Newbie: help needed (1 Viewer)

[MikeLC]

Hello folks,

Well, I'm fairly new to the scene and looking for a decent 'starter' kit. I have recently picked up a Denon 3803 receiver, and am looking for a set of surround sound (4 + center) speakers and a subwoofer.

I don't have a great deal to spend on this, but can do something in the $300-$500 range.

The use is primarily home theater, but I'd like to be sure it sounds ok for music as well (I listen to everything, but am most critical of sound in Big Band and Jazz).

The prior setup in this space was with a denon 3600, 2 Bose 301 Music Monitors II (rear), 2 Bose 301 Series III (main); Boston CenterStar 7 and and unknown Klipsch subwoofer.

Dimensions wise, the room is about 13' wide by 21'deep, with the main seating area centrally located.

Any thoughts, opinions, suggestions, etc appreciated!

Thanks,

Mike

 

[Chris Quinn]

Do you still have the listed speakers? If so keep them until you have a little more saved. That's a whole lotta receiver for speakers and sub under $500. Search JBL N series on this board and see what onecall.com has in that range. I think Energy makes something in that price range too.

 

[MikeLC]

Chris,

Thanks, that's a good comment, unfortunately, the speakers go with the housemate...so I was trying to find a good 'still sounds good but I can afford it' price. I'll check into what you mentioned, I had been considering:

Onkyo H500
JBL SCS-150

I also appreciate the ideas of where to look.

Thanks!

Michael

 

[RobWil]

I have recently picked up a Denon 3803 receiver, and am looking for a set of surround sound (4 + center) speakers and a subwoofer. I don't have a great deal to spend on this, but can do something in the $300-$500 range

What Chris said! Some people here are going to question going with such an expensive receiver and cutting costs on speakers. Just thought I'd warn you. The consensus will prolly be that you should have spent 3-5 on a receiver and the rest on speakers. Having said that, your previous speakers were better than anything you could get to replace them in that price range. Do you not still have them? You can't even really get a decent sub for $300-$500.

 

[RobWil]

OOps! Sorry...didn't read that the speakers went with the housemate. I will write on the blackboard 500 times "I am a dumbass!" (as if everyone doesn't know that already)

 

[MikeLC]

I understand the issue between spending on speakers and spendng on receiver...I figured that this receiver should last a long time and handle almost anything I throw at it, and I hoped I would get decent speakers and then upgrade into something that could do it more justice.

I started looking at the JBL N series, and it looks like I can get a setup of N26/N24s and a JBL 12 subwoofer for maybe $600 used...don't know if that's 'good enough' for now. I can try to increase my price to maybe $800 or so, but past that will take too long, and I'm back to having no speakers to use at the moment (in which case, the system sound really isn't that great).

Thanks!

 

[Mike_J_D]

Hey Mike
How about piecing together a system. What I mean is buy the fronts, then a center and sub or sub and surrounds and go with a phantom center until you can get the center. Do you want towers in the front? Or are you cool with bookshelfs. With a good pair of bookshelfs and a good sub you won't really miss that much impact with movies. However you might with music. Just an idea. Hope this helps, good luck Mike

 

[MikeLC]

I'm not adverse to putting this together over time, as long as it's 'livable' now... I'm probably looking at bookshelf speakers for now, makes more sense with my space.

I do have a set of KEF C Series (about 10 years old) that I could put into service at least temporarily... They have stands that include some sort of subwoofers, I can use them as the satelites, or perhaps take them off the stands and use them with another subwoofer...

 

[Chris Quinn]

You could put 3 Ascend Acoustics 170s across the front for $500 and use the KEFs as rears for now.

 

[Marc H]

Consider the Dahlquist Orbit 5.1 speaker set.

I've been getting those to clients in the US for just under $500.00US.
It's got a warmer sound than I find usual in most wee size sat sub systems.
No problem filling up the size of room you have with it too.

 

[Bill_San]

On that budget you are likely to end up with something very medicore--which you will end up replacing, or you have to find one hell of a deal.

I'll reccomend joining the Wharfedale club. If you are comfortable buying on ebay or ubid.com you can find a pair of Wharfedale Emerald 97s -- that's a nice floorstander at a good price.

One guy has a new pair Em97 on ebay for $300 + 80 shipping.
My brother got them on ubid for $105 ea. + 60 shipping.
There are none on ubid now--but they seem to come up every now and then (mistakenly, in the bookshelf section).

Add a pair of Wharfedale WH2 surrounds ($64 at ecost, $99 at amazon, buy.com bestbuy--but most are out of stock at the moment) for surrounds.

Get an Emerald or Modus center at ubid when they come up $75-100 (or on ebay). +20 shipping.

Save up for a sub.

Approx total: $380 + $100 + $100 = $580. and you might get it for less.

I've heard all these. You will not believe how good this will sound. Like way, way more $.

Alternatively if you want bookshelf speakers -- Try a Wharfedale Diamond system.

YOu could get something like:
Diamond 8.2 mains, Diamond center.
Add the WH2s if bipoles are ok or get Diamond 8.1s.

Write to ayselectronics.com for a quote, I think they are cheapest and they are an authorized dealer. Read the comments on this forum and audioreview for more on Wharfedales.

These are speaker you can enjoy--not something that will leave you suffering until you can afford to upgrade.

 

[DarwinU]

for your budget, I read alot about Fluance speakers on these forums. They have a $200 package (no sub) and you can get one of the smaller subs from Velodyne, Klipsch, Polk, etc. for $300 or less.

 

[MikeLC]

Allrightythen,

Price wise, I can do the following:

Main: Diamond 8.2
Surround: Diamond 8.1
Center: Diamond Center
Sub: Sony SA-WM40

The question is, will these work and play well together?

 

[Geoff L]

Mike

I think you might be quite suprised at the sound quaility of the Diamond line. Many an award winner and most that own them, if not all speak very highly of them.

The Sony-40 is getting very hard to come by, as it has been discontinued and replaced by another 12" subwoofer model, the SW-MA500 I belive. A little more power and much better looking IMO.

I think this set up could and shoud hold you over till you can afford a higher end line of speaks if you choose to go that way in the short future.
You might want to do some Google searchs and here for reviews on the Diamonds and read what others have to say.
May give you a better feel of what to expect from them, along with the Sony sub....

Certainly never hurts to go B&M store shoping and listen to all the stuff you can in your current price point.

I'm sure others will continue to offer suggstion and advice for you. Great place for help and advice....

Remember if you go with bookshelfs you will need some type of stands also and need to add that to the budget, assuming you don't already own some.

Good luck in your speaker quest
Geoff

Edit:::::::>
Mike
If your going to put them on shelves cool, but I don't remember if their front or rear ported. If (Rear Ported) this will greatly effect their (sound quality, and not to the good side)!!!

 

[MikeLC]

Geoff,

This is definately targeted as something to get my feet wet and tide me over, but I am looking for reasonable performance. While I can't find a set to listen to, I think this will be a reasonable combination for me.

I have a shelf behind my listening position (center of room) that I plan to put the speakers on. I would imagine that in that case no stands are needed? (This is part of why I went with bookshelves - I have good shelf placement on each)

Thanks to you, and everyone else, for the encouragement and advice!