Newbie needs help

pklin

Hello all,

This is my very first post here so I will make it brief... I have a (19'4" L x 14'3" W x 9' H) room that I am planning to turn into the world's smallest home theatre I have been reading, reading, and reading some more about speaker setup, selection, technical specs, etc. and now I am just all confused. My current brand choices (that I would like to purchase speakers from) are Polk Audio, JBL, and Miller&Kreisler. Receiver of my choice will most likely be a sub $1000, above $800 Onkyo and total theatre setup budget is around $3000. Please help me select a 6.1 - 7.1 speaker setup I could be proud of, and will blow my friends' minds. Thanks in advance for your help!


Pete

spyderman

A couple ways to go...

First:

RTi12's for the fronts... $1399/pr
(10's might sufffice @ $999, but the imaging on the 12's is just spectacular!)
RTi6's for surrounds/rears... $380/pr
CSi5 for a center... $400
HSU or SVS subwoofer... $500ish

Second:

LSi15's in front... $1000ish (avoid the 25's)
LSiC Center... $400ish
LSi7's Surround/rear... $600ish
HSU or SVS subwoofer... $500ish


The second option is closer to your budget and will still sound kick a$$! Prices are subject to fluctuate w/market. Good luck and enjoy your purchase. It's like Christmas in springtime!

gidrah

Smallest my ****. That could be am awesome room.

Is your main seating area going to be at the back of the room, center, or multiple rows? Are you opposed to buying used gear? Have you already compensted for wire/cable costs?

Obviously you're gonna get the most suggestions for Polk around here. IMHO, JBL was once GREAT, but have compromised their sound and build quality of late. M&K tends to be overpriced. They make some awesome stuff for the right environment, but the trickle down economics seems to inconstant with their product lines (ie you're still paying a bunch of money for a little bit of speaker based upon what they're capable of).

pklin

Hi guys,

Thanks much for the suggestions! This room is part of a room conversion for a new house I am purchasing, and the conversion includes 5 speaker prewires and 1 subwoofer prewire, all done, per my suggestion, with Monster Cable 14 gauge wires. Initial setup has three prewires in the front of the room and two in the back for in-ceiling speakers, with the sub prewire against the back wall (factory config). Since I would like to use floor standing speaker for fronts, I've asked them to please move two of the three prewires in the front to the side walls for future 7.1 expansion. Seating situation will likely be 4 or 5 independent captain chairs in the center of the room, though with my 51" I could probably sit at the very back, it will all depend on the sound I guess. Thanks guys again for your help, keep them coming!

P.S. I am thinking about the Onkyo TXNR-901 7.1 Digital to drive the speakers, MSRP $1499. The speakers I get will need to fit into the $3000 budget with the receiver included, unless I just have to have certain speakers.

PolkWannabie

If you're interested in the Onkyo receivers, unless upconversion to component video is important to you I'd give the TX-NR801 a look as it's significantly less expensive.

amulford

You don't have to buy all brand new speakers. If your willing to spend some time shopping, you could probably get a decent set up of pre-owned speakers. I have a thing for the older RT series with the tri-laminate tweeters.

They can be had quite reasonably, and with the savings you could opt for another piece of gear.

Or you could get one of these

just a thought...

PolkWannabie

Amulford,

I know with Sunfire's TG IV .vs. III that the older model did not have Pro Logic IIx, is this also true for the III model of their receiver ?