i need some help...

[Kurri]

So i have been checking out these boards, but just not sure what the hell to buy.

My budget is around 2,000 - 2,500. I need a new receiver (have a sony str-dn100 i will be replacing), two front, a sub and a center. any suggestions? BestBuy has been pushing martinlogan as the brand for my budget, just not really 100% sure. I just want some really crisp sound, good dialog, etc. any help would be awesome!

[Almadacr]

Well your best option is .... audition as much as you can , i don't know where you are situated but if you are in the US , there is a member that will give you a really good help ( he is good finding dealers in your area ) called Callas for sure he will chime in . From that point it will be easier for you to go out and give it a listening .

There is also some company's that will do direct sale truth the internet , some of them will give you 30 days to try it out .

[Kurri]

Yeah I'm out in California. thanks for the feedback. Probably going to go to a few stores today to get a listen of some stuff.

[callas01]

Where at in California

[Kurri]

I am in ventura county, about 1 hour north of los angeles

[callas01]

yeah, I know where that is, Im in Riverside, 30 minutes east of OC.

You have quite a bit of dealers near you. You may need to drive down a little bit, but there is plenty near you. Gene Rubin is in Ventura, he does have PMC speakers, I don't know their prices tho, they may be more then you want to spend.

I would suggest that you go to these websites and find the most local places near you and audition the speakers they have, and see what you like best. Im not a fan of the ML speakers they have at BB. See if there is a Magnolia Audio near you also, they are BB owned but a better version of BB. Many of these will have things that aren't listed, but are great speakers:

B&W
PSB
Paradigm
Epos (affordableaudio.biz, venice beach area)
Focal
Monitor Audio (affordableaudio.biz)
Dali

for inexpensive products over the net,

vanns.com for Energy speakers
Aperion Audio


Buy your sub from a place like HsuResearch.com or SVSsound.com over the net, youll get more for your money and a great product.

[Adam.C]

I can vouch for SVS subs. They freaking rock in Home Theater.

[Kurri]

went to best buy magnolia theater section today, some really good stuff...more confused than ever its really a hard decision. I can tell you my fiancé is 100% behind this, but I gotta make sure I do it right. She can't hear the dialog in movies in the system we have now.

[callas01]

What did you hear, and what did you like?

[Almadacr]

I would like to trow also from internet direct sales the Axiom

[callas01]

Originally Posted by Kurri

went to best buy magnolia theater section today, some really good stuff...more confused than ever its really a hard decision. I can tell you my fiancé is 100% behind this, but I gotta make sure I do it right. She can't hear the dialog in movies in the system we have now.

If you can get down to Venice Beach, there is a place called Affordableaudio.biz if you want the web address. They have some Epos and Monitor Audios.

In Ventura there is a place called Gene Rubin Audio, they are maybe at the height of your budget with brands like PMC and others. Could be a good place to look....

Santa Monica has several places.

Try Sound Factor in Northridge as well.

[BDS23420]

Kurri,

Callas01 knows what he is talking about I would listen to him! He is the one that suggested everything I have right now..when I was in your position I asked the same thing....here is what he said to me.

Receiver: Marantz 5004 $350
Subwoofer: elemental Designs A2-300 $415
Mains: WHARFEDALE - DIAMOND 10.2 $450
Surrounds: WHARFEDALE - DIAMOND 10.1 $300
Center: WHARFEDALE DIAMOND 10 CM $450
Speaker Stands: VTI UF-29 $129.00

Total is $2095, however I would call and talk to someone at Music Direct and ask them to give you both free shipping(they might already do that) and 20% OFF, then go to www.monoprice.com and buy yourself 2 HDMI cables, Speaker wire, and banana plugs.

EDIT:: you could also look at the Wharfedale Diamond SR for surrounds, they are $229/pr and are wall mountable, that would save you $70 over the 10.1 bookshelfs.

OR

Receiver: Marantz 5004 $350
Subwoofer: Hsu Research STF-2 $392
Mains: WHARFEDALE - DIAMOND 10.2 $450
Surrounds: Axiom QS4 $440
Center: WHARFEDALE DIAMOND 10 CM $450
Speaker Stands: VTI UF-29 $129.00

$2200 approximately. But you get probably one of the best surrounds speakers out there.

I WENT WITH THIS ONE
Here would be another system that would kick ass

Onkyo 708 $499
PSB Image B5 $399
PSB Image C5 $375
Elemental Designs A2-300 $415
VTI UF-29 Stands $122.22

That is $1810 for that setup.

Then you will still need to get surrounds

I would look into those, its a little under your budget which is never a bad thing! or just tweek somethings and get the next best speakers.

Good luck and have fun! its something that sound be a great time not stressful!!

[Kurri]

Originally Posted by callas01

If you can get down to Venice Beach, there is a place called Affordableaudio.biz if you want the web address. They have some Epos and Monitor Audios.

In Ventura there is a place called Gene Rubin Audio, they are maybe at the height of your budget with brands like PMC and others. Could be a good place to look....

Santa Monica has several places.

Try Sound Factor in Northridge as well.

Sounds good to me, I will check those out next week. Thanks everyone for your help!

[Cmiller44]

What up homeboy!..i grew up in Simi Valley..use to goto Rincon and surf when i was a young man..lol..To the speakers..You really need to look into the Wharfedale speakers..I was going through the samething as you,i could never hear the clarity of the voices as i wanted to..until i bought a Wharfedale setup,and i love it..check it out @ music direct..

[callas01]

Originally Posted by Kurri

Sounds good to me, I will check those out next week. Thanks everyone for your help!

If I could make a suggestion, call sound factor, ask him if he has dynaudio DM2/6 and the DM center, see if you can get them for about $1500-1550. Then go to http://WWW.accessories4less.com and get a denon3311 or onkyo 808. Then buy a sub at Hsu research like the STF-2

Then save up to get another pair of DM2/6s as surroundsy

Oh, you'll need stands also, look at the vti uf29s listed above.