Finally got my 5.1 system completed.

[boomhower]

Holy smokes this is nice! Started almost a year ago with a 3.1 system. Finally got around to adding surrounds and speaker stands today am really digging it so far. Watching BCS Championship with the crown behind me is pretty cool. Can't wait to get some movies fired up.

It's a cheap set-up but I'll upgrade down the road:

Yamaha RX-V473
Polk Monitor 50's up front, CS1 center and 30's in the rear.
Bic F12 sub.

 

[Childs]

Heh...my receiver died during the game!

 

[slashbinslashbash]

:thumbsup: That's a great bang-for-buck system.

I am presently running a 2.1/3.1 system (pull out the center channel when I'm ready for "serious viewing" but put it away most of the time, as it looks goofy with the present furniture setup). I have the surround speakers mounted on the walls, but no wires running to them yet (just moved into house in September, attic space is largely non-navigable, it's gonna be a real PITA to run those wires).

 

[purbeast0]

that is definitely the way to do it if you can't afford it all at once. many people would rather get a full 5.1 system that is weak/mediocore, rather than piece together a good system over time that sounds much much better. it's crazy good how good a 2.0 setup can sound with towers, and then you just add in a sub, and then a center, and eventually the surrounds.

 

[boomhower]

:thumbsup: That's a great bang-for-buck system.

I am presently running a 2.1/3.1 system (pull out the center channel when I'm ready for "serious viewing" but put it away most of the time, as it looks goofy with the present furniture setup). I have the surround speakers mounted on the walls, but no wires running to them yet (just moved into house in September, attic space is largely non-navigable, it's gonna be a real PITA to run those wires).

that is definitely the way to do it if you can't afford it all at once. many people would rather get a full 5.1 system that is weak/mediocore, rather than piece together a good system over time that sounds much much better. it's crazy good how good a 2.0 setup can sound with towers, and then you just add in a sub, and then a center, and eventually the surrounds.

It's good for what it is. Certainly massively better than the stock TV speakers most people listen too. I've already got my long term set-up planned out and keep am keeping an eye out on craigslist/amazon for good used deals. (Polk RTI A5's or A7's, CSIA6, FXIA6, and SVS PB12) With the cost of the components it's certainly going to be a long term plan. First on the list is certainly the sub.

 

[slashbinslashbash]

It's good for what it is. Certainly massively better than the stock TV speakers most people listen too. I've already got my long term set-up planned out and keep am keeping an eye out on craigslist/amazon for good used deals. (Polk RTI A5's or A7's, CSIA6, FXIA6, and SVS PB12) With the cost of the components it's certainly going to be a long term plan. First on the list is certainly the sub.

Definitely the way to go, man. My entire system is made up of Craigslist and pawnshop finds. Start with something basic but solid like the Polks you've got, and go from there. The nice thing about Polk is they keep their product line pretty consistent from year to year, and the sound fairly consistent across the lineup. And if you live in a decent-sized city then you can easily recoup a fair chunk of your money when you upgrade and sell the old stuff.

 

[cmdrdredd]

I want to upgrade the sound in my game room. I pieced it together from what I had and added an AVR. The AVR is decent enough but the speakers aren't the best. I'm just not sure where to go with it. I don't want to spend the kind of money Paradigm and other want on this room since it isn't that large, but I don't want crap either. Might look into the DIY route and see what type of pricing I'd be looking at to get it all done.

It is likely I'll be piecing stuff out little by little until it's what I want from it like you did.

 

[purbeast0]

I want to upgrade the sound in my game room. I pieced it together from what I had and added an AVR. The AVR is decent enough but the speakers aren't the best. I'm just not sure where to go with it. I don't want to spend the kind of money Paradigm and other want on this room since it isn't that large, but I don't want crap either. Might look into the DIY route and see what type of pricing I'd be looking at to get it all done.

It is likely I'll be piecing stuff out little by little until it's what I want from it like you did.

if you don't go the DIY route, get used stuff. you can get it much cheaper that way. i saved THOUSANDS on my stuff buy buying my speakers all used. i literally bought all 7 speakers used, from 3 different people. i saved about $4k from what they woulda been had i bought them brand new, and they were all about only a year old with the exception of the 2 surrounds, which were like 2 years old.

you should talk to Anubis if you are interested in DIY stuff. he made some himself and i believe they were not very expensive. and i also believe (but am not 100% sure of this) that they were the same speakers that the guy was demo'ing when i went to pick up my subs from him (and Anubis was at his house too, so he'd be able to verify if it was the same or not). and they sounded REALLY good for the price they cost, which i believe he said was like $450 a speaker or so.

 

[cmdrdredd]

I'll do some research and try to figure out what my expectations are. I'm not quite sure what i really want out of this.

 

[spacejamz]

I have Polk Monitor 45B and CSI3 center for my fronts...

Fry's has the rti8 on sale right now for $360/pair. Trying to decide between that or the Monitor 70 on Newegg for $400/pair...

Nearly all of the posts on AVS and the Polk forums where this question was asked picked the rti8's...

The rti8's are on sale until THU night...

Here is what I have paid so far:
Monitor 45B fronts- $160 pair from Newegg
R300 rears- $100 pair from Newegg
CSi3 center - $99 Frys
PWS505 - $150 after rebate from Newegg
Harmon Kardon AVR1700 - $200 Best Buy

Pretty happy with this setup...can't imagine how much better it might sound if I upgrade to some towers for the front...