Home Theater Audiophiles, or even wanna be audiophiles, need your help!

[MiniThug]

I recently purchased a Denon 3802 online from an Authorized dealer for only $699 plus shipping ( see the Hot Deals thread Here ) and now need some speakers to round out my make shift home theater in my apartments living room. I plan on adding this sub SVS 20-39PCi. I hear they are absolutely incredible. Now, for the rest of my 5.1 setup. I was thinking of matched bookshelves for the fronts and rears ( will be listening to DVD-A or SACD in multichannel) and a center channel speaker to add to that. The brands I have considered are Axiom Audio, Paradigm, PSB, B&W, etc. Im on a budget of $800 - $1000 for the 5 speakers plus stands if need be. What do you all suggest? Thanks

 

[Rallispec]

the hard core audiophiles will probably yell at me, but i have a set of polk audio r40's that i love. plus if you look, you can get them pretty cheap.


here is a review of them

 

[BeHeMOTH]

I like my AR Stature's (AR) series, but some don't it's all in your budget and ears. What sounds good to me might not to you.

 

[Rallispec]

how much space do you have for each speaker? do you need bookshelf speakers? or are tower's okay?

 

[N8Magic]

Personally I would recommend some speakers from the PSB Image Series. They're a great sounding speaker, and you should be able to pick up all 5 from your dealer for around $1000.00.

I'd recommend:

4 X PSB Image 2B = $798.00 (MSRP)
1 X PSB Image 9C = $399.00 (MSRP)
---------------------------------
Total: $1197.00 (MSRP)

You should be able to talk down your local dealer to $1000.00 even because you're buying all 5. They get good reviews over at AudioReview as well.

 

[kami]

Hmm, SVS in an apartment eh? Get ready for an eviction notice!

Being a Paradigm lover, that's what I am going to suggest. I don't know how much they cost in the US though but I am sure this will fit in your price range

Mains: Paradigm Mini-monitors
Center: Paradigm CC-370
Surrounds: Paradigm Mini-monitors

Should be enough left over for stands.

It will be a very nice sounding system!

 

[MiniThug]

kami, that sounds like a great system. I know Paradigm is extremely cheap up there in Canada. Wanna ship me some? I actually looked at them here in Houston but the only two authorized dealers did not have a great setup and did not offer very good prices. The authorized PSB dealer was horrible, couldnt listen to anything there, no demo rooms. Guess we are too far south.

For those of you that live in Canada, have you hear the Axiom line? Its internet only here in the US but the prices look reasonable and they have gotten some great reviews plus everyone at the Home Theater forum loves them. Kami, have you heard the SVS's? Were on the first floor and it will be in the far corner by the patio so hopefully our neighbors wont complain too much. We'll just have to test it out and see how long it takes to hear that knock on our door.

 

[N8Magic]

I know kami is going to disagree with me, but take it from someone who owns the Paradigm Monitor 7's, Mini-Monitors and the CCS-370.

*In my opinion*, I wish I had never bought them. They sound very shallow and thin, which is something that my sub can't even make up for (Paradigm Servo-15). I've used various DVD's to calibrate my system, and I still don't like the sound. DVD movies are passable, but the speakers aren't very musical.

All I ask is that you shop around and don't be swayed by the legions of Paradigm lovers out there. There ARE better speakers for the money, esp. down there in the US where Paradigm is very overpriced.

 

[kami]

For those of you that live in Canada, have you hear the Axiom line? Its internet only here in the US but the prices look reasonable and they have gotten some great reviews plus everyone at the Home Theater forum loves them. Kami, have you heard the SVS's? Were on the first floor and it will be in the far corner by the patio so hopefully our neighbors wont complain too much. We'll just have to test it out and see how long it takes to hear that knock on our door.

Never heard the Axioms before, but i hear good things about them.

Yes I have heard SVS before (same model as the one you are getting)...simply AWESOME! I don't think you should have to rethink that purchase. First floor you should be OK....your apt. might be soundproof too if it's a newer one. The apt. condo I live in is completely sound proof (the building is less than a year old). I don't think it's possible to get a complaint in here, even with a couple SVS subs going

 

[kami]

Originally posted by: N8Magic
I know kami is going to disagree with me, but take it from someone who owns the Paradigm Monitor 7's, Mini-Monitors and the CCS-370.

*In my opinion*, I wish I had never bought them. They sound very shallow and thin, which is something that my sub can't even make up for (Paradigm Servo-15). I've used various DVD's to calibrate my system, and I still don't like the sound. DVD movies are passable, but the speakers aren't very musical.

All I ask is that you shop around and don't be swayed by the legions of Paradigm lovers out there. There ARE better speakers for the money, esp. down there in the US where Paradigm is very overpriced.

No I don't disagree with you We all have different opinions on sound. Only your ears can be the judge...not some review on the internet. For example, some people swear by Klipsch but it's trash to my ears.

 

[MiniThug]

Well our apartment is brand new, dont move in until August 17th, two weeks before school starts back up. The sub will be in the very corner of our complex, so the only person who could really complain would be the people directly above us. We'll have to make friends with those guys. Hopefully they will be some cute girls that we could invite over for movies. Where did you purchase your Paradigms? Are there any dealers in Canada that will ship to the US?

 

[MiniThug]

Here's our floorplan. I plan on putting it in the corner between the couch and chair so hopefully I will be alright. Would it be better to put it opposite of us by the tv?

 

[N8Magic]

Originally posted by: kami


No I don't disagree with you We all have different opinions on sound. Only your ears can be the judge...not some review on the internet. For example, some people swear by Klipsch but it's trash to my ears.

Very true.

I'm not saying all Paradigm stuff is bad... I *LOVE* my sub, and the centre channel is great too. I've just never been a fan of the Monitor series of speakers, although my friend has a set of Monitor 9's, and they seem to have a much fuller and richer sound than my 7's. I guess the bump up in woofer size helps...

 

[kami]

I don't think authorized dealers are allowed to ship unless you don't have an authorized dealer near you. I bought mine here and got some good deals after haggling a lot. I think there might be some cheaper places in toronto though...but I like my dealer.

 

[N8Magic]

Originally posted by: MiniThug
Here's our floorplan. I plan on putting it in the corner between the couch and chair so hopefully I will be alright. Would it be better to put it opposite of us by the tv?

"Error 404

HTTP Web Server: Lotus Notes Exception - Entry not found in index"

It looks like they've removed the floor plan from their server.

 

[MiniThug]

Hmmm. works for me. Dunno whats up.

 

[N8Magic]

Originally posted by: MiniThug
Hmmm. works for me. Dunno whats up.

Maybe the image is still in your cache? Could be the ancient Netscape browser i'm using...

BTW, kami, I bought my system from the same place. It's a shame everyone doesn't have a great local shop like Natural Sound. We're pretty spoiled in Kitchener...

 

[EvilYoda]

damn, that's a nice floorplan........my college apartment is expensive as hell ($1300 a month) for 2 bedrooms, 10*13 and 11*12.....it's decently big tho. As for your speakers, all the ones you listed are great, but yeah yeah yeah, it's up to what you think about them. B&W might be out of your range, but you might want to add NHT, Mirage, Mission to your selection as well. Maybe Klipsch, depending on what your opinion is of them...from what I hear from the HTF, you might want to look at a set of JBL S38II's all around, and add a center channel. That would be very close to your range, and you would have great imaging.

Gooooooood luck. I'm only buying a 1802 at the end of summer, along with.....well, most likely, some Paradigm Monitor 9 v2's, if I can find them, otherwise, some new Monitor 7 v3s.

 

[John]

347 Square Feet

Holy crap that is a tiny space for a 3 bdrm apartment. I replied to your post in hot deals.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Bose.

(Waits for flames)

 

[ObiDon]

Bose AM-...just kidding!
I'm just here to stir up controversy by saying that Pinnacle speakers are pretty good for the money.

I plan on adding this sub SVS 20-39PCi.

I hope your neighbors like you! I run a 12" sub and a 15" sub and even when I use only the 12", people bitch when they start bass wars and don't win! Luckily, such actions are rarely necessary here. I don't even have the 15" hooked up right now

For sub placement, you really won't know where the best place for it is until you actually move in. The most convenient place for it might not be the best sounding. You'll end up experimenting a bit

 

[ObiDon]

Originally posted by: Hayabusarider
Bose.

(Waits for flames)

Darn it! I started typing first!!!

 

[arod]

I have Wharfedale Diamond Series speakers, they have some really nice stuff for the price, not to mention they look pretty cool with Kevlar cones. Just if your wondering my whole setup was about 350 for all teh speakers so you will have plenty for the stands, plus they have bigger speaker and cost more so you couls opt for that one.


http://www.wharfedale.co.uk

 

[MiniThug]

347 square feet has to be wrong. Must be a typo. The bedrooms alone added together would be more than that. Also, as the amount of bedrooms increase, on that sheet the square footage has decreased. Doesnt make sense.

 

[MiniThug]

evening bump