Help for Entry level system

sarge_in

Hi,

I have just begun venturing into the audio system arena and am certainly no audiophile. I am looking to upgrade my 4-year old Panasonic HTIB with a better system, but looking to stay close to $1000 overall. When I initially started looking, I thought the Onkyo HT-S907 fit my needs great and gave a good overall package. When I happened to drop in at Fry's to listen to it, unfortunately its receiver was blown, but the salesman walked me to a 6.1 system with an Onkyo receiver and Polk speakers and it sounded quite nice to me. He then switched out the Polk and replaced them with Onkyo speakers that came in the S907 package and I was almost sure the Polks sounded much better. As I said I am no audiophile, so I wanted to get some advice here about what you think between these two speakers. On specs alone, the S907 speakers look better (1-inch balanced dome tweeter and two 3-1/8" cone woofers) while the Polk RM6751 sats have only only 1 woofer. But the Polks sounded better to me. Am I dreaming? Of course, I know Polk makes MUCH better speakers, and audiophiles would not even consider Onkyo speakers, but I am no audiophile. I just a need a decently nice system on budget, and if even in this range the basic Polks are better than Onkyo, I will of course go for them.

So I am now thinking of getting just the Onkyo SR604 receiver, CP704 6-disc DVD player, and the RM6750 system (5 RM6751 sats, 1 RM6752 center, 8" sub). Another option is the RM10, but is double of the RM6750 package, and does not have a sub as well. Will it be a HUGE difference - esp for a non-audiophile like me?! What do you think otherwise of the proposed system?

P.S. My living room is about 12 x 16, and I will mostly be watching movies on this system, and only some music.

Thanks in advance!

engtaz

Compare the Onkyo and Denon at the same price point.


engtaz

cfrizz

Welcome Sarge.

Yes Polks will outclass any speaker that Onkyo puts out since Polk focuses on speakers & leaves electronics to Onkyo.

Whatever receiver you get, you should make sure it has preamp outputs. This will allow for future expansion when you are ready.

JimBRICK

you can also see at frys that they have a floor stander system including the r300 fronts, csi25 center and r150 rears with a psw 303.
receiver HARMAN KARDON AVR-245.

still well in your budget

sarge_in

Thanks for all your responses!

Engtaz - The Denon has lesser connections, and no HDMI, or in fact any video switching at that price-point. Onkyo has HDMI switching, and upconversion (without any increase in resolution) from composite and s-video to component etc.

Cfrizz - Good to know I wasn't dreaming then! The SR604 has one output for subwoofer pre-out. Is that what you meant, or did you mean for other speakers as well?

JimBRICK - Thanks for the tip. I will check it out. From online specs, I did notice that the AVR-245 output is 50W per channel, as opposed to 90W for the Onkyo. Would you still recommend this package above the other one I mentioned?

JimBRICK

but they are rated totally different power wide like nad. I would recommend the H\k over the onkyo. and the speakers are a steal at those price they would sound amazing for a lower end unit

just teh r300's normally retail for 399

sarge_in

Excuse my ignorance, but you lost me there . What do you mean by your first statement?

Also, do you remember how much this was going for? Thanks!

daboyz

JimBRICK wrote:

but they are rated totally different power wide like nad. I would recommend the H\k over the onkyo. and the speakers are a steal at those price they would sound amazing for a lower end unit

just teh r300's normally retail for 399

I'll second this. Cfrizz was talking about component outs not the sub out. I wish I would have known that when I bought my HK AVR-125. I've been watching the refurbs from Harman Audio on ebay and you can get a helluva HK receiver there w/warranty for a great price. If it were me I'd get the speaks Jim was talking about and get the receiver from ebay. For entry level you'd be way ahead of most.

daboyz

JimBRICK was talking about the power ratings, HK is very conservative. Their 50 watts is sooo much more than that.

sarge_in

Ah - I see! Thanks daboyz! Never thought about checking the ebay for these..

And JimBRICK - just saw your other post abt the speakers. They sure are awesomely priced! Now just need to see them in real to check whether they will fit in my space. I hope...

cfrizz

I mean preamp outputs for ALL your speakers. It will mean spending a bit more for the receiver, but when the upgrade bug hits you will be glad you did!

The Denon 887 has preouts & HDMI. and costs msrp 699.00.

sarge_in

OK, so I looked at the speakers recommended by JinBRICK. They of course sound very good, but the bookshelves and center are just too big for the space I have. So I ended up getting the RM6750 for $200 that has 4 sats, 1 center and a sub. I am now wondering whether I can still get the R300s for the fronts and use it as a 7.1 system. Will these match my other small speakers or will they be too overwhelming?

Also, the way my room is, I HAVE to put my rears on the wall which is also right against the couch. Considering that the wall is about 10 ft wide, does it make sense to have the rear surrounds on it as well for a 7.1 system, or shud I just stay with a 5.1 system.

Thanks for all the help!!!

engtaz

Nice Denon in fleamarket at a great price.

engtaz

Sansui

sarge_in wrote: »

Hi,

I have just begun venturing into the audio system arena and am certainly no audiophile.

P.S. My living room is about 12 x 16, and I will mostly be watching movies on this system, and only some music.

Thanks in advance!

I agree with engtaz and Cfrizz, Denon is the way to go with your budget.

I just upgraded my Onkyo 304 to a Denon 887 and couldn't be happier! I wish I hadn't bought the Onkyo to begin with after hearing the difference between the two.

I'd suggest the Denon over the Onkyo any day. If you go with Denon, buy it from a Denon authorized dealer (listed on denon.com). If you go the E-Bay route don't buy a refurb or a new one from dakmart. They have the "customer service from hell". Check out secondact.biz. I hear they're real good to buy from.

I bought mine new so I have a 2 year warranty, refurbs have a 90 day warranty.

JoshParsons84

Hey sarge I would tell you to have 7.1 anyday of the week, but these guys might disagree with me.

cfrizz

You will do just fine with 5.1. That's what a good many people have since they don't have room for 7 speakers. Myself included & my system sounds great!:)

sarge_in wrote: »

OK, so I looked at the speakers recommended by JinBRICK. They of course sound very good, but the bookshelves and center are just too big for the space I have. So I ended up getting the RM6750 for $200 that has 4 sats, 1 center and a sub. I am now wondering whether I can still get the R300s for the fronts and use it as a 7.1 system. Will these match my other small speakers or will they be too overwhelming?

Also, the way my room is, I HAVE to put my rears on the wall which is also right against the couch. Considering that the wall is about 10 ft wide, does it make sense to have the rear surrounds on it as well for a 7.1 system, or shud I just stay with a 5.1 system.

Thanks for all the help!!!

TroyD

7.1, schmeven point one.

If your tastes are primarily HT, then a Polk sub/sat system is a GREAT idea and the sound will suprise a lot of nose in the air audiophiles. Now, if you are interested in music playback as well....maybe we need to talk about something else. However, the sub/sat combo is splendid idea.

As far as receivers go, pick what you like. Denon is my personal favorite but Onk and HK make good units as well. Find the one that sounds good and has the features that you need. Don't get wrapped around the axle w/power ratings. Anything with ~50wpc will do you just fine.

Welcome!

BDT

dougr

I had a store credit at Fry's and ended up buying a refurb HK 340 online (harmanaudio on ebay) after returning an onkyo display unit (I wanted the cheapest one with preouts). I liked the Denon and HK receivers... the HKs included pre-outs on most of their lower end models where the denons did not (thus my choice, as i plan on adding an amp at some point). anyway, having tried the comparable onkyo and HK receivers in my home, I can say without a doubt the HK receiver sounds much better. I would not have hesitated to buy denon either, but their models with preouts start a bit higher in price, which was a big factor for me.
good luck!

P.S. 55wpc of the HK340 sounds very nice with much more hungry polks than you've got, so going with lower specs on HK or Denon is the way to go... don't be fooled by the power ratings, trust your ears.

sarge_in

All - thanks for your help! I think I will stay with 5.1 for now and see how it sounds (still need to set it all up). I REALLY want to go 7.1, but considering I will have 4 speakers on a 10 ft wall and that would most probably mean 3 speakers on one side and 1 on other if I place them equally - I think 7.1 is perhaps overkill for me in current setup.

Will try out the receivers in a store this weekend...there seems to be no doubt that there are better receivers than Onkyo...just need to see if I can get all the features (HDMI switching and upconversion) at the price-point I am aiming at...esp given that I just got a 50" plasma as well

TN_Polk_Lover

sarge_in wrote: »

Also, the way my room is, I HAVE to put my rears on the wall which is also right against the couch. Considering that the wall is about 10 ft wide, does it make sense to have the rear surrounds on it as well for a 7.1 system, or shud I just stay with a 5.1 system.

In your situation, I don't think it would make sense to even bother with 7.1. You really don't have the room for it to do any good. Better to take the money you save to make the 5.1 system better. Many people here have expressed the idea "Better to have a good 5.1 system as opposed to a lesser quality 7.1 system."

sarge_in

I agree. I have decided to go with 5.1 for now

Btw, I picked those R300's and CSi25 at a great price. I feel though, that while the R300's are very nice (and also save me the dough for stands / trouble to install them on wall), they seem to be not too good on treble. Sounds like the base is more powerful on these, while treble is weak. Is that correct? The RM6751 by comparison, of course, do not sound anywhere as good, but they seem to be 'brighter'? The bass, of course, is severely lacking on the RM6751.

Also, I am currently running these off my Panasonic HTIB receiver/DVD player which doesnt have much in the way of Bass / Treble controls. I still have to get the proper receiver, and I am thinking those should be able to adjust this to some extent. Or are my high frequencies gonna remain a bit subdued?

Thanks!