Home Theater Advice :)

crueda29

Hello Everyone:

I thank everyone in advance for their assistance. I just purchased a 55 inch LG Plasma TV, a Samsung HD960 upconverting DVD player and a DIRECTV HD Satellite Reciever. In addition, I connected the older HARMON KARDON AV310 reciever that I purchased about 4 years ago.
Here is the question: what type of speakers should I hook up to this Home Theater System???? I really like POLK from listening to them at all these Electronic Stores. However, I am open to suggestions.

Thanks

McLoki

Budget? Type of speaker wanted (tower, bookshelf, in-wall, sub/sat)? Mainly Home theater or music as well? (if so, what ratio HT to Music) What is your room like? (how much space do you have to fill)

The most important thing though is what do you like about the polk speakers you listened to? We cannot tell you what you like (or don't like) or how you will justify x% improvement for x% added price.

I have a complete LSi system and I love it. A friend of mine at work has a complete R system (4 R50's and a R15 as a center channel) and he loves his as well. Mine (even purchasing used) costs about 6-7 times my friends system. My LSi's are well worth the added price to me, but to my friend (and probably my wife) - the added cost is considered a waste of money.

It is all up to you, what sound you like, and how much you are willing to spend. No one else can make that up for you.

Good luck,

Michael

crueda29

My budget is $500 - $1000 and these speakers will be used 50% of the time for the Home Theatre System and 50% of the time to listen to music. The room size is about 16ft X 20ft and I would preferably like to purchase floor standing speakers for the front and smaller speakers for the
rear. Also, what type of subwoofer would you recommend.

Thanks

McLoki

Are you willing to purchase used or is new a requirement? You might be able to get by with RTi's if you go used. If not - you may be in the monitor class. I would listen to both and decide from there if the added cost is worth it or not.

Sub - I would normally say SVS, HSU or Outlaw, but I don't know if they would be able to hit your price point.

If you are willing to go bookshelves, I would say 4 RTi6's, a CSi3 and spend what is left over on a sub would make a nice HT system that would not be bad for music as well. You need to give them a listen and decide for yourself though.

There are new RTi speakers coming out in a couple of months so if you are willing to wait a short time, you might be able to snag some good deals on closeout speakers somewhere (you may be able to save enough to get into the RTi towers).

Get your listen on and decide if it is the sound you want.

Michael

crd2002

I just finished setting up my RTi12/csi5/fxi5 and a velodyne sub with a onkyo 804 and a earthquake cinenova7 and man I'm blown away when I listen to music or HT very happy

McLoki

Here was my thinking -

2 pair of RTi6's for $250/pair.

A CSi3 for $130

That leaves you about $370 for a sub. Here is a used SVS for $375.

I know I am a little over your budget (based on the fact that I have not factored in shipping) but this would be a very nice music/home theater system for the price.

once again - this is just my opinion of what I would get if I had your budget. Get out and listen to some speakers and decide if your tastes are similar.

Michael

Then again - if you have the $1000 now, this is exactly what I was going to try and set you up with. (different sub, but you get some electronics with it I was not planning on as well)

crueda29

What do you guyst think of these speakers: POLK AUDIO BIG TOWER SPEAKERS RT-16 RT16. I had a friend rant and rave about these speakers are they any good???? These would be used for the front speakers

Thanks

Sherardp

good find McLoki, for the budget he's working with that would be a kick a$$ setup.

Sami

Since you listen to music as much as 50% of the time, go with the best pair of fronts that you can find for the money. Which ones, that's up to your ears, but if you like Polk's then LSi's.

Used pair of 7's perhaps with a good sub, that would fit in your budget and sound fantastic for music. 2.1 channel is pretty good but if you want surrounds, I would get a pair of R15's for $50 to get you by at least until you can upgrade to all LSi's (or maybe that will be good enough for HT for you).

Upgrade that setup as you can and desire, add in a centre channel but for now I would put a good 2.1 channel as priority based on your desire to listen to music. If you add centre then get from the same series. Surrounds on the other hand can be from different brand/series, they aren't as critical. If you get the 7's then maybe you want to upgrade to 9's or 15's later on and move the 7's as surrounds.