Please rate my planned 5.0 purchase

[angminas]

A refinement of my earlier thread:

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2058437&highlight=

I still have the same goals, but now I have a few bucks in my pocket, so I can hit a deal more quickly, and the available deals have changed. The Jamo e680 were gone before I could jump on them. Recommendations?

I remember seeing the Polk 70s for $179.99 each at the egg recently, but I can't find the link again. (Got it?) I also see a pair of Klipsch B3 for $169.99 at Vanns...

http://www.vanns.com/shop/servlet/it...ures/542330433

I would LOVE to save a pile of money if I could find a small pair of speakers nearly as good as a floorstanding pair (and if I could figure out how to mount them). I don't need thunderous bass, but I do want it to be clean...I already have boomy bass, and I'm certainly not going to lay out money for more of the same. I may very well be willing to pass on a subwoofer entirely if the front speakers can meet my modest bass needs. I may also be willing to buy a nice small clean pair of front speakers with a good subwoofer. Here's a Polk 10" for $105 with code:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-82290034-LE3A

There are a lot of possible combos available at the egg with Polk speakers. Can somebody help me sort them, please? I'm open to any and all possibilities, but I'm aiming for an price-efficient yet balanced 5.0 or 5.1 setup. If I don't buy a HTIB, I will also need a receiver.

Thanks!

 

[unfalliblekrutch]

I'd get one of the dayton basic subs from partsexpress over the polk at that price range.

As far as your speakers, it really depends on what your budget is. If you're willing to go used, you might be able to pick something up locally that will serve you well. I have a pair of Klipsch SF-1s I found on craigslist for $150/pair in like new condition.

If you want to go the new route, you might want to consider the polk monitor 60s from newegg. Also, have you considered the Jamo E770 at vanns?

 

[Deleted member 4644]

If you are going to go no subwoofer, I would go with the Polk Monitor 70s. With a sub, the Monitor 60s are fine (I have them).

You can get a sub from HSU that is excellent and not "boomy"

 

[kalrith]

I remember seeing the Polk 70s for $179.99 each at the egg recently, but I can't find the link again. (Got it?)

Black Monitor 70 + EMCYRNV72 promo code = $180 shipped. It doesn't work on the cherry. Two monitor 70 plus a CS2 (when on sale) will set you back about $460. These speakers have been going onsale at Newegg about every 2 weeks recently, so if you want cherry, you'll just have to wait a short while.

Don't get that Polk sub. As already mentioned, the Parts Express sub is a good budget option. If you don't mind waiting, then I think the Bic F12 is a very solid choice at $183.

I would HIGHLY recommend getting a sub. A sub does not have to equal boomy; however, it will take the low-end load off of your speakers. You could set the crossover to 60-80 Hz on your speakers and send everything else to your sub. It will make for a much better sound (IMO). Sub placement can make a huge difference in how boomy it is (i.e. don't stick it in the corner).

 

[Fallen Kell]

Another recommendation to get a sub. As stated good subs are not boomy. However, there are sacrifices that need to be made to keep a sub from being boomy, typically the output level is lower with similar power, which is one of the reasons why in the lower end prices, subs simply are boomy.

For a non-boomy sub, avoid all ported or vented subs. Only look at sealed subs. Your boomy will go away and be replaced by quick agile response, for the price of being super loud or going very low Hz wise (since that required even more power and larger woofers in a sealed design, which means $$$).

 

[Tiamat]

Another recommendation to get a sub. As stated good subs are not boomy. However, there are sacrifices that need to be made to keep a sub from being boomy, typically the output level is lower with similar power, which is one of the reasons why in the lower end prices, subs simply are boomy.

For a non-boomy sub, avoid all ported or vented subs. Only look at sealed subs. Your boomy will go away and be replaced by quick agile response, for the price of being super loud or going very low Hz wise (since that required even more power and larger woofers in a sealed design, which means $$$).

Actually, ported or vented subs are not all boomy. Boominess is generally characterized by an extended decay time at specific bass frequencies. Most of the time, this problem is caused by the room since the subwoofer can energize the room modes depending on where you place the subwoofer and where your listening position is located with respect to the room boundaries. In a ported subwoofer, if the subwoofer is being overdriven and the port is chuffing you can get unwanted noises, but this is true for any subwoofer design that is overdriven. With a sealed subwoofer, you can get a motorboat sound effect when the driver is over driven. Also, if overdriven you can get a terrible "clank" noise when teh driver bottoms out.

Certainly, an inexpensive subwoofer that has a terrible FR (like bose acoustimass) can sound boomy because they only operate at the midbass frequencies at relatively high SPL, frequencies which are reminiscent of room boom.

Further, most subwoofers from a competent manufacturer can be made to not sound boomy with careful setup and calibration. Less expensive subwoofers may be missing frequencies, but there is no reason why anyone should have to live with subwoofers adding anything that shouldn't be there.

 

[alcoholbob]

bookshelf + sub is superior to (today's) floorstanders. A good sub will have greater SPL capabilities to multiple large woofers in a floorstander due to greater xmax, sensitivity, and self-amplification. As long as the said bookshelf can extend to about 50hz you can run a ~100hz crossover and it will blend seamlessly with a good subwoofer.

 

[Tiamat]

bookshelf + sub is superior to (today's) floorstanders. A good sub will have greater SPL capabilities to multiple large woofers in a floorstander due to greater xmax, sensitivity, and self-amplification. As long as the said bookshelf can extend to about 50hz you can run a ~100hz crossover and it will blend seamlessly with a good subwoofer.

Indeed, however, since it is very difficult to find 3-way stand-mount speakers, a 3-way floorstanding speaker, all other things equal, will have lower IMD than a 2-way stand-mount speaker of the same line since the excursion of the mid-upper bass frequencies will be in dedicated woofers and the midrange drive will be free from said excursion.

This point is rendered moot if you have a crossover system between the bookshelf + sub. However, many analog stereo systems do not, so I figured it was worth mentioning.

 

[angminas]

Ok, I spent a lot of time thinking and reading, and in the end I pulled the trigger on this Jamo 5.0 package:

http://www.vanns.com/shop/servlet/it..._c=site_search

I'm going to put off buying a subwoofer for now, but I do need a receiver. Which do you recommend for this package? I'm strongly considering this one:

http://www.amazon.com/Sony-STR-DH800...2874337&sr=1-1

I'm wondering how well it will handle 6 ohm speakers and whether it has the HDMI pass-through issue of cheaper receivers. $224 is at the high end of what I wanted to spend on a receiver; I'd like to spend less, and I'd need a really good reason to spend more.

Thoughts?