Got a new reciever, suddenly realize I need new speakers. P.S. I'm an idiot.

[Brandon_Storm]

Hi all,

Hope your holidays were good and your boxing day even better.

Managed to pick up a Harman Kardon AVR700 receiver to replace my Samsung HT AS730ST HTIB which I really can't stand.

As my title implies, quite explicitly, I'm a total idiot when it comes to this stuff. Thought I could just use the speakers for my Samsung set with my new receiver, but it turns out I can't.

My question for you, could you please recommend a good speaker set for only a few hundred bucks?

Quite frankly, anything is better than what I have, and I figure with boxing day here, now's my chance to buy, but I don't have time to research properly. I'm hoping some of you audiophiles out there who are already well-versed can help a lowly newbie add some speakers to his new receiver.

tl;dr: Got a new receiver, need new speakers for a few hundred bucks or less. Please help!

Thanks guys, I appreciate it.


THANKS TO EVERYONE FOR YOUR HELP!

Here's an update with a few pics of the new system all set up. It sounds GREAT! Thanks again for all the help! I will need a new subwoofer soon though, so we'll consider this '...to be continued.'

And if you've got a knack for displays, please check out my thread over here and help me with a TV, I'd appreciate it!

Also, here's some pics.

[hedliniv]

Just curious on why you can not use the speakers at least temporarily? If it is because of a proprietary connection just cut off the connector at the reciever end and plug one wire in the red and the other in the black on he Harmon. Might not be the best but it should give you some time...

[callas01]

Originally Posted by Brandon_Storm

Hi all,

Hope your holidays were good and your boxing day even better.

Managed to pick up a Harman Kardon AVR700 receiver to replace my Samsung HT AS730ST HTIB which I really can't stand.

As my title implies, quite explicitly, I'm a total idiot when it comes to this stuff. Thought I could just use the speakers for my Samsung set with my new receiver, but it turns out I can't.

My question for you, could you please recommend a good speaker set for only a few hundred bucks?

Quite frankly, anything is better than what I have, and I figure with boxing day here, now's my chance to buy, but I don't have time to research properly. I'm hoping some of you audiophiles out there who are already well-versed can help a lowly newbie add some speakers to his new receiver.

tl;dr: Got a new receiver, need new speakers for a few hundred bucks or less. Please help!

Thanks guys, I appreciate it.

what is your actual budget? size of the room youre in? do you want to push extremely high volumes or moderately high is ok?

[BigAl87]

Those energy for 249 are pretty decent

http://www.vanns.com/shop/servlet/it...ures/542890837

I assume you need a sub.

[callas01]

Originally Posted by BigAl87

Those energy for 249 are pretty decent

http://www.vanns.com/shop/servlet/it...ures/542890837

I assume you need a sub.

olivier, i believe he is in canada eh?

[BigAl87]

Originally Posted by callas01

olivier, i believe he is in canada eh?

Why would that be?

[callas01]

Originally Posted by BigAl87

Why would that be?

he metioned boxing day.

[BigAl87]

Originally Posted by callas01

he metioned boxing day.

lol, you american you see that right away don't you? lol

I will direct him to Future Shop or BB Canada in this case

[BigAl87]

In this case Brandon Storm for a truly cheap price you coud get this.

http://www.futureshop.ca/en-CA/produ...5b1e7f2507en02

If you need a cheap sub you can get this:

You maybe able to find it in store if not the Energy ESW-C10 for 199 is a better sub. faster and more accurate but that brings the total to $500

http://www.futureshop.ca/en-CA/produ...916e9cba32en02

[pentatonic]

He mentioned boxing day which is Canadian, I guess

For the OP a system I feel very confident in recommending for the budget conscious, The Fluance AVHTB, add a cheap sub and you're in business. 30 days in home trial, nothing to loose.

Edit, darn too slow am I

That Energy kit is a real good buy at that price

[BigAl87]

Originally Posted by pentatonic

He mentioned boxing day which is Canadian, I guess

For the OP a system I feel very confident in recommending for the budget conscious, The Fluance AVHTB, add a cheap sub and you're in business. 30 days in home trial, nothing to loose.

For $15 difference at FS, Pat do you think they are better than those Jamos disguised as Energy speakers i suggested?

[BigAl87]

Originally Posted by pentatonic

He mentioned boxing day which is Canadian, I guess

For the OP a system I feel very confident in recommending for the budget conscious, The Fluance AVHTB, add a cheap sub and you're in business. 30 days in home trial, nothing to loose.

Edit, darn too slow am I

That Energy kit is a real good buy at that price

yeah I was asking myself that question

[callas01]

Originally Posted by BigAl87

lol, you american you see that right away don't you? lol

I will direct him to Future Shop or BB Canada in this case

yep.

[Brandon_Storm]

Originally Posted by hedliniv

Just curious on why you can not use the speakers at least temporarily?

Well, and again coming from a place of total ignorance, apparently the impedance for my receiver is 6ohm whereas the speakers are 4ohm. Originally I saw that it shouldn't make much of a difference as long as I keep everything well ventilated, but the updated specs said specifically that the receiver will not work with 4ohm setups.

Originally Posted by callas01

what is your actual budget? size of the room youre in? do you want to push extremely high volumes or moderately high is ok?

My actual budget is around $300, give or take depending on the quality of the deal. This is a bit of a surprise since I had intended on just using my old speakers, so I haven't budgeted for this sudden cost. However, with the deal I got on the receiver, I'd prefer not to return it.

The room is not huge, maybe about 15x15. Moderate volumes are alright seeing as how it is an apartment (well, a house split into apartments), but just as long as it doesn't entirely limit me from cutting loose and having some loud cinematic experiences at some point.

Originally Posted by callas01

olivier, i believe he is in canada eh?

You got it. Although we recently had Black Friday for the first time ever, so perhaps you'll get Boxing Day soon enough and we'll finally be one romantic consumer culture.

Originally Posted by BigAl87

In this case Brando Storm for a truly cheap price you coud get this.

http://www.futureshop.ca/en-CA/produ...5b1e7f2507en02

If you need a cheap sub you can get this:

You maybe able to find it in store if not the Energy ESW-C10 for 199 is a better sub. faster and more accurate but that brings the total to $500

http://www.futureshop.ca/en-CA/produ...916e9cba32en02

Thanks mate, I was eye-balling that exact set. I had intended on going into the store today to have a listen, but they had a pathetically small amount of stuff on the floor.

I was also checking out this full set with sub, what do you think?

Originally Posted by pentatonic

He mentioned boxing day which is Canadian, I guess

For the OP a system I feel very confident in recommending for the budget conscious, The Fluance AVHTB, add a cheap sub and you're in business. 30 days in home trial, nothing to loose.

Edit, darn too slow am I

That Energy kit is a real good buy at that price

I'm adding it to the list!

Thanks for your help everyone so far, the more options I have, the better I feel. You've been a great help.

And yes, anything you find on BestBuy.ca or Futureshop.ca is great with their free shipping (also, I live very close to both places, so I can shop in store as well), but I am open to literally any other retailer around.

[pentatonic]

Originally Posted by BigAl87

For $15 difference at FS, Pat do you think they are better than those Jamos disguised as Energy speakers i suggested?

To be honest, even though I have never heard any, I have some friends who have and they were very surprised of the build quality and sound for the price, this was a few years ago, not that long though, I believe one was the SX series, where one comment was that they looked even nicer than the pics, the other I have no clue, but same comment, they couldn't believe the price and I do believe that if they feel confident enough to include full lifetime warranty and expect to be in business, they got to do something right.

So who knows actually without having a real way of knowing, but I'll try to find a review from a reputable source(can't remember who) I read and it was very very good.

Edit: Found the review of their TOL tower the Fluance XL7F. Interesting read IMO

[Brandon_Storm]

Oh, and a follow-up, I've noticed the lot has been tower speakers when recommended so far, is there something I should be avoiding in terms of the more form factor 'bookshelf' speakers?

[callas01]

my suggestion would be to see what kind of deal you can get locally from paradigm or psb, you should be able to get the Paradigm Monitor 1s or the PSB Image B5. they should go good with your HK receiver for some 2-ch movies and music, then add a sub and center and surrounds as you save more money over time.

[Brandon_Storm]

And from the local classifieds I've spotted:

Polk Audio RM6000 for $200

Pioneer S-HS100 for $250

Infinity TSS-500 for $330

I imagine these prices are negotiable.

Any thoughts on why I should avoid these or contact them immediately to purchase?

[callas01]

check out this dealer to see what you can find at their place

Kennedy hi-fi
4560 Highway 7 EastMarkham, Ontario L3R 1M5,
905-474-0330

they have the psb and paradigm brands that i metioned and im sure they could work a deal with you.

[Almadacr]

Originally Posted by BigAl87

In this case Brandon Storm for a truly cheap price you coud get this.

http://www.futureshop.ca/en-CA/produ...5b1e7f2507en02

If you need a cheap sub you can get this:

You maybe able to find it in store if not the Energy ESW-C10 for 199 is a better sub. faster and more accurate but that brings the total to $500

http://www.futureshop.ca/en-CA/produ...916e9cba32en02

That's not a sub Olivier , it's a stand to rest your feet

I needed to edit this , ok check out HD.ca for deals and also Visions Electronics they are Canadian sites and they offer better deals than most brick and mortar stores . I also remember seeing this week at FS the Polk RTi 10 at $299 each for that price no one is beating this older Rti line .