2.1 speaker setup

[Firebert05]

What is the best bang for the buck setup I can obtain(speakers, subwoofer, and receiver)? I can't really find any forums or review sites to help me in the search...

 

[NanoStuff]

I can't say I have anything to suggest in particular, but you're really gonna want to define a price range. You could be going from $100 to many thousands, too broad to suggest anything.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

http://www.avsforum.com/

Pricerange is really needed.

 

[Firebert05]

I know I forgot something. I'm looking for a setup under $500.

I dug up an old 2.1 setup in my basement: A cambridge soundworks "new ensemble III" 2.1 - do these speakers hold a candle to anything out there today?

 

[Howard]

DIY speakers + DIY sub + used receiver

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Do you have a receiver that works too?

 

[Firebert05]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
Do you have a receiver that works too?

I don't, just the sub and l/r speakers

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Is this always going to be a 2.1 system or do you think this might evolve into a surround sound system in the future?

I'm thinking maybe reuse the current sub and then spend your money on a basic receiver and then spend the bulk of your money on a good pair of bookshelf speakers.

 

[us3rnotfound]

Originally posted by: Howard
DIY speakers + DIY sub + used receiver

== !bad

 

[Firebert05]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
Is this always going to be a 2.1 system or do you think this might evolve into a surround sound system in the future?

I'm thinking maybe reuse the current sub and then spend your money on a basic receiver and then spend the bulk of your money on a good pair of bookshelf speakers.

Thank you! Any suggestions for the receiver and bookshelf speakers?

 

[JulesMaximus]

I'd check out ebay or craigslist for some older but excellent HT speakers. I'm sure you'll have to wade through a bunch of crap but if you're patient you could probably pick up a really good set of speakers for less than half what they cost new.

 

[Firebert05]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
I'd check out ebay or craigslist for some older but excellent HT speakers. I'm sure you'll have to wade through a bunch of crap but if you're patient you could probably pick up a really good set of speakers for less than half what they cost new.

I agree. There's over 1000 items on ebay under "bookshelf speakers" most of them crap i'm sure - what should I be looking for?

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

So do you have any DIY skills btw? (So Howard doesn't blow a gasket)

You cool with something refurbished?
http://www.shoponkyo.com/detail.cfm?pro...delid=56&group_id=1&detail=1&ext_war=1

That would allow for a surround setup to be used eventually if you want to.

For speakers, there are a lot of good options that would allow you to stay around $500.

Like JulesMaximus says, ebay and craigslist along with some more audio oriented places could be a good place to look for stuff.

I check these a few times a day
http://www.audiogon.com/index.html
http://www.videogon.com/index.html
http://av123forum.com/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=14
http://www.hometheaterforum.com/htf/forumdisplay.php?f=10
http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/forumdi...ort=lastpost&order=&pp=25&daysprune=30
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forumdisplay.php?f=127

along with my local Craigslist.

Something in your pricerange for new would be

Ascend 170s
Axiom M3Ti
AV123 X-LS
SVS SBS-01
Paradigm Atoms/Titan

etc.

 

[Firebert05]

Thank you! And I don't have any DIY skills. But I have nothing but respect for Howard - I owe my well stocked kitchen to him!

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

It's hard to say what would be good ones to look for to fit your taste without knowing what kind of sound you like.

There's a saying that goes: "You can pick your speakers, you can pick your friends, but you can't pick your friend's speakers"

That said, a lot of these online companies will have in-home demo periods where you can try their products for ~30 days and then if you don't like them, you can send them back.

For example, AV123 just started doing risk-free trials where they will pay for shipping both ways if you are unsatisfied with them.

 

[NaOH]

I have a Denon ADV-M51 for my setup in my bed room. Not sure how much space u are willing to sacrifice. Text
Works perfectly for me.

 

[Howard]

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp...ctCategoryId=cat03043&id=1138085354138
http://www.soundenvironments.org/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=70
http://www.gr-research.com/insignia.shtm

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
It's hard to say what would be good ones to look for to fit your taste without knowing what kind of sound you like.

There's a saying that goes: "You can pick your speakers, you can pick your friends, but you can't pick your friend's speakers"

That said, a lot of these online companies will have in-home demo periods where you can try their products for ~30 days and then if you don't like them, you can send them back.

For example, AV123 just started doing risk-free trials where they will pay for shipping both ways if you are unsatisfied with them.

And you can do nothing but shake your head when they choose Bose.

 

[NaOH]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
It's hard to say what would be good ones to look for to fit your taste without knowing what kind of sound you like.

There's a saying that goes: "You can pick your speakers, you can pick your friends, but you can't pick your friend's speakers"

That said, a lot of these online companies will have in-home demo periods where you can try their products for ~30 days and then if you don't like them, you can send them back.

For example, AV123 just started doing risk-free trials where they will pay for shipping both ways if you are unsatisfied with them.

And you can do nothing but shake your head when they choose Bose.

You can strangle them with the wires that came with the Bose set

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: NaOH

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
It's hard to say what would be good ones to look for to fit your taste without knowing what kind of sound you like.

There's a saying that goes: "You can pick your speakers, you can pick your friends, but you can't pick your friend's speakers"

That said, a lot of these online companies will have in-home demo periods where you can try their products for ~30 days and then if you don't like them, you can send them back.

For example, AV123 just started doing risk-free trials where they will pay for shipping both ways if you are unsatisfied with them.

And you can do nothing but shake your head when they choose Bose.

You can strangle them with the wires that came with the Bose set

:Q

 

[darkswordsman17]

Originally posted by: NaOH

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
It's hard to say what would be good ones to look for to fit your taste without knowing what kind of sound you like.

There's a saying that goes: "You can pick your speakers, you can pick your friends, but you can't pick your friend's speakers"

That said, a lot of these online companies will have in-home demo periods where you can try their products for ~30 days and then if you don't like them, you can send them back.

For example, AV123 just started doing risk-free trials where they will pay for shipping both ways if you are unsatisfied with them.

And you can do nothing but shake your head when they choose Bose.

You can strangle them with the wires that came with the Bose set

They'll probably brake unless they got Monster.

 

[us3rnotfound]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Originally posted by: NaOH

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
It's hard to say what would be good ones to look for to fit your taste without knowing what kind of sound you like.

There's a saying that goes: "You can pick your speakers, you can pick your friends, but you can't pick your friend's speakers"

That said, a lot of these online companies will have in-home demo periods where you can try their products for ~30 days and then if you don't like them, you can send them back.

For example, AV123 just started doing risk-free trials where they will pay for shipping both ways if you are unsatisfied with them.

And you can do nothing but shake your head when they choose Bose.

You can strangle them with the wires that came with the Bose set

:Q

hahahaha that's rich

 

[Firebert05]

Originally posted by: Howard
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp...ctCategoryId=cat03043&id=1138085354138
http://www.soundenvironments.org/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=70
http://www.gr-research.com/insignia.shtm

Wow! This looks awesome - I just might have to try the DIY route. I always like to take things apart and, time permitting, put them back together. This looks like one hell of a value when finished.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: Firebert05

Originally posted by: Howard
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp...ctCategoryId=cat03043&id=1138085354138
http://www.soundenvironments.org/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=70
http://www.gr-research.com/insignia.shtm

Wow! This looks awesome - I just might have to try the DIY route. I always like to take things apart and, time permitting, put them back together. This looks like one hell of a value when finished.

Just wanted to mention that they say themselves that "I'd still have to say that they are still not quite to the performance level of our A/V-1 kit or the giant killer king X-LS speaker from AV123."

I've seen used pairs for for $150 to $175 for X-LS

 

[Firebert05]

Any suggestions on possible receivers? I know this will land into the category of possible upgradability...is Cnet a reliable source of receiver ratings and opinions? that's all i've known