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MacLeod
MacLeod Posts: 14,358
edited April 2024 in Clubhouse Archives
As some of you may know, Ive been trying to decide between 2 channel and 5.1 or even bothering with it at all. After all I have a state of the art ( :rolleyes: ) Dolby 2.0 surround system and that should be all I need. Well after spending about an hour in Best Buy demoing their speakers and Bose Lifestyle surround setup, I decided to go 5.1.

Circuit City has this Pioneer on sale for $190. It MSRP's for $365 and Best Buy had it for $290. It has tons of inputs and outputs and has way more features than I could ever figure out. Plus it has a much more solid feel to it as compared to Sony and even Onkyo so I bought it.

I just got it setup and watched a few scenes from Star Wars Episode 2 and all I can say is WOW! I cant believe what I was missing with 2.0!! Plus now that Im able to use my DVD players optical output, the clarity and detail in the audio is astounding!!

The surround speakers in 2.0 simply create noise behind you which creates a diffuse soundfield. In 5.1 they actually are an active part of the soundtrack. In one scene with Obi Wan being chased by Jango Fett thru an asteroid field, the lazers flying around and the ships flying around is so cool I found myself giggling like a little girl!

Im simply amazed at how much I was missing. I thought Dolby 2.0 surround was ok but its like trying to see a room by only looking thru the keyhole.

All I can say is I am now a HT junkie! Which sucks cause now the Sony speakers that did a fine job previously arent going to cut it now. They make good bass but are very thin sounding. So now I know where all the money I dont spend on my truck system is going to go.....RTi4's all around with a CSi3 center.

Its obscene how much money Im going to be putting into Polk Audio speakers over the next several months.
polkaudio sound quality competitor since 2005
MECA SQ Rookie of the Year 06 ~ MECA State Champ 06,07,08,11 ~ MECA World Finals 2nd place 06,07,08,09
08 Car Audio Nationals 1st ~ 07 N Georgia Nationals 1st ~ 06 Carl Casper Nationals 1st ~ USACi 05 Southeast AutumnFest 1st

polkaudio SR6500 --- polkaudio MM1040 x2 -- Pioneer P99 -- Rockford Fosgate P1000X5D
Post edited by RyanC_Masimo on
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  • exalted512
    exalted512 Posts: 10,735
    edited July 2005
    lol, sounds like you shouldve never gone to best buy/circuit city to demo out stuff...it wouldve saved you money in the long run.

    its ok, my "HT" system is my Aiwa old school cd player:D
    -Cody
    Music is like candy, you have to get rid of the rappers to enjoy it
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  • aaharvel
    aaharvel Posts: 4,489
    edited July 2005
    welcome to the disease Obi-Wan.
    H/K Signature 2.1+235
    Jungson MagicBoat II
    Revel Performa M-20
    Velodyne cht-10 sub
    Rega P1 Turntable

    "People working at Polk Audio must sit around the office and just laugh their balls off reading many of these comments." -Lush
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  • jet2001
    jet2001 Posts: 180
    edited July 2005
    yes, Welcome...they've sucked many of us in.

    Now that I'm happy with my HT, I'm making plans to create a 2 channel system for music. Does it ever end????
    RTi4-fronts
    CSi3-center
    R15-surrounds
    Cerwin Vega LW15-Sub
    Denon AVR 885
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  • Mike682
    Mike682 Posts: 2,074
    edited July 2005
    Originally posted by jet2001
    Now that I'm happy with my HT, I'm making plans to create a 2 channel system for music. Does it ever end????

    Nope....because once you are finished with the new 2ch, something new will be out for HT.....

    I just never ends....

    :D
    Receiver: harmankardon AVR235
    Mains: polk R30
    Center: polk CSi3
    Rear Surrounds: polk R20
    Subwoofer: polk PSW404
    DVD: Panasonic DVD-S29
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  • Frank Z
    Frank Z Posts: 5,860
    edited July 2005
    psssst......hey buddy....Wanna buy some rear surround speakers? 7.1 is the shiznit.






    :D
    9/11 - WE WILL NEVER FORGET!! (<---<<click)
    2005-06 Club Polk Football Pool Champion!! :D
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  • disneyjoe7
    disneyjoe7 Posts: 11,435
    edited July 2005
    Originally posted by Frank Z
    psssst......hey buddy....Wanna buy some rear surround speakers? 7.1 is the shiznit.






    :D



    LOL good one, but wait till he gets a SUB :D:D

    Speakers
    Carver Amazing Fronts
    CS400i Center
    RT800i's Rears
    Sub Paradigm Servo 15

    Electronics
    Conrad Johnson PV-5 pre-amp
    Parasound Halo A23
    Pioneer 84TXSi AVR
    Pioneer 79Avi DVD
    Sony CX400 CD changer
    Panasonic 42-PX60U Plasma
    WMC Win7 32bit HD DVR


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  • Toxis
    Toxis Posts: 5,116
    edited July 2005
    Originally posted by MacLeod
    I found myself giggling like a little girl!
    Wait, what's different than everytime you get a good laugh here? That's right... this time you were actually wearing the miniskirt.







    Freak. :p
    Never kick a fresh **** on a hot day.

    Home Setup: Sony VPL-VW85 Projo, 92" Stewart Firehawk, Pioneer Elite SC-65, PS3, RTi12 fronts, CSi5, FXi6 rears, RTi6 surround backs, RTi4 height, MFW-15 Subwoofer.

    Car Setup: OEM Radio, RF 360.2v2, Polk SR6500 quad amped off 4 Xtant 1.1 100w mono amps, Xtant 6.1 to run an eD 13av.2, all Stinger wiring and Raammat deadener.
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  • MacLeod
    MacLeod Posts: 14,358
    edited July 2005
    Originally posted by Frank Z
    psssst......hey buddy....Wanna buy some rear surround speakers? 7.1 is the shiznit.






    :D

    NOOOOOO!!!!

    I have to get my 4.1 setup right! I need 4 new RTi4's!

    And no sub til I get a house. These Sony's, while not the best sounding, already put out enough bass to get me evicted.
    Originally posted by Toxis
    Wait, what's different than everytime you get a good laugh here? That's right... this time you were actually wearing the miniskirt.
    polkaudio sound quality competitor since 2005
    MECA SQ Rookie of the Year 06 ~ MECA State Champ 06,07,08,11 ~ MECA World Finals 2nd place 06,07,08,09
    08 Car Audio Nationals 1st ~ 07 N Georgia Nationals 1st ~ 06 Carl Casper Nationals 1st ~ USACi 05 Southeast AutumnFest 1st

    polkaudio SR6500 --- polkaudio MM1040 x2 -- Pioneer P99 -- Rockford Fosgate P1000X5D
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  • McLoki
    McLoki Posts: 5,231
    edited July 2005
    4 good bookshelf speakers, the best timber matched center that you can get and and great subwoofer.

    You will be in heaven. Don't purchase anything now with the plan of upgrading it later. Just deal with what you have and purchase what you want to end up with.

    I could not be happier with my audio system now. (well ok, I could have 4 lsi15's, an outlaw 990 pre-amp, and 4 av-18" subs in an IB setup, but I digress.... :D ) I do not know if I will get a pre-amp or new video source next, but with every movie I watch I think the investment in my sound system was worth it.

    Now when I see movies at the theater, I cant wait for them to come out on DVD so I can see how they really sound at home.

    Welcome to HT the way it was supposed to be experienced. :)

    Michael
    Mains.............Polk LSi15 (Cherry)
    Center............Polk LSiC (Crossover upgraded)
    Surrounds.......Polk LSi7 (Gloss Black - wood sides removed and crossovers upgraded)
    Subwoofers.....SVS 25-31 CS+ and PC+ (both 20hz tune)
    Pre\Pro...........NAD T163 (Modded with LM4562 opamps)
    Amplifier.........Cinepro 3k6 (6-channel, 500wpc@4ohms)
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  • aaharvel
    aaharvel Posts: 4,489
    edited July 2005
    Originally posted by Frank Z
    psssst......hey buddy....Wanna buy some rear surround speakers? 7.1 is the shiznit.:D
    damn skippy.
    H/K Signature 2.1+235
    Jungson MagicBoat II
    Revel Performa M-20
    Velodyne cht-10 sub
    Rega P1 Turntable

    "People working at Polk Audio must sit around the office and just laugh their balls off reading many of these comments." -Lush
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  • aaharvel
    aaharvel Posts: 4,489
    edited July 2005
    Originally posted by MacLeod
    NOOOOOO!!!!

    I have to get my 4.1 setup right! I need 4 new RTi4's!

    someone is still trying to sell 2 mint CHERRY rti4's and 2 mint CHERRY rti6's on the thread for VERY reasonable prices.

    FS: Rti4, Rti6 in Cherry
    H/K Signature 2.1+235
    Jungson MagicBoat II
    Revel Performa M-20
    Velodyne cht-10 sub
    Rega P1 Turntable

    "People working at Polk Audio must sit around the office and just laugh their balls off reading many of these comments." -Lush
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  • Mjr7531
    Mjr7531 Posts: 856
    edited July 2005
    Awesome man!

    You'll find the Rti series to be great, I promise. ;)
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  • Mike682
    Mike682 Posts: 2,074
    edited July 2005
    Originally posted by aaharvel
    someone is still trying to sell 2 mint CHERRY rti4's and 2 mint CHERRY rti6's on the thread for VERY reasonable prices.

    Check those out- the cherries look good.

    Those would be an awesome pick-up..
    Receiver: harmankardon AVR235
    Mains: polk R30
    Center: polk CSi3
    Rear Surrounds: polk R20
    Subwoofer: polk PSW404
    DVD: Panasonic DVD-S29
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  • ND13
    ND13 Posts: 7,601
    edited July 2005
    He could get those for what....somewhere around what a pair of new 4s cost, right???
    "SOME PEOPLE CALL ME MAURICE,
    CAUSE I SPEAK OF THE POMPITIOUS OF LOVE"
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  • aaharvel
    aaharvel Posts: 4,489
    edited July 2005
    http://clubpolk.polkaudio.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=29502&highlight=cherry+rti4
    H/K Signature 2.1+235
    Jungson MagicBoat II
    Revel Performa M-20
    Velodyne cht-10 sub
    Rega P1 Turntable

    "People working at Polk Audio must sit around the office and just laugh their balls off reading many of these comments." -Lush
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  • jet2001
    jet2001 Posts: 180
    edited July 2005
    Yeah, it's a great deal. 4's for $160 and the 6's for $250, plus shipping. A pair of 4's will cost you $259 retail. If you've got the money right now, I'd jump on those.
    RTi4-fronts
    CSi3-center
    R15-surrounds
    Cerwin Vega LW15-Sub
    Denon AVR 885
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  • MacLeod
    MacLeod Posts: 14,358
    edited July 2005
    I need to get my truck system finished first. Im saving for the new Signature Reference speakers thatll be coming out soon and I need to get everything installed and squared away before the Polkfest.

    So itll be a few months til I can start buying RTi's. For now Ill just have to live with these Sony's. :(
    polkaudio sound quality competitor since 2005
    MECA SQ Rookie of the Year 06 ~ MECA State Champ 06,07,08,11 ~ MECA World Finals 2nd place 06,07,08,09
    08 Car Audio Nationals 1st ~ 07 N Georgia Nationals 1st ~ 06 Carl Casper Nationals 1st ~ USACi 05 Southeast AutumnFest 1st

    polkaudio SR6500 --- polkaudio MM1040 x2 -- Pioneer P99 -- Rockford Fosgate P1000X5D
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  • exalted512
    exalted512 Posts: 10,735
    edited July 2005
    man, you just got those mm6s and youre already looking to upgrade, youre beginning to be like me!!

    glad to know your head is still in the right place though, car audio first:p

    I'm about to buy a tube amp for my truck by the end of next month
    -Cody
    Music is like candy, you have to get rid of the rappers to enjoy it
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  • mantis
    mantis Posts: 17,201
    edited July 2005
    Duncan MacLeod of the clan MacLeod... I love it...

    Anyhow ,
    Yeah man nothing beat a full digital 5 or 7 .1 system setup correctly. Most movies today all take advantage of the discrete channels and suck you in the movie more.

    Nothing makes up for a good story, effects and surround don't make a good movie but when it all comes together, it's heaven.

    2 channel is not intended for todays movies, 5.1 isn't intended for cd playback. Use the correct format for the software and enjoy it the way it was suppost to be.

    I never agreed with using 2 channel for movie watching. Some people around here like it but thats for them to enjoy. I personally like it correct.

    Dan
    Dan
    My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time.
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  • BrentMcGhee
    BrentMcGhee Posts: 548
    edited July 2005
    well macleod i am glad to see that you have stepped over to the multi-channel world. From here on it is nothing but a downward spiral of tinkering, tweaking, upgrading, and drooling.... only for all of it at the end when you run out of money.
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  • PolkThug
    PolkThug Posts: 7,532
    edited July 2005
    Welcome to 1992! We've been waiting for you. :D
    Never Forget
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  • MacLeod
    MacLeod Posts: 14,358
    edited July 2005
    Originally posted by exalted512
    man, you just got those mm6s and youre already looking to upgrade, youre beginning to be like me!!

    glad to know your head is still in the right place though, car audio first:p

    I'm about to buy a tube amp for my truck by the end of next month
    -Cody

    Well, its been 9 months! Thats plenty long enough. And these were always a temporary speaker intended to hold me over til I was able to get some high end models. It was originally going to be Hex or MBQ Premiums or maybe even some ZR's but with the SR's coming out, Ill have to stick with the home team.

    Now Im re-watching all my movies. Ive already watched Twister, Episodes 1 and 2, Spiderman 2 and thought Id give Lord of the Rings a shot later on tonight.

    Thats the best part of this, now all those movies Id seen a million times I can watch again almost like new!
    polkaudio sound quality competitor since 2005
    MECA SQ Rookie of the Year 06 ~ MECA State Champ 06,07,08,11 ~ MECA World Finals 2nd place 06,07,08,09
    08 Car Audio Nationals 1st ~ 07 N Georgia Nationals 1st ~ 06 Carl Casper Nationals 1st ~ USACi 05 Southeast AutumnFest 1st

    polkaudio SR6500 --- polkaudio MM1040 x2 -- Pioneer P99 -- Rockford Fosgate P1000X5D
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  • amulford
    amulford Posts: 5,020
    edited July 2005
    I'll never forget the first time I got into this habit. I just set up the HT rig and put in Jurrasic Park. The kids had seen this movie a million time, but never really heard it.

    When they got scared, it was priceless...;)

    Like Bruce Willis said - "Welcome to the party, pal..."
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  • disneyjoe7
    disneyjoe7 Posts: 11,435
    edited July 2005

    Remember that a movie is like 50% of the Movie ;)

    Speakers
    Carver Amazing Fronts
    CS400i Center
    RT800i's Rears
    Sub Paradigm Servo 15

    Electronics
    Conrad Johnson PV-5 pre-amp
    Parasound Halo A23
    Pioneer 84TXSi AVR
    Pioneer 79Avi DVD
    Sony CX400 CD changer
    Panasonic 42-PX60U Plasma
    WMC Win7 32bit HD DVR


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  • MacLeod
    MacLeod Posts: 14,358
    edited July 2005
    Originally posted by disneyjoe7
    Remember that a movie is like 50% of the Movie ;)

    I realize that now.

    Like I said, Im re-watching all of my movies.

    Plus, I now have a reason to go buy the remastered Star Wars Trilogy DVD's!
    polkaudio sound quality competitor since 2005
    MECA SQ Rookie of the Year 06 ~ MECA State Champ 06,07,08,11 ~ MECA World Finals 2nd place 06,07,08,09
    08 Car Audio Nationals 1st ~ 07 N Georgia Nationals 1st ~ 06 Carl Casper Nationals 1st ~ USACi 05 Southeast AutumnFest 1st

    polkaudio SR6500 --- polkaudio MM1040 x2 -- Pioneer P99 -- Rockford Fosgate P1000X5D
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  • McLoki
    McLoki Posts: 5,231
    edited July 2005
    Originally posted by MacLeod
    I realize that now.

    Like I said, Im re-watching all of my movies.

    Plus, I now have a reason to go buy the remastered Star Wars Trilogy DVD's!
    Of course you realize that as soon as you upgrade your speakers and especially your subwoofer, you will have to watch them all again.

    You will get alot of milage out of any movie you purchase. it will be new 3 - 4 times... :)

    Michael
    Mains.............Polk LSi15 (Cherry)
    Center............Polk LSiC (Crossover upgraded)
    Surrounds.......Polk LSi7 (Gloss Black - wood sides removed and crossovers upgraded)
    Subwoofers.....SVS 25-31 CS+ and PC+ (both 20hz tune)
    Pre\Pro...........NAD T163 (Modded with LM4562 opamps)
    Amplifier.........Cinepro 3k6 (6-channel, 500wpc@4ohms)
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  • MacLeod
    MacLeod Posts: 14,358
    edited July 2005
    What scares me is when I get a house.

    Then Ill need a seperate amp. Then Ill need LSi's to handle the power. Then Ill need a divorce attorney when my wife finally gets tired of me spending all our money!
    polkaudio sound quality competitor since 2005
    MECA SQ Rookie of the Year 06 ~ MECA State Champ 06,07,08,11 ~ MECA World Finals 2nd place 06,07,08,09
    08 Car Audio Nationals 1st ~ 07 N Georgia Nationals 1st ~ 06 Carl Casper Nationals 1st ~ USACi 05 Southeast AutumnFest 1st

    polkaudio SR6500 --- polkaudio MM1040 x2 -- Pioneer P99 -- Rockford Fosgate P1000X5D
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  • disneyjoe7
    disneyjoe7 Posts: 11,435
    edited July 2005
    Sounds like it's all down hill now.................







    :)

    Speakers
    Carver Amazing Fronts
    CS400i Center
    RT800i's Rears
    Sub Paradigm Servo 15

    Electronics
    Conrad Johnson PV-5 pre-amp
    Parasound Halo A23
    Pioneer 84TXSi AVR
    Pioneer 79Avi DVD
    Sony CX400 CD changer
    Panasonic 42-PX60U Plasma
    WMC Win7 32bit HD DVR


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  • wingnut4772
    wingnut4772 Posts: 7,519
    edited July 2005
    That is a slippery slope and it got me into TONS of trouble with my GF. Serious arguments...but it's all good now. And she has a pretty killer HT system to boot. Our agreement is no more upgrades but we just bought a house and some things we have to do because of the new room. I get new LSIFXs for surrounds and LC80is for rear speakers in the ceiling. Yay!:D
    Sharp Elite 70
    Anthem D2V 3D
    Parasound 5250
    Parasound HCA 1000 A
    Parasound HCA 1000
    Oppo BDP 95
    Von Schweikert VR4 Jr R/L Fronts
    Von Schweikert LCR 4 Center
    Totem Mask Surrounds X4
    Hsu ULS-15 Quad Drive Subwoofers
    Sony PS3
    Squeezebox Touch

    Polk Atrium 7s on the patio just to keep my foot in the door.
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  • Mike682
    Mike682 Posts: 2,074
    edited July 2005
    Originally posted by MacLeod
    What scares me is when I get a house.

    Then Ill need a seperate amp. Then Ill need LSi's to handle the power.

    We are house hunting right now......and I'm in charge of audio/video for the new house!!

    So far I got the ok for HDTV (our current 32" Sony dinosaur will be headed for the bedroom), and "upgraded audio" depending on the living room size, etc.......:D :D
    Receiver: harmankardon AVR235
    Mains: polk R30
    Center: polk CSi3
    Rear Surrounds: polk R20
    Subwoofer: polk PSW404
    DVD: Panasonic DVD-S29
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