Speaker Selection Help

Demiurge
Demiurge Posts: 10,874
edited February 2005 in Speakers
One of my friend's younger brother is starting to get into HT. He ended up getting this reciever for about $250.

SonySTRDE697.jpg

Sony-STRDE697

We figured there was no sense in spending big and he doesn't have a ton of money to spend, but the 7.1 feature was nice so that he can upgrade.

He's got about 300-400 left to spend on the speakers right now. What would you guys recommend? Realizing that the subwoofer is probably going to cost him the most.

Satellites are OK...and would probably be best for him given the little ammount of money he has to spend. RM-6700?

Any suggestions would be great...and if anyone has some speakers to sell it would be appreciated. I hope I'm not wasting my breath in posting this, but he seems pretty serious since he already bought the reciever. I just don't want to waste anyones time.

Thanks in advance.
Post edited by Demiurge on
· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • Early B.
    Early B. Posts: 7,900
    edited January 2005
    If he has a little bit of patience, I'd suggest getting the best front speakers he can afford -- maybe a pair of RTi4/6 or RTi28/38's, then slowly build his system from there. Next, pick up a center channel, then surrounds, then a good sub (not necessarily in that order). Tell him not to worry about 7.1 right now, but focus on going from 2.1 to 5.1. For $400, he should be able to pick up some great used fronts and surrounds (or center channel), and maybe even have a little bit of change left over.
    HT/2-channel Rig: Sony 50” LCD TV; Toshiba HD-A2 DVD player; Emotiva LMC-1 pre/pro; Rogue Audio M-120 monoblocks (modded); Placette RVC; Emotiva LPA-1 amp; Bada HD-22 tube CDP (modded); VMPS Tower II SE (fronts); DIY Clearwave Dynamic 4CC (center); Wharfedale Opus Tri-Surrounds (rear); and VMPS 215 sub

    "God grooves with tubes."
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • jarros
    jarros Posts: 84
    edited January 2005
    How big is the room?

    If he really wants surround sound right away, I'd definately recommend the Polk satellites. Heck, I'm on such a tight budget that I'm running RM6005's in my main home theater system. My system isn't amazing, but does sound a heck of a lot better than the HTIB's you find out there.

    The low-mids aren't very present in my system, but that's to be expected with small drivers. Apparently the 6750 series is a little stronger in that area due to bigger drivers and the power port technology.

    I'd say pick up a set of RM6750's from ebay for $300+shipping and a Dayton 10" sub and he'll be set. It might cost him closer to 500, but he'll definately have a decent setup. Later on he can slowly upgrade the front stage as he gets the money.
    HT Setup:
    Pioneer VSX-D912K
    Polk CSi30 Center
    RM6005 Satellites (Fronts/Surrounds/Rear Center)
    Nameless 10" Sub
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Early B.
    Early B. Posts: 7,900
    edited January 2005
    I'd say pick up a set of RM6750's from ebay for $300+shipping and a Dayton 10" sub and he'll be set. It might cost him closer to 500, but he'll definately have a decent setup. Later on he can slowly upgrade the front stage as he gets the money.
    This option is OK, but in the long run it will cost him more money than doing it right the first time. Take it from me -- a reformed audio upgradaholic.
    HT/2-channel Rig: Sony 50” LCD TV; Toshiba HD-A2 DVD player; Emotiva LMC-1 pre/pro; Rogue Audio M-120 monoblocks (modded); Placette RVC; Emotiva LPA-1 amp; Bada HD-22 tube CDP (modded); VMPS Tower II SE (fronts); DIY Clearwave Dynamic 4CC (center); Wharfedale Opus Tri-Surrounds (rear); and VMPS 215 sub

    "God grooves with tubes."
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • jarros
    jarros Posts: 84
    edited January 2005
    Originally posted by Early B.
    This option is OK, but in the long run it will cost him more money than doing it right the first time. Take it from me -- a reformed audio upgradaholic.

    Yeah, I was thinking this the whole time I was writing the message...

    Well, the way I look at it, entering home theater is an exciting new thing. A setup like this will get him into it right away, and with a decent sound. It's a friend's younger brother, so it might take him a long time before he get's surround sound with an RTi lineup. If he has the patience, by all means, try to convince him to go that route.

    Starting out with a cheaper setup will also help him appreciate the sound from more expensive speakers. This will also give him a chance to see what he does and doesn't like about his speakers, and what to look for when upgrading speakers. Also, if he decides that the 6750's are working just fine for him, he'll still have a lot more money left over for other things he may be more interested in.
    HT Setup:
    Pioneer VSX-D912K
    Polk CSi30 Center
    RM6005 Satellites (Fronts/Surrounds/Rear Center)
    Nameless 10" Sub
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • lomic
    lomic Posts: 407
    edited January 2005
    Definitely try to focus on "down the road". Best advice I can give is to build your front soundstage with the idea that, in the future, all its pieces can be moved to the back.

    Assuming he isn't going to have big money for quite a while, I'll just assume he's not going to move up to LSi's any time soon. So for starters I'd grab some RTi4's as mains - I see a pair going on the Bay for pretty cheap right now. Pick up a CSi3 which should be another $100 or so used and you've got a good start. If he gets more money and/or finds a good deal on them, he can then move up to 6's or maybe even 8's (if that AVR can handle them) and demote his RTi4's to surrounds.

    As for a sub, I guess he'll have to get what he can. I suppose the Dayton will do just fine, but don't let him hear an SVS or HSU first :)
    Dodd Audio ELP [ Tubes ] // Harman Kardon AVR330 // Parasound HCA-1203A // Denon DVD-2900
    Polk Audio LSi9, LSiC, LSi 7 // HSU STF-2 // Signal Cable Interconnects (SG BW/A2/MP)
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Demiurge
    Demiurge Posts: 10,874
    edited February 2005
    Thanks for all the responses. Unfortunately he's only 16 and his mind is constantly changing. I think it's good he plunked down for a decent reciever. I mean...it's not a great reciever, but it's a pretty good one for a 16 year old kid. I hope he goes with some decent mains and a center channel to start and goes on from there.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • okiepolkie
    okiepolkie Posts: 2,258
    edited February 2005
    Just have him get three pair of the R15's from Fryes and a Dayton sub to go with the system. Then he could go 6.1 with his system and have a decent home theater that wouldn't be too hard on the ears or wallet. All together, that might run him $300 if you include any taxes and shipping.
    Tschüss
    Zach
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Jacrs
    Jacrs Posts: 3
    edited February 2005
    Originally posted by Demiurge
    Thanks for all the responses. Unfortunately he's only 16 and his mind is constantly changing. I think it's good he plunked down for a decent reciever. I mean...it's not a great reciever, but it's a pretty good one for a 16 year old kid. I hope he goes with some decent mains and a center channel to start and goes on from there.

    Hers's a little something for $375 delivered to his door: (he can get the sub later)

    http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=32861&item=5748349359&rd=1

    Or maybe he can pick something from this line-up:

    http://search.ebay.com/polk-audio-speakers_W0QQsofocusZbsQQsbrftogZ1QQfromZR10QQftrtZ1QQftrvZ1QQsadisZ200QQfsopZ1QQfsooZ1QQcoactionZcompareQQcopagenumZ1QQcoentrypageZsearch
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • MSkeezer
    MSkeezer Posts: 1,183
    edited February 2005
    I'll vouch for the 7200's. They're very nice sounding speakers, and that price is killer. Get them before someone else does. Also, there's a guy on the home theater forum selling his Sony SAWM40 subwoofer for only $80 shipped. I was going to get it, but I decided to get the Audiosource sub instead...

    http://www.hometheaterforum.com/htforum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=224378
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Nemesis
    Nemesis Posts: 70
    edited February 2005
    I have personal experiance with the R15s. High quality for the money. I can recommend the R15s as the little suckers can deliver clear audio with authority. These are not muffled like bookshelves can be. I got a pair for a 100 bucks and will be using them as my fronts until I get a set of "proper" fronts. I'm in a similar position as your friend's bro.

    The RTi4's might be a better choice at only a little more money, but that's just looking at the specs.
    "Nothing in this world is accomplished without passion."
    -me
    "Your buying what with your money? The money you should be saving"
    -mom, on first learning of my purchase of a Harman Kardon AVR 235
    "Jeter is playing golf right now. This is better."
    -Manny Rameriz's poster for the World Champion Red Sox victory parade
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Nemesis
    Nemesis Posts: 70
    edited February 2005
    Had this special passed on to me by stereo55. Hurry as I have no idea when outpost.com's weekly specials end.

    http://shop1.outpost.com/product/4005082/#

    A pair of R-30s for $50? I must be dreaming. Even if the special is only the cherry models, its a steal. Makes great fronts or rears, depending on what you need.

    The only problem with the 30's are that at its normal price there are other, usually better, options. Obviously this isn't the case.
    "Nothing in this world is accomplished without passion."
    -me
    "Your buying what with your money? The money you should be saving"
    -mom, on first learning of my purchase of a Harman Kardon AVR 235
    "Jeter is playing golf right now. This is better."
    -Manny Rameriz's poster for the World Champion Red Sox victory parade
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • lomic
    lomic Posts: 407
    edited February 2005
    Check the title on the R30's, at the end it says "Each". Fry's/Outpost always lists their speaker prices as 'each'.
    Dodd Audio ELP [ Tubes ] // Harman Kardon AVR330 // Parasound HCA-1203A // Denon DVD-2900
    Polk Audio LSi9, LSiC, LSi 7 // HSU STF-2 // Signal Cable Interconnects (SG BW/A2/MP)
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Loud & Clear
    Loud & Clear Posts: 1,538
    edited February 2005
    Pair of vintage Monitor 7's or 10's for mains. Cheaper, and sound better than the newer stuff, imo. Piece together the other stuff.

    Two Channel Setup:

    Speakers: Wharfedale Opus 2-3
    Integrated Amp: Krell S-300i
    DAC: Arcam irDac
    Source: iMac
    Remote Control: iPad Mini

    3.2 Home Theater Setup:

    Fronts: Klipsch RP-160M
    Center: Klipsch RP-160M
    Subwoofer: SVS PB12NSD (X 2)
    AVR: Yamaha Aventage RX-A2030
    Blu Ray: Sony BDP-S790
    TV Source: DirecTV Genie
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • shack
    shack Posts: 11,154
    edited February 2005
    I'd tell your friend to jump all over those R30s at Frys/Outpost for $50. 1, 2 or 3 pair are all within his budget (someone will have to help since it is a 1 pair limit). If it were me, I would get 2 pair of R30s and find a decent center on e-bay (cs175, cs245, cs1 can all be found for $100±). Still leaves room for something like the little Dayton Sub or something from E-bay for $100±. This would give him a decent HT and 5.1 music system. At 16 he will either blow them up or move up to better speakers as he grows with the hobby. Also a good way to get him started right with Polks.

    Another thought for a different brand is the Wharfedale Crystal series:

    Wharfedale Crystal Center Channel Speaker

    Wharfedale Crystal 10 Bookshelf Speakers

    Four decent bookshelfs and a center for $207 and still room to buy a sub for another nice 5.1 rig.
    "Just because you’re offended doesn’t mean you’re right." - Ricky Gervais

    "For those who believe, no proof is necessary. For those who don't believe, no proof is possible." - Stuart Chase

    "Consistency requires you to be as ignorant today as you were a year ago." - Bernard Berenson
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Nemesis
    Nemesis Posts: 70
    edited February 2005
    Yeah lomic. That's what I get for being new here :( I've done all of my online AV shopping on onecall.com; I bought my R15s in store from Circuit City.

    Still obviously a good deal, even without the insanity caused by my error.
    "Nothing in this world is accomplished without passion."
    -me
    "Your buying what with your money? The money you should be saving"
    -mom, on first learning of my purchase of a Harman Kardon AVR 235
    "Jeter is playing golf right now. This is better."
    -Manny Rameriz's poster for the World Champion Red Sox victory parade
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • keithelliott11
    keithelliott11 Posts: 3
    edited February 2005
    Does anyone like Velodyne subwoofers?
    I've heard they match well with Polk Rm series.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • jdhdiggs
    jdhdiggs Posts: 4,305
    edited February 2005
    If it were me, I'd go with two good floorstanders for the $400 and build from there as cash becomes available.
    There is no genuine justice in any scheme of feeding and coddling the loafer whose only ponderable energies are devoted wholly to reproduction. Nine-tenths of the rights he bellows for are really privileges and he does nothing to deserve them. We not only acquired a vast population of morons, we have inculcated all morons, old or young, with the doctrine that the decent and industrious people of the country are bound to support them for all time.-Menkin
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • AsSiMiLaTeD
    AsSiMiLaTeD Posts: 11,728
    edited February 2005
    Originally posted by jdhdiggs
    If it were me, I'd go with two good floorstanders for the $400 and build from there as cash becomes available.

    yep, that's what I did...
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter