Robert

 

[Phil Iturralde]

Sound and Vision Magazine did review w/objective benchmarks the above HT systems in question ....

Def Tech ProCinema 800 System by Daniel Kumin (Price $1,099 as tested)

SVS SBS-01/SCS-01 Surround Sound System by Ken C. Pohlmann (Price $1,149 as tested)

Read both reviews and it can help you make a decision.

NOTE: Sound and Vision Magazine Objective Test Bench Frequency SPL Chart are performed by Tom Nousaine, using the same identical speaker testing SPL methodology process for every HT setup, so ... You Can Compare all the S&V Speaker Objective Test Bench Frequency SPL Charts to each other.

If I were in the market for an 5.1 HT System today, ... I'd purchase the SVS SBS-01/SCS-01 Surround Sound System based on the S&V review & objective benchmarks.

Have fun deciding!

 

[CB750]

Have you actually listened to any of these systems in person? Let your ears and your wallet be your judge. Many fine systems are recommend use them and reviews as a way to start your selection search. Buy the speakers that sound best to you and fit your budget.

The reason that many are critical of the Bose cubes is because it's difficult to get any upper bass and midrange out of a speaker system that is so small. This puts too much of a burden of upper bass and mid range on the sub which it was never designed to handle. This is an inherent problem with ultra small satellite system not just Bose. It is for this reason that systems with larger satellites with larger drivers usually out perform those like the Bose cubes.

 

[Jonathan Burk]

If you have a Costco nearby, you might check to see if they have the Energy Take Classic in stock. It's a great set.

But of the three you mentioned, I would vote for the Pro Cinema 600.

 

[RDucky47]

I've heard the polk and the pro cinema in person. i think im going to go with the svs sbs-01 5.1 setup. it may be a little more expensive but i know it will pay off down the road. ild rather buy something once. im not however saying that polk or the pro cinema arent good quality though. ive been on a few different forums and i hear alot of good things about the svs systems. im going to stop into Abt (Abt Electronics And Appliance Store- HDTVs, Refrigerators and More) though and see what kinda deal they can roll on the pro cinema 800 though. they dont carry the system but they do carry the speakers to make the system. thanks for everyones input

i checked out the costco by me and all they have is a few HTIB's. no other systems or speakers.

 

[Philip Hamm]

Good luck, I'm sure you'll be happy with the SVS system. They have a fantastic reputation.

 

[RDucky47]

I ordered the SVS sbs0-1 system a few hours ago with the pb10 nsd sub. I also ordered the sub interconnect from them. i also got the omnimounts from them for the wall. i found them cheaper on amazon but i dont pay tax on my svs order and i like that it all comes together then so i ordered from svs. They (SVS) reccommended speaker wire from bluejeanscables i ordered 12 guage speaker wire from them. as well as 1 HDMI cable, I needed 1 more. and 5 pairs of bannana connectors waasnt sure if i could use bannana connectors on the speakers too or not, if i can, ill run to radio shack once i get it. it was an expensive morning, well to me it was expensive. i stopped at ABT and picked up my onkyo 606 last weekend, although they had a return model 805 for about 100 more, but after some negotiating it turned into a difference of 150. i went with the 606.

thanks to everyone for pointing me in the right direction. i appreciate all of your input. ill let you know how it turns out for this HT newb.

 

[Jonathan Burk]

That sounds like a good setup. Be sure to use the Audyssey setup on the Onkyo; it makes a world of difference.

 

[CB750]

I think you are going to like your system. I considered the SVS, but the entire system was just too large to please my wife's remodel of our family room. We listened to just about every smaller sized system we could find. Energy, Definitive 600's, 800's, 1000's, Mirage nano's, Kilspich. I read the reviews of most of the speaker systems we listened to and feel you have to take these reviews with a grain of salt. First of all none of the reviews said any really bad about the speakers they reviewed and all of them sounded good when we listened to them in person. It's just the fact that some of them sounded better to my wife and I than others. Therefore, the important and only thing that matters when it comes to speakers is buy what sounds best to you. The rest of the hype will only reinforce that you made the right decision.

We ended up with the B&W M1 and a Integra 6.8 receiver. We are very happy with this system it works well for listening to music as well as HT video. I would also recommend running the Audyssey setup on your new system it makes a world of difference.

 

[luv2wakeboard33]

I'm in the same boat. Can not decide between the def tech pro cinema 1000 (pro sub 1000, pro monitor 1000's, pro center 2000) or the SVS SBS-01 system. Anyone who's heard them both tell me which they'd prefer? Is the differences in sensitivity matter? What about the differences in Frequency Response?

HELP!!

 

[Robert_J]

Unless you know the listening preference of the reviewer, how do you know if you will like them?

If you aren't sure, take a chance on SVS. As stated earlier, the founders met on this forum. At least one of their customer service guys is a long time member here. I've had direct dealings with their transducer engineer and used four subs that were hand built by him. They are passionate about audio and will give you the best value for your money.

-Robert