Speaker rec. for my Onkyo 805 plz

[JaysDomain]

Probably posted a million times, but I rarely start threads so here goes anyway...

I have an onkyo 805 coming today (overnight'ed) and need some new speakers, but the problem is I am on a budget because I also want to get a new 1080p plasma and still have some Christmas shopping to do.

I never got into the audio end of things before so I have pretty limited knowledge and I would rather not waste any more money than I may have already, so I would appreciate any help I can get.

I am wanting to spend no more than $300-$500 the surround, and may need some better front speakers, should I bother for this price range or just wait? What specs and/or brands/models should I look for in the speakers?

I just picked up some Sony floor speakers on sale in a rush "Sony SSF-6000" but thinking I made a mistake, did I?

I would like to go small sized speakers on the surround as a preference (if the sound can still be very good), but I would even go floor if needed, so not a huge deal.

Would these (or similar) do the trick or to cheap, or small and lacking sound?
http://www.amazon.com/Polk-Audio-5-P...dp/B000IE1KZC/

I mostly watch in this order: DirecTV (local channel series shows, boxing, mma, news), blu-rays, MP3's streamed from my PC.

I am hoping to go with something off Amazon if possible for the free prime shipping, but not required.

Should I use 14 gauge wire throughout?
Couch to TV is about 12-15 feet, I will be moving things some to add a new AV rack this weekend.

Thanks for the help - Jay

[Gio]

hate to say it
but the Bose am16 are freakin killer
its higher than you were hoping to spend
personally i'd wait a few months than sacrafice on the sound quality

[JaysDomain]

Here is the fronts I just got, but I can always sell them if their no good...
http://www.amazon.com/Sony-SSF-6000-...dp/B000OG4E20/

Forgot to mention, here is the sub I have, got it quite a few years ago at best buy, sounds good and loud to me but its the only sub I ever purchased so I have nothing to compare it to.
http://www.amazon.com/Sony-SAWM40-Ho.../dp/B00005I9RO

[JaysDomain]

Originally Posted by Gio

hate to say it
but the Bose am16 are freakin killer
its higher than you were hoping to spend
personally i'd wait a few months than sacrafice on the sound quality

I'm not a big fan of bose, though I do like the idea of almost hidden surround, but not the idea of buying new stands.
I'm sure the Bose are good but I just feel like I am paying extra for the name and cant imagine there is not a comparable or better speaker for less, but what do I know.

[Bullseye]

Bowers and Wilkins are worth a look. I have them and the sound is incredible. Many ranges to suit different budgets.

[jd213]

Polk's more expensive speakers are great, like the LSi series which are meant for amps that can put out 4ohms like your Onkyo (I have the Japanese version of the 605 which I use as a pre-pro with Outlaw M-Blocks to Polk LSi7 fronts). Not sure about their budget stuff, but it's definitely a better value than anything Bose puts out.

If you want to get the 5-pack as a stop-gap and then sell it later on, then that might be a good way, but it seems wasteful to spend that much on a receiver and skimp on the speakers.

[DragonSarc]

Originally Posted by Gio

hate to say it
but the Bose am16 are freakin killer
its higher than you were hoping to spend
personally i'd wait a few months than sacrafice on the sound quality

Dont buy Bose never!!!!
go for the Definitive tech 600 complete surround system way better than bose way cheaper than bose.

[Bullseye]

Get a price on this setup.

http://www.bowers-wilkins.com/displa...fid=1480&sc=ht



http://www.bowers-wilkins.com/display.aspx?infid=769

[Matt X]

Originally Posted by Gio

hate to say it
but the Bose am16 are freakin killer
its higher than you were hoping to spend
personally i'd wait a few months than sacrafice on the sound quality

...way too much money for the (supposed) quality of Bose. My strategy has always been use MOST of your speaker budget on two really good quality Front speakers first (I've never heard those sony's you showed, but I've never thought of sony as a decent speaker company - then beg borrow or steal some decent surrounds & center 'till you have more speaker budget to match the fronts w/ models from the same manufacturer (B&W are real sweet, paradigm, klipsch, definitive, most of those are fairly easy to find and very good quality) I run infinity right now, not bad but not what I'd keep in the long run.......

[MacDaddyOJack]

I would take the Sony's back if you can, their audio stuff is no where near as good as their video stuff is. If you shop around, you can get some polk RTi series towers for about $212 a piece. Check them out here

You are pushing a fair amount of power too with that amp, I would stay away from satellite speakers. And for goodness sakes, don't get Bose!! How they have scammed so many people into thinking they make a quality product is beyond me....

[JaysDomain]

Originally Posted by MacDaddyOJack

I would take the Sony's back if you can, their audio stuff is no where near as good as their video stuff is. If you shop around, you can get some polk RTi series towers for about $212 a piece. Check them out here

You are pushing a fair amount of power too with that amp, I would stay away from satellite speakers. And for goodness sakes, don't get Bose!! How they have scammed so many people into thinking they make a quality product is beyond me....

I should have no problem selling the Sony's so I will just keep them until I get something better.
Are you saying I should use tower and bookshelf speakers all the way around, or just not the very small surround like I asked about earlier?