Home Theater Help

[jrd]

I'm trying to help a friend put together an entry level home theater. I have my own ideas, of course, but respecting the opinions of the members of this forum, I wanted your thoughts. If you had $2,500 or so for a receiver and a 5.1 setup, what receiver and speakers would you buy? No video equipment is needed at this time--just looking for a receiver and speakers. It'll go in an average sized room, probably 12 x 15 with 7 1/2 foot ceilings.

[Charles]

Is he looking at new only?

[Azeke]

Check out this website, I've heard it before and it is great bang for the buck:

Orb Speakers and HT

This is what I would recommend of the top of my head.

Then as the previous poster stated you can always go used at audigon.com

Peace and blessings,

Azeke

[aud19]

I'd likely go for five small, identical bookshelves from the likes of Energy, Paradigm, PSB etc at around $200-$300 each, a DIY sub or one of SVS's smaller/cheaper units at around $500 and a $500-$750 receiver from Marantz, Yamaha, Pioneer, Denon etc or if you can stretch the budget a bit the Outlaw 1070 receiver would be sweet :T

[jrd]

Thanks gents. I think he would prefer new. I was thinking a Denon or Yamaha receiver and either a Paradigm or Axiom speaker package. I'll give Orb a look--don't know much about them.

[Azeke]

You're welcome. Good call Jason I forgot about the Outlaw 1070.

Peace and blessings,

Azeke

[aud19]

Outlaw has a pretty decent ~$500 sub too if I remember correctly that could be another option from DIY or SVS.

[johnson]

$500 - Yamaha 5960
$600-$1200 - SVS SB-01 Speaker Package or (different brand) with stands
$600-$700 - DIY sonosub

[whoaru99]

$2500 should get you a decent system.

I put together a setup for a friend that is actually pretty decent for about $1K.

It was:
Panasonic XR55
Athena B1s, C1, and .5 surrounds
Mirage S12 sub
Sony DVD player
Panasonic VCR

Even at the $2500 system level, I'd recommend considering the Panasonic digital receivers. The lack some of the features of other receivers so you'd have to consider that, but in terms of sound quality, I think they perform WELL above their price point. This would leave more for speakers which, IMO, is better than spending on electronics at this level.

[gimpy]

Ascend Acoustics get pretty good reviews and I think you could find a nice package in your price range.
(I have never heard them myself)
Frank

[clearwaterms]

remember that with electronics there is always newer / better, but buy one set of speakers now and they will last almost a lifetime.

for speakers, you could probably get some maggie's and a nice reciever for $2500. A set of MMG front's an MMGC1 center and MMG-w's for the rear. Not sure if ESL's are something he would consider, but they look pretty cool if you ask me. $550 for the front channel / $299 for the center and $299 for the rear pair. add a nice subwoofer, say from klipsch / polk / SVS and a reciever. I am a fan of yamaha, but to each there own.

Yamaha HTR 5960 $300 (ebay, new)
Magnepan MMG $550 (front speakers) 60 day money back guarentee
Magnepan MMGc1 $299 (center channel) same 60 day money back guarentee
Magnepan MMG-ws $299 a pair (one or two pairs if you want 5.1 or 7.1)
SVS subwoofer 20-39 $599
that leaves like $400 for shipping and cables.

***note, I have never actually heard the magnepans, but i love the way they look and have been considering getting myself a pair. considering the 60 day money back return, if your not happy send them back***

if ESL's are not your bag, here is an article from audioholics.com that shows a $5K system including the TV
http://www.audioholics.com/showcase/...ometheater.php
they went with an axiom complete package and a higher end yamaha reciever