Best surround sound systems according to redditors
We found 927 Reddit comments discussing the best surround sound systems. We ranked the 171 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the top 20.
We found 927 Reddit comments discussing the best surround sound systems. We ranked the 171 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the top 20.
I don't think those Sony speakers are very well regarded. For a similar amount of money you could get the whole 5.0 set of pioneer Andrew Jones speakers:
http://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-SP-PK52FS-Theater-Speaker-Package/dp/B00IK8I9K2?th=0
Those are supposed to be very good for the price. You should check out a few other speakers from the buying guide on the side bar before you decide though!
If I had a $1500 budget, I would recommend the following:
​
Epson Home Cinema 2150 - $699.00
​
Micca MB42X - $79.95
​
Micca MB42X Center - $69.95
​
Fluance AVBP2 - $119.99
​
Denon AVR S530BT - $229.00
​
Silver Ticket 120" Screen - $249.98
​
This would give you a decent entry level setup. You'll have about 50$ left over for speaker wire. I am be no means an expert but I lurk a lot and I think this would be decent.
​
​
​
Well "computer speakers" is a confusing term usually associated with powered monitors or boxed 2.1 systems.
You just need a good set of speakers and an amplifier. I recommend the Teac LH265's and an SMSL SA36 amp
I'm a fan of a Yamaha with Pioneer Andrew Jones speakers, great value all around, this is what I recommend to people who are starting out:
Depending on other recommendations you might want to get a 5.0 set and go with another sub. Stay safe out there!
EDIT: For the DJ bits you could go with a 1/4" to RCA so people could just plug their phones in, using bluetooth for that would probably suck. Maybe a chromecast audio if you want people to just be able to cast to it to have a jukebox like effect.
EDIT 2: The Pioneers also come in all bookshelf too, which might make more sense to save space: https://smile.amazon.com/Pioneer-SP-PK52FS-Theater-Speaker-Package/dp/B00LBI88IQ?th=1
Edifier Speaker sale (26%-30% off):
Edit - sound tests:
Seriously check out /r/hometheater
But be warned, that place can be dangerous.
Here is my current set up:
AVR : Sony 7.2
Center : Klipsch RP-250C
Fronts : Klipsch R-14M
Rears : Klipsch R-14S
Sub : Bic America 12
I deff spent less than $1000 and I love my set up. One thing that saved me a lot of money was buying open box on Ebay from an authorized seller. The other nice thing about piecing it together like this is that you can very easily upgrade one set of speakers over time.
Dayton MK442T bundle with 15 inch sub-woofer
Dayton T-652 Bundle
Fluance Elite 5.1 package
Pioneer Andrew Jones 5.0 pack
Polk TSI300 package
Fluance SXHTB elite series floorstanding system
The Logitech are a dead end and not even designed for tv use. Start with a decent 2.0 system and you can build your way up from that.
Buy a refurbished avr and work from there.
Such as,
Denon S540BT - 5.2 $179 refurbished (At this price it's basically throw away when you feel the need to upgrade)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07JCMYG94/ref=dp_cr_wdg_tit_rfb
That would leave you $171 for a pair of bookshelf speakers and some wires. I'd suggest asking around for suggestions of bookshelf speakers in the price range. Consider future upgrades here. You can always upgrade to towers or something later and use these are rears.
A $350 2.0 system with an avr would put a Logitech 5.1, "THX Certified" system to shame.
Hey I'll try to help you out.
First things first that's a nice TV stand but it might be hard to add a receiver or center speaker into. Your space is tight so I'd rule out towers and focus on bookshelf speakers with stands. And also your budget will make it hard for a quality 3.1 setup. Id focus on 3.0 or 2.1. You might get recommendations on big bundles of cheap speakers but nah, start with quality speakers and go up from there.
With that being said, to match your beautiful white TV stand, I'll recommend some pretty white bookshelf speakers Q Acoustics 3020i $299
Matching center
Leaves you roughly $200 to find a refurbed Denon receiver from accessories4less or from Amazon renewed
Add some 16 gauge speaker wire and you are set to go. Save up for the subwoofer of your choice and you're off towards quality audio!
$100 - Monoprice surround speaker system
$120 - Used HDMI receiver.
Of course you're not getting the very best stuff, or even the middle of the road stuff, but this should be enough to get you started.
It's difficult to recommend for Canada as you guys get hosed on pricing. With your budget I'd probably do this:
Receiver $330: https://www.amazon.ca/Yamaha-RX-V379BL-5-1-Channel-Receiver-Bluetooth/dp/B00XL2702K/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1462204660&sr=8-2&keywords=surround+receiver
L/R speakers $250: https://www.amazon.ca/Micca-MB42X-Bookshelf-Speakers-Tweeter/dp/B00E7H8GG2/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1462204900&sr=8-2&keywords=micca
Not ideal but I don't see many options. Now, you can try this, same receiver but with this speaker set $260: https://www.amazon.ca/AV5HTB-Surround-including-Bookshelf-Loudspeakers/dp/B014JTYKA8/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1462205118&sr=8-5&keywords=fluance
That gives you a full 5.0 set of reasonably decent speakers and leaves him with just the subwoofer to complete the system. Fluance are made in Canada and come with a lifetime warranty.
The Polk PSW10 is trash. If you're keeping near the same price for a sub, the Dayton SUB-1000 should be $120 and is much better.
For $300 all that stuff is a good deal, but they aren't particularly great speakers at all. When you're able to spend $600, I would go for the Andrew Jones Pioneer line of speakers. Paired with the Dayton sub mentioned before you're at $620. Paired with a Dayton SUB-1500 or a BIC F12 you're at $700.
An alternative if you are able to place three vertical bookshelf speakers as your left, right, and center is the RBH R5Bi. They are $112.50 each so $338 for your front speakers and throw in a $200 sub like the BIC F12 or SUB1500 and you're at $540. For your rears you can throw in a $60-70 pair of speakers like the polks you mentioned or sound appeal 6.5". This will be by far the best sounding setup but will look a bit more unconventional. The R5Bi are beautiful and fantastic-sounding speakers when reinforced with a sub.
This is a hell of a bang for the buck. I haven't used them but the reviews are 4.5 on Amazon.$400
Fluance SXHTBW High Definition Surround Sound Home Theater 5.0 Channel Speaker System Including Floorstanding Towers, Center and Rear Speakers (Natural Walnut) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M62GRFA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_SnKVBb3P6ENRZ
Just look all all of Fluance options. There is a 5.1 option for 570, 7.1 option for $700, giving you 300-450 to spend on a receiver.
TV Samsung UN55KS8000 - $1,799.99 Reason why I am going w/ the 55 is most manufcaturers don;t really make 60's anymore. if they do they aren't the best of their models.
As for the sound system
Receiver: http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/yamrxv579bl/yamaha-rx-v579-7.2-ch-x-80-watts-networking-a/v-receiver/1.html#!specifications
bookshelfs https://www.amazon.com/Debut-Bookshelf-Speakers-Andrew-Jones/dp/B014GSEQ06
center https://www.amazon.com/Debut-Center-Speaker-Andrew-Jones/dp/B014GSEQWE/
surrounds https://www.amazon.com/Fluance-AVBP2-Surround-Satellite-Speakers/dp/B00067OLOS/
subwoofer http://www.hsuresearch.com/products/stf-2.html
should put you right at $1500
you can go from the elac B6's down to the B5's to save $100
You'll need a receiver (good prices and refurbished ones can be found here:http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/category/avreceiver/home-audio/receivers-amps/home-theater-receivers/1.html)
Speakers: look into these options for your price range.
And a subwoofer. Look into the Dayton sub 1200 for the rest of your budget: http://www.parts-express.com/dayton-audio-sub-1200-12-120-watt-powered-subwoofer--300-629
Amp & Speakers
Hello fellow Canadian!
To be honest, $600 won't get you a decent 5.1 system in Canada. In fact, it won't even get you a decent 2.1 system.
If your budget is locked at $600, Craigslist is the best option. There's lots of great deals and speakers are easy to evaluate.
You could also go for something super cheap like a Fluance AVHTB package, but I would recommend Craigslist over those.
If you let me know what area of Canada you live in, maybe I can scope out a deal for you on Craigslist.
> seating for 8 persons
That means you have seating off to the side, likely diagonally, correct? What this means is that you should get bipole/dipole/radiators for your side-surrounds, and place them centered between each "row of seating" (if it's additional couches instead of seats, put them centered based on distance from furthest seating to closest seating), a pic/drawing of the room would help. Good ones that'll fit in your budget are these bipoles ($120) or its bigger brothers, this one ($150) or this one ($200, I have these, got them $100 on sale from Walmart, currently normal priced).
> I preferred the quality of Klipsch
As for your front 3 speakers, two options I have would be Klipsch, or the same company as those bipoles. For Klipsch, there are these bookshelves + matching center ($340); for Fluance, they don't have a matching center for their SX Series, so you can mix and match, or not get their SX Series, their most expensive series (Signature) bookshelves + center would be $350, so similar price to the Klipsch's, their 2^nd highest model line bookshelves + center would be $270.
For your back-surrounds, are you wall-mounting? If your are, you will want front-ported speakers. Ones that I can recommend are these Sound Appeals ($70), or actually Fluance's top 2 model lines, you can get the Signature Series ($200) or their XL7 Series ($150). You don't want dipole/dipole/radiators for back-rears, as the sound dispersion wouldn't be good (null zones or amplified zones)
Now, that brings us to the subwoofer. If you were talking like 3-4, maybe 5 people, you could just get 1 sub, however, since you are talking 8 people, you definitely want 2 subs. The reason for that is a subwoofer has sweet spots, and an 8-person seating area is definitely too large. With the speakers I recommended, if you went on the most expensive of my recommendations, that would leave us with ~$750 to play with. I would recommend two of these ($660 total)
or two of these ($740$865 total, too expensive).Now, I'm guessing you'll also need speaker wire. I'd recommend getting at least 16 gauge (lower the # the better), and if you are going in-wall, get oxygen-free. Speaker wire is cheap, here is 100ft of 14 gauge oxygen-free speaker wire. Now, I'd also suggest getting open-screw banana plugs (likely wont fit on any speakers you are wall-mounting), just to save on some frustration with connecting the speaker wire to the speakers/receiver, I bought 2 orders of these ($16 total), they connect like this. You will also want 2 subwoofer cables (RCA's with better insulation), I bought 1 order AmazonBasics in 15ft for $9 ($18 total for you), they also come in 25ft ($20 total, so better safe than sorry). If you don't know how to place a subwoofer, here is /u/zeospantera's tutorial.
Here is another way to go
AVR - Yamaha RX-V381 $200
Speakers - Yamaha NS-SP1800 $150 - 5.1 speaker set is a one stop shop for a 5.1 setup. Will they sound great...no but they will get you up and running straight away. The small size is good for smaller spaces.
Not the best setup but if you wanted a quick and easy setup this could be the way to go.
An alternative would be the Pioneer ctfrommn linked paired with this Dayton 10" bundle $220. That would get you a better sub.
Do you happen to have any sort of amp or receiver already? If you don't, at just hair over $200 you can pick up a pair of these
and this amp
Take a look at this list for additional suggestions.
If you just want a basic amp (which is all you really need for a pair of $30 Dayton bookshelfs) then consider this Lepai TA2020 for $25.
Honestly you'd be just as happy with this as you would that $220 stereo only Emotiva amp. Sure the Emotiva is a great amp for what it does, but if you just want something to power your speakers, just match starting speakers with a starter amp. As long as your TV has a variable stereo output then you'll still be able to control the volume with your remote. If you read the reviews a LOT of buyers of the Lepai amp get it specifically for use with those B652's and it's more than capable of driving them.
If you want something more complex and plan on potentially running surround sound, then look into a Budget Home Theater receiver. Your use of the word "current" when describing your living situation implies that it may at some point change, which means your needs may likely change. So if you want at least a little bit of future proofing then a HT Receiver is a good way to go if you're willing to spend $200.
The advantage of the HT Receiver approach is you can expand it later by getting two larger front speakers, a center channel speaker and a subwoofer and use the B652's as your surround speakers. Nothing goes to waste.
Now unfortunately if you plan on using the 3D features of that TV and want to run your sources through the receiver then you'll need a 3d capable receiver. I mean you could run all your sources through the TV and then run S/PDIF from the TV to the receiver, but that's somewhat pointless, you might as well stick with a stereo amp.
That said here's a couple 3D receivers to consider:
As I've found, each receiver brand has their fans. Denon, Pioneer, Harman Kardon, Marantz, Onkyo. Each has it's advantages and disadvantages and cater to different market segments. The only one I'd say there is universally little love for is Sony, at least there's not many rabid Sony fans anymore. It's not that their products are truly awful, it's just they are not exceptional. My first receiver was a Sony DG720. It was cheap ($250 back in 2008) and worked fine, but that's it, it was just fine. My Pioneer is clearly better once properly setup, but the Sony was okay for its time and use.
Black: https://www.amazon.com/Jamo-Studio-803-HCS-BLK-Cinema/dp/B07JJ5VKHL
White: https://www.amazon.com/Jamo-Studio-803-HCS-WH-Cinema/dp/B07JJP96NT/
Receiver: Denon S540BT = $140
Subwoofer:Dayton Sub 1500 = $188
Speakers: Andrew Jones Pioneer Kit = $375
​
Total: $703
do you like how klipsch horn tweeters sound? i personally cant stand them, as in at any sort of decent volume they hurt my ears. they are just so piercing to me. cant do it.
i would recommend these for a budget system, they are just great all around speakers for the price. i have these and have given them as gifts, and always happy with them. https://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-SP-BS22-LR-Designed-Bookshelf-Loudspeakers/dp/B008NCD2LG/ref=sr_1_3
the amp part of that klipsch deal does look pretty interesting though. and apparently its $500 on its own, making that $379 deal seem all the sweeter. if it had a dac i liked better (ess sabre too piercing for me, like horn tweeters, apparently my ears hate higher frequencies?) id prob buy that package just for the amp as it has some nice features.
https://www.amazon.com/Klipsch-PowerGate-Amplified-Wireless-Gateway/dp/B01N0A7PH5
if youre familiar with klipsch horn tweeters and like them id say that looks like a pretty good deal. the amp part alone is prob worth that $500 really.
Surround Sound without a receiver and for Music..........? LOL -
Sounds like you want a 2.0/2.1 system with powered speakers Not surround sound. What are you gonna play the music from.? PC? Phone?
Get Fluance Ai40s -
https://www.amazon.com/Fluance-Bookshelf-Amplifier-Turntable-Bluetooth/dp/B07CLDGXX1/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?keywords=Fluance+Ai40&qid=1563468287&s=gateway&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1
Or
Edifier 1850s
https://www.amazon.com/Edifier-R1850DB-Bookshelf-Speakers-Bluetooth/dp/B073W1R4XQ/ref=sr_1_6?keywords=Edifier&qid=1563468387&s=gateway&sr=8-6
Or
Edifier S350
https://www.amazon.com/Edifier-Bookshelf-Subwoofer-Bluetooth-Wireless/dp/B077Y6PHKQ/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=Edifier+s350&qid=1563469056&s=gateway&sr=8-1
Powered/Active Speakers:
Under budget:
Edifier R1280DB Powered Bluetooth Bookshelf Speakers - Optical Input - 4 Inch Near Field Speaker - 42w RMS $130
On budget:
R1850DB $200
Over budget:
Highly recommended Vanatoo Transparent Zero Powered Speakers $360.
Also see Audioengine and Kanto.
Passive Speakers: AverageJoe's List, r/HTBuyingGuides Speaker Recs, Bill_Money's Speaker Recs
PIONEERSP-BS22-LR $90
Aperion Intimus 4B $180
Sony SSCS5 $120
Polk Direct discount ebay store.
Wavecrest Audio HVL-1, order on sale here $80 each + shipping.
Over budget audiophile:
On my desk I use the compact Ascend HTM-200 $300 + shipping. They sound much larger than they are and for me they beat the larger KEF Q100s. Neutral sound with a flat frequency response. Best budget audiophile speakers I have found and own for under $500. Great highs, mids and lows. Nothing missing, nothing overly accentuated. 30 day in home trial period.
If no subwoofer, larger speakers if you can fit them.
Philharmonic AAPM $290 + shipping (14 day trial) They have a newly upgraded tweeter and have one of the best low ends of 6.5" speakers in the price range so they don't necessarily need a subwoofer for music.
Mini Amps:
Kinter K2020A+ Limited Edition ORIGINAL Tripath TA2020-020 $35
Dayton Audio DTA-2.1BT 100W Class D 2.1 Amplifier with Bluetooth and Power Supply $70
Dayton Audio DTA-120BT Class D Mini Amplifier 60 WPC with Bluetooth and Power Supply $75
+ USB DAC SMSL Q5 PRO Stereo Amplifier USB Optical Coaxial DAC with Subwoofer Output 2x40W $115
Buy this speaker package, and this receiver. Keep the sub, but make sure that's the first thing you replace. I'd try and sell the speakers and center speaker, since you definitely want your center channel to match with your front two speakers. This is slightly over budget ($79), but its probably the cheapest you can get away with without sacrificing major quality.
$200 is not going to get you a 5.0 system worth having.
$200 is enough for a decent 2.0 system. Dayton Audio MK442T are $200.
You can get this Fluance system for $500
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M62GRFA/ref=psdc_12097481011_t2_B00IRH0QMA
Or this Dayton system for $320
https://www.parts-express.com/dayton-audio-mk402x-51-home-theater-bundle-12-powered-subwoofer--300-747
I bought the Klipsch powergate amp and I'm extremely happy with it. Sub controls on the remote (best feature and lovely to have in an apartment setting), wifi, multiple inputs, power, and pretty to boot. Lovely little thing.
https://www.amazon.com/Klipsch-Powergate-Amplified-Wireless-Gateway/dp/B01N0A7PH5
Just thought I'd throw it out there, Klipsch makes this amp and it is discounted heavily on Amazon now. It is kinda big though. https://www.amazon.com/Klipsch-PowerGate-Amplified-Wireless-Gateway/dp/B01N0A7PH5/
Edit: Oops, no USB input on the R1850, sorry. But it has optical.
I have a set of Edifier R1280T that I'm pretty impressed with. The 1280 are very basic, but in your budget, I'd recommend the R1850. Digital inputs and a sub out.
These are what I would look at instead:
https://www.amazon.com/Audioengine-A2-Powered-Speaker-System/dp/B00DQMJE7E/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1549211989&sr=8-3&keywords=audioengine+a2%2B
https://www.amazon.com/Mackie-Studio-Monitor-5-inch-2046563-00/dp/B015U623MQ/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1549212177&sr=8-3&keywords=mackie+cr5
https://www.amazon.com/Edifier-R1850DB-Bookshelf-Speakers-Bluetooth/dp/B073W1R4XQ/ref=sr_1_4?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1549212416&sr=1-4&keywords=edifier
Given OP's limited amount of desk space, I would personally go with the A2+, they sound pretty damn good for a 2" speaker.
Well it really does depend on your budget. If you're going the 3.0 route I would go with the Andrew Jones Pioneers ($250 a pair) with the matching center ($95). If thats a little too expensive you can get the bookshelf version for $99 for the pair.
There's this also this Fluance 5.0 set for $250 and while I've heard good things especially for the price, I haven't actually heard the speakers themselves.
Polks are fine if you can get a real good price, but there are better options out there. Check out Craigslist.
If you can spend a little more then these are susposed to be the best for your money right now Chane A1rx-c, but you'll be paying around $500 for a 3.0 setup.
Bipole speakers mounted on stands, or no surrounds at all.
https://www.amazon.com/Fluance-AVBP2-Surround-Satellite-Speakers/dp/B00067OLOS
i got these
http://www.amazon.com/Fluance-AVBP2-Surround-Satellite-Speakers/dp/B00067OLOS/ref=sr_1_sc_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1409784653&sr=8-2-spell&keywords=fluance+avb
look good, sound good. pretty happy with them.
IMO it's not important to "match" surround speakers to your front setup. The T15's should be fine or take a look at these other Polks that might have a better WAF if you plan to wall mount https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0018QNYVM/. I also like all of the Fluance bipolar surrounds and have used them in several systems in the past https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00067OLOS/ or https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01553D9CC/ or https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KAIHDRY/
Doesn't look like your room is well suited for surrounds. In a 5-channel surround setup, the "surround" speakers should be positioned to the left and right SIDES of the main listening position, about 90-100 degrees from center.
There might be an argument for a pair of bipolar speakers placed in a rear position on the back wall 2-3 feet above seated ear height. You'll have to get the positions right though because you'd be relying on reflected sound at that point.
If you're sticking with 5.1 and are limited in where you're placing your surrounds, I'd say go for bipoles. Or, at the very least, give them a try. I've had my eye on the Fluance SXBP2's, in the event I want to replace the older Mission 77DS's. I'm happy with the Missions at this time, so not in a huge hurry to upgrade :)
Just make sure if you're placing them on a shelf that they are pulled out to the edge of the shelf so you don't have any weird reflections there.
Fluance AVBP2 Home Theater Bipolar Surround Sound Satellite Speakers $99.96
I've been waiting like half a year for these to go on sale
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00067OLOS/
I would go with this speaker set:
http://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-SP-PK52FS-Theater-Speaker-Package/dp/B00IK8I9K2/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1414003003&sr=8-4&keywords=pioneer+andrew+jones+speakers
and then add any receiver you want that is under your budget. I like this one:
http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/denavrx2000/denon-avr-x2000-7.1-ch-4k-ultra-hd-networking-receiver-airplay/1.html
Although the monoprice system is highly rated (I love monoprice BTW) I don't think there is any way they can be as good as the pioneers. The pioneer system is one of the most highly rated systems any where near its price point, taking on full size systems that cost much more. Infact, I have a full Klipsch setup that was over $2000 and it sounds just about as good.
3.0 and a solid deal .... DCM TP160 speakers
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1-Pair-of-6-5-Bookshelf-Speakers-with-2-Way-Center-Channel-Speaker-DCM-MTX/174060660626?hash=item2886d2e792:g:KicAAOSw7Wxdn0~C
Denon receiver
https://www.amazon.com/Denon-AVR-S540BT-R-Bluetooth-Certified-Refurbished/dp/B07JCMYG94/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=denon+receiver&qid=1573831183&sr=8-4
Probably the Nakamichi Shockwafe
https://www.amazon.com/Nakamichi-Shockwafe-Ultra-9-2Ch-DTS/dp/B07HHZ94BW
I have a similar model (R1280T) hooked up to my Samsung TV. I'd give the speakers 4-stars out of five.
Pros:
The speakers produce excellent, clear, clean sound, they look great, and they're just the right size to fit into their home on my TV console. The optical out was exactly what I needed, you can hook up a subwoofer to the bookshelf speakers (I haven't done this), and the Bluetooth works flawlessly.
Cons:
The [R1700BT] (https://www.amazon.ca/Edifier-R1700BT-Bluetooth-Bookshelf-Speakers/dp/B016PATXSI/ref=sr_1_4?crid=3E1RWE3CW4J5X&keywords=edifier&qid=1567351226&s=gateway&smid=A23AS8PFN4IRUQ&sprefix=edifier%2Caps%2C151&sr=8-4) and R1850DB are also on sale for $153 and $167 respectively.
Not quite as good as the Prime day sale, but still seems like a decent price.
I am no expert but I am in the boat as you and did a lot of research, and based on recommendations here, I got a used Denon receiver for $35 and paired it with this system for $269 (available in black too). The Jamo's are pretty great based on reviews!
https://www.amazon.com/Jamo-Studio-803-HCS-WH-Cinema/dp/B07JJP96NT/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=jamo+803&qid=1564072248&s=electronics&sr=1-2
You could also check out the Sony sale. They have the Bookshelves for $73 and the Floor standing for $98. You could do a great 5.1 system with the towers, bookshelves, and a used receiver.
If it is the Schiit Magni 2 Uber then that also functions as a pre-amp.
The trick is how to integrate a subwoofer.
This $200 Edifier powered speaker has a subwoofer line out
https://www.amazon.com/Edifier-R1850DB-Bookshelf-Speakers-Bluetooth/dp/B073W1R4XQ/
That leaves a fair amount of budget for a good subwoofer.
The Edifier is not as nice sounding as those JBL but they offer a lot of convenience that the JBL don't.
Edifier R1850DB Active Bookshelf Speakers with Bluetooth and Optical Input - 2.0 Studio Monitor Speaker - Built-in Amplifier with Subwoofer Line Out https://www.amazon.in/dp/B073W1R4XQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_ND1UCbJMESECB
Is this a good deal?
I don't see a sub/RCA output on those speakers, so you'd need an RCA splitter. you could also get the Edifier R1850DB instead, which does have a sub output, but it costs an extra $70, and I don't think that sub output has a crossover, so it won't have any advantage over a $2 RCA splitter
$200 is super low... but something like this...
https://www.amazon.com/Klipsch-2017-R-14PM-Powered-Monitor/dp/B075JRF295
or
https://www.amazon.com/Edifier-R1850DB-Bookshelf-Speakers-Bluetooth/dp/B073W1R4XQ
would be a big improvement over your soundbar.
Edifier makes some good powered speakers. You would probably be just fine with a 2.0 setup, but if you think you might want to add a sub later you could look for something with a line out/sub out, something like the Edifier R1850DB. Those also have an optical input which you could use with the Chromecast Audio to bypass the DAC in the Chromecast for the one in the speakers instead, which is probably better (although you probably won't notice the difference). You could also skip the Chromecast Audio and connect the Home directly to the speaker via bluetooth.
Then the best <$200 powered options will be.....
https://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B0010LH2VS/ref=sr_1_2_olp?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1503495095&amp;sr=8-2&amp;keywords=swans+hivi&amp;condition=new
https://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B008M13H4A/ref=olp_twister_child?ie=UTF8&amp;mv_style_name=0&amp;qid=1503495095&amp;sr=8-7
https://www.amazon.com/Edifier-USA-Bluetooth-Speakers-Black/dp/B00WKIY74U/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1503494664&amp;sr=8-11&amp;keywords=edifier
https://www.amazon.com/Edifier-R1850DB-Bookshelf-Speakers-Bluetooth/dp/B073W1R4XQ/ref=sr_1_18?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1503494664&amp;sr=8-18&amp;keywords=edifier
Or if you can score a used pair of JBL LSR305's that would be the best option.
This would be my suggestion of what to buy for $3000. I'm sure most people on this sub would disagree with my more budget oriented picks. I'm just putting it out there.
Feel free to explain why I'm wrong.
Item | Price
---|---
VIZIO P-Series Quantum 65” | $1,500
Pioneer SP-PK52FS Andrew Jones 5.1 | $505
Denon AVRS740H | $403
100ft Speaker Wire | $13
Surge Protector | $25
Apple TV 4K or Nvidia Shield TV | $180
HDMI Cables (2x) | $13
Total | $2,666
|
Optional |
Banana Clips | $20
VESA Mount | $35
Atmos Speakers (In Ceiling) | $75
Atmos Speakers (Stand Alone) | $240
For 4K and HDR it is very important that your HDMI cables are capable of 18Gbps. I have never had any signal issues with Monoprice cables, and the slim form factor of these cables is ideal for cable routing and management. Two cables is the bare minimum you need to get up and running. Obviously buy the appropriate length and amount that you need.
**For the Atmos speakers you only need one of the two options. In-ceiling speakers are objectively the superior quality and cheaper option. But they are not realistic for everyone's living situation. That is why I included the stand-alone speaker option. The speakers I picked would replace your two surround speakers and act as both surround and Atmos channels.
If it were you which deal would you go with?
Deal 1:
Kipslch 5.1 speakers through best buy: one R-12SW, 2x R-15M, R-25C, 2x R-26F for $949
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/klipsch/klipsch-speakers/pcmcat165900050005.c?id=pcmcat165900050005
Deal 2:
Pioneer SP-PK52FS Andrew Jones 5.1 Home Theater Speaker Package for $439.95.
https://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-SP-PK52FS-Theater-Speaker-Package/dp/B00IK8I9K2/ref=lp_15697751011_1_5?s=electronics&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1480373783&amp;sr=1-5
Let me give a bit of background. I had a 5.0 (plus another sub) from Pioneer (Andrew Jones) that I liked for about 2yrs. It was good but I struggled to hear dialogue (which is a common issue with the center speaker). Luckily/unluckily my kid knocked over a tower and damaged a tweeter so I upgraded to speakers that retail for substantially more (I bought them used with warranty if that matters). I can hear details that simply didnt exist with the old speakers. Again I didnt dislike the older speakers but if I compared them side by side there is no way I would ever want the old ones back. Sometimes me and my family or friends will literally just sit in my room listening to music until 2am on a weeknight just because it's fun to re-experience the music.
Your test may be flawed as you might be playing lower quality content. Some of it may just be your lack of time with both speakers. I would think a week with one pair then a week with the other pair will help you hear the differences. This does NOT mean you will like the more expensive ones more, or even if you do they are worth the price increase to YOU. With that being said we use my home audio setup for 6+ hours a day, and even my wife can tell a difference with my upgrades (especially the subs lol).
After re-reading your comment YouTube audio is not very good. If you want something free you can use a blueray you already have, or get a free account to spotify (which is not as good as the premium $10/month account). Pick a song and play it on youtube, then immediately play the song on spotify. I did this recently when I told my buddy I try to avoid audio on YouTube now. He liked the song on Youtube, saying it sounded good. Then when I put spotify on he was able to immediately hear the difference. This is not an audiophile or someone with a home theater even, and he could tell the difference and said it was drastic (and this was with the free account).
The best thing for you to do is go listen to a few different types of speakers. Klipsh, Definitive Technology, B&W and Martin Logans are all at Best Buys with the Magnolia room, and all have different sound signatures. If you are interested you can check AVSForum for people near you that are willing to let you hear their setup. I did that with quiet a few people before I decided on my speakers. Ultimately what I decided was for Home Theater you want a good center channel and a great subwoofer. I heard Atmos and it was neat, but for ME I would rather have speakers that do better with music and not have the Atmos.
This isnt much different than picking a car. Not all cars are bad, even cheap ones, but they all serve different purposes. Defining your purpose goes a LONG way to figuring out which one(s) would work for you.
Also with all of that being said, I would likely DIY my next 5.1 if I was doing it all over again. LoL
I use my home audio/theater a LOT, so the marginal increase in cost was more justified for me, as I have since added dual 18" subwoofers and the more expensive LCR. I will be replacing the surrounds soon, but they really dont add much to the whole experience as long as they arent distorting.
To be direct - the speakers are junk, but in all seriousness if you like them that is all that matters.
Most people have never heard good surround sound, so most things will sound better than an internal TV speaker.
A good setup will cost you about $750 - $1000. Which is less than a good TV. Audio is just as important as picture to most of us.
For a receiver I recommend a Denon x2200 - $500
Denon AVR-X2200W 7.2 Channel Full 4K Ultra HD A/V Receiver with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ZPTBNXY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_KwWxyb03K5H3H
If you want to stay with the same size speakers, I recommend the Monoprice 5.1 - $250
Monoprice 10565 Premium 5.1 Channel Home Theater System with Subwoofer https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EOZFUYI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_2tWxybG13S019
If you want slightly bigger speaker I recommend the Pioneer Andrew Jones 5.1 - $450
Pioneer SP-PK52FS Andrew Jones 5.1 Home Theater Speaker Package https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IK8I9K2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_svWxybHZANTBT
I have a yamaha RX-v781, and I love it. The RX-V381 should be similar, with a few missing features (and less channels)
If you're on a budget, but you want 5.1 right away, here's what I suggest you do. Get a receiver (I would go with the yamaha, the denon ones are good too), and get a cheap 5.1 package like this one:
https://www.monoprice.com/Product?p_id=10565&amp;gclid=CjwKCAjwk4vMBRAgEiwA4ftLs3U_3omcZfIjWIXw1qOV9wsm4jF34_KqDB6plRu7X1NTaKTdTknuoBoCMjcQAvD_BwE
or this one (which is nicer):
https://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-SP-PK52FS-Theater-Speaker-Package/dp/B00IK8I9K2
That way, you can replace speakers as you go and still have a complete system. And a year or two down the line, when you've completely swapped out the monoprice system, you'll only be out $150 instead of having to scrap a HTIB that could be $1000.
Also the 5.0 & 5.1 Floor Standing Home Theater Speaker Package are about 20% off right now.
You need to upgrade the speakers. At minimum the front three.
Remember the Jones Pioneers are very good for the money.
$399 plus free shipping for the 5.0 system
http://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-SP-PK52FS-5-0-Theater-Speaker/dp/B00IRH0QMA/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1414446347&amp;sr=8-6&amp;keywords=andrew+jones
Add this ofr $270 and you are right about budget
http://www.amazon.com/NXG-Technology-NX-BAS-500-500-watt-Subwoofer/dp/B008FSTU4G/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1414446517&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=ngx+subwoofer
Frys often has good sales on Jamo speakers, but I'm not sure what's available in Europe. I've seen the S809 HCS 5 speaker set go as low as $399, so maybe you could get a good black Friday deal. The 803 set with bookshelf speakers is $269 right now, might be a decent option.
The Pioneer AJ set got some good initial reviews as a solid budget set, but I have seen some people complaining about it online after getting the set. The center channel in particular seems to be pretty lackluster based on user feedback.
The Sony Core series speakers get good reviews as a budget option. I've seen the bookshelf SSCS5 speakers go as low as $73 a pair and with black Friday coming up there might be some good deals on them.
For a decent sub you'll probably need to up your budget a little bit or wait until you can save a little more. The Bic PL200ii is a good sub for the price and often goes on sale for $250.
With black Friday deals maybe you could get the Jamo 803 set with a PL200ii sub within your budget or 4 Sony core bookshelf speakers and the matching SSCS8 center channel instead of the Jamos.
I'm pretty sure Bose speakers use the same type of wire normal speakers use.
Just cut the end offs and then strip the wire to get a bare wire. You can then add a banana plugs for ease or simply use bare wire.
For all wiring I use monoprice.com or home depot.
Why not grab some Andrew Jones Pioneers instead of the PSB? That would save them a lot of money and sound plenty good for them I bet.
Only 400 for the entire set.
https://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-SP-PK52FS-5-0-Theater-Speaker/dp/B00IRH0QMA/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1481746756&amp;sr=8-6&amp;keywords=andrew%2Bjones%2Bpioneer%2Bspeakers&amp;th=1
Of course I'm not saying your mom shouldn't get an amazing reference setup if she wants one, but for about 500 bucks you could probably make her very happy.
Pioneer SP-PK52FS Andrew Jones 5.0 Home Theater Speaker Package https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IRH0QMA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_RHXrybGWEACK8
Just to throw something out there:
Demon AVR x1200w $400
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00ZY7FHXY/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;amp;qid=1468090129&amp;amp;sr=8-1&amp;amp;pi=SX200_QL40&amp;amp;keywords=x1200w&amp;amp;dpPl=1&amp;amp;dpID=41L85EOBSQL&amp;amp;ref=plSrch
Pioneer Andrew Jones 5.0 Package $469
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00IRH0QMA/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?ie=UTF8&amp;amp;qid=1468090427&amp;amp;sr=8-4&amp;amp;pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&amp;amp;keywords=andrew+jones+speakers&amp;amp;dpPl=1&amp;amp;dpID=41vhu%2Bs6yjL&amp;amp;ref=plSrch
Svs Pb-1000 $500
http://www.svsound.com/products/pb-1000
Just a thought. You can also change out those Andrew Jones for a Fluance setup and save yourself $200 bucks.
In a room this size you don't necessarily need floor standers with a good sub handling the lows, so don't be afraid to look at all bookshelves.
Ah ok, thanks for the suggestion! i assume i should look at getting this one https://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-SP-PK22BS-Theater-Speaker-Package/dp/B00LBI88IQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1487692526&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=pioneer%2Bandrew%2Bjones%2B5.1&amp;th=1 or would you say that the floor standing speakers make it worth the extra $150, i would prefer not to spend it but if it makes enough of a noticeable difference it wouldn't be the biggest deal. Also do you happen to have the measurements for that center speaker so i could get an idea of how large it is. Thanks!
You'll need speaker wire, and HDMI cables to go with this.
Speakers: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LBI88IQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_EkqpybC38XSB9
Receiver: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00VIRG3GO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_bmqpyb6Z2G9JH
So with Atmos speakers you have two options.
Easy option:
Upfiring speakers - these are basically regular speakers that sit on top on your front speakers and they "upfire" the sound to the ceiling which bounces off and back down to the user sitting down. Gives the effect as though the sound is coming from above.
Example One and example two
Amazon search
Hard option:
In-ceiling speaker
Actual speaker in the ceiling that connected to your receiver.
example
Both these speakers will be connected to the dedicated part on the back of the AVR receiver.
Yeah, it is. It's a few years old now but I actually got the entire system new for $800 total, which is a great deal for an Atmos system.
I actually had to add these to it for the Atmos effect
>Hey guys. My 2nd sound bar but the dust so I'm thinking I should move onto a receiver with speakers.
Absolutely
>Best Buy has the Onkyo HT-S3800 5.1 On sale for $400 up in Canada. Is this a good deal? Can't seem to find many reviews on this product online .
I'd try to avoid most HTIB systems. They usually include small cube speakers with inadequately sized drivers and a small passive subwoofer that must take power from the receivers amps to power it like the one you listed has. I'd try for something like this 5.0 setup from Fluance instead and then just add an inexpensive closeout 5.1/7.1 Yamaha or Denon receiver and some 16 gauge pure copper speaker wire and a long well shielded RCA cable for the sub and call it a day. Much better speakers even though the setup doesn't include a subwoofer you still can add a powered subwoofer at any time of your choosing as the AV receiver has the full setup of connections for it and more. This will blow audio wise that Onkyo HTIB away and you can change out speakers and subwoofers at your own choosing.
Fluance AV5HTB 5.0 setup $235.96 CDN
I'm with /u/polypeptide147 on this. The more features, the more possibilities for noise, etc.
The cheap amps I own are all much more heavily affected by power noise, crappy audio cables, etc. The Lepai 2020ti handles it better than most. It also benefits from a good power supply.
For example, this line of amps are decent for an outdoor / garage audio setup, but I would never use one on a computer (speaker hiss, very noisy when idle). You're going to be much more sensitive to speaker hiss and distortion, along with many of the "featureful" amps having auto-shutoffs with a slight delay coming back on (causing the start of notification sounds to get cut off).
Edit: if you want featureful, I would go with something like the SMSL AD18 (no personal experience with them) or the Klipsch Powergate (What I'm currently using. See my comment here for some issues I have with it.)
Have you already considered these?
Klipsch Powergate: https://www.amazon.com/Klipsch-PowerGate-Amplified-Wireless-Gateway/dp/B01N0A7PH5
Paradigm PW Amp: https://www.paradigm.com/en/wireless/pw-amp
Also your SMSL most likely has (had?) one year warranty.
Look at the Klipsch powergate. It's being discounted because Play-Fi technology is pretty much dead. But the amp for what it is, is worth it for all the other features.
Amp: https://www.amazon.com/Klipsch-PowerGate-Amplified-Wireless-Gateway/dp/B01N0A7PH5
Speakers: https://www.harmanaudio.com/R162BK.html
$150USD (originally $500) + $200USD (originally $450) = $350USD
Run, don't walk, as these are on sale! Enjoy... 🤘🏾😎🤘🏾
Soundbars are pretty lousy investments, but if that's what you really want, then I'd go with something like one of these...
Yamaha YAS-207
Yamaha YAS-209
I see the Yamaha YAS-207BL on Amazon for $144... should I pull the trigger now? https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B072J7PTFB/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1
Edit: Glad I've waited... it seems to be steadily dropping and at $141 now. Going to check until it bounces up and then buy I think.
Edit 2: Now $139. Here's hoping it gets to $130 or even $120!
Edit 3: Bought at $138.80 earlier today and now is shown back at $299 with 12 remaining. I'm blessed
I have these speakers hooked up to my 55" 4k TV. They're very good for the price. Very clear mids and highs, bluetooth connectivity so you can swap to bluetooth mode and play songs from your phone or Google Home when you want, and a subwoofer out so you can upgrade the system with a sub when you find a good deal on a good one. I bought a $250 12" sub to go with the system a few months after getting it and the combo of a good sub with a good sound system, as my father described it, "sounds like a theatre".
They're normally $250, I bought a set for $130 used on Kijiji, so $175 new is a rather good deal.
The Bluetooth $113 ones OP posted, or these? Is there a significant difference?
Edifier R1850DB Active Bookshelf Speakers with Bluetooth and Optical Input - 2.0 Studio Monitor Speaker - Built-in Amplifier with Subwoofer Line Out https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B073W1R4XQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_gDClDb7WMTGEW
i would look into some powered monitors by Edifier. i have the cheapo r1280t and they impress the heck out of me. i listen to mostly 90's hip hop and a lot of other stuff and they sound great in a small/medium room. no subwoofer needed IMO. i imagine the R1800DB or R2000DB are even more impressive.
Here's a great set of speakers on sale today. Then if you need a sub, you can a dayton sub800 for another $100. That's a great setup for $260.
Trying to squeeze a sub and powered speakers in a $200 budget may be difficult.
You may like them. They're not bad!
Having something at arms reach would be preferable to trying to use them as a wider speaker setup in a room, because of each monitor has individual power and gain controls.
Will it sound good for you, sure. Will it thump? No, not really. Is there an easy way to add a sub, sure, throwing money at it with a pro sub that has an active crossover inside it.
Best thing to do is audition them. Monitors won't sound 'bad' at all, but it just may not be what you'd expect.
-----
I'd look into Edifiers (or Swan), for more ease of use and connectivity
Something like this and a refurb receiver would sound much better than an HTIB for not much more money (although no sub). Add a cheap bluray player if you need to. This is if you really need surround sound right away. The alternative is to spend more on a couple of better stereo speakers and build up as you have more budget later on.
Here's a cheap Fluance setup thats not completely embarrassing. Of course, you still need a receiver.
*Just noticed that doesn't have a sub, lol
Anyways, this is by no means what I would spend my money on. Personally, I would start with a decent Receiver and 2 quality bookshelf speakers (preferably with good low end to get me by). Something like Elac B6s or Philharmonic AAM's. Then I would save up and add a quality sub(bicf12), and lastly some cheap rears (micca mb42's).
have a look at some fluance systems. http://www.amazon.com/Fluance%C2%AE-AVHTB-including-Three-way-Floorstanding/dp/B00064JWSG/
That's a very good value u get, for a fair price. If you really want a sub get something like this: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00669L3HS/
and then just get any receiver you want. eg. this one http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00B7X2OW6/
I have one in my amazon wishlist that I'm still doing research on. Consists of:
Dayton Audio Subwoofer.
Fluance Surround Sound.
Fluance Bookshelf Speakers.
Denon Refurbished Reciever.
It's definitely a work in progress. Still doing research but I'm trying to keep the price down while still getting great bang for buck.
Check out some of the recommendations over in /r/Zeos and posting this question in the /r/Hometheater subreddit. :)
I'm doing the exact same thing. This is my plan. (As a disclaimer, I am fairly new and a student of /r/Zeos.)
This Receiver
Front Speakers
Center Speaker
Subwoofer
If that sub is too large for the mobility you want, you could go with this, which is quite a bit smaller.
All that (with the F12) will be around $525.
If you're doing surround, which may limit mobility, I'd throw in a pair of these.
Don't forget some good quality speaker wire and banana plugs make life easier if you want to move it easily.
If you're ready for a receiver upgrade, there's nothing better at $150 than an avr-x1400h. If you're not ready he can pick up a Denon s540bt for $150 or a Denon s730h for $220. I'd pick the 540 for an under $1,000 setup.
Bic America F12 Subwoofer (if wife allows)
Now you have quite a few choices for LCR. I'd start with Elac Debut 2 B6.2 and Matching Center. For ~$570.
Leave the rest for cables and upgrading surrounds for later. I'm currently pretty happy with my Polk owm3 for $100 but I have rear space restrictions.
You can also go the Fluance Route Fluance L& R, Matching center, and Bipole Surrounds for ~$500
Agree with areodeck, start with a good 5.1 system. If you decide you want 7.1, you can always add speakers later.
I have the GT1080, you're going to love it.
As for audio, $500 might be pushing it for separates. You're on the right track though, either of those receivers will be good it's just going to depend on if you want to expand to 7.x later on.
These Fluance bipole surrounds are a good value and highly recommended- http://www.amazon.com/Fluance-AVBP2-Surround-Satellite-Speakers/dp/B00067OLOS/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top?ie=UTF8
You can also check out the guides at https://www.reddit.com/r/Zeos/ for more recommendations.
Good luck!
Any reason you're looking at bookshelves for the surrounds instead of bi pole / di pole? I have the HTD L3's for my LCR and these for my surrounds. I really like them and they are MUCH cheaper than the HTD bi pole surrounds.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00067OLOS/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1
Sure. I purchased,
Denon AVR-E300 There is a newer model out now I believe.
Micca MB42X bookshelf speakers
Micca MB42X-C Center speaker
BIC America F12 Subwoofer
Fluance AVBP2 Sattalite speakers
I live in a smallish apartment and the 12 inch subwoofer is close to overkill for me. It will put out some heavy punch when turned up. I am happy with the speakers that I have.
Thanks again for taking the time to respond. For now I've been doing a little websearch and this speakers caught my eye:
Yamaha NS SP1800BL
But those require a receiver, and since I'm new to this I was not aware receivers cost a lot (for my budget)... any cheaper receiver that I could pair with those?
Sorry for all the questions :(
Those two things are the exact receiver and sub that came with the HTiB I linked earlier. Plus for cheaper then the price of buying them separate you get a set of surround speakers. I admit the speakers are not going to be the best in the world, but they fit the OPs price range and should be good enough for what they will be used for.
I 100% agree that the speaker cable that comes with that system is crap, but that is one of the cheapest components to replace.
Correct me if I am wrong, but I was always under the impression that as long as a speaker sounded good above the crossover frequency they are fine if used with a sub; Since we don't hear low frequencies directionally.
Im not OP but I am super intrigued by this combo setup(particularly the speakers). I am currently using Yamaha 5.1 Satellite speakers in 5.1 setup. The ones below are the ones I have. I am using them on speaker stands and while they sound great im looking to upgrade soon. I have a 700Watt Denon S530 5.1 receiver . Are the fluances Hi-Fi or no? Would they go well with my receiver? Would mostly be used for gaming on an Xbox One X and PS4 Pro and watching movies/4k blue rays.
Yamaha NS-SP1800BL 5.1-Channel Home Theater Speaker System https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001AVRD62/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_zldRAbEFBVJVF
I can't speak about the quality of the Z-906 as I have never heard them directly. Also, for $400, I don't think it is a complete terrible deal. They will do the job I described, even including accepting Dolby Digital live via digital coaxial/optical signal.
That said, they are the successors to the Z-5500 system that I have yeeears of experience with, and I don't think they've really significantly improved things over the Z-5500; from my perspective, they look almost identical with regard to speaker drivers and enclosures. They've just given it a face lift.
For reference, I have taken apart my Z-5500 satellites after I finished using them just to have a look inside and I found the exact speakers they used for that model, and it appears as well as the Z-906. I give you the Tang Band W3-593SF 3" full-range driver -- Logitech really broke the bank on some quality drivers, eh? This particular speaker has NO business attempting to reproduce any sound below 150hz (in real world conditions) and really nothing above 6-7kHz... which is fine as a dedicated mid-range, but not a full-range as Logitech have employed it. The speaker will do 80hz (faintly) and above 6-7k (muddily), but it was never crisp and loud and immersive like I thought it could be. This was partially the amp and processor's fault, but there is a very good reason speakers come in 2 and 3 and even 4-way driver designs. All of my speakers are now 2-way, and the difference is night and day. Tweeters exist for a very good reason, and if you want sub 125-150hz bass reproduction, use at LEAST a 4-6.5" midbass driver. But then they wouldn't have tiny aesthetically pleasing satellite speakers. It's always a compromise in the world of audio, and there is no replacement for displacement.
Believe it or not, the satellites weren't my biggest gripe-- no... my biggest gripe by far is the subwoofer, the processor (brain box), and the amplifier.
The subwoofer would get loud in certain situations, but it never sounded good. It is not articulate. It cannot do quiet bass/low volume levels well. It does not do high bass for shit at all. The system as a whole only sounded "good" and "even," when listening at moderate-to-loud volumes. At low volumes, the sub was too loud and boomy and apart from the equivalent of a "bass (volume) knob" on the stock radio of a 1994 Ford Taurus (shit), you could not fine tune the subwoofer at all. This may be a fault of a crappy sub driver/enclosure design, and/or very easily a crappy amplifier design, and/or just lack of processing power to customize things, or probably all of the above...
The best I ever heard the Z-5500 was when I had it set up as a surround sound in my bedroom hooked up to a TV (no computer) with the subwoofer in a closet. Being that I wasn't so close to it, I normally had the volume up a fair bit, putting the speaker setup in it's "sweet spot" for the most part. Worked OK there, but after I moved, I am just using the TV speaker and not missing the Z-5500 at all.
You get the sound signature Logitech wanted you to have and very little customization ability. That's fine for some people. I bet there's lots of people out there with a Z-906 that just don't know any better, or care... But I know that $$ you'd spend on a Z-906 can get you MUCH better gear.
So to answer your question, yes, compared to MOST HTIBs with a proper AV-R, the Z-906 is garbage. That said, there are LOTS of garbage HTIBs out there, but at least you will have a proper AV-R that can either manually or automatically (with microphone) tune the system and you'll have dramatically better results.
Now as for the JBL speaker set you referred to, I do think that JBL is a good brand, but this particular unit is probably near the bottom-end of their lineup. It will almost certainly sound better than the Z-906 (because being coupled with a proper AV-R), but if you look at this YT Video review of them, at 2m8s, you'll see that these satellites are a single driver speaker design as well. It will share some of the same inherent shortcomings as the Z-906 satellites.
The Boston Acoustics XS 5.1 I have the same criticisms about, EXCEPT their satellites are at least 2-way coaxial design. They're almost certainly better because of this alone, but the wonky shape of the satellite speakers make me think it would be a PITA to mount and or look right on the R3v.
The Mission M3 I know very little about, but I've heard some good buzz about the brand. I would again say no to these because of the satellites. Single, flat-pistoned driver they're attempting to use as a full-range. No bueno. This review from "What Hi-Fi" supports my opinion in the form of their headlining item in the "against" column.
With regard to the front LR + Center, you don't have to be too terribly concerned for ultra tiny size. As you can see from my setup, I have comfortably and securely affixed moderately sized bookshelf speakers and it looks good. The rears are really the only one where you need to be concerned with small size. And for those you don't really need a 2-way speaker design; that's just optimal.
Here are a few I would recommend (though I don't have first hand experience with them):
https://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-NS-SP1800BL-5-1-Channel-Theater-Speaker/dp/B001AVRD62 (decent brand, small size, good price)
https://www.amazon.com/Monoprice-108247-5-1-Channel-Theater-Speaker/dp/B007YLQUWK (well rated, small size, excellent price)
https://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-NS-P40BL-Speaker-Package-Black/dp/B00CN45XHG (better than the other Yamaha, good price)
https://www.amazon.com/Klipsch-HDT-600-Home-Theater-System/dp/B008CMVY7Q (better than any of the previous suggestions)
I'm personally partial to Pioneer, Denon and Onkyo AV-Rs. Plenty of other ones out there will fit the bill, but I've personally used all of these brand AV-Rs and have consistently been happy with them.
Mind that if it don't work out for your R3v, you can re-purpose it as a nice home theater somewhere else, or sell it. Being that it is far more versatile than the Z-906, it would be easier to sell too.
It's a little rough around the edges as far as cabling goes, but I'm not 100% set on where my gear is going to go. For now its on a bookshelf opposite the screen. Once I use the room a bit and get a feel for things I'll move the outlet closer to the projector and fish a HDMI cable through the wall/ceiling instead of going across the ceiling.
Edit:
Equipment List:
Equipment| Model
---|---
Projector | Optoma HD26
Screen | Elite Screens 135" Sable Frame
Mount | Cheetah APMEB Universal Mount
Receiver | Yamaha RX-V375
Speakers | Yamaha NS-SP1800BL
A receiver is what you are looking for. Here is an example of one but I'd recommend looking over at /r/zeos for an actual product recommendation. Here is a guide for 5.1 systems: http://www.reddit.com/r/Zeos/comments/2alqvp/guide_51_surround_sound_systems/
If you're going to use it primarily for music, why not just go for a stereo system? If you do it right, you'll likely get much better quality for the same price.
Also, what are your requirements for media playback? Do you need to get a BD or DVD player for the room, or do you have a method of media playback?
If you don't need a playback device but still want surround, this with this will put you in roughly the same budget, but will be orders of magnitude better in terms of sound quality, even without a subwoofer. Yes they're large (I'm kinda assuming that you have space for floorstanding speakers), but you need to be able to move a lot of air to be loud, and at this budget you need big speakers to do that.
If you don't have a playback device or don't have much space to work with, tehsalt's suggestion is probably your best bet.
edit: phrasing.
/r/hometheater is more appropriate, but any amp can be hooked up to them, they are just speakers.
if you want to use all the speakers onkyo makes a decent 200dollar 5.1 reciever.
http://www.amazon.com/Onkyo-TX-SR313-Channel-Theater-Receiver/dp/B0077V8930/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1421559175&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=5.1+reciever
a stereo receiver worth a damn with a sub out would cost about the same. and even onkyo's low end products are built to last. I have had one of their HTiB recievers since 2006
The sub is powered but it still connects to the receiver. It's pretty odd to drop $400 on a speaker system without knowing anything. Search 5.1 receiver on amazon or look on craigslist. You'll be spending at least $100 on used or refurb.
EDIT: Onkyo and yamaha are among the cheapest but still recomended. But craig's list is your best bet for cheap.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0077V8930/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?qid=1418172119&amp;sr=8-2&amp;pi=AC_SX200_QL40
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00IWURW6U/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?qid=1418172228&amp;sr=8-3&amp;pi=AC_SX200_QL40
How big is your place? I have used [this] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0077V8930/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1) receiver for the last two years and Bose 5.1 speakers. Depending on your price range, you can mix and match speakers or get any set, IMO if your place is small enough the receiver is the most important part.
Make sure all of your appliances use hdmi for the easiest setup, btw. The PS4 clearly uses hdmi, and most modern cable boxes do as well. Plug everything into the receiver and then the Onkyo into the TV. In my experience, there is almost so lag in play through using this device.
Receiver:
http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/yamrxv381/yamaha-rx-v381-5.1-ch-x-70-watts-bluetooth-a/v-receiver/1.html
Entry level 5.1:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B007YLQUWK/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1484011071&amp;sr=8-4&amp;pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&amp;keywords=5.1+speakers&amp;dpPl=1&amp;dpID=41FlJ-oJv2L&amp;ref=plSrch
Speaker wire:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00N18VEJ4/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1484011173&amp;sr=8-4&amp;pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&amp;keywords=16+gauge+speaker+wire&amp;dpPl=1&amp;dpID=51HyS4454DL&amp;ref=plSrch
Total cost: ~$373
Edit: just noticed you said the system in question was normally 350. That wasn't your budget. Doh! Anywho, this is a decent system and will run circles around what you were looking at. If you need to go cheaper you can look at soundbars of a 2.0/stereo setup.
Hey, I have some system parts in common with you (the Onkyo and the PSW10). Well, they say your front 3 should match...so it might be easiest to move the Teacs to the rear and get new fronts+center (perhaps Micca MB42x and matching center). OR, if you don't mind mix&matching, try this from Fluance (center+surround set) and keep your Teacs as fronts: Fluance center + surround.
Hey Zeos! Not sure if this is quite the right thread for this, but thanks to you for the past several months I have been the proud owner of a Fluance SX-6 and Dayton SUB-1200 home entertainment audio system. I think it sounds great, and the SUB-1200 appears to be on a huge sale right now, so I was looking to get the same setup for my vinyl collection upstairs. As I was looking on amazon to find the sx-6, I came across this set of speakers which includes a center channel for not much more money whatsoever. Do you have any experience with that set? I certainly have the room in this vinyl collection room for a center channel, but I don't want to sacrifice the great quality of the SX-6s for a little more value.
Doesn't look like that center matches your bookshelves (different fluance series)
Came across this when looking at your links:
https://www.amazon.com/Fluance-Classic-Channel-Surround-Speakers/dp/B009ZTGZOC
Never heard any fluance myself so can't recommend nor comment on how they perform. It's pretty important to match your front speakers timbre though just wanted to point that out
If you go with samsung avoid the onkyo receivers. I had major compatibility issues. I'm a fan of denons. I put together a little shopping list for you:
[Speakers] (http://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-SP-PK52FS-Theater-Speaker-Package/dp/B00IK8I9K2/ref=sr_1_21?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1463872417&amp;sr=8-21&amp;keywords=atmos+speakers) $550
[television] (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/samsung-65-class-64-5-diag--led-2160p-smart-3d-4k-ultra-hd-tv-silver/5184121.p?id=1219646565339&amp;skuId=5184121) $2000
[receiver] (http://www.amazon.com/Denon-AVR-S710W-Channel-Receiver-Bluetooth/dp/B00ZIGUE8Y/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1463873137&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=denon+s710w) $379
I'm not usually one for warranties but I recommend for the tv; I've been burnt before.
I thought it was only stereo as well, but I get output from all of my speakers including my sub. And when I did some googling I found that Toslink would apparently support output of almost any format besides the higher end HD audios.
This is the set that I got: https://www.amazon.com/Fluance-AVHTB-including-Three-way-Floorstanding/dp/B00064JWSG/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1483405520&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=Fluance+AVHTB+Surround+Sound+Home+Theater+5.0+Channel+Speaker+System+including+Three-way+Floorstanding+Towers%2C+Center+and+Rear+Speakers
Zeos! I LOVE this subreddit and have just bought a house with a new dedicated theater room! I am very excited and would really appreciate it if you could look over my build and give me any suggestions. The price is somewhat flexible so if there is something that you think would really help me then please don't hesitate to ask.
Epson 8350------------------------------------------------------------1100
SMSL SA50 Amp--------------------------------------------------------70
Speakers-----------------------------------------------------------------250
Screen------------------------------------------------------------------236
Receiver-----------------------------------------------------------------250
BIC America F12 Subwoofer-------------------------------------------184
Total--------------------------------------------------------------------2090
Some of the prices may have changed but it should be fairly close... So how would you improve on this build?
Thanks so much!!
Edit: Formatting
One pair of these for the front.
One pair of these for the back.
One of these for the middle.
One of these to power it all.
------------------------------------------------------------
Since you're on a budget, I think that would work great for now. You can save up and get a sub. The Dayton SUB1000 will do you well for this setup. Also, if you want, you can get the 'Air' version of all of those speakers instead of the regular ones. You'll spend just a bit more, but you'll get a bit more performance. Also, I think you'll be fine without a sub for now since those front speakers have pretty big woofers. They won't shake the room or anything, but they do have some bass.
Also, those all come with speaker wires.
However, if you really want to buy a kit, this one here or this other one here will work great.
--------------------------------------------------------
Sorry that these are a bit more than what you said you wanted to spend. If you must get a 5.1 system, I think these are a great starting point. I've got those monoprice ones, and they honestly aren't that good. I've got an Onkyo 7.1 and it is okay, but not great. I think that you would be much happier if you got something a bit better. You'll save money in the long run, since you will be able to wait longer until you need to upgrade. And, in the meantime, you'll be much happier.
Let me know if you have any questions!
Hmm these are the same speakers, right? Seems like we can get the entire 5 speaker set for the same price as the two towers/center speaker from fluance.com
http://smile.amazon.com/Fluance%C2%AE-AVHTB-including-Three-way-Floorstanding/dp/B00064JWSG?sa-no-redirect=1
https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00064JWSG/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&amp;colid=QGBJPNI6INJ1&amp;coliid=I1ECXAKPJ0JZ6O
Good set? This would be $240 USD.
Thanks for the help I am going to read the buy receiver guide and I've always been to poor to afford a good surround sound system. This is the amp I was looking at https://www.amazon.ca/Yamaha-RXV-379-5-1-Channel-Receiver-Bluetooth/dp/B00V5VJ3TM/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1478293525&amp;sr=1-2&amp;keywords=yamaha+amplifier these are two of the 5 speakers I was going to hook up to it https://www.amazon.ca/Fluance-AVBP2-Surround-Satellite-Speakers/dp/B00067OLOS/ref=sr_1_8?s=electronics&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1483816803&amp;sr=1-8&amp;keywords=fluance
Thanks man! Just pulled the trigger on the SX6's, used AVR-X2000, BIC F12, and the the AVC Center channel! Just need to figure out which surrounds to get. Do you think these would work well in my corner setup?
Thanks! Here's my sound system:
Micca center speaker
Micca bookshelf speakers
Fluance speakers in the rear
Monoprice subwoofer
Denon receiver
Disclaimer: I have the technological wherewithal of a crustacian, so I have no clue if this is optimal or not, but it works good for me.
If you're not voice matching, and putting on stands, I hear bipolar surrounds and speakers designed to be surrounds rock. Some examples:
https://www.amazon.com/Fluance-AVBP2-Surround-Satellite-Speakers/dp/B00067OLOS
https://www.amazon.com/Polk-Audio-Surround-Speakers-Black/dp/B000V2SEZA
https://www.amazon.com/Polk-Audio-Surround-Speakers-Black/dp/B000V2SEZU
https://www.amazon.com/Klipsch-RP-240S-Surround-Speaker-Each/dp/B00S4HHUOA
https://www.amazon.com/Klipsch-Synergy-S-20-Surround-Speakers/dp/B003XRD9V4
https://www.amazon.com/Klipsch-R-14S-Surround-Pair-Black/dp/B00LMFFRH8
The Fluance bipoles on the Zeos recommended list are on sale for $99.99 http://www.amazon.com/Fluance-AVBP2-Surround-Satellite-Speakers/dp/B00067OLOS?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1&amp;redirect=true&amp;ref_=ox_sc_act_title_5&amp;smid=A1WPEQCN6WJKZG
Here's my space. Let me know what you think. As you can tell a while ago when I had Pioneer floorstanding speakers and my setup (with the sofas) wasn't the best since it blocked the left speaker. I didn't want to raise those speakers too high. Would it be wise to hang bookshelf speakers and mount them on the wall by the screen or would that cause the screen to shake from the speakers that I get which may be too powerful?
Image
Image
Image
Here's what I was thinking:
Bookshelf speakers: http://www.amazon.com/Micca-MB42X-Bookshelf-Speakers-Tweeter/dp/B00E7H8GG2?ie=UTF8&amp;keywords=Mb42x&amp;qid=1464752605&amp;ref_=sr_1_1&amp;sr=8-1
Rears: I could get matching rears like above or get these: http://www.amazon.com/Fluance-AVBP2-Surround-Satellite-Speakers/dp/B00067OLOS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1464752679&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=Avbp2
Center: http://www.amazon.com/Micca-MB42X-C-Channel-Speaker-Tweeter/dp/B00HHFBEK6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1464752755&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=Mb42x-c
Sub: http://www.amazon.com/MartinLogan-Dynamo-300-Theater-Subwoofer/dp/B004LRPXAU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1464752815&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=Dynamo+300
OR I could get this Pioneer setup.
http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PUSA/Home/Speakers/Speaker+Packages/SP-PK22BS
I have been putting together a 5.1 system, and was wondering if you would be able to take a look at it! Maybe something you would recommend other than what is here. This set up is a little more than I wanted to spend, but from what I have read about each piece, it seems to be worth it. Any advice is appreciated!
Denon S500BT
BIC America F12
Micca MB42X Center
Micca MB42X BookShelf
Fluance AVBP2 Surround
A few questions I have:
Aren't these bipoles? https://www.amazon.com/Fluance-AVBP2-Surround-Satellite-Speakers/dp/B00067OLOS
Which one's would you recommend on eBay?
I have a 3.1 KEF Q100 Setup - I want to buy rear speakers to upgrade to 5.1 setup:
So far, I am looking at:
https://www.amazon.com/Polk-Audio-Signature-S15-Bookshelf/dp/B01LVWWZS0 https://www.amazon.com/JBL-305PMKII-Powered-Studio-Monitor/dp/B077N2GQXC https://www.amazon.com/Fluance-AVBP2-Surround-Satellite-Speakers/dp/B00067OLOS https://www.amazon.com/ELAC-Debut-Bookshelf-Speaker-Black/dp/B01DKDJRH0
Any suggestions? Thanks so much
> If you're worried about the speakers themselves being too close to the wall, you may want to reconsider the MB42x's and instead go with something meant for wall mounting, such as the Polk OWM3's... https://www.amazon.com/Polk-Audio-Wall-Speaker-Black/dp/B0018QNYVM
The set I'm worried about being too close to the wall (in my original scenario) are the Fluance AVBP2 surrounds.
I've read that bipolar surrounds can sound decent behind the listener, that's the only reason I debated that setup.
I will check out the Polk's. I think I'm probably going to end up going with the Elac B6's and eventually the Elac C5 center.
Nothing wrong with the receiver you picked, but you typically get more bang for your buck with a refurb and Denon has a higher quality room correction.
Denon X1500 - $300
That is a very large you need at least 1 large possibly or 2nd.
HSU VTF2 - $540 Recommended for up to 5,000 cu ft.
HSU VTF3 - $800 Recommended up to 8,000 cu ft.
In Ceiling Atmos Speakers (shouldn't cost a fortune)
Micca M-8C - $80
Micca R-8C - $120
Surrounds
Fluance SXBP2 - $120
Polk OWM3 - $150
Leaving your front 3 and probably the most important speakers. Lots of different ways to go here, but I'll list a few different options.
Ascend CBM-170 LR + CMT-340 Center - $600
HSU Hybrid 2 3.1 - $1019 This includes the subwoofer
Elac Debut 6.2 - $280 Elac 6.2 Center - $280
I have the PC351 and the P363 towers along with Flaunce AVBP2 surrounds. I got the P363 towers from Fry's for cheap. This setup has amazingly clear vocals. The room is 14x30 (couch to speakers is 14).
My speakers have mood swings, deal with it haha. In all seriousness, these are the ones I have, and it does say "Bipolar" in the product title Link of Truth
It's a finished basement, but we're renting so I'm doing my best to avoid unnecessary holes in walls, or fucking up the suspended ceiling in any way. Just trying to do some pre-planning. My receiver has the distance settings, so that shouldn't be a problem. I just didn't know if there was a preference one way or the other.
Just got these surrounds and am very pleased with them so far. Really great option for the price if you can't shell out the extra cash for surrounds that match your fronts. Being able to wall mount with just drywall anchors is a nice bonus (I'm renting an apartment and just ended up using a couple of those 3m command hooks on each one)
Fluance AVBP2 Home Theater Bipolar Surround Sound Satellite Speakers https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00067OLOS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_o-F6Ab6TRCNTX
Thanks for your help, everyone. Here is what I ended up going with:
Micca MB42X-C Center Channel Speaker with Dual 4-Inch Carbon Fiber Woofer and Silk Dome Tweeter, Black
Micca MB42X Bookshelf Speakers with 4-Inch Carbon Fiber Woofer and Silk Dome Tweeter, Black
Fluance AVBP2 Home Theater Bipolar Surround Sound Satellite Speakers
BIC America F12 12-Inch 475-Watt Front Firing Powered Subwoofer
DENON AVR-S700W 7.2 Channel 4K Ultra HD A/V Receiver w/Bluetooth WIFI
Total price: $776.92
Also... how horrible is this set?
I'm willing to go this much and have 5.1 that's adequate while I build up a bank to replace pairs with higher quality.
try r/budgetaudiophile or just type 5.1 surround sound system into Amazon and pick out what fits in your budget. You post in a home theater subreddit saying you don't care about how it sounds but get pissed off when nobody is actually willing to recommend cheap crap? I don't get it
Edit: Yamaha NS-SP1800BL 5.1-Channel Home Theater Speaker System buy this and the Denon AVR-S510BT I linked above and enjoy the terrible sound quality until you come back looking for something that isn't a complete waste of your money
??? I use this receiver and these speakers, what would you suggest that I upgrade to?
Ok, now I'm leaning back towards the Dayton Pro, but possibly upgraded to the 10" sub... which would still save me something like $40 over the Polk since it doesn't come with wire and Newegg charges tax... haha...
How do I tell what's proper gauge? I didn't see anything under the descriptions of the set...
Also, I swear this is my last inquiry on a set... is this set as inferior to the other two I'm considering as the price would suggest?
Oh, and I just realized... both the Dayton Pro and Polk have 5 year warranties on their speakers... but the Dayton has only a 1 year warranty on the sub, while Polk's is 3 years... how significant do you think that is?
You're a boss... thanks for the help again.
I will check it out- this is one I was also looking at: https://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-NS-SP1800BL-5-1-Channel-Theater-Speaker/dp/B001AVRD62/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_1?s=electronics&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1527534582&amp;sr=1-1-fkmr1&amp;keywords=B652-AIR+5.1+Home+Theater+Surround+Sound+Speaker+System+with+10%22+Subwoofer
any thoughts would be appreciated
What if I were to just buy some cheap speakers like these?
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B001AVRD62/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1527366064&amp;sr=8-4&amp;pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65
u/sonic30101 u/GbMaxSE u/MMfuryroad
For $250...get this:
Receiver $136 Shipped: http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/denavr1513/denon-avr-1513-5.1ch-home-theater-receiver-3d-ready/1.html
Speakers $90 shipped: http://www.amazon.com/Teac-LS-H265-2-Way-Speaker-System/dp/B004R929AY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1413473648&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=teac+ls-h265
Speaker Stands $43 shipped: http://www.amazon.com/SANUS-SYSTEMS-BF-31B-Speaker-Stands/dp/B00006JQ5O/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1413473667&amp;sr=8-10&amp;keywords=speaker+stands
Voila!
Soundbars are utter crap
This is a relatively simple question,
What do i need to purchase/do besides the two speakers themselves to set them up to my computer?
I want to buy http://www.amazon.com/Teac-LS-H265-2-Way-Speaker-System/dp/B004R929AY/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top
Is it possible to connect my [subwoofer] (https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/91g%2B32QyP5L._SL1500_.jpg) and [speakers] (https://www.amazon.com/Teac-LS-H265-2-Way-Speaker-System/dp/B004R929AY/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8) to this [amp] (https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/71fa547EwaL._SL1500_.jpg)?
If so what cables would I need and how would I set it up?
1.) Take normal speaker wire, like this http://image.made-in-china.com/2f0j00RBMEjAvJpcqF/Oxygen-Free-Copper-OFC-Clear-Speaker-Wire.jpg
2.) Plug the speaker wires into the back of the speakers, positive goes in positive and negative goes in negative.
3.) You will need an amplifier to run these speakers. You can find them at yard sales or other places, they look like this: http://www.amazon.com/Onkyo-TX-SR313-Channel-Theater-Receiver/dp/B0077V8930/ref=lp_281053_1_8?s=aht&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1406036656&amp;sr=1-8
Make sure that it has terminals on the back to plug the speakers into. The terminals should look similar to this: http://www.vetco.net/catalog/images/PH-75-674-1.jpg
Make sure you don't let any of the wires that you plugged in laying loose or able to touch each other, this will cause a short. Be careful when cutting the insulation away from the speaker wire so that you don't have any cuts in the rubber insulation, or loose strands of wire.
Very much appreciated. A few follow-up questions, if you don't mind.
Thanks again so much.
If you can save another 200 and don't want to invest time, you can go with this speaker set and this receiver
OK, I tried to do it for you on the cheap... I mean who doesn't already have wires running from their stereo to their TV? :-)
Well then here you go: but its going to run you north of $50. You will need one of these kits. The transmitter end will connect to your TV, and the receiving end to your stereo. If your stereo does not have a way to select different audio sources (then you should get a proper stereo... Kidding-kinda) then you will need the audio selector box I recommended in my comment above.
Honestly here's how it should be done:
[Cable box] ---hdmi---> [A/V receiver: HDMI input #1] ---hdmi---> [HD TV]
[PC] ---hdmi---> [A/V receiver: HDMI input #2]
[Chromecast] ---hdmi---> [A/V receiver: HDMI input #3]
Here is a nice 4 HDMI input A/V Receiver under $200.
Here is a solid HD TV under $500.
Don't have room for 5.1 channel speakers? Here's a very decent 2.1 channel sound bar. It's under $100.
It's time to step up your game.
Out board DACs tend to have higher quality digital to audio circuits, or, at least, so says the audiophile. Also, a computer case tends to be an electrically noisy place and the converting circuits tend to a better job when standing alone. (Again this is audiophile theory.)
If you are looking for the best surround sound, skip the sound card all together and just run the HDMI out from your videocard into a good surround sound reciever.
Example: http://www.amazon.com/Onkyo-TX-SR313-5-1-Channel-Theater-Receiver/dp/B0077V8930/ref=pd_sim_sbs_e_1 .
One thing for sure, even the best internal sound cards will have terrible amps. Having your amping and DACing done by a real receiver will sound far, far better than any soundcard.
You can get a decent receiver for not much more than a high end sound card. However, you will needs to shell out some cash to get some decent speakers.
I'd definitely do that if it's not a problem financially. You can get VERY decent A/V receivers for under US$200. I'm considering this Onkyo just because it has 4 HDMI inputs, 2 optical audio, 2 component and a few RCA inputs for $160.
I agree with the N30FAMOUS. You need an AV receiver. Anything with at least 5.1 surround sound capability, for example;
http://www.amazon.com/Onkyo-TX-SR313-Channel-Theater-Receiver/dp/B0077V8930/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1426268949&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=5.1+av+receiver
The real hassle will be speaker positioning and wiring, but i'll leave that up to you to figure out :)
This is very helpful.
Question, do any retailers sell the control unit of the HTIB without the other speakers? I really wanna avoid into getting new systems and subwoofers and amps and whatnot as I won't be looking for much upgrades. I'm nowhere near a hardcore audiophile most on this sub but I do wanna be able to use my HT system with a good display panel and a couple more HDMI ports.
I was looking at this one for example which has everything I need (including double jack spring sockets). http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0077V8930/ref=gno_cart_title_0?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1&amp;smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER
The only confusing thing is the subwoofer pre-out. I know this might sound like blasphemy here but is it worth exploring getting that and using it without the subwoofer for now?
Love my onkyo sr313 for $201
Would this Onkyo suit your needs? 4 hdmi and plenty of component. It's 180 on Amazon http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0077V8930/ref=redir_mdp_mobile?keywords=audio%20receiver&amp;qid=1405451908&amp;ref_=sr_1_6&amp;sr=8-6
Here
It's a budget model so I'm assuming it doesn't :/
My suggestion is to take that $200 and buy a modest receiver, and if the speakers don't sound good enough you can upgrade them down the line. For example: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0077V8930/
You don’t need DTS when all you have is the TV’s two little speakers. Even DD 5.1 isn’t needed.
You have an AVR. Buy something like this https://www.amazon.com/Monoprice-Channel-Satellite-Speakers-Subwoofer/dp/B007YLQUWK/ref=sr_1_20 and can actually get 5.1 sound out of your AVR.
Followup question: if I want to get these speakers: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007YLQUWK/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&amp;colid=1EF7D684J3CHX&amp;coliid=IHZ9O0YCM163N, what cable do I need to buy for the subwoofer?
EDIT: found the answer, nevermind. Split subwoofer cable.
All great input /u/Armsc.
I was honestly going to go overboard with space if I went for the towers. After taking a second to look back I readjusted and I will go forward with a set of bookshelves. I've chosen the Fluance SX6 as they appear to be very good at that price range. Now this runs into the problem you mentioned of not having a matching center unless you go with an additional speaker to use as center (which might be too big??) or purchasing the Rear and Center speakers as a kit which are not sold separately (Fluance Surround/Center).
What is your opinion on purchasing an additional front speaker to use as center?
Even though this is my first setup and I've never followed the Home Theater world, I just want to get the best bang for my budget
Hey Zeos. Thanks for making this awesome subreddit. If I hadn't stumbled on to here I might have gone with a HTiB.
So now that you've inspired me to get surround sound how does this set up look to you.
The room is aprox. 18ft long and 15ft wide. I also use a projector.
Receiver: Denon AVR E300
Subwoofer: Bic America F12
Bookshelfs: Fluance SX6-BK
Center & rear: Fluance SX Series Center Channel & Surround Sound Speakers - http://www.amazon.com/Fluance-Series-Channel-Surround-Speakers/dp/B009ZTGZOC/ref=pd_sim_sbs_e_4?ie=UTF8&amp;refRID=1GXRGZXZ1TEV7RDXKSGD
Will this setup work in a room of my size?
Is there anything I should switch out? (my budget is: the cheaper the better)
Is there a set up guide you could refer me to?
Are the center and rears I linked to sufficient?
It may be worth noting that I've only used the tv speakers/projector speaker. Never legit audio equipment.
Also I have no music needs, this is only for tv/movies & video games.
Thanks for your help man, I would be lost without these guides!
Pardon my ignorance, but what's the difference between surround speakers and regular bookshelf speakers? I was looking at this setup. http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B009ZTGZOC?cache=bdf832dc73551381a6cc7b381b79eb7a#ref=s9_simh_gw_d0_g23_i2&amp;pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&amp;pf_rd_s=mobile-1&amp;pf_rd_r=1NAKFZFDP8HYMSZJT9BC&amp;pf_rd_t=101&amp;pf_rd_p=1634797062&amp;pf_rd_i=507846
And was wondering if I eventually get towers if I could just use the surround speakers as rears.
Edit: also I'm mostly gaming how are the fluances for generated audio rather than acoustic/reproduction.
Well the speakers I'll be getting are rated at 6ohms if that matters. The onkyo is also rated at 6ohms but their specific test was done at 8
[Pioneer SP-PK52FS Andrew Jones 5.1 Home Theater Speaker Package] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IK8I9K2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_yCKJybE5XQP7F)
You run one HDMI from your receiver output to the tv. Then you plug all your other devices...apple tv, video games, whatever into the receiver HDMI inputs.
Yes it will play the sound on the speakers and the picture on the tv. You don't have to do anything special, its not really a feature thats just what they do.
If you want a great sounding set of speakers for a good price check these out.
https://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-SP-PK52FS-Theater-Speaker-Package/dp/B00IK8I9K2/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1484497382&amp;sr=8-6&amp;keywords=andrew+jones
You'll need a receiver and I'd recommend sticking with a standard 5.1 setup and ditching the ceiling idea with your price range. I don't know anything about in-wall/in-ceiling speaker mounting, but it sounds expensive compared to putting some bookshelves on stands. You might look into something like this: https://smile.amazon.com/Pioneer-SP-PK52FS-Theater-Speaker-Package/dp/B00IK8I9K2/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1484575380&amp;sr=8-3&amp;keywords=pioneer+andrew+jones
A receiver for this might look like this: https://smile.amazon.com/Yamaha-RX-V381BL-Receiver-Black/dp/B01BY7YOAY/ref=dp_ob_title_ce
Though I've not heard that particular model, I have a similar Yamaha that powers my andrew jones pioneer setup.
How about this?
https://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-SP-PK52FS-Theater-Speaker-Package/dp/B00IK8I9K2
I have a living room (approx. 14'x15' w/ 8' ceiling) with a 7' projector screen in the middle, and I'm looking to set up some speakers for music (30%) and TV/movies (70%).
I have four options in front of me, all available for basically the same price ($250-300):
I don't have a great way to set up any of the rear speakers at the moment, so there's a good chance I'd run any of the 5.1 systems as a 3.1.
I really appreciate your advice, and feel free to ask more questions if needed.
Yep.
If you're on a budget and you just want a solid, easy to drive set of speakers, give Pioneer's Andrew Jones designed stuff a look. They're amazing for what you pay.
You can buy what you need or you can get the whole 5.1 setup in a package deal.
Hello everyone! I'm trying to move forward on buying a surround sound system for my living room. have done a little research but I'm still unsure of what to buy. I have roughly 1000$ limit and I'm looking for a setup for my 4k 55'' tv which is about 10feet from the couch.
I was looking at these speakers: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IK8I9K2
and this receiver: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01CRYWWFC
My only concern is that my roomlayout will be a little rough to wire everything(I live in a stone house and can't run cables in outer facing walls). So I was thinking I should go bluetooth, but was recommended not to. Is this setup good? Should I look into bluetooth? Or I could go an alternate route and go with a soundbar and subwoofer. Any help would be much appreciated!
Room layout
http://imgur.com/l5PsLjW
I ordered the white set on Monday, same price. I'm upgrading from Cambridge Audio Minx line.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07JJP96NT/
It available on Amazon @ Nakamichi Shockwafe Ultra 9.2.4Ch 1000W Soundbar System with Dolby Atmos, Dolby Vision, Dual 10" Subs (Wireless) & Four 2-Way Rear Speakers https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HHZ94BW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_-c.SDbX15WKB7
Amazon has the S 803 home theater bundle for $269. Not the 807s, but still a good deal. The black ones are even Prime.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07JJP96NT/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_BuamDbWCH7PYX
Is this price right? $269 seems very low for the full 5.0.
https://www.amazon.com/Jamo-Studio-803-HCS-WH-Cinema/dp/B07JJP96NT/ref=pd_aw_sbs_23_1/147-2516893-5038041?_encoding=UTF8&amp;pd_rd_i=B07JJP96NT&amp;pd_rd_r=b5bfa511-2207-4334-8bac-3efa4edd58dd&amp;pd_rd_w=ti6Z5&amp;pd_rd_wg=XwtQ0&amp;pf_rd_p=eb968aa8-26af-4aeb-99f6-3d185cf2f412&amp;pf_rd_r=EYFXJ7S2GSQHXN0CCGPY&amp;psc=1&amp;refRID=EYFXJ7S2GSQHXN0CCGPY#aw-udpv3-customer-reviews_feature_div
Edifier make very nice sub $200 bookshelf speakers with remotes, wired and bluetooth connections.
https://www.amazon.com/Edifier-R1700BT-Bluetooth-Bookshelf-Speakers/dp/B016PATXSI
https://www.amazon.com/Edifier-R1850DB-Bookshelf-Speakers-Bluetooth/dp/B073W1R4XQ
I've got the R1850DB myself, great sound quality for the price.
I'm still considering to the getting a Home Max for another room though.
The lack of a 3.5mm output on the Google Home range is really annoying.
Thanks for the info.
&#x200B;
There are a few decent active speakers in your price range, but not many with an optical input. So far for $200 and under I have only found the Edifier R1850DB. This is a great starting set of speakers. You can find them here:
https://www.amazon.com/Edifier-R1850DB-Bookshelf-Speakers-Bluetooth/dp/B073W1R4XQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1541451470&sr=1-1&keywords=r1850db
&#x200B;
Most active speakers in this price range will have RCA inputs instead and a lot of TV's will have RCA outputs to connect to them. If you have the option of connecting through RCA, other great options include the Edifier R1700BT and the Fluance Ai40. If you can spend over $200, some other good options would be the Edifier R2000DB for $250, the Audioengine A2+ for $250, the Kanto YU4 for $330, the Vanatoo Transparent Zero for $360(best on this list, IMO), the Kanto YU6 for $400, or the Audioengine A5+ for 400.
&#x200B;
If you want to get a record player down the road, it is important to know whether or not you will want a turntable that has a phono preamp built in(this will limit your selection greatly) or if you want a turntable that requires and external phono preamp(this is most turntables and you will need an amp or receiver that has a phono preamp included). The reason I say this is because the Kanto YU4 and YU6 listed above already has a phono preamp built in, so that's one less thing you need to get down the road. The other speakers do not have this.
&#x200B;
The Vanatoo's are probably the best sounding in the list above and have the most inputs if needed.
&#x200B;
&#x200B;
Price History
ReviewMeta: ★★★★✮ 4.7/5 from 181 valid reviews
CamelCamelCamel - [Info] │ Keepa - [Info]
_
Price of a Pawn, value of a Queen.
^(Info) ^| ^(Developer) ^| ^(Inquiries) ^| ^(Support Me!) ^| **[^(Report Bug)](/message/compose?to=The_White_Light&subject=Bug+Report&message=%2Fr%2Fbapcsalescanada%2Fcomments%2Fcyb8dr%2Fspeakers_edifier_r1280t_125_15_106amazon%2Feyqsmi9%2F%0D%0A%0D%0A%0D%0A%0D%0APlease+explain+here+what+you+expected+to+happen%2Fwhat+went+wrong.)**
JBL LSR350P are $140 CDN each: https://www.amazon.ca/JBL-2-Way-Powered-Studio-Monitor/dp/B077N2GQXC
Here is a nice set of Edifiers for $249 CDN https://www.amazon.ca/Edifier-R1850DB-Bookshelf-Speakers-Bluetooth/dp/B073W1R4XQ/ There are also less expensive Edifiers that are good values for the price (check what's on Amazon and look at the reviews)
Micca PB42X are excellent for the money if you'd rather not spend as much https://www.amazon.ca/Micca-PB42X-Powered-Bookshelf-Speakers/dp/B00NXAEPDC/
Those speakers do not have a subwoofer out, but these Edifiers do, so they would work. The cheapest subwoofer usually recommended is the Dayton Sub1200. It's a fine entry level subwoofer.
coupon right on the product page : https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B073W1R4XQ
Just be aware that the Samsung TVs no longer process/pass DTS audio. I would have returned my Samsung TV if I had known this ahead of time but I found out (by chance) too late. If that doesn't bother you, cost is not a factor, you want the very best audio out of a bar and you have the space for a receiver: [GoldenEar Technology SuperCinema 3D Array XL]
(https://www.goldenear.com/products/supercinema3d?gktab=). At over 62", that bar will fit that giant TV better than anything else on the market and the sound is like nothing else. Pick up a pair of Super Sub X to fill in the bottom (XXL is overkill IMO unless your room is huge). Depending on how many channels of surround sound you want, you can complement this with in-wall/ceiling speakers or external satellites.
If you want a powered soundbar system then the Nakamichi shockwafe 9.2.4 is my choice. Dual 10" subs and the latest surround tech at a reasonable cost.
Came here to say the Samsung Q90R as well. I have that system and it’s amazing. The next best is the Nakamitchi 9.2.4 System:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HHZ94BW?ref=dp_vse_pc0
What I don't understand about the hype for the Nakamichi soundbar is that every model is essentially the same bar with more subwoofer or surround speakers. This model is the same as this model. It's the same product. The latter has an extra subwoofer and more surrounds (for over twice as much), but the main product - the soundbar is the very same. The system seem to be repackaged in different ways; now it has Atmos. Is it the magic bar that can just do anything?
It seems to me the most important part of any soundsystem would be the left, center, and right main speakers. That's where I really what I want to hear. That is where the main sound is coming from. Sure thumping bass is good, but it's not where the details are.
You should choose whatever speaker stands are in in your budget wich are aesthetically pleasing to you and have the right size for your needs. I would spent between 30 - 100 bucks, unless you find some really beautiful ones. Ideally you would build them yourself.
Any copper cable in between 12 - 14 awg will do. Doesn't need to be full copper but it doesn't hurt. Do not overspend on cables! Something like the Micca Speaker wire (cable) will do.
Receivers; do you want stereo or 5.1 (or even more channels)? The typical brands are Denon, Onkyo, and Yamaha (for example Denon, Onkyo, Yahama). Choose one with all the options you want and inputs you need.
If you want a sub, the usual recommendations are the BIC America F12, BIC V1020 and the Dayton Audio Sub-1000.
/r/audiophile is mostly into objective standards, and I've built plenty of systems that are better for less.
For 2.1 you can have this Bose system, or you can have and Andrew Jones designed system by getting 2x these and one of these
5.1 you say? You can have these Bose or these Andrew Jones for a fraction the cost.
The Andrew Jones include sizeable drivers, comes with real speaker parts made for actual low distortion like crossovers, sizable drivers, and properly designed tweeters. For an entry level setup they already dominate the Bose up and down.
They also have bookshelves if the towers are too much, there's also options like the Micca MB42x too which you could pair with a sub if space is a bit concern (though back firing ports means they will need space from the wall.
>I will continue to buy Bose products, and will continue to mentally tell those people to fuck off.
Fuck you too presumptuous prick.
Awesome. Thank you for your help. The more and more I look into it, i'm starting to like the Pioneer SP-PK52FS setup. The reviews seem to be great, and i like how everything is included. What are some of the drawbacks of going with a pre-packaged system like that instead of purchasing everything separately? Could i find a better system for the same, or even less money if i was to put it together piece by piece? Thanks again!
plan b
Edit. I forgot subwoofer
This is what I have in my home and I couldn't be happier-
Receiver-https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ZIGUE8Y?ref=emc_b_5_t
Speakers-https://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-SP-PK52FS-Theater-Speaker-Package/dp/B00IRH0QMA/ref=sr_1_23?s=electronics&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1485682123&amp;sr=1-23&amp;keywords=pioneer%2Bpackage&amp;th=1
I have a MartinLogan sub but it's not available on Amazon right now so you could either get the slightly more expensive speaker package with the sub included or look at something like the Dayton 1000 or 1200.
Receiver plus 5.1 set will cost just under $1000. I really can't recommend the Pioneers enough. I just replaced a Infinity Primus set I had and even thought the Pioneers are cheaper, the sound so much better, especially with movies.
https://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-SP-PK52FS-Theater-Speaker-Package/dp/B00IRH0QMA?th=1 5.0 or 5.1
https://www.amazon.com/Dayton-Audio-SUB-1000-10-Inch-Subwoofer/dp/B0063NU3AA/ref=sr_1_1?s=aht&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1485640866&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=dayton+sub
Sub
I don't own any of this equipment, but it is pretty agreed on that it has a great performance/value ratio
The Polks mentioned earlier are nice, after researching quite a bit I found a lot of people also recommend the Andrew Jones set, which is what I ended up getting (I grabbed a Bic F12 subwoofer instead of the matching Pioneer one, however)
https://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-SP-PK52FS-5-0-Theater-Speaker/dp/B00IRH0QMA/ref=sr_1_14
I have NOT seen such kind reviews to the Andrew Jones setup around this subreddit, but most people here seem to be playing in a different league than we are, in terms of budget.
Also, if you're looking to go a bit cheaper with the receiver, this is the one I ended up getting - https://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/denavrs730h/denon-avr-s730h-7.2-ch-x-75-watts-a/v-receiver-w/heos/1.html
It's a refurb, yeah, but it's refurbed by Denon themselves, mine arrived looking indistinguishable from a brand-new one and it works great. It also supports Atmos and DTS-X, all of the HDMI ports are 2.0 full bandwidth, etc...
$375 + $220 = $595, which leaves plenty left over for a good entry-level subwoofer and maybe even some upward-firing Atmos speakers if he really wants to get into it. I have the Atmos add-on speakers that are matched to my floorstanding ones, and I'm pretty happy with them. Again, this subreddit hates upward-firing ones, but I really enjoy the fuller sound, and they cost $100 for the pair.
Just look up Pioneer SP-FS52 and SP-C22 that kit was going from $270-$290 which included 100ft of 16awg speaker wire and 10 banana plugs with the last two being easily replaceable. I found a 5.0 speaker package you could get for $380 but individually $97ea is a good price for the towers and the center bounces between $79 and $99 according to camelcamelcamel.com
http://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-SP-PK52FS-5-0-Theater-Speaker/dp/B00IRH0QMA
Add a pair of these
http://www.amazon.com/NXG-Technology-NX-BAS-500-500-watt-Subwoofer/dp/B008FSTU4G/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1421766182&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=ngx+subwoofer&amp;pebp=1421766187171&amp;peasin=B008FSTU4G
These products have been measured by third party reviewers and have performed VERY well for their price points. I'm not sure if you'll find any sort of objective data on some of the other suggestions. It is up to you to decide how important that is to you though.
Thanks for the info. I want to keep the speaker budget below $4k but $2k would be ideal. Speaker placement would attempt to match the official Dolby recommendations for 7.1.4 located on pg.26 of this doc although I may upgrade to 9.1.4 eventually.
Here are the speakers I was originally considering. It would been some combination of these but not all.
SVS Prime Elevations
Pioneer Elites Andrew Jones or this non-Atmos/Elite Pioneer Andrew Jones bundle
This Sub
I'd recommend you get the get the Pioneer Andrew Jones speakers for that price. You can get 2 pairs of bookshelves+1 center for just $333 or if you want front floorstanders than that set currently costs $460.
These come highly recommended. Many people liked them and said they're the best at their price. Wirecutter did a fairly extensive comparison and concluded these are the best budget surround-sound speaker system.
I am actually considering trying the [Pioneer SP-PK52FS speakers] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00IRH0QMA/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1&amp;smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER) along with the LV12R
Any comments on those speakers?
Got the 8350, and if your room is light controlled/prepared correctly... you will be absolutely blown away by it.
I am a huge graphics nerd... my PC always has the latest and greatest card. All of the TV's i buy are LEDs. (Because especially after owning a projector...if the room is light controlled enough for a plasma to look good...im getting a projector for a screen 2-3x as big).
The epson 8350, in a light controlled room, will not disappoint you.
I have mine throwing on an elite screen 100"... and every single person I have brought over to see a movie...is just absolutely blown away by the quality of the picture. It honestly is not distinguishable from a LED picture..unless you are sitting with your face against the screen.
With that said...if your room isnt 100% light controlled...your image will get be affected by a bit. I dont think I would ever put a projector in my living room, at least not as a main screen, because even a small amount of ambient light will affect the picture quality...however i would do it as a night-time movie screen or something, and have it roll down over a TV for select usage.
I just completed a home theater, using the Epson 8350, for around 2500 (including a 5.1 speaker system, the materials to paint the room etc) and absolutely LOVE it. And have yet to have a guest not be completely amazed by it.
Every single person who has seen the quality of the picture is blown away, and has commented on how great it looks.
I know there are sellers who will sell you the stuff to make your own screen.. and you can get slightly higher quality for slightly cheaper if youre willing to build your own frame.
I went with the 100" electric pull down from Elite screens, and i love it. If I was going to build a 10,000+ home theater, then I would upgrade to a Black Diamond screen and a $2500+ projector... but for 2000 budget I feel like the epson 8350 cant be beat.
For speakers I went with http://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-SP-PK22BS-Theater-Speaker-Package/dp/B00LBI88IQ/ref=sr_1_14?s=electronics&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1415212750&amp;sr=1-14&amp;keywords=pioneer+5.1 and I absolutely love it. The speakers are HUGE..which is their only drawback. But I would rather sacrifice having a larger size for better sound than vice versa.
I LOVE the speaker system atm..but tbh im not much of an audiofile who could distinguish a $500 system from a $1000 system sound-wise.
I just received a bundled Pioneer SP-PK22BS speaker set from Amazon for Christmas: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LBI88IQ/ref=twister_B00OU4KU02?_encoding=UTF8&amp;psc=1
To pair with it, I bought a Denon AVR-x1300w: http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/denavrx1300w/denon-avr-x1300w-7.2-ch-x-80-watts-networking-a/v-receiver/1.html
My initial setup will be: 1. Sharp AQUOS 1080p 2. PS4 3. Pioneer AJ Speaker w/ subwoofer 4. Denon x1300
I have two questions: 1. Should I return the speaker set and get something else? I'll get $350 if I return it before 1/31/17. 2. What wires and hdmi cords should I get for the system? Does the quality for HDMI matter?
Thank you!
My suggested system:
https://www.amazon.com/Denon-AVR-S510BT-Channel-Receiver-Bluetooth/dp/B00YAO43YG
http://www.parts-express.com/dayton-audio-sub-1500-15-150-watt-powered-subwoofer--300-634
https://www.amazon.com/Klipsch-Reference-R-25C-Channel-Speaker/dp/B00LMFYRIS
https://www.amazon.com/Klipsch-R-15M-Bookshelf-Speaker-Pair/dp/B00LMF41IY
https://www.amazon.com/Klipsch-R-14S-Surround-Pair-Black/dp/B00LMFFRH8
Total - $1,020
Another user had create this setup and linked it to me. Do you think the one you created or this one would be better?
Receiver - $230 https://www.amazon.com/Denon-AVR-S510BT-Channel-Receiver-Bluetooth/dp/B00YAO43YG
Subwoofer - $180: http://www.parts-express.com/dayton-audio-sub-1500-15-150-watt-powered-subwoofer--300-634
Center Channel - $160 https://www.amazon.com/Klipsch-Reference-R-25C-Channel-Speaker/dp/B00LMFYRIS
Front L/R Speakers - $200 https://www.amazon.com/Klipsch-R-15M-Bookshelf-Speaker-Pair/dp/B00LMF41IY
Surround Speakers - $250 https://www.amazon.com/Klipsch-R-14S-Surround-Pair-Black/dp/B00LMFFRH8
Total - $1,020
Hey guys, I just upgraded my 2 surround speakers from the the little cubes to these klipsch ones. I am having a hard time finding compatible speaker stands.. can you guys help ? Looking for 36 inch ones that would work.
https://www.amazon.com/Klipsch-R-14S-Surround-Pair-Black/dp/B00LMFFRH8
Are you also using Klipsch for the front LCR as well? If so you can keep it in the family with Klipsch surrounds. Then place the R-51M in the back corners angled in towards the middle as back surrounds.
Klipsch RS-10 (older model) for $150/pair: https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=0S6-0033-00351
Klipsch R-14S (current model) for $225/pair: https://www.amazon.com/Klipsch-R-14S-Surround-Pair-Black/dp/B00LMFFRH8
Larger RS-42 for $300/pair (cheaper used?): https://www.amazon.com/Klipsch-Reference-Surround-Speaker-Single/dp/B0041GK5CC
Yes I know of those but I'd rather get these - https://www.amazon.com/Onkyo-SKH-410-Atmos-Enabled-Speaker-System/dp/B00O8LANJA/ref=br_lf_m_8um4nytcecrn8w4_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&amp;s=aht since its much cheaper and I'm not sure the sound quality matters much.
http://www.amazon.com/Debut-Concentric-Dolby-Speakers-Andrew/dp/B014GSEQCY/ref=sr_1_7?s=electronics&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1457031168&amp;sr=1-7&amp;keywords=atmos+speakers
http://www.amazon.com/Onkyo-SKH-410-Atmos-Enabled-Speaker-System/dp/B00O8LANJA/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1457031168&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=atmos+speakers
http://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-SP-T22A-LR-Speaker-designed-Andrew/dp/B0148NPHO8/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1457031168&amp;sr=1-2&amp;keywords=atmos+speakers
Im rocking a 3.1 setup I got off craigslist right now with this yamaha receiver, 2 infiniti tower speakers and a dayton 10inch power sub.
Would adding these or these dolby atmos speakers to my setup make a difference? If so, would I just wire them into the left and right surrounds on the receiver?
Turn on atmos and it automatically upmixes. You should set if you have upfiring speakers or not and if you have 2 mid or 2 rear.
Atmos will basically give you must better position calibration for your speaker positions than normal 5.1 or 7.1 calibration. Use the calibration speaker and make sure it is place exactly where your ears are going to be when you sit and you will get the most out of it.
If your reciever supports two more speakers, you can get them fairly cheap. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00O8LANJA If your existing front speakers are flat on top, these can be velcroed right on them facing up.
Would you recommend going with the 2.1 system with these:
Elac B6's and the BIC F12
OR
WharfDale Diamond 10.1's and the BIC F12
or the 5.1 system with:
Fluance AV5HTB's and the BIC F12.
Thanks
EDIT: Added the WharfDale's since they are of comparable price to the Elac B6's and I've heard they are supposed to be pretty great
Hey, what speakers come with this set?
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B014JTYKA8/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1496161507&amp;sr=8-2&amp;pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&amp;keywords=fluance+av5&amp;dpPl=1&amp;dpID=415wV%2BgD4oL&amp;ref=plSrch
Is that left right, center and back center? All I'd need is a receiver and sub, correct? Is it worth the 200?
I have had the Fluance AV5HTB 5.0 System that includes the center, rear, and books: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B014JTYKA8/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Also have the bipolar surrounds: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MSQZO86/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
As far as the Fluance speakers, they sound great for what they are meant to do. I especially like the bipolar surrounds, they cover a much wider area than normal surrounds. The rears are a bit larger than others but still light enough to be wall mounted.
One thing to keep in mind is the break in time. It takes about 10 hours to fully break in the Fluance speakers. They don't suck before then, but after about 10 hours they really start to shine.
I run these Fluance speakers on a Yamaha RX-V659 with a pair of Pioneer HPM 100's I inherited a very long time ago and a pair of Klipsch KSF 8.5's I bought a long time ago with a Klipsch KSW 12 inch sub. I have had many compliments on my sound system and I really like my current setup. Give the Fluance a try, if you don't like them, return them and get the Pioneer set.
&#x200B;
https://www.amazon.com/Fluance-SXHTBW-Definition-including-Floorstanding/dp/B01M62GRFA
What about this?
At $200 the Klipsch Powergate Amplified Playfi looks like a good choice?
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N0A7PH5
Do you feel it would do the job for a pair of speakers and a sub? I'm currently thinking of Infinity Reference (because of the sale, and a personal history with Hardan, no good reason):
https://www.harmanaudio.com/infinity/REFERENCE+SUB+R12.html
https://www.harmanaudio.com/speakers/REFERENCE+152.html?cgid=speakers&amp;dwvar_REFERENCE%20152_color=Black-USA-Current#prefn1=brand&amp;prefn2=isRefurbished&amp;prefv3=false&amp;prefv1=Infinity&amp;prefv2=false&amp;prefn3=isSupport&amp;start=1
Klipsch Powergate Amplified Playfi Wireless Gateway https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N0A7PH5/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_Rke1Cb7DRGG2F
This powergate? I was looking into schiit mani amp. Do you think this is a better amp?
Also, do I need a receiver to run them as well?
https://www.amazon.com/Klipsch-Powergate-Amplified-Wireless-Gateway/dp/B01N0A7PH5
Great suggestions here. I will add some of my naive thoughts. I think, in addition to getting inputs from folks here, you should try out the speakers you shortlist. For instance, I really enjoy the mids and highs of the KEFs while I find the Klipsch a bit too bright, but you may feel the opposite. That said, i think Fluance makes some really nice affordable speakers:
https://www.amazon.com/Fluance-Bookshelf-Amplifier-Turntable-Bluetooth/dp/B07CLDGXX1
If you go down the passive route and looking to buy a budget amp, you can pick up the $500 Klipsch Powergate for $150:
https://www.amazon.com/Klipsch-PowerGate-Amplified-Wireless-Gateway/dp/B01N0A7PH5
It's a steal at that price. Take a look at the review here:
https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/review-and-measurements-of-klipsch-powergate-dac-amp.7376/
For passive speakers, maybe try to find a used pair of KEF Q100 on CL or the other suggestions already made here are equally good.
These $30 Dayton Audio speakers are good too:
https://www.parts-express.com/dayton-audio-b652-6-1-2-2-way-bookshelf-speaker-pair--300-652
Have this TCL for a couple years now, absolutely no regrets. Sure it's not the same as a super upscale TV, but honestly I have never regretted my purchase at all. Pair it with a decent soundbar (this is what I have currently) and it's a great experience!
Speakers: Yamaha YAS-207BL Sound Bar
Receiver: just bluetooth or aux cable from laptop
Source: laptop
Light control: the only issue is that the paint is glossy, a projector screen has helped a bit, but on very white scenes it does wash out a bit as the light reflects off the walls back to the screen
&#x200B;
In my living room I have the onkyo receiver and 5.1 setup with something for theater. The bedroom setup goal was supposed to be just something better than having the laptop on a stand in my bed and a step up from laptop speakers.
&#x200B;
Does anyone have this or can comment on it?
&#x200B;
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B072J7PTFB?pf_rd_p=183f5289-9dc0-416f-942e-e8f213ef368b&pf_rd_r=CFB3SZFB90K9E05PREQG&th=1
Audio Power Output-1.2 Horsepower
I assume they are referring to watts. Where something like this is 70 watts.
is the micca RB42S too scarce now to be a viable option?
I should've jumped on the Edifier R1850DB when they were $140 the other day, they seem to fit most as a PC desktop speaker
also this sounds dumb but one of my top criteria is how much of a deal I'm getting with the purchase. so those elac b6.2 may be the best of the bunch but their normal price point is $240 so at the current price of $220 i don't feel like they're worth purchasing yet, especially since their lowest price was $150 on december 2018
The Elac are NOT active speakers. You would require an amplifier of some kind, as well as speaker wire. The Elac are also rear ported. This means that they really should have some space behind them to sound their best.
As everyone else will no doubt suggest, the JBL LSR305's are currently on sale and very well reviewed. They are active speakers. BUUUUUT, they are also rear ported.
My suggestion would be a pair of Fluance Signature bookshelves for $149. They are passive, but are front ported and were $199 about a week ago.
To power them, a NobSound Mini BT amp for $29.
Add some speaker wire and you're golden...EXCEPT.
You want to add "Every Device Under The Sun" to this setup. For that you are looking at a full blown receiver. That's going to eat up most of your budget.
You've got at least 2 devices that connect through an optical cable or HDMI.
2 more devices that probably need a 3.5 out.
And a phone which you probably will use BT to connect with.
The best you are probably going to do at that price point is this;
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073W1R4XQ/ref=sspa_dk_detail_3?psc=1
And even then, you'll be switching devices as needed at times. You won't be able to have everything hooked up at once. But at least the Edifiers are front ported, although the volume knob is on the back...
Search me buddy. Your particular list of needs makes it super difficult to find anything in your price range that ticks all the boxes. You might have to make a few compromises.
i wonder if im better off getting active bookshelf speakers and a sub for what im looking for.
like these https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073W1R4XQ/ref=sspa_dk_detail_6?psc=1&pd_rd_i=B073W1R4XQ&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUExWFlDS1kwN0dONTFUJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwNTc3NDcwMjJVQ1QyRURMUkVFSCZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwNjEwODE4MzhKRFI5UEVJSVNHWCZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX2RldGFpbCZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=#customerReviews
with a decent sub.
im looking more for music purposes than tv viewer purpose. i dont want surround sound. so after reading some since my L/R speakers will only be about 7 feet apart and center is mostly for viewing experiences, i think a 2.1 system will do just fine. i dont plan on having multiple input sources so i just need audio running from tv to speakers.
any one here have experience with these?
thanks
I see. What other difference is there between the Dayton towers and these Edifier bookshelf speakers?
https://www.amazon.ca/Edifier-R1850DB-Bookshelf-Speakers-Bluetooth/dp/B073W1R4XQ/
https://www.amazon.com/Edifier-R1850DB-Bookshelf-Speakers-Bluetooth/dp/B073W1R4XQ
I own r1850db great for small room, you will need subwoofer if in medium or large room, great sound and that comes under 200usd
Edifier r1850db has a sub out incase you need more bass, these won't disappoint you!!!
Edifier R1850DB Active Bookshelf Speakers with Bluetooth and Optical Input - 2.0 Studio Monitor Speaker - Built-in Amplifier with Subwoofer Line Out https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073W1R4XQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_DN7EDbTTN5BGW
Don't get any "PC" or "gaming" related speakers. A good pair of active bookshelf speakers will be much better than a low tier 5.1 system.
Something like this
Idk what your budget is though.
I highly recommend a receiver with Audyssey processing. And unless you need 4k/3D/Atmos processing, you can usually find great deals on a top-of-the-line receiver that's a few years old. Onkyo and Denon also sell factory refurbished receivers that can be good deals, like this one:
https://usa.denon.com/us/product/refurbishedprocat/avreceiversref/avrs910w
For speakers, the Pioneer "Andrew Jones" speakers are hard to beat at that price point. You can get the five main speakers for less than $500!
https://smile.amazon.com/Pioneer-SP-PK52FS-5-0-Theater-Speaker/dp/B00IRH0QMA/ref=sr_1_6?s=electronics&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1473882665&amp;sr=1-6&amp;keywords=pioneer+speakers
If you have a small room (<1500 cuft?) the Pioneer sub should be great. If you have a larger room, it might be worth shopping around for something a little more substantial. I recently picked up a great 12" Klipsch sub at Fry's during one of their crazy sales for $180. I'm using it in a smaller second room, and it is very nice. So if you keep your eyes peeled, you might find a great deal. Or you can invest in an SVS, Hsu or other rock solid, bulletproof sub.
Did you want tower speakers or bookshelf speakers for the fronts?
Any Blu-ray player will do. Get one that has the features you want (Netflix etc.)
Cables from monoprice.
Just buy your parents a htib.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00LBI88IQ?vs=1
For such a small space it seems your budget of $1500 for sound is way overkill, unless your planning to keep the gear when you move to a bigger place.
For a room that size, get a receiver like this
some bookshelve speakers like these
a subwoofer like this
rear bipole speakers like this
and finally some speaker wire and banana cables.
This set up is beautiful in my small apartment living room. All in all that comes out to ~$520 and you can use the rest of your money on a TV upgrade.
I'm looking for speakers for my new Sony 65" X950G TV in a 12' x 19' living room. My budget is $300 and am debating between these three options as these are the ones that I've found that would work for me:
Yamaha YAS-207 - $230
Klipsch RSB-11 - $300
Edifier S350DB - $300
I'm not much of an audiophile but I just want something that'll sound good for my TV when watching movies, TV shows, and playing games.
My main priority was looking for something that is within my budget, convenient, has a remote, and no amplifiers/receivers because I don't want to deal with too many cables besides the power cables.
I know sound bars are generally frowned upon but I like the plug & play aspect as well as ease of use, but I saw really great things about the Edifier S350DB in terms of sound quality. The only thing that the S350DB would differ is the lack of HDMI ARC since I would be connecting this to a tv, so is that going to be a big deal?
I'm open to other recommendations as well, but if any of these three stand out, please help me pick which to go for!