HT Speaker system

TheUser005

After researching a little, I am thinking about purchasing following speaker system, please let me know your thoughts or suggestions. The room is around 24' x 18'

Front: Polk, RTi10
Center: Polk, CSi5
Surround: Polk, FXi5 (or FXi3)
Sub: Velodyne, DLS4000R

My budget is around $2000-2500.

Thanks in advance.

TheUser005

I forgot to mention that I'll be using Onkyo 603 receiver.

adam2434

Hi,

Off the top of my head, 2 things to consider:

1) Subs from SVS, Hsu research, and Outlaw (although Velodyne certainly makes great subs too).

2) If you plan to do much serious 2 channel listening, a separate high current amp(s) for for left and right channel will improve the sound from your towers. Brands like Adcom, Rotel, Parasound, and Outlaw are good places to start. Most around here agree that receivers will not do justice to large, full range speakers. They will sound OK with a receiver, but not as good as they could.


Even my inexpensive Audiosource Amp Three's were a major improvement over my receiver. If I had not got them for such a deal, I would have looked for used amps from the brands above.


Good luck,

Adam

opus

Does the 603 have preouts?
Not sure but I don't think so.

Tour2ma

Good advice on the sub's... 24 x 18' is a big space. Betting there are additional open areas adjacent to the HT room as well...

As for the outboard amps, it does not appear that the 603 has Pre outs.
http://www.onkyousa.com/model.cfm?m=TX-SR603X&p=f&class=Receiver

TU005,

Speaker cjoices look very solid. I don't own RTi10's, but they are a favorite of mine.

It reads like the Onkyo is a done deal... yes? If so, enjoy. If not, you might want to consider an AVR that has Pre Out capability, e.g., the 703. It just keeps future options open for you.

But in either case, go ahead and enjoy your new system for a while before you start adding amps, etc. Not that I disagree with the above that your rig would benefit from the right amp(s), just there's plenty of time down the road for add ons. Main goal right now is to avoid missteps that cannot be undone without wasting $$$.

adam2434

Good catch on the 603 not having pre-outs. Haven't looked seriously at receivers in a while and thought they all had pre-outs these days.

Strike the separate amp reco unless you go with a receiver that has pre-outs for the front L/R.

TheUser005

Thanks everyone for the suggestions.. very helpful. This setup will be only for the theater.. only rarely for the music.

I already bought Onkyo 603 few weeks ago to use it with my existing Boston Acoustics 9000 speaker system. I didn't realize that I may be needing an amp. I guess I'll see how things sound without the amp.

Shizelbs

You might want to see if the 700 level Onkyo has preouts, and if so, will the dealer that sold you the 603 take it back with you buying the higher end model. I know the person that sold me my Onkyo was willing to do that.

TheUser005

I am thinking I can probably get RTi8 instead of RTi10 to save some $. Do you think I'd still need a seperate amp with RTi8?

Thanks

sickicw

TheUser005 wrote:

I am thinking I can probably get RTi8 instead of RTi10 to save some $. Do you think I'd still need a seperate amp with RTi8?

Thanks

I would get a seperate amp for any front and/or center channel that you buy.

adam2434

Since your system is mainly for HT, I think going down to the 8's is OK, hell maybe even 6's for your fronts. I'd put that money right into a bigger and badder sub. You have a pretty big area to fill and I think you will get more impact from your HT from a bigger sub vs. bigger fronts.

If this were a 50/50 music and HT system, I'd say go with the larger fronts and think about separate amps.

Tour2ma

From a demand on the amp perspective, not much difference with the 8 vs. the 10.

I understand budget, but the choice between the 8 vs. 10 (vs. 12) should include an audition...

EDIT: I agree that sub funding is a worthy diversion of fundage...

opus

User,
Not sure if your local store sells both Onkyo and Polks but if they do see if you can audition the 10's and 8's on "your" Onkyo in your local store Find a good salesman that will let you listen for awhile and make your own decision. A couple of upgrades back I was able to audition speaks that I wanted on the reciever and the dvd player that I had at home. Also bring in your own material to listen to.

+1 on the sub upgrade. money well spent:)