Newbie here with a question on upgrading my HT system...

fairfaxgator

I currently have:

Sony 51'' rear projection HDTV and a Sony Dream System (both 8 years old)

Ready to upgrade these to:

Samsung 55'' LED LCD or 58'' plasma
Pioneer Elite Receiver (VSX23) (Best Buy offering upgrade to this model)
Pioneer Blue Ray (BDP 320)
Polk Audio TSi100 (pair)
Polk Audio TSi300 (pair)(front standing speakers)
Polk Audio CS10 (center channel)
Polk Audio PSW110 (subwoofer)

Any comments/suggestions? Am I shooting too high with the receiver? I really like the reviews on the speakers from Polk. I like the cherry look as well. Can the TSi100s be wall mounted? Are they too heavy? What are some good stands for the TSi100s?

Thanks.

leroyjr1

Look into the Pioneer plasma tv's

wutadumsn23

Have heard good things about the Sammy's, but don't have one myself. I have a Sony SXRD LCoS and wouldn't trade it for the world. As for the speakers I have heard good thing about the TSi series and INHO you won't be dissapointed by their performance. The 100's are wall mountable, yes. They have a keyhole slot on the back and a decent sized screw with a wall anchor should keep em up for a long time. They only weigh about 10 lbs. so you should be fine. The only suggestion I would make is maybe adding the CS20 instead of the CS10 as your center, but running the 300's the CS10 might be good enough. Something like 50-75% of a movies soundtrack is sent through the center channel (esp. dialogue) so you don't want to skimp on that one. Don't know much about the AVR, but have heard nothing but good things about the Pioneer Elite's. It looks like it has all the newer HD codecs, Pre-Outs, Burr Brown DAC's, and just about everything you could want in a receiver. No such thing as too much in this hobby, lol. Get the best you can afford, you will thank yourself down the road. Good luck and keep us updated. Welcome to Club Polk.

-Jeff

Pycroft

I've auditioned the Pioneer Elite VSX 23 and think it's a fine receiver. If I had the money, I'd shoot for that one as well! Good luck and welcome.

James

cnh

I agree with everyone and run a system similar to W-23 above...the only thing I'd say is why not get the Polk PSW505...it's a better sub with more power than the 110 and you can get if for around 250 new on line at various e-tailers?

cnh

wutadumsn23

+1 for the 505, good idea. I didn't even think of that. Here is a link from Newegg, $249.99 no tax and free shipping. Can't beat that with a stick, free shipping on a 50 lb. sub.


http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882290130&nm_mc=OTC-Froogle&cm_mmc=OTC-Froogle-_-Home+Audio+Speakers-_-Polk+Audio-_-82290130

-Jeff

coolsax

+1 for the 505 I have it in my setup and it really is very nice. too bad it only comes in Black.. it unfortunately does not match my cherry Monitors but its not that big a deal.
+1 on Sammy Plasmas as well. We have two in our house, a 50" and a 42" and both look great.

fairfaxgator

I could go a step down from the Pioneer Elite Receiver (VSX23) to the Pioneer VSX-1019AH-K (CNET Editor's Choice). I will save over $200.

What about speaker stands for the rear TSi100s? Where can I get those?

Thanks for the insight...will let you know what I decide. I may make some adjustments on the Polk speaker set-up as I just noticed Newegg has some really good price deals which end today.

coolsax

If you're going to go the newegg route, do keep in mind that the Monitors are the predecessors to the TSI series at the same price points, so they represent a very good bang for buck, at 1/2 to 2/3 the price of the TSI series. That being said I've seen some say that the TSIs are a little better than the monitors soundwise, and I think most agree that the TSI's look better than the monitors.

jinjuku

I would save a little on the receiver and put it towards a sub.

Check out the BIC H100 for ~$250 ish or the BIC PL-200 for $329.

I think they will do better than either of the Polk subs mentioned.

cfrizz

Welcome Fair. Whatever receiver you get make sure it has preouts for future upgrades in power. So if the VSX23 has them and the 1019 doesn't, get the VSX23!

fairfaxgator

The 1019 has preouts (maybe 1) for future upgrades.

dvran

+1 on the Samsung Plasma.

I got a 50" Samsung Plasma Model P50B550. I compared this TV to the Panasonic G15 and it hands down beat that TV in picture quality.

I got my TV and receiver from HHgregg in Ohio. Got the TV for $899 and receiver for $350.

cfrizz

fairfaxgator wrote: »

The 1019 has preouts (maybe 1) for future upgrades.

No preouts. It is truly worth spending the extra $200 to have those preouts, because sooner or later, you are going to want better sound & the best way to do it is with separate amplification.

obieone

Another vote for the VSX-23TXH. And I'd look at Monitor 30's/40's/60's/70's at Newegg. More speaker for the money:D

MrGlobe

No comment on the tvs

+1000 to getting a receiver with pre-outs. You'll want them later.

Also, You could get nicer speakers if you start out buying a 3.1 setup, and just use cheap speakers for now for the surrounds. Instead of the tsi300s you could get 400s or 500s and a CS20 or something, just a thought. I did it the other way, and bought good (not great) mains, center and surrounds, and then ended up buying new mains and center, so now I have extra surrounds and a center I wish I wouldn't have gotten.

With the question about speaker stands.... I just got a pair from studiotech:
http://www.studiotech.com/products/speaker_stands/sw_series/index.html

and they are very good quality, nice looking, and CHEAP! (Silver 30" tall ones are $20!!!)

wutadumsn23

Bottom line is it's all up to your budget. I agree 1000% with cfrizz's suggestion of buying the AVR with Pre-Outs, you will thank us in the long run if you want to add an external amp to bring your speakers to life. Spend the extra cash on a good source (AVR) IMHO it is better to build your HT system around your source than to build it around your speakers. If you buy a badass set of speakers and then get a cheap AVR, you will never be able to experience the full potential of those speakers. Lets face it, you are going to end up upgrading your speakers anyway (most likely) and if you buy a good AVR that has pre-outs then you won't really need to replace it, all you have to do is add an external amp and call it a day. Have you looked into the Monitor series? They are very similar to the TSi series performance wise, but look a bit different. At almost half the price of the TSi series, you could get the best of the best of the Monitor series, rather than Mid line TSI's. Just a thought, I love my Monitor's and have not been dissapointed at all. Good luck and keep us informed.

-Jeff

fairfaxgator

What do I need to watch out for with regards to ohms per speaker vs. the receiver I choose (Pioneer Elite VSX-23 or Pioneer 1019AH-K)?

Am I within the recommended ohm range for the speakers I listed?

Polk Audio TSi100 (pair)
Polk Audio TSi300 (pair)(front standing speakers)
Polk Audio CS10 (center channel)
Polk Audio PSW110 (subwoofer)

vc69

fairfaxgator wrote: »

What do I need to watch out for with regards to ohms per speaker vs. the receiver I choose (Pioneer Elite VSX-23 or Pioneer 1019AH-K)?

Am I within the recommended ohm range for the speakers I listed?

Polk Audio TSi100 (pair)
Polk Audio TSi300 (pair)(front standing speakers)
Polk Audio CS10 (center channel)
Polk Audio PSW110 (subwoofer)

Those are 8 ohm speakers. You should be fine.

+1 on looking into top of the line Monitors (70's, 30's, CS2) vs. the TSi's. More bang for your buck.