My 1st HT setup (HELP CRACKINHEDZ!!)

[PS3+HDDVD OWNER]

Well, despite it being Christmas time as well as the fiance's birthday i've decided to take the plunge into Home Theater. I grabbed an Onkyo TX-SR605 from my local CC right as they were going out of business, and i scored a pretty good deal at $199.99. Also that day, i picked up a Polk CS2 center channel speaker for $63 !! Yesterday, i order a pair of Polk Monitor 50's off of CC's website, and they are due at my front door anywhere between 1/5-1/9. This gives me a little time to plan out what kind of speakers i will use as my rears, as well as select a decent starter subwoofer. Also i will need suggestions on speaker wire, banana plugs, etc. Lots of planning involved here, haha.

I'm wanting to stay with Polk for the rears, and i'm debating between Monitor 40's (Black) or just order another pair of Monitor 50's. This setup will start off as a 5.1 setup and expand when i replenish my secret savings account

As far as a subwoofer, i eventually plan on going with the eD A2-300 which 99% of the board members here swear by. However, funds are running low as i stated earlier b/c Christmas is right around the corner and Xmas day happens to also be my fiance's birthday

Can anyone suggest a good entry level subwoofer, possibly in the $150 range? If not, i'm likely just going to say screw it and order the damn eD subwoofer

Also, i plan on bi-amping my setup since it will start out as a 5.1 setup. Is this a good idea to get the most out of what i will have? Will that be too much juice running to my modest Monitor 50's? Any suggestions you guys can share on this subject?

And as far as cables are involved, can someone point me in the right direction here? Will 12 guage do? I'm going to need a good 100 feet, as my room is about 18' x 13' and i'd like to have some extra. Help a noob out guys!!

[Intamin]

For cables/banana plugs, hit up www.monoprice.com or bluejeanscable.com. For the sub, I'd just wait it out on the eD sub and not waste your money because I'm guessing you won't be satisfied with whatever you do find in the $150 range. For the rears, I would go with the Monitor 40s. The only time I would potential suggest going with the 50s is if you listen to a lot of 5.1 music, but even still I can't imagine the surrounds getting enough use or making a noticeable enough difference where you would be wishing you had the 50s over the 40s.

[PS3+HDDVD OWNER]

Originally Posted by Intamin

For cables/banana plugs, hit up www.monoprice.com or bluejeanscable.com. For the sub, I'd just wait it out on the eD sub and not waste your money because I'm guessing you won't be satisfied with whatever you do find in the $150 range. For the rears, I would go with the Monitor 40s. The only time I would potential suggest going with the 50s is if you listen to a lot of 5.1 music, but even still I can't imagine the surrounds getting enough use or making a noticeable enough difference where you would be wishing you had the 50s over the 40s.

I was under the impression that the Monitor 40's were practically the same speaker as the Monitor 50's with the exception of the shape of the speakers? If i go with the 40's, im going to have to buy stands for them then


I'm thinking the same thing with the subwoofer, but i just dont want to wait a month to get my subwoofer. I should've just went ahead and ordered the damn thing, but that was before i knew i was getting my anniversary raise at work and would have an extra $1000 to play with for Christmas time

[JasonR]

I would get the 50s if you can get them cheaper than 40 or 30s with stands. Wait for the eD, it is well worth it!

[PS3+HDDVD OWNER]

Originally Posted by JasonR

I would get the 50s if you can get them cheaper than 40 or 30s with stands. Wait for the eD, it is well worth it!

Thats what i'm thinking, its just depressing that i've spent all this money and i'm only halfway there.

Can you point me to a solid coil of speaker wire on monoprice? I head 12 guage was pretty popluar among home theater gurus.

[PS3+HDDVD OWNER]

Will this do?

http://www.monoprice.com/products/pr...seq=1&format=2

[Blu-Dog]

Originally Posted by PS3+HDDVD OWNER

Well, despite it being Christmas time as well as the fiance's birthday i've decided to take the plunge into Home Theater. I grabbed an Onkyo TX-SR605 from my local CC right as they were going out of business, and i scored a pretty good deal at $199.99. Also that day, i picked up a Polk CS2 center channel speaker for $63.

Unreal. Most people don't get a deal that good unless they're waving a pistol at the cashier....

[PS3+HDDVD OWNER]

Originally Posted by Blu-Dog

Unreal. Most people don't get a deal that good unless they're waving a pistol at the cashier....

I was just in the right place at the right time i guess.

[Blu_Ray_Fan]

Originally Posted by PS3+HDDVD OWNER

Thats what i'm thinking, its just depressing that i've spent all this money and i'm only halfway there.

My center channel speaker cost more then your receiver, center, and L/R's combined Wait untill you start upgrading

[HAMP]

Originally Posted by PS3+HDDVD OWNER

Thats what i'm thinking, its just depressing that i've spent all this money and i'm only halfway there.

Can you point me to a solid coil of speaker wire on monoprice? I head 12 guage was pretty popluar among home theater gurus.

You think it's depressing now, just wait till the UPS and FED-EX man stop visiting your house. or you stop checking your tracking number to see where your shipment is. That's when it starts to get depressing.

I know it's christmas now, but when you bargin shop online it feels like Christmas all year around or that feeling when you were a kid and believed in Santa waiting on that big day to come to open your gift.

[PS3+HDDVD OWNER]

Originally Posted by Blu_Ray_Fan

My center channel speaker cost more then your receiver, center, and L/R's combined Wait untill you start upgrading

You have the biggest center channel speaker i've ever seen, hands down! Thats awesome!!!


And as far as upgrading in the future, i will have to run that by my fiance' Thats why i'm trying to get this current setup off the ground, trying to do it on a budjet and still get above average sound!

[Riff Magnum]

I think everyone's advice about waiting to get a good sub is accurate. Your polk's will give you enough bass for now.

[dobyblue]

Originally Posted by PS3+HDDVD OWNER

You have the biggest center channel speaker i've ever seen

Check this one out, 38 inches wide, 7" drivers:
Paradigm Signature C5v2

Low extension - 25Hz
+/-2db 50Hz~22kHz



MSRP $3,199

Or the Martin Logan Theatre i



From Zepherman's gallery here - https://www.blu-ray.com/community/ga...&folderid=227#

[crackinhedz]

Polk makes a good 10" sub for around $150 on amazon. (I would provide a link, but am at work sorry)

But seriously, Id invest money on the sub you really want for the long haul. So save up just a bit.

[Layd Dly]

Save your money for the eD, I have had mine for over a year and i love it, if you waste 150 now you'll just kick yourself later for not buying bigger to begin with.

[PS3+HDDVD OWNER]

Originally Posted by crackinhedz

Polk makes a good 10" sub for around $150 on amazon. (I would provide a link, but am at work sorry)

But seriously, Id invest money on the sub you really want for the long haul. So save up just a bit.

I figured that is what you'd suggest. Let me ask you this, if i were to just run my setup without a subwoofer would it be a big pain in the a** to adjust all the settings once i finally add a sub?

And bi-amping my setup, would you suggest it?

[dobyblue]

Originally Posted by PS3+HDDVD OWNER

if i were to just run my setup without a subwoofer would it be a big pain in the a** to adjust all the settings once i finally add a sub?

As much of a pain in the ass as changing from "DVD" to "AUX1" is.

You likely won't notice much by bi-amping.

[Intamin]

Originally Posted by PS3+HDDVD OWNER

I figured that is what you'd suggest. Let me ask you this, if i were to just run my setup without a subwoofer would it be a big pain in the a** to adjust all the settings once i finally add a sub?

And bi-amping my setup, would you suggest it?

It won't be a problem. Just plug the stuff in, and maybe run audyssey again if you feel like it. But it's really not an issue to set it up.

[PS3+HDDVD OWNER]

Originally Posted by Intamin

It won't be a problem. Just plug the stuff in, and maybe run audyssey again if you feel like it. But it's really not an issue to set it up.

Should i go buy the Radio Shack SPL meter to tweak my settings further? I've heard mixed feeling regarding the audessy...

[Driver_King]

You're thinking too far ahead. Wait and see how you like Audyssey. I love how Audyssey calibrated my system (except sub level wise).