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Problem:
A coworker asked for buying advice for an entry-level HT system. I don’t know very much about HT, but took a whack at it in hopes of turning him into an audiophile. Please give advice on the short list I have so far developed. Feel free to add to my short list if you feel I’ve overlooked something.Conditions:
He has said $1,200 - $1,300 is his limit for speakers and receiver. He mentioned that piecing a system together over time could be an option, starting with a receiver and front speaker set. His music tastes are vary diverse. He listens to rock, alternative, blues, new age, big band, country, and rap. From conversations with him, I’d say he’s a bit of a bass freak, and likes his music loud. But even he admitted that may not be possible with twin 15 month old girls roaming the house. He plans to buy in approximately 7 – 8 months. His listening room is approximately 18 x 18, with 10 foot ceilings. He has no idea what type of sound he likes, but said he auditioned and really liked a pair of Klipsch pro-media 5.1 computer speakers, (if that helps). Also, he would prefer a phono input, but doesn’t own a TT yet.Possible Solutions:
Here’s the short list I have so far.
- PSB Alpha Intro LR and CLR Speakers ($706), plus sub
- Paradigm Atoms (x5) ($500), plus sub
- Energy Take 5.2 System ($600 w/o Energy sub), plus sub
- Paradigm Cinema 70 Home-Theater Speaker System ($716)- Adire Audio Rava ($399)
- HSU VTF-2 ($449.10)
- Dayton Titanic Sub Kit ($349)- Denon 1803 ($360)
- Onkyo TX-DS575x ($370)
- Outlaw Audio Model 1050 ($449)
- Denon 1802 ($350)
- Onkyo TX-SR600 ($400)
Follow Ups:
I appreciate your inputs and will start looking at the options mentioned.
G-Man
Sub: Dayton kit. Highly regarded among owners in the speaker forum.
Receiver: Outlaw Audio. Ditto.
Speakers: JBL NSP-1 package, may be able to find another single one on eBay or elsewhere. Street price about $250 plus shipping and tax, if any.Total package price, assuming about $40 shipping for each element: $1,170. That would leave enough money left over for decent wires (Canare S8 star quad would probably be just fine in this application for about 20 cents a foot, go to www.markertek.com) and interconnects.
I use the N24s as rear speakers and their clarity is very good for the $$$. No bass to speak of (-3 db @ 75 Hz) but the sub will handle all that anyway. I also have the Klipsch ProMedias and the N24s are relatively comparable, but not nearly as bright and "screechy" at high volumes.
Hope this helps.
Here's what I'd do for a starter HT system:1. Speakers:
Fronts and Sides: (4) Axiom M3Ti's $1,000 (factory outlet)
Center: Merak MC6H (ebay about $60.00)or, you can get 4 Michaura M55s on ebay for about $300, a pure no brainer. Great speakers, great for music, great for HT.
Sub: I got a 15" Dahlquist from uBid for $99 plus shipping. This sub has no right to sound as good as it does. Check your local Costco or other big outlet for terrific bargains on discontinued subs.
2. Receiver: Check your local on-line classifieds, you'll find an ass kicking 5.1 channel DTS receiver for under $300.
Merak is made by Axiom. The MC6H has 2 x 6.5" drivers and a 7"x3" horn tweeter, solid, anti reversion shaped cabinet, and an incredibly good sound. Great for music and great for dialogue. You'd have to spend hundreds of dollars more to match it.
I have a $1000 Onkyo 797 THX receiver in my main system. It's fantastic. I have a Sony STRDB 1070 in my office system. I paid under $300 for it from uBid (back when there were good deals galore on that site). The Sony is just about as good as the Onkyo for HT, not quite as good for music. I picked up a Technics SADX 940 5x100 watt HT receiver for stereo duty while I waited for a pair of monoblocks to get shipped. Paid about $150 at Fry's for the 940. Played through a pair of Axiom M3Ti's. The sound quality of that Technics was absolutely, ridiculously wonderful. Warm, rich, accurate, great sound stage, etc.
I gave the Technics to my secretary who uses it for an HT system, Merak center channel, Wharfdale something or other fronts and Mission 77ds backs, and a little Jensen sub. Sounds incredibly good. Cost a song.
The point is you can find deals if you look for them, or if you get lucky and step in one.
You can probably get a set of HT speakers from your Penny Saver or on line classifieds which will save you a bunch of money relative to the Axioms. Browse your local on-line ads in one window and do google searches on a second window of each interesting item. You'll find all kinds of reviews, both professional and by users. You'll also educate yourself as to MSRP and street prices. You'll find some great deals on used equipment. Folks who advertise on Audiogon and ebay tend to be pretty sophisticated. You can find some great used stuff locally from less sophisticated and sometimes more motivated sellers.
Here's what I would do:
4 Michaura M55s ......................... $300
1 Merak MC6H center channel speaker ..... 60
1 15" Dahlquist or similar sub .......... 170 (with shipping)
1 Technics SADX 940-1070 or similar Panasonic unit ... (I think it sounds better than the Outlaw 1050 I recommended to my friend)
Receiver ................................ $400 (you can do better used).1 Philips SACD 1000 plays SACD and DVDs. . $350
You have yourself one terrific HT and music system for under $1,300.
Live long and prosper.
Glad you had better luck with that Merak center. I canned mine. I thought it was muddy and dull.I would probably spend the most on the center myself. Most of the movie sound comes through it. It's critical. Don't skimp there.
And as far as the Dahlquist... Awesome!! I love them. They're always a great deal. If you can find them, I'd say make the whole system Dahlquist. They're better for music than Klipsch.
I picked one up on a whim from uBid ($29) when I found out they were made by Axiom. The Merak horn center just blew away my Infinity CC3 center. Sold the Infinity, bought 3 more horn centers and a Merak with the twin 6.5" drivers but with a 0.75" titanium tweeter. The Horn centers have much more slam and ... fidelity. Sold the titanium Merak, kept 2 horn centers and gave away the third to help my secretary put together a HT system.Gotta get the mice out of the horn to give it a fair shake.
I also would suggest Klipsch speakers. For HT, they are very hard to beat. They are extremely explosive, and their high and low end are very "alive".I recently set up a HT system for a good friend using the Klipsch Quintets. They're small and can be put anywhere. You can actually get them for very cheap at Ubid.com. It would save a lot of money for a good receiver and center channel. I would probably look into a nice center like the Klipsch RC-3. It would be a good tone match. And it is an amazing speaker.
Another possibility for the receiver is a Harman/Kardon AVR 320 or 520. I've been seeing the 320's on sale a lot for under $300. This really irritates me, considering how much I spent for the AVR 310 not too long ago. But the 320 has a ton of features and also includes 7.1 surround. It may be going overboard, but as inexpensive as you can get the Quintets, you could easily add another 2 channels for the surround sound.
He could even get a set of towers for the fronts and still be in the price range.
G-man, many of the options you mentioned sound good. Just throwin a few things out there. I wouldn't suggest Klipsch for music lover's, but with a high diversity in music, and for mainly HT use, he would probably be happy.
I would suggest steering towards the Outlaw for the reciever, good value for the bucl and I would also suggest looking at Klipsch speakers, they are efficient & can play loud with not much power. Be sure to include the cost of decent interconnects and speaker wire as at this level any thing is better than lamp cord or zip wire!!
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