Need help with this layout, mostly audio

[GT1999]

I'm moving into a new apartment with the new girlfriend. it's about 1200 sq ft.

I'm looking to purchase the following:

40-50" LCD HDTV (Preferably Samsung)
Sound system, an amp and all that stuff (not sure what else I need?!?) with an "aux" jack for hooking up my iPod
Playstation 3


I'm very new to all of this. I have a set of speakers and a very old amp but they use old speaker wire. I don't even know where to start with the audio, but I know for TVs that maybe a Samsung A550 46" may be something to look into.

So I guess my main question is, I need help with this layout (see image) for audio. My budget for JUST the audio is cheaper the better, but I don't want to regret it. Okay, the numbers. 500 budget, 1000 optimal. I can do more but I think I'd regret it. TOTAL for audio. Keep in mind I'll be in a large apartment complex and can't exactly blare the sound. Plus the gf hates that...

Apartment layout: http://www.amli.com/static/ima...-650x490-turnberry.jpg

Edit: Please NOTE that nothing can be wall mountable!


Danke!

 

[s44]

"Old speaker wire"?

What are your old speakers? What are you going to put the Samsung on?

 

[GT1999]

Originally posted by: s44
"Old speaker wire"?

What are your old speakers? What are you going to put the Samsung on?

The old amp cuts in and out and is a "gift", I'll use that term lightly, from my dad. It's from the 80's. I used lamp wire to connect the back of the red/black fittings, twisted up the wire and connected it. I barely use it and it needs to be replaced.

The LCD TV will be placed on a TV stand just a tad wider than its size.

 

[s44]

Yeah, but I asked about the speakers, not the amp...

Anyway, the obvious solution is to make 1/2 the dining room the TV/HT area and the other the actual dining area. Which goes where depends on the light conditions, your GF, etc. TV in front of one of the short walls?

Given that nothing can go on the wall (or ceiling, I guess?), you don't really need to worry about layout. Two small towers (or bookshelves on stands) flanking the TV, a center on the TV stand (make sure it's built to fit one!), and two sat/bookshelf surrounds on stands flanking your sofa, a bit behind you. Sub in a corner or next to the sofa as an end table.

Assuming you can't repurpose your current speakers (as surrounds, maybe?):
$260 - refurb Marantz 4002
$700 - the Speaker Company 5.1 set with towers
~$50? - ~30" speaker stands
Total: a touch over $1000. Note that they only have 6 of the tSC sets left. (They won't vanish forever, but it'll be a while before they're back in stock.)

Alternative -- replace tSC 5.1 set with
$400 - Energy tower-based 5.0 set
$250 - same tSC sub as in above set OR
~$230 (less live.com cashback) - PA-120 sub via Ebay

Alternative -- replace tSC 5.1 set with
~$230-250 - one of the two subs above
~$200-400 - 4 bookshelf speakers and a center, or just 6 bookshelf speakers (if your TV stand can fit one upright as a center)
~$50 - another pair of ~30" speaker stands

Alternative (not recommended, as these mini speaker sets are a big compromise) -- replace tSC 5.1 set with
~$230-250 - one of the two subs above
$200 - Energy Take Classic 5.0 set
No extra stands necessary for this if you put the L and R speakers on the TV stand.

etc.

 

[s44]

Cheaper sub option: the Hsu-designed Dayton Elite 10", on sale for a week at $138, or ~$170 shipped.

This is about the cheapest you'll find a real sub.