Help This Virgin !!!!!

[HomeTheaterVirgin]

Let me start with the back story,So I just moved from California along with my wife and daughter into my mother in laws in Nebraska.It took alot of me to say yea to my wife to do it but her dad and mom needed help and the way things were getting it was going to be along time before I get a house.I mean come on 450,000 for a house out there when I can get the same kind out here for 125,000.
So Im out here and really bored and decided to start a new thing to play with.Now my dad and brother are huge fanatics when it comes to home theater.I was always the odd one out when it came to things like this.I have a TV Samsung 52inch with the red trim thing.I told my dad my new intrest that they got excited and sent me a care package.My dad sent me a APC conditioner big silver box (which I really dont think I need I mean OMG the thing is huge) and my brother sent me a hand me down blu ray player Sony S350 I think it might be outdated who knows .So my question is whats next?

1.TV 52inch TOC
2.Xbox 360
3.Sony Blu ray player
4.APC conditioner
5.?
6.?
7.?
8.?
9.?

[Johnny Vinyl]

Speakers.....and you don't necessarily need to start with a 5.1 setup either.

John

[StimpsonJCat]

Receiver (AVR) , Speakers, & Sub.

How big is the room? What is your budget?

[HomeTheaterVirgin]

So do you suggest I start with a center and sub?

[StimpsonJCat]

Originally Posted by HomeTheaterVirgin

So do you suggest I start with a center and sub?

Depends on your budget. You need an AVR as well if you don't already have one.

But IMHO the best way to piece together speakers is to:
1. get mains (left & right fronts)
2. get center
3. get sub
4. get surrounds

[HomeTheaterVirgin]

well her moms house is pretty big and theres 5 bedrooms 2 living rooms there mom and dad gave us 1 living room and also said we can have the basement for anything we might want.So in our living room Im putting just the basic tv we had before and in the basement Im going to make it as the media room but I dont want to start tearing up walls or anything.Give me a min to measure and ill be back.

[liquidice]

go with L/R mains and a sub. If you get decent mains, you could actually probably hold off on a sub. Center channel will make more sense when you decide on 5.1.

[Johnny Vinyl]

Originally Posted by StimpsonJCat

Depends on your budget. You need an AVR as well if you don't already have one.

But IMHO the best way to piece together speakers is to:
1. get mains (left & right fronts)
2. get center
3. get sub
4. get surrounds

Good suggestion...although I bought the surrounds first...still dont have a sub.....

Your FRONTS and your CENTRE are the most important speakers.

John

[Beta Man]

Originally Posted by HomeTheaterVirgin

my dad and brother are huge fanatics when it comes to home theater.
1.TV 52inch TOC
2.Xbox 360
3.Sony Blu ray player
4.APC conditioner
5.?
6.?
7.?
8.?
9.?

I say you have a couple of good sources for info right there....

but either way,

5) AVR
6) Fronts
7) Center
8)Sub
9) Surrounds


EDIT:

B U D G E T ? ? ? ?

[StimpsonJCat]

Originally Posted by John72953

Good suggestion...although I bought the surrounds first...still dont have a sub.....

Your FRONTS and your CENTRE are the most important speakers.

John

I agree that fronts and center need to be solid first. You can go either way on the sub/surrounds order. If you have decent towers then a sub can come later. But, for me a decent sub really makes a difference with HT. Surrounds are not usually that expensive so there shouldn't be too long a wait before adding some.

[Fors*]

Originally Posted by Beta Man

I say you have a couple of good sources for info right there....

but either way,

5) AVR
6) Fronts
7) Center
8)Sub
9) Surrounds


EDIT:

B U D G E T ? ? ? ?

I agree with our 3', 5" friend here as well......this is the order I would do this in.

[Johnny Vinyl]

Originally Posted by StimpsonJCat

I agree that fronts and center need to be solid first. You can go either way on the sub/surrounds order. If you have decent towers then a sub can come later. But, for me a decent sub really makes a difference with HT. Surrounds are not usually that expensive so there shouldn't be too long a wait before adding some.

I only bought my Totem Mite surrounds first, because I was using them as my fronts for a while, before I got my Totem Sttaf's.....but for a true HT setup the sub should probably come before the surrounds.

John

[StimpsonJCat]

Originally Posted by John72953

I only bought my Totem Mite surrounds first, because I was using them as my fronts for a while, before I got my Totem Sttaf's.....but for a true HT setup the sub should probably come before the surrounds.

John

Makes sense. I've done the same thing over the years.

I started with a Boston System9000 box set and as I upgraded I moved speakers back. I upgraded the center & sold the other one. Upgraded fronts to CR95's (which are really bookshelves on stands) and moved the satellites to surrounds (and sold the old surrounds). Then down the road a bit I bought VR2 towers and moved the CR95s to the back. Last I upgraded the sub (big change) from the 8" from the original box set.

It would have been cheaper in the long run to buy nicer equipment over time and I recommend this now. But, it took a while for me to do all this so the box set worked out for me.

Of course recently I upgraded the whole set with E-series all at one time (Rest went to the gameroom). And next is the sub.....WILL THIS EVER END???

[Beta Man]

I must be the only person to buy Fronts, and down-grade and use the rears as my fronts now

[HomeTheaterVirgin]

as far as budget 2000.00 right off the bat then another 2000.00 every 4-5 months from now

[Beta Man]

OH MY..... what a nice space...... I'm sure many others will chime in with the same advice.... so here it goes.... "PROJECTOR"

Now... on to what you have....

AVR $400-$500 Many people will give you recommendations based on what they have.... so just take one, and run with it...

So for $1,500 or so.... I'd get two front speakers..... yep... that's it... you can get some dandies for $800 a piece or so..... then when the other $2k becomes available, you'll be looking at $700-$800 for a center, $200 each or so for surrounds, and that leaves a nice chunk of $700-$800 for a sub.... and given the current offerings from these internet direct companies.... you should be able to get a pretty impressive sub for that....

The only reason I say to skimp on the surrounds, is the fact that your system really won't demand much from them..... others will disagree I'm sure..... but even at $200 a pop, you can get some pretty nice surrounds.


HAVE FUN!

[Lucy Diamond]

The title of this thread reminded me of a chick I saw in a mall a couple off weeks ago doing some girl's hair.

She had a black t-shirt on with white letters that said
"Save a virgin.
Do me instead."

Just sharing.

Carry on.


later,

~LD

[StimpsonJCat]

Nice space & budget. I agree that room is screaming for a nice projector setup, but if you already have a nice tv I would wait for that.

I also agree with a $400 - $500 AVR.

One idea:

Round One:
$500 on AVR (Denon, Pioneer, Yamaha, or Onkyo)
$1150 (Boston E70's for LCR & E60 Surrounds (original MSRP is $3600) - can get them at Listenup.com for this price shipped.)
$350 Sub (eD A2-300 - shipped price)
Will be close to $2000 (but you can probably get the AVR for under $500 and put the rest to cables, etc...)

Round Two:
Boston E100 mains (move the E70 L & R to the surrounds and E60s to rear surrounds for 7.1) these should be found for under $2000 for the pair.

Round Three:
Second sub (or sub upgrade) and/or external amps.


I'm a boston fan and have the E70s & E60s so I can highly recommend them. There are tons of speaker options and you should go listen to some and look into the many great brands.

Some other brands to look at:
Monitor Audio
B&W
Salk (custom made with incredible furniture like finishes)
Paradigm (I reallly like these)

With some of these you will have to start with just fronts, but in the end you will have a sweet setup.

[HomeTheaterVirgin]

Originally Posted by StimpsonJCat

Nice space & budget. I agree that room is screaming for a nice projector setup, but if you already have a nice tv I would wait for that.

I also agree with a $400 - $500 AVR.

One idea:

Round One:
$500 on AVR (Denon, Pioneer, Yamaha, or Onkyo)
$1150 (Boston E70's for LCR & E60 Surrounds (original MSRP is $3600) - can get them at Listenup.com for this price shipped.)
$350 Sub (eD A2-300 - shipped price)
Will be close to $2000 (but you can probably get the AVR for under $500 and put the rest to cables, etc...)

Round Two:
Boston E100 mains (move the E70 L & R to the surrounds and E60s to rear surrounds for 7.1) these should be found for under $2000 for the pair.

Round Three:
Second sub (or sub upgrade) and/or external amps.


I'm a boston fan and have the E70s & E60s so I can highly recommend them. There are tons of speaker options and you should go listen to some and look into the many great brands.

Some other brands to look at:
Monitor Audio
B&W
Salk (custom made with incredible furniture like finishes)
Paradigm (I reallly like these)

With some of these you will have to start with just fronts, but in the end you will have a sweet setup.

Im sure there really nice those speakers but my dad and brother both have paradigm and I plan to carry on the tradition.

[Johnny Vinyl]

Originally Posted by HomeTheaterVirgin

Im sure there really nice those speakers but my dad and brother both have paradigm and I plan to carry on the tradition.

You'd be limiting yourself. Paradigms are great speakers, but there are so many others that may suit your ears better. Tradition is nice, but it's your "ears" that have to live with the sound.

Great room btw! I'd kill for a space like that!

John

PS~ This room screams for a Projector!