Living Room Audio Setup Suggestions

[BeeBoop]

Can I gets some suggestions for an audio system for my living area? Can I get away with spending only 500$? If not, 1k is the max I was looking to spend. I was thinking two towers and an AMP?


The living area has an open kitchen and an open dining area. The wood floors around where I have my couches positioned contains about 16 by 20ft of wood floors.


http://www.imagebam.com/image/87d248295068463





The distance from my TV to the furthest couch is 12ft. The TV is 55 inches but I plan on getting a 65 inch sometime soon, maybe in the next 3 months. With a bigger TV and the way that the home is designed, i'm not sure if towers are the way to go but I'm not sure. Check out the picture and let me know.

 

[queequeg99]

1. Just an amp? Or an AVR (something that can do audio and video switching and other cool stuff besides just amplifying a signal)?

2. How do you intend to use the system? Do you like chest-thumping bass while watching action/sci-fi movies at high volumes? Or maybe a lot of TV sports or lower volume stuff without much bass?

 

[BeeBoop]

I really don't know how to put a system together so I was assuming all I needed was an amp and some speakers. So I'd need an AVR, amp, and speakers?


I love bass! I plan to watch sports and movies, especially sci-fi movies.

 

[boomhower]

You don't need an AVR and an amp, and AVR has an amp built in. If you love base get a dedicated sub. For big base for relatively cheap I love the F12. That is a pretty slim area for speakers so the polk monitor series comes to mind. You can get the 70's on sale for $170 or the 60's for $130 at newegg. Matching center channel is $100 or $150. I highly recommend the $150 version as not of what you hear is coming from your center channel.

If you go with the 60's it'd be $560 for the speakers/sub. Then pick a receiver. Many suitable examples can be had for $300. Good trick is to get last years model on clearance. $800-$900 for a full 3.1 set-up.

 

[BeeBoop]

Thanks! Will check out your recommendations. I'm not deciding any time soon. Just doing a little of research now.

 

[queequeg99]

If you aren't into big bass, I would look at Boomhower's suggestion but without the sub to save some money you might not need to spend. See how the system meets your needs and then buy a sub if needed.

For AVRs, finding a year old model (like the Denon XX13 series) can result in great deals. But it's becoming very hard to find them since we are well into the new model year for most manufacturers. However, you can get some awesome deals on new AVRs. The Denon E400 can be found for $300 on sale at a number of places very frequently. I personally feel that is the best AVR you can get at that price point. But it might be more than you want or need and you can get decent units for less money.

 

[BeeBoop]

Is it possible to go with two towers for around 300 each and get good sounding bass? I love bass. No sub or center channel. I was thinking two towers. So, will two towers without a sub be good way to go and still get some quality bass?

 

[purbeast0]

Is it possible to go with two towers for around 300 each and get good sounding bass? I love bass. No sub or center channel. I was thinking two towers. So, will two towers without a sub be good way to go and still get some quality bass?

if it were me, i'd get 2 decent towers and the klipsch sub that is constantly on sale at newegg for $270 - $300. i have one of those subs in my living room (along with 2 other towers) and for the price, the sub sounds great.

i'd personally get LR and a sub over LCR if i could only get 3 speakers.

 

[BurnItDwn]

When it comes to the sub, you may wish to add the BIC Acoustech PL 200 to your considerations.

Here's a bunch of stuff/comments on these on AVSforum (a dedicated home theater forum.)
http://www.avsforum.com/t/1137113/bic-acoustech-h200-subwoofer-aka-pl-200

It is what I went with in my home theater.
That said, it's hard to get any lower than about $280 or so.

As far as front speakers go, I have a pair of old BIC RTR-1530s... they were cheap, and I'd like to replace them at some point, but, they sound good, and I've not had any complaints or issues with them in the 10 or so years I've had them.

I'd go with a decent receiver, 5.1 or 7.1 is fine.
That way, if in a few years you opt to go surround, the upgrade is less painful/difficult.

If you want loud deep bass, you 100% absolutely NEED a sub.
Essentially, most regular speakers, even ones with 15 inch woofers, are not set up to handle the really really deep deep tones.


You will likely be more happy with a pair of $150 speakers and a $300 sub than you would be with a pair of $300 speakers and no sub.

 

[BeeBoop]

Thanks for your suggestions. This is what I came up with. Does anyone have a suggestions as to what receiver I should pair these things with?

Klipsch Sub-12HG Synergy Series 12-Inch 300-Watt Subwoofer

Polk Audio RTI A5 Floorstanding Speaker

 

[boomhower]

Just depends on what you want to spend and what you need out of it as far as tech. I prefer Yamaha and Denon. Denon is going to get you the better room correction software. I you can stand a refurb you can get great deals on Denon's at http://www.accessories4less.com. The Denon 1713 can be had for $270 and has very very good room correction software on it.

If you not in a rush you can get the Klipsch RW-12D from newegg for $300, it's better than the listed one.

 

[BeeBoop]

The one you are referring to on NewEgg is not listed anymore, discontinued. Any other suggestion for a woofer or do you think I'd be satisfied with the 12HG?

Okay, I'm going to stretch my budget.

Klipsch RW-12II for 500? Seems damn expensive for a sub. lol


Edit:
I'm going to go with the Denon 1713 that you recommended. Thanks.

Edit2:
I was thinking about ordering this soon so I'm probably going to go with the Denon E300 as I'm hesitant to get refurb. The refurb unit is also sold out.


Edit3:
Okay, I just placed my orders. I got the Polk ATI A5 and for my sub, I went with the SVS PB1000. Seems like so many audiophiles recommend that over the Klipsch at the 500$ range. I just hope the sub can do a decent job of feeling my living room area. I doubt it can fill the entire room though as I have an open kitchen and open dining area.

Now, for a receiver! I was thinking a Yamaha.
.

 

[x26]

The one you are referring to on NewEgg is not listed anymore, discontinued. Any other suggestion for a woofer or do you think I'd be satisfied with the 12HG?

Okay, I'm going to stretch my budget.

Klipsch RW-12II for 500? Seems damn expensive for a sub. lol


Edit:
I'm going to go with the Denon 1713 that you recommended. Thanks.

Edit2:
I was thinking about ordering this soon so I'm probably going to go with the Denon E300 as I'm hesitant to get refurb. The refurb unit is also sold out.


Edit3:
Okay, I just placed my orders. I got the Polk ATI A5 and for my sub, I went with the SVS PB1000. Seems like so many audiophiles recommend that over the Klipsch at the 500$ range. I just hope the sub can do a decent job of feeling my living room area. I doubt it can fill the entire room though as I have an open kitchen and open dining area.

Now, for a receiver! I was thinking a Yamaha.
.

I went with Yamaha RX-V673 7.2-Channel Network AV Receiver
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

The only thing it doesn't have is onboard wireless.
Good Luck with your new system!!

ETA: I'm surprised you didn't go with Polk Audio Monitor70 Series II Floorstanding Loudspeaker (Black) Each
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882290208
$159.00 x 2

and for a sub: (2 choices) (I have one of each)
Polk Audio PSW10 10-Inch Monitor Series Powered Subwoofer (Single, Black)
http://www.amazon.com/Polk-Audio-10...id=1387577619&sr=8-1&keywords=polk+subwoofers

or

Polk Audio PSW505 12-Inch Powered Subwoofer
http://www.amazon.com/Polk-Audio-12...id=1387577619&sr=8-2&keywords=polk+subwoofers

I like the 10' more for Music and the 12' for LFE!!

Hope this helps!!

 

[BeeBoop]

Thanks for the suggestions. I did a little reading around and it seems like the RTI model has a warmer sound to them which is better for wood floors. Wood floors can create an annoying sound amplification from normal conversations. It makes for a noisy home. The monitor 70s are a good deal though.

 

[boomhower]

The one you are referring to on NewEgg is not listed anymore, discontinued. Any other suggestion for a woofer or do you think I'd be satisfied with the 12HG?

Okay, I'm going to stretch my budget.

Klipsch RW-12II for 500? Seems damn expensive for a sub. lol


Edit:
I'm going to go with the Denon 1713 that you recommended. Thanks.

Edit2:
I was thinking about ordering this soon so I'm probably going to go with the Denon E300 as I'm hesitant to get refurb. The refurb unit is also sold out.


Edit3:
Okay, I just placed my orders. I got the Polk ATI A5 and for my sub, I went with the SVS PB1000. Seems like so many audiophiles recommend that over the Klipsch at the 500$ range. I just hope the sub can do a decent job of feeling my living room area. I doubt it can fill the entire room though as I have an open kitchen and open dining area.

Now, for a receiver! I was thinking a Yamaha.
.

It's not really discontinued, it comes in and out of stock as it appears they make it in batches just for new egg. At any rate the one you got is a very very nice sub, good choice. My current receiver is a Yamaha and love it. Prefer it over the previous Denon even though the room correction isn't as good.

 

[BeeBoop]

It's not really discontinued, it comes in and out of stock as it appears they make it in batches just for new egg. At any rate the one you got is a very very nice sub, good choice. My current receiver is a Yamaha and love it. Prefer it over the previous Denon even though the room correction isn't as good.

If the room correction software isn't that great, could I fix it manually? Most likely, I wouldn't know what I'd be doing anyway. heh

 

[Gintaras]

I love bass!

It's called "Ghetto Sound"....

A GOOD Sound - when highs, mids and bass are EQUALLY heard and EQUALLY distributed by amp and speakers

 

[BeeBoop]

It's called "Ghetto Sound"....

A GOOD Sound - when highs, mids and bass are EQUALLY heard and EQUALLY distributed by amp and speakers

Is it possible to achieve that on my budget? I was under the assumption that I'd have to compromise. I ordered the Yamaha RX-V673 but I've read that it doesn't have any preamp outputs. I'm assuming preamp outputs are important but i have no idea what they do. Thinking about returning it for something else but is there anything I can get that would last 5 years down the line for 400?

 

[slashbinslashbash]

Forget it, your SVS sub will provide awesome bass without sounding ghetto at all. SVS is pretty much the opposite of ghetto sound. It reaches to the truly deep ranges without all the buzzy sounding overtones that crappy subs use to sound louder. That sub will make your chest cavity shake without burning up your eardrums. There is nothing "ghetto" about quality bass, even when that bass is disproportionate to the rest of the system. (You will be able to achieve both.... you'll probably set the SVS to about 1/3 to 1/2 power most of the time, but crank it up when you feel like it.) Sometimes you want that visceral impact from explosions, etc. without having the entire system turned up to 100dB. (I've got an older model SVS sub that I picked up on Craigslist used.... people's reaction to it is "this sounds like I'm in a movie theater"... it's clean, smooth, overwhelmingly powerful but not at all fatiguing, because it's not distorting all the time.)

Those RTi A5's will be great. Your receiver will have plenty of power for the 2 towers. (Most low- to mid-priced receivers can't really provide full power into all 7 channels at once, but into just 2 channels you will be fine.) This is really a good bang for buck system IMO. (Of course, you could do better buying used; but new, this is pretty great, better to get quality 2.1 than sucky 5.1).

You don't need preamp outputs at your budget. They're for adding separate power amps. If you go this route down the road, then you will be spending like $1k+ on amps and will probably want to upgrade your receiver/processor/preamp at that time.

 

[BeeBoop]

Hey slash. Thanks for the info, much appreciated. I was worried at first but I really don't want to go down the path of spending thousands more. If there was a thumbs up option, id thumb u up.
I
edit
A year from now I'll add 2 more speakers for 5.1. That's pretty much where I plan to stop.

 

[Gintaras]

Is it possible to achieve that on my budget? I was under the assumption that I'd have to compromise. I ordered the Yamaha RX-V673 but I've read that it doesn't have any preamp outputs. I'm assuming preamp outputs are important but i have no idea what they do. Thinking about returning it for something else but is there anything I can get that would last 5 years down the line for 400?

I do have RX-467 - older model and I'm pretty happy with.

My setup:

For TV/Media player:
RX-467 Receiver, Polk Audio 50 Front speakers, Polk Audio Center and 2 Polk Audio Surround sound - NY1 TV broadcast has one surround sound channel - Left missing. When I noticed that, I did go crazy, thought something wrong with my receiver, rewired all speakers...etc.
Everything just fine - all 5 speaker are on - other channels or while playing from Media Player, but when I turn on NY1 channel - left surround sound speaker is quite....
I don't need subwoofer, because RX-467 Receiver has setting: "Extra Bass" from Front speakers. It's soft - balanced bass, I do really enjoy it. I did before had 5.1 setup, but setup I do have now - 5.0 - does sound much better.


For Music - Turntable, or playing music from Astell & Kern or from HifiMan:
Same speakers - Polk Audio, amp and Cambridge Audio Amp.
My co-worker made me a switch - I do have same speakers Polk Audio 50 floorstanding hooked to 2 different amps.

Well, I don't have a CD or DVD players.
Videos are played from external HDD hooked to Argosy Media player - it handles any video file, incl. 1080 with DTS/5.1 Audio....

Music is played from an Audio Player - FLAC files from HifiMan or Astell & Kern - which is way better than if it would be played from CDs from some cheap CD player...

I don't live in an apt that I could setup audio sound perfectly, but I do enjoy what I have....

 

[boomhower]

I do have RX-467 - older model and I'm pretty happy with.

My setup:

For TV/Media player:
RX-467 Receiver, Polk Audio 50 Front speakers, Polk Audio Center and 2 Polk Audio Surround sound - NY1 TV broadcast has one surround sound channel - Left missing. When I noticed that, I did go crazy, thought something wrong with my receiver, rewired all speakers...etc.
Everything just fine - all 5 speaker are on - other channels or while playing from Media Player, but when I turn on NY1 channel - left surround sound speaker is quite....
I don't need subwoofer, because RX-467 Receiver has setting: "Extra Bass" from Front speakers. It's soft - balanced bass, I do really enjoy it. I did before had 5.1 setup, but setup I do have now - 5.0 - does sound much better.

Wow, that is the exact same set-up I have other than I do have a sub. You have a Panny plasma too. :biggrin: