$3000, what Receiver/Speaker combonation?

[sharkeeper]

Signals in $300 recievers are indistinguishable from $5000 Krells in ABX testing - ALWAYS.

The clue here is SIGNAL! Speakers don't play from signals they need brute force. Try driving a pair of Apogee's or Thiel's off a $300 receiver! It will cry louder than a pig getting buttfugged by a C130!

Krell has it where it counts! Current!

Now you're generally OK with an "easy" speaker. Not all of them are "easy" to listen to though.

-DAK-

 

[Krassus]

Denon 3802 receiver, and use the rest to buy the best Paradigm speakers that money can buy. At least the Monitor series with Monitor 7's for fronts.

 

[virtuamike]

I brought my Yamama VRX-595a to test a pair of Energy C8s. Great sound but detail wasn't quite there. Hooked them up to an Outlaw 1050 when we got back and wow, what a difference. For 5.1 and 6.1, I haven't heard a receiver that comes close to the Outlaw up to the $1000 range (tested Marantz, Onkyo, Denon, HK, Yamaha). Outlaw is $550 shipped, that gives you almost $2500 for speakers and sub. The Pioneer Elite is a good starting point if you insist on 7.1.

SVS is good choice. Hsu Research and Adire deserve a look too, guessing you'll spend no more than $700 on sub, that leaves $1800.

Personally, I don't even know if it's worth it to go 7.1, not much out there that uses the format. 6.1 is more than enough. Figure $900 for fronts, $500 for center, and $400 on your surrounds, that should do it. B&W and Paradigm are good to start with. I don't really like the new Energy C series, they're too bright although they mellow out somewhat after they're broken in, the old stuff was a lot smoother. I never liked the way Klipsch sounded either, too harsh for me.

 

[EvilYoda]

Good to know that you guys haven't let me down.....I knew it'd come down to arguing, which isn't helping out AgaBooga. Keep your bickering (we've heard it before) to another thread and just try to help this guy figure out a system.

AgaBooga...I just got back from the local hi-fi store (hehe, can't stay away...), and found out that they haven't started carrying the v3s of the Studio line yet...if your local store hasn't either, it should soon, since Paradigm is shipping to most US carriers already. The importance of this is that the v2 line will be clearanced, and you might be able to get lucky, especially if you go in there to buy a full 5.1, 6.1, 7.1 system...dealers love that. ^_^