Looking for Cheap HT Speakers

[Renob]

The link I need is to a website that is Factory Direct speakers, they look real nice and for the money are a good buy. The speake are cheap, you get a full on HT speaker set up for around $250

The link I have seen in the forums many time but now I cant find it.

I know they are cheap but for my office HT system they will work.

Thanks Guys

 

[austin316]

maybe home theatre direct or fluance?

 

[NTB]

Wasn't these, was it?

Nate

 

[Renob]

Thanks fluance was the maker

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Are you thinking the SX-HTB set?

 

[Renob]

Are you thinking the SX-HTB set?

Yes, why do you have any info on them?

 

[randomlinh]

http://www.fluance.com/fluance/fluan5speaks.html

i'm going for the AV set... black works best for me... when I have my apartment anyway... maybe.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

I have the SX-HTB set along with a set of SV-6s to get 7.1

I'm very happy with them and am suprised there aren't any professional reviews out about them.

I think the weakest part of them is the center channel, but fluance is actually coming out with a new one sometime this year which I plan to get.

I've heard the AV-HTB set too, but think the SX-HTB set is worth it. They're bigger (tweeter at ear level for me), look nicer with the beechwood finish, and I think the components are of higher quality.

I have some pictures in my sig that do a better job on the color than fluance's pics.

I said the center was the weak point, but it's still nice. It just doesn't match the mains as well as it could. The SV center should match them very well if they use the components they used in the SV-6s to make it.

I have them powered with an HK AVR-325 with an SVS PB-10 for the sub. The Fluance speakers keep up with the sub at high volumes and sound really good to me. A friend of mine has some Paradigm phantoms and he came over to hear my system. He was skeptical of the Fluances since I told him how much they cost, but he admitted that they sounded really good. I think Fluance is an excellent value if you're looking for entry level HT stuff.

I think I'll have to spend a good deal more on speakers for it to be a nice quality jump from Fluance. I've got my eye on ascend acoustics for the future sometime, but I'm really happy with Fluance for now.

I originally heard about them here on anandtech. I researched them on AVSforum and Hometheaterforum and never found any complaints about them.

Do you have a sub picked out yet? Receiver?

 

[Doggiedog]

How do you like the SVS PB-10?

I was taking a hard look at it as an upgrade to my cheapo sub for my secondary HT setup.

 

[randomlinh]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
Do you have a sub picked out yet? Receiver?

heh, while i'm here, what's your plug for ~4/500 for a sub and receiver to go w/ the SX HTB?

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

SVS PB-10 is amazing!

I looked long and hard at the ~$400 to ~$500 sub market and only thought the HSU STF-2 or VTF-2 were good alternatives to the PB-10. I jumped on the PB-10 the last day of its introductory price and got it for $436 shipped.

Unless you're going to do a DIY sub, I really think the PB-10 can't be beat for the price. 18hz before room gain?... amazing. I only have the gain up 3/5 and it's room shaking. I got some complaints even . I added some bass shakers so I could get the same effect with the sub turned way down. I'm looking forward to moving out of the dorms next year so I can let it do it's thing.

I used to have a dayton and this is really what happened.

 

[arod]

did you get a chance to compare it to other SVS's? I have a 25-31CS Subwoofer (cylinder series)... and was looking at selling mine and getting one of these (even though it is 12 in woofer vs 10)

I also have a 7.1 Wharfedale system that I was looking at moving to fluance but I love my bipolar surrounds and fluance doesnt have a system with bipolar surrounds yet. You can buy bipolar but not for all 4 surrounds in a system yet.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: lnguyen

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
Do you have a sub picked out yet? Receiver?

heh, while i'm here, what's your plug for ~4/500 for a sub and receiver to go w/ the SX HTB?

If you can swing a PB-10 in there, that would be awesome.... it's more like $465 now though :brokenheart:

A little cheaper sub to look at might be the JBL e250. It's often recommended at hometheaterforum and AVSforum.

Even cheaper is the dayton I used to have. Very nice for the money, but I wanted a little more to keep up with the Fluances


For receivers, getting a refurbished unit will get you really nice bang for your buck.

A refurbished denon or onkyo would be a good bet. I got my HK through harmanaudio on ebay (factory refurbished, new 2 yr warranty)

ebay in general also has some good bargains on older receivers.

If you're looking for new, sherwood makes some nice quality units for ~$150 even.

Looking at the top end of your budget, the pioneer 1014 is an amazing value.


Generally better speakers/sub will get you more performance vs. better electronics. If I were in your place I'd spend more on the sub than the receiver if the budget is $400 to $500.

If I were picking a system out...
SX-HTB ~$300
SVS PB-10 ~$450
onkyo or denon ~$120

total ~$850

 

[Doggiedog]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
SVS PB-10 is amazing!

I looked long and hard at the ~$400 to ~$500 sub market and only thought the HSU STF-2 or VTF-2 were good alternatives to the PB-10. I jumped on the PB-10 the last day of its introductory price and got it for $436 shipped.

Unless you're going to do a DIY sub, I really think the PB-10 can't be beat for the price. 18hz before room gain?... amazing. I only have the gain up 3/5 and it's room shaking. I got some complaints even . I added some bass shakers so I could get the same effect with the sub turned way down. I'm looking forward to moving out of the dorms next year so I can let it do it's thing.

I used to have a dayton and this is really what happened.

Sounds like the typical very positive reply for that sub. Its definitely on the top of my list. I'm just trying to find the right time to pull the trigger. I've been going crazy on purchases lately and my has been unhappy about it.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: arod
did you get a chance to compare it to other SVS's? I have a 25-31CS Subwoofer (cylinder series)... and was looking at selling mine and getting one of these (even though it is 12 in woofer vs 10)

I also have a 7.1 Wharfedale system that I was looking at moving to fluance but I love my bipolar surrounds and fluance doesnt have a system with bipolar surrounds yet. You can buy bipolar but not for all 4 surrounds in a system yet.

If you already have a 25-31 you're going to have better output than the PB-10 from what I've read. The PB-10 will be flatter and will go lower, but it's probably a lateral move if you have a decent amp for your 25-31 already.

I haven't heard any of the cylinder subs so I can't give you any first hand experience with a comparison.

I know there are multiple threads over at hometheaterforum about the difference between the 25-31 and the PB-10... and I know some of the owners of SVS have made comments about them. If you shoot an e-mail over to the guys at SVS, they're always happy to help you get the best performance for your dollar.

I'm not sure if Fluance is planning on making a bipolar surround system in the future. You could make a system with them though... a couple AV-F3s up front, an AV-SC center and then dipoles for surrounds...

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: Doggiedog

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
SVS PB-10 is amazing!

I looked long and hard at the ~$400 to ~$500 sub market and only thought the HSU STF-2 or VTF-2 were good alternatives to the PB-10. I jumped on the PB-10 the last day of its introductory price and got it for $436 shipped.

Unless you're going to do a DIY sub, I really think the PB-10 can't be beat for the price. 18hz before room gain?... amazing. I only have the gain up 3/5 and it's room shaking. I got some complaints even . I added some bass shakers so I could get the same effect with the sub turned way down. I'm looking forward to moving out of the dorms next year so I can let it do it's thing.

I used to have a dayton and this is really what happened.

Sounds like the typical very positive reply for that sub. Its definitely on the top of my list. I'm just trying to find the right time to pull the trigger. I've been going crazy on purchases lately and my has been unhappy about it.

I know what you mean about spending :Q

I blame fluance
I started with the notion that I'd get the AV-HTB set ($250?) with a $100 receiver and a $100 sub.

Just about a year later I have a $1300 sound system and a $1000 projector...
But unlike you, I'm happy about it

 

[randomlinh]

heh, the PB10 sounds nice... but probably much more than an apartment really needs

 

[Doggiedog]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Originally posted by: Doggiedog

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
SVS PB-10 is amazing!

I looked long and hard at the ~$400 to ~$500 sub market and only thought the HSU STF-2 or VTF-2 were good alternatives to the PB-10. I jumped on the PB-10 the last day of its introductory price and got it for $436 shipped.

Unless you're going to do a DIY sub, I really think the PB-10 can't be beat for the price. 18hz before room gain?... amazing. I only have the gain up 3/5 and it's room shaking. I got some complaints even . I added some bass shakers so I could get the same effect with the sub turned way down. I'm looking forward to moving out of the dorms next year so I can let it do it's thing.

I used to have a dayton and this is really what happened.

Sounds like the typical very positive reply for that sub. Its definitely on the top of my list. I'm just trying to find the right time to pull the trigger. I've been going crazy on purchases lately and my has been unhappy about it.

I know what you mean about spending :Q

I blame fluance
I started with the notion that I'd get the AV-HTB set ($250?) with a $100 receiver and a $100 sub.

Just about a year later I have a $1300 sound system and a $1000 projector...
But unlike you, I'm happy about it

I hear you.

I bought an LCD RPTV for the living room where I watched my movies. My 4 YO son dropped my B&W speaker off its stand crushing the tweeter so I had to buy a new set to replace it. Then we bought a projector for our family room along with receiver and speaker setup. I went cheap with the speakers buying a Cerwin Vega 5.1 setup for $100 but I've gotten hit with the upgrade bug and want to slowly improve it. My wife thinks its fine and doesn't want me to spend more money but the family room HT system sounds so bad compared to my B&W setup. I'm thinking of stealthily upgrading all the pieces but I'm sure she'd notice.

 

[isasir]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
I think I'll have to spend a good deal more on speakers for it to be a nice quality jump from Fluance. I've got my eye on ascend acoustics for the future sometime, but I'm really happy with Fluance for now.

Have you heard the Ascends by any chance? If so, how does Fluance compare to Ascend?

I own a pair of Ascend Acoustics speakers and I love them. However, around the time I purchased them, I started hearing about Fluance on this forum, and always did wonder if I would've done just as well purchasing Fluance speakers for the reduced price.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: isasir

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
I think I'll have to spend a good deal more on speakers for it to be a nice quality jump from Fluance. I've got my eye on ascend acoustics for the future sometime, but I'm really happy with Fluance for now.

Have you heard the Ascends by any chance? If so, how does Fluance compare to Ascend?

I own a pair of Ascend Acoustics speakers and I love them. However, around the time I purchased them, I started hearing about Fluance on this forum, and always did wonder if I would've done just as well purchasing Fluance speakers for the reduced price.

Haven't heard the ascends... just keep reading positive things about their performance. I think they look really sharp too

Fluance is nice, but when a pair of award winning 170s bookshelves costs as much as the whole SX-HTB set I think you've got the superior set . Do you have 340s? 170s? How do you like them?