Upgrading Speakers - Need Advice

[BobTheLoveGoat]

I am looking to upgrade my fronts, center, and subwoofer. For the fronts I would like to get floorstanding ones as mounting them on the wall is not something that will last as I can just see someone banging into it and ripping it off the wall. As for the center that will be mounted under the TV, which is about the correct height for optimal sound. I really need a powered subwoofer as this is truly the most important upgrade I am going to make as my current one is a non-powered and is virutally lifeless.

To upgrade these three items I would like to keep the budget at $500 or less. Are there any good options?

Thanks in advance!

[Hammie]

Originally Posted by BobTheLoveGoat

I am looking to upgrade my fronts, center, and subwoofer. For the fronts I would like to get floorstanding ones as mounting them on the wall is not something that will last as I can just see someone banging into it and ripping it off the wall. As for the center that will be mounted under the TV, which is about the correct height for optimal sound. I really need a powered subwoofer as this is truly the most important upgrade I am going to make as my current one is a non-powered and is virutally lifeless.

To upgrade these three items I would like to keep the budget at $500 or less. Are there any good options?

Thanks in advance!

I would recommend upgrading it steps due to your budget.

If your primary interest is HT, I would say upgrade your center and maybe your sub. If music is your primary interest, I would say upgrade the fronts.

Whatever you upgrade now, next year you can upgrade the other.

What electronics will you be using to push the speakers? What size room do you have? a quick drawing in Google SketchUp will help us understand the parameters of the room.

[callas01]

While I do agree with Lou that upgrading in steps can allow you to get more for your money each time you upgrade, I will also say that there are the discontinued Energy speakers that are fantastic speakers and could be a good fit into your budget.
I have the Energy C-300s and I love them. They are about half price right now because they are being discontinued so it is a great time to buy them. For music they are excellent and for HT they are very good. Below are the items you could get for about $330. There is a shipping charge, but I know that you can get it reduced if you call them.


Energy C-C50 Center, Energy C-300 Towers

That leaves about $170 for a Sub. You could look at any of these

Energy ESW-V8 $225 free shipping OR
Acoustic Audio HD-Sub10 $169 free shipping (I have this its works really good) OR
Premier Acoustics PA-120 $229
Premier Acoustics PA-10W $199
Energy S8.3 $199

This would be an easy way to start a home theatre and for about what you were wanting to spend. If you have a wife or gf, let her know that even if you are a little over budget, that they are 50% off and that you are getting a deal that won't be around again, that got my wife to say OK. They understand shopping and deals!!!

Also these speakers are faily easy to drive, so any receiver that can run 8 ohm speakers will drive them just fine.

[BigAl87]

Originally Posted by callas01

While I do agree with Lou that upgrading in steps can allow you to get more for your money each time you upgrade, I will also say that there are the discontinued Energy speakers that are fantastic speakers and could be a good fit into your budget.
I have the Energy C-300s and I love them. They are about half price right now because they are being discontinued so it is a great time to buy them. For music they are excellent and for HT they are very good. Below are the items you could get for about $330. There is a shipping charge, but I know that you can get it reduced if you call them.


Energy C-C50 Center, Energy C-300 Towers

That leaves about $170 for a Sub. You could look at any of these

Energy ESW-V8 $225 free shipping OR
Acoustic Audio HD-Sub10 $169 free shipping (I have this its works really good) OR
Premier Acoustics PA-120 $229
Premier Acoustics PA-10W $199
Energy S8.3 $199

This would be an easy way to start a home theatre and for about what you were wanting to spend. If you have a wife or gf, let her know that even if you are a little over budget, that they are 50% off and that you are getting a deal that won't be around again, that got my wife to say OK. They understand shopping and deals!!!

Also these speakers are faily easy to drive, so any receiver that can run 8 ohm speakers will drive them just fine.

+1 Here not because we own them, it's because we got similar deals on em and could not be happier with those, I mean those prices are off the chart.

[BobTheLoveGoat]

Thanks for all the current advice. Let me add some more specifics:

- This is not for a HT. This is just to upgrade the current and old HTiB speakers and sub that are in my living room. The HT in the basement will be put together using the piece-by-piece methodology.
- The receiver is an 8-9 year old Sony that does DTS, Dolby Digital, and Pro Logic (does not even do II, just to help date it some more). This thing has treated me wonderfully, but I understand this needs to go too as I am watching mostly blu-rays now and missing out on the uncompressed sound. This is being purchase with a separate chunk of money.
- Was hoping with this budget to just get good quality products that will bring enough life to the movies as I am a huge movie fan and love surround sound. HD Cable via the terrible Time Warner is also used on this system.

As for the recommended center speaker how does that compare with the sticky thread recommendations for center speakers that is at the top of this Forum section?

[callas01]

Originally Posted by BobTheLoveGoat

Thanks for all the current advice. Let me add some more specifics:

- This is not for a HT. This is just to upgrade the current and old HTiB speakers and sub that are in my living room. The HT in the basement will be put together using the piece-by-piece methodology.
- The receiver is an 8-9 year old Sony that does DTS, Dolby Digital, and Pro Logic (does not even do II, just to help date it some more). This thing has treated me wonderfully, but I understand this needs to go too as I am watching mostly blu-rays now and missing out on the uncompressed sound. This is being purchase with a separate chunk of money.
- Was hoping with this budget to just get good quality products that will bring enough life to the movies as I am a huge movie fan and love surround sound. HD Cable via the terrible Time Warner is also used on this system.

As for the recommended center speaker how does that compare with the sticky thread recommendations for center speakers that is at the top of this Forum section?

Energy makes a quality speaker, nice thing is whether this room will be mostly TV or Music or movies, you will have a speaker that will be easy on the ears, sound good at low volumes and suitable for all applications. You may even like the Energys so well you get another set for your HT.

A new receiver will be nice also if you want to add the HD audio, and will be playing blus on this setup.

I have never experiment with a verticle center channel, but in terms of application the center channels Energys manufactures are very nice. I have sat to the extreme right or left and never loose dialog. I think you would be fine, I have had no issues with dialog on my speakers.

[Kryptonic]

Check out some speakers and subwoofer from The Speaker Company. They currently have a 20% off deal.

LCR3-P Front - L/C/R - $120
P5-PR Surrounds - $47
ASW-10 Subwoofer - $150

Leaves you plenty of money to spend on BD's and you'll get excellent well balanced sound.