**Speaker Setup Recommendation**

Mac2.0

I need a professional opinion as to which setup I should go with for my speakers. I currently have not purchased my receiver yet, so I can go with any recommendation (for a receiver for $1000 or less).
I have the following speakers:
Fronts: Monitor 60 series
Surrounds: FXi3 series
Center: CSi5
Sub: PSW505
My room is approx. 16'x16' and I would like to position the sub next to the couch underneath an end table (for esthetic reasons).
I have been looking at the hookup methods described in the owner's manual for the PSW505, and I would like to know which setup option to use (Figure 6, 7, or 8)?
I am planning on running the speaker wire this weekend for my system, so a quick response would be greatly appreciated.

-Thanks,

Tour2ma

Figure 8. You'll need one long interconnect (you can make your own out of co-ax), but it's in place of speaker wire running to and fro times 2.

I'm not an AVR guy, but can say that harmon/kardon has a pretty good following here. Fry's has their AVR 635 on-sale now for $599. Circuit City also carries HK so you can audition it on your Mon 60's as they carry them as well. The combo does lean towards the bright side, IMO.

Denon is also quite popular and is a step up in performance and price. The list price of their Model 2807 is just outside your budget, but you might catch a sale. Tweeter carries the full Denon line, but not the Monitor line. However, they carry Polk's T90EB, which is the Mon 60 in a different skin. So again you have good audition possibilities. Smoother combo here IMO.

Outlaw Audio (internet only) also has quite a following here and their Model 1070 goes for $899. I've not heard Outlaw, so no opinion here. However, they do have a trial policy so you can return your buy should it not please you.

There are certainly more options, but these three represent a nice price/ performance range.

I auditioned your Mon 60's when they came out. I thought they were the class of the new Monitor line. And a couple members bought the T90EB's. Most noted that they were bright out of the box, but broke in after a couple hundred hours and became much smoother.

Also the general opinion here is that your PSW 505 is the class of Polk's line of subs. Ideally you'd want to play with its location some to maximize room gain and minimize standing wave nulls at your listening postion. Hopefully the position you have in mind is acceptable performance-wise.

I will say that since the 60's only dig down to 48 Hz (-3 dB point), you're not going to be able to cross-over to the sub much lower than 80 Hz. Reason I mention this is that with the sub position you are suggesting (to the side of you) it might be better to cross-over to it at as low a point as possible. The ability to sonically locate the sub is what you are trying to avoid. Localization capability starts to fade at 100 Hz in most people, but some folk can locate bass sources at lower frequencies.

Welcome to the Club...

Willow

If that wasn't an answer I don't know what is . Nice one Tour !

cfrizz

Yup what Tour said!

Welcome Mac!

iworkfortweeter

dude, look seriously at yamaha amps. you can find a great model for just over a grand, and it has EVERYTHING you will ever need in any system. don't over-spend on kardon things, yamaha is your best bang for your buck.