Need help deciding on new receiver

[dgg04]

Hi, I'm new to the whole home theater scene and would welcome some suggestions.

My current set up consists of:

Samsung LN46A550 and PS3

The audio is lacking from the built in speakers, but I've never owned a home audio system before.

After doing some research on these forums I found the following,

Reciever: Onkyo TX-SR606, $319.99
Speakers: 2 x Polk Audio Monitor 50 Two-Way Floorstanding Loudspeaker Cherry Single , 2 x $119.99

I'm trying to keep my budget around $500.00 and plan to fill in the speakers as I get more money with perhaps

4 x Polk Audio Monitor 30 Cherry Two-way bookshelf loudspeaker Pair
CS20 TSi Series Cherry Center Channel Speaker
and a sub woofer at some point

I plan to use this primarily for watching blu-rays and occasionally listening to music. The room this will be in is 13' X 15'. I would appreciate any suggestions you guys could offer on my current choices or a different receiver or speakers.

Thanks!!

[callas01]

Welcome to the site.

good choices all around the 606 is a great receiver, I think the CS2 is the actual center for the Monitors, but I think they are pretty much interchangeable too.

I will give you two other choices as well, both are better then the polks. Energys are the same price, but you will pay shipping, the Mirage are free shipping.

Energy C-300 towers $119 ea x2
They do have Cherry too, $129 ea x2
The center channel would be either the C-C100 or C-C50.

Mirage Omni 550 Cherry $149.88 x2
Mirage Omni 550 Black $179.88 x2
You can see the center channel right there, and the surrounds.

good luck with everything.

[lucv13]

While I'm sure the Onkyo is a fine receiver, I would suggest trying to find a receiver with pre-outs this will some expandability options for the future. You should still be able to find something in your price range. I use an entry level Marantz - It's options met my needs and has the pre-outs wich enabled me to add a pair of amps opening up the front soundstage for movies and much more clarity when 2 channel listening

[dgg04]

callas01, thanks for the suggestion about the speakers, they look nice. What kind of sound should i expect with just the initial two speakers? Because it may be awhile before I can upgrade further.

Also I'm trying to keep the budget around $500.00 for the receiver + the two initial speakers.

All the receivers I've seen with pre-outs run around $500.00, I know with a quality amp this can allow for more power and better quality music, but if I choose a good receiver will it not have ample power to run the system?

[lucv13]

Originally Posted by dgg04

but if I choose a good receiver will it not have ample power to run the system?

Absolutely, but there is this bug going around after you purchase new equipment, it usually has about a 6 month incubation period - it's called upgradeitis

[mr peepers]

Honestly, if you're looking to be using this primarily for movies, I would either consider upping your budget a little bit to incorporate a center, or find some cheaper speakers or receiver which will allow you to add a center channel to the mix.

Now usually I would never suggest getting the low low end stuff because most people usually just end up regretting it further down the road when they inevitably find themselves spending even more money upgrading their shiz, but if 500$ is all you can really squeak out right now, I'd do what you can to find a receiver, a pair of L/R mains and a center.

Surround speakers can wait, but you'll missing a whole hell of a lot of content without a center channel when watching movies.

[dgg04]

I've read some of the other threads mainly the one where the guy says he couldn't notice a difference after adding the amp, so that makes me weary of shelling out an extra $200.00 for a receiver with pre-outs.

I know my budget is a bit tight right now, and I plan on adding more speakers as soon as possible, I think I could hold out a month for a center.

[blarneyrubble]

I don't use Polk but this seems like a great deal depending on the size of your room.

http://www.frys.com/product/4005092?...H:MAIN_RSLT_PG

[callas01]

Originally Posted by dgg04

callas01, thanks for the suggestion about the speakers, they look nice. What kind of sound should i expect with just the initial two speakers? Because it may be awhile before I can upgrade further.

Also I'm trying to keep the budget around $500.00 for the receiver + the two initial speakers.

All the receivers I've seen with pre-outs run around $500.00, I know with a quality amp this can allow for more power and better quality music, but if I choose a good receiver will it not have ample power to run the system?

I have heard mirage speakers before. don't remember what ones, they were at BB, they sounded great, neutral so they didn't sound bright like klipsch. Energys are warm, not bright, great speakers.

[McGarnigal]

Where can you listen to energy speakers? I thought best buy used to have them, but i don't see them on their site...

[callas01]

Originally Posted by McGarnigal

Where can you listen to energy speakers? I thought best buy used to have them, but i don't see them on their site...

where do you live and I can find you a dealer that has them. city state and zip(most important)

I don't think BB ever carried them, maybe, I know in CA they used to be in The Good Guys, but that was some time ago.

[callas01]

callas01, thanks for the suggestion about the speakers, they look nice. What kind of sound should i expect with just the initial two speakers? Because it may be awhile before I can upgrade further.

Also I'm trying to keep the budget around $500.00 for the receiver + the two initial speakers.

All the receivers I've seen with pre-outs run around $500.00, I know with a quality amp this can allow for more power and better quality music, but if I choose a good receiver will it not have ample power to run the system?

Originally Posted by callas01

I have heard mirage speakers before. don't remember what ones, they were at BB, they sounded great, neutral so they didn't sound bright like klipsch. Energys are warm, not bright, great speakers.

Sorry I had to get off the internet quickly earlier. 2 channel speakers will sound more complete then just tv speakers, they will be more detailed and have better imaging. you will get a greater range of sound too. I would quickly purchase the center channel also because they are a hugh part of the HT system, just as important as the L&R fronts. Also understand that these speakers are being discontinued and that is why they are so inexpensive at the moment. So once they are gone they are gone. I wouldn't wait to long to get the center channel or it will be something you will be buying on Ebay or audiogon.

[browndk26]

Originally Posted by blarneyrubble

I don't use Polk but this seems like a great deal depending on the size of your room.

http://www.frys.com/product/4005092?...H:MAIN_RSLT_PG

Callaso1

How do these compare to the Energy C-300's?

[callas01]

Originally Posted by browndk26

Callaso1

How do these compare to the Energy C-300's?

I have never heard the R series speakers, they look according to the Polk website to be the lowest series of speakers they have.

I don't want any confusion, POLK speakers are good speakers, but I am just offering up different suggestions because there are better speakers around the same price. Sorry if that isn't much help

My experience with Polks are the TSi300, Monitor 50s and Monitor 60s. So I can only articulate my point to those 3 speaker specifically.

I used to have Sony speakers, when I bought them I liked the bassier sound, I didn't like the Polks Monitor 50s because I didn't see the point in spending the extra for not much more speaker. When I began to understand speakers better and get more into them I checked out polks again, IMO, they had better highs, I almost bought a pair of TSi300s at CCs liquidation. But before I did I listened to some Energys, Bostons, Bowers & Wilkins and Klipsch. What I personally found that made me love Energys is that they had everything I wanted in a speaker. With Klipsch music sounded over pitched(I hate the word Harsh, cause that isn't accurate to me). B&Ws out of my price range, great sound, my dad owns them i love them. Bostons, CC closed and I couldn't go back and check into them again, but originally they sounded smooth. Polks, good but the highs, although not bright like klipsch, but to me they seemed exaggerated, stressed kinda. Energys sounded laidback, smooth, detailed, strong mid-bass and they kinda just spoke to me. <THIS IS WHY IT IS BEST TO AUDITION! You will know what speakers you want when you hear them. I showed the wife my quote for the CF-50s and CC10, just under $1K. She said NO. So I found the C-300s and C-C100 for $370 total. I got the Yes.

Here are some dealers near you. http://www.energy-speakers.com/na-en/where-to-buy/

Best thing I can say is Audition. That is a great price on the Polks, but at what costs are you sacrificing quality?? and what is your personal threshold? Really only questions you can answer.

hope that helps, sorry for the long post.

[reyz]

does anyone care to comment on whether the BA classic series line leans more towards being warm or bright? and any noticeable defining tonal characteristics and quality? for those who have ever owned or demo-ed them before..

http://www.bostonacoustics.com/-CS-2...aker-P260.aspx

[browndk26]

Thanks Callas01.

[McGarnigal]

Originally Posted by callas01

where do you live and I can find you a dealer that has them. city state and zip(most important)

I don't think BB ever carried them, maybe, I know in CA they used to be in The Good Guys, but that was some time ago.

Pittsburgh, PA 15237

[got rice]

If movies is your thing, have you considered a set of klipsch quintet III?
With a sub these little speakers rock.

Not sure if they fit into your budget, but I know they're always on eBay for good prices.

[callas01]

Originally Posted by McGarnigal

Pittsburgh, PA 15237

where to audition

you should find a few places close to you on this page.