Deciding on first time HT system

zombie boy 2000

MattN03 wrote:

I'm wanting all new stuff since I'm a newbie and don't want to be suckered into a worn out/bad speaker set :eek:

i'm sorry.. i guess i should have better explained myself... i was thinking refurbed or b-stock...
but i'm with you, so forget the Rti's and take long hard look at the monitors if you want peace of mind (can't fault you for that )

okiepolkie

Nice TV, I've got the same one as a 32".

The reason I asked about the video connections has to do with the television most of all. If you would like to have video upconversion to component video, then I'd suggest getting a receiver with that feature.

I'll PM you with some of the details I've together for you so far.

tommyboy

I know I am kind of getting off the subject (sorry matt) but I noticed matt talking about monster speaker wire. If my signature would actually show up you could see what sysem I have... but when I bought my system, I looked to buy the 16 guage monster speaker wire and even at a discount, to me , was very expensive($60, 50 feet). So I went to home depot about bought RCA 14 guage speaker wire for $20. I just want to ask if anyone heard if this wire is crap? I always thought that with a system like mine, it really doesn't matter.

Just to let you guys know, I TRIED a search on the subject but everything was about rca cables (composite)not rca speaker wire.

tommyboy

after a post or two, we'll get back to your system matt

MattN03

tommyboy wrote:

I know I am kind of getting off the subject (sorry matt) but I noticed matt talking about monster speaker wire. If my signature would actually show up you could see what sysem I have... but when I bought my system, I looked to buy the 16 guage monster speaker wire and even at a discount, to me , was very expensive($60, 50 feet). So I went to home depot about bought RCA 14 guage speaker wire for $20. I just want to ask if anyone heard if this wire is crap? I always thought that with a system like mine, it really doesn't matter.

Just to let you guys know, I TRIED a search on the subject but everything was about rca cables (composite)not rca speaker wire.

No, that is a great question that I would like to hear also. I just "heard" Monster Cable is the best & a "must have" for a HT system. I currently use MC from my TV to satelitte receiver FWIW.

MattN03

okiepolkie wrote:

Nice TV, I've got the same one as a 32".

The reason I asked about the video connections has to do with the television most of all. If you would like to have video upconversion to component video, then I'd suggest getting a receiver with that feature.

I'll PM you with some of the details I've together for you so far.

Cool, I'm interested in what you recommend!

Skynut

Power conditioners are like surge protectors but the help clean the noise out of the ac power line.
That thread is long but does a great deal of question answering about the topic.
Interconnects are the rca cords that conect the components together. The cd/dvd/cassette/vcr player to the receiver or the amp.

+1 on the pre outs also.
When I got my onkyo it had pre outs and I didn't even know. Now I have an amp in my system because I finally had the money and the will to get one.
Sperates are the way to go.

Skynut

I got monster cables with my used speakers. the guy had them and threw them in on the deal.
If I did not get them for free I would probably be using 10 gauge home depot wire.
In fact I just bought 2 rolls of 10 gauge wire off e-bay for use in my bedroom rig.

tommyboy

so the guage is more important than the brand?

zombie boy 2000

Skynut wrote:

+1 on the pre outs also.
When I got my onkyo it had pre outs and I didn't even know. Now I have an amp in my system because I finally had the money and the will to get one.
Sperates are the way to go.

and just a "heads up" that the onkyo 503 does not have 'em --
right now, they may seem mysterious at best and unnecessary at worst, but if you go snooping around this forum you'll find out how invaluable they are
trust me

zombie boy 2000

unfortunately, with Monster you're paying for the name (also, more than a few people here will tell you it's a racket run by an unethical corporation -- but there are a million and one threads tackling this issue)
in short... lower guage equals higher signal transfer
look at signal cables
blue jeans cable
cobalt
they all offer quality IC's at very reasonable prices

MattN03

zombie boy 2000 wrote:

and just a "heads up" that the onkyo 503 does not have 'em --
right now, they may seem mysterious at best and unnecessary at worst, but if you go snooping around this forum you'll find out how invaluable they are
trust me

So does the H/K 435 have preouts incase I want to upgrade with an amp later on?

MattN03

Will this system improve the sound of regular TV programming? Will the surround sound function work, are only DVD's incoded with 5.1, etc?

zombie boy 2000

absolutely to the pre-outs
as does the 335 and the 235 (and the more current models 340 and 240)
but that original price of 450 you quoted is outstanding, so i'd jump on that--
that way if you're eventually in the market for an external amp upgrade, you could possibly get a two-channel amp for your fronts (for rockin' the casbah sans surround sound) and push those rears and center with 65 wpc -- again, considering HK's high current, quite respectable
the only difference between the 435 and the 235 and 335 is a decrease to 55wpc for the 335 and 50wpc for the 235 -- good watts mind you, but since you won't find much of a price difference, spring for the 435
i don't want to distract you from your original inquiry though, how's your speaker search going?

MattN03

zombie boy 2000 wrote:

absolutely to the pre-outs
as does the 335 and the 235 (and the more current models 340 and 240)
but that original price of 450 you quoted is outstanding, so i'd jump on that--
that way if you're eventually in the market for an external amp upgrade, you could possibly get a two-channel amp for your fronts (for rockin' the casbah sans surround sound) and push those rears and center with 65 wpc -- again, considering HK's high current, quite respectable
the only difference between the 435 and the 235 and 335 is a decrease to 55wpc for the 335 and 50wpc for the 235 -- good watts mind you, but since you won't find much of a price difference, spring for the 435
i don't want to distract you from your original inquiry though, how's your speaker search going?

I'm just taking in all this info. I'm home from work part of the day having a alarm system installed in my house so I thought I'd take the time and start reading/posting more here.

How does the following sound?
F & R: RTi4
Center: CSi3
Sub: PSW303

zombie boy 2000

i haven't had a chance to hear the RTi4's for myself -- for whatever reason, i was dead-set on a pair of floorstanding speaks for the fronts (90% of the time they are used for listening to music in two-channel)
that being said, it is certainly not a "one or the other" proposition -- there are more than a fair share of "smaller speakers" (bookshelves, and even satellites, that would trump my 70's in a head-to-head); just check out the LSi9's for further proof
however, there are advantages in going with larger speakers (larger drivers and more of 'em), but you might find their size obtrusive
as for the sub -- just give a looksy to the velodynes or even the SVS if you can budget it

okiepolkie

To add to the speaker stand discussion, take a look at Racks and Stands.

Speaker stands that are able to be filled with metal shot or sand will help isolate the speaker from the floor-remember you want to move air, not the speaker itself.

The front speakers, with the RTi4's would probably need to be between 24-26" tall. If speakers are placed on stands in the rear, the stands would be best at 30" or above. Ideally, you want the surrounds 2-3 feet above your listening position.

millerman 3732

matt where in MS are you?

MattN03

millerman 3732 wrote:

matt where in MS are you?

Just south of Memphis, in Desoto Co.

MattN03

Another idea I just had was buying some at a time and building the system over a slighter longer time (ie, over the summer maybe). Would getting RTi8's for fronts be overkill or bad in a room our size as shown in the pics above? I was wondering about RTi8's for fronts, CSi3 for center, RTi6 for surrounds, and maybe a SVS sub (seems like everyone thinks highly from the other threads I searched on here today). Maybe I could buy the H/K 435 receiver and the RTi8's and a SVS sub and add the center and rears later in the year? Would there be a lot of difference between this setup and maybe the Monitor 50 fronts and similiar Monitor line rears & center?

Skynut

My system was 3 years in the making before I had decent equipment to really enjoy my movies.
I started with RT2000's and a crapy rcvr. then I got the Onkyo rcvr. when I realized I was not doing my speakers any good. It took almost a year and a half before I got my Cs400i and FX500's. It was year of watching killer movies from my vcr before I could afford my Onkyo dvd player.
I have just been upgrading from then to now and there is really no end in sight.

I'm going out of control.

okiepolkie

I like upgrading a little at a time. I went through a similar step-up program as skynut.

tommyboy

MattN03 wrote:

Another idea I just had was buying some at a time and building the system over a slighter longer time (ie, over the summer maybe). Would getting RTi8's for fronts be overkill or bad in a room our size as shown in the pics above? I was wondering about RTi8's for fronts, CSi3 for center, RTi6 for surrounds, and maybe a SVS sub (seems like everyone thinks highly from the other threads I searched on here today). Maybe I could buy the H/K 435 receiver and the RTi8's and a SVS sub and add the center and rears later in the year? Would there be a lot of difference between this setup and maybe the Monitor 50 fronts and similiar Monitor line rears & center?

Matt,

I was in the same position as you are between the monitor 50s and RTI8s. But the bottom line was, If I got the Rtis and would had to buy at least an hk 435 or onkyo 703 and upgrade my surrounds (r15s). I just didn't have the money do to that . So I just got the 603 and monitor 50s and its sound very good. I plan about 5 years or so when I have some real money saved up, I will get a high end system, above the RTi series. But my point is, you get what you pay for, The rti series will sound better than the monitor series, it just matters if your willing to pay for it.

Just giving my two cents
tommyboy

MattN03

tommyboy wrote:

Matt,

I was in the same position as you are between the monitor 50s and RTI8s. But the bottom line was, If I got the Rtis and would had to buy at least an hk 435 or onkyo 703 and upgrade my surrounds (r15s). I just didn't have the money do to that . So I just got the 603 and monitor 50s and its sound very good. I plan about 5 years or so when I have some real money saved up, I will get a high end system, above the RTi series. But my point is, you get what you pay for, The rti series will sound better than the monitor series, it just matters if your willing to pay for it.

Just giving my two cents
tommyboy

Is the sound quality difference a lot-enough to justify the cost? Or does it come down to sound preference (or how sensitive your ears are-lol)? Should a H/K 435 have the guts by itself to power Rti8 fronts and the matching other speakers?

zombie boy 2000

MattN03 wrote:

Should a H/K 435 have the guts by itself to power Rti8 fronts and the matching other speakers?

IMO no... the RTi 8's would benefit immeasurably from an external amp -- though they'll sound mighty nice with the 435
if (and it's a big IF) you can get a deal on a 235 (or even 335) relative to the one you're getting on the 435, you could spring for one of those and go used on an external amp (check audiogon or the flea market on this forum)
+1 on the RTi 8's if your primary use is HT, you won't find the need to upgrade anytime soon on that front, but keep in mind that some think them a tad on the bright side, so musically... maybe/maybe not

MattN03

zombie boy 2000 wrote:

+1 on the RTi 8's if your primary use is HT, you won't find the need to upgrade anytime soon on that front, but keep in mind that some think them a tad on the bright side, so musically... maybe/maybe not

So what does "bright side" mean sound wise to a listener? That's a new term for me.

tommyboy

I have seen quite a few people on this forum use th HK avr635 with RTI speakers. Circuit city has this open box for $500 bucks (originally $1100!) and I was about to shoot myself when I saw that.J and r has it new for $660. If there is one thing right now I regret getting, its the onkyo 603.

Do you guys think it would be better(and cost less) to get just say the 335 or 435 and get a seperate amp for the fronts?

tommyboy

zombie boy 2000 wrote:

IMO no... the RTi 8's would benefit immeasurably from an external amp -- though they'll sound mighty nice with the 435
if (and it's a big IF) you can get a deal on a 235 (or even 335) relative to the one you're getting on the 435, you could spring for one of those and go used on an external amp (check audiogon or the flea market on this forum)
+1 on the RTi 8's if your primary use is HT, you won't find the need to upgrade anytime soon on that front, but keep in mind that some think them a tad on the bright side, so musically... maybe/maybe not

sorry, forget that last question, zombie pretty much answered that

tommyboy

MattN03 wrote:

So what does "bright side" mean sound wise to a listener? That's a new term for me.

means a little harsh

MattN03

tommyboy wrote:

means a little harsh

Is that talking about the highs or lows?