I need some help with buying a surround setup.

[gearyt]

ahhh. its not the great sound.... but the great surround effects
they are sooooo very much better in HD formats

[ChiefSneed]

Originally Posted by gearyt

ahhh. its not the great sound.... but the great surround effects
they are sooooo very much better in HD formats

yeah I'm looking forward to listening and watching this in 5.1 It was mixed really cool with drums rotating 360 around the listener. Bass notes hopping from speaker to speaker on each hit. It's pretty awesome with the visuals too.

[ChiefSneed]

Originally Posted by crackinhedz

well, saying that you have ~$900 (+600 for receiver = $1500)

Polk Audio Monitor 60 2-Way Floorstanding Speaker (Single) x2

Polk Audio Monitor Series CS2 Center Channel Speaker

Athena LS-50B Satellite Speaker (Pair)

Acoustech H-100 Cinema Series 500-Watt Front-Firing Subwoofer


that would be a nice 5.1 setup for around your said budget.

all of those suggestions were great. I went to J&R in NYC for most of this stuff so I didn't have to pay for shipping and the guy working there was really impressed with your selections, even saying "you can't beat that" on a few of the items.

Just want to say thanks for your help things are shaping up around my place now it's going to be excellent.

also I think I may just jump to 7.1, what are some good side speakers? And I don't know a thing about audio cable any you can suggest me?

Thanks again

[crackinhedz]

Originally Posted by ChiefSneed

also I think I may just jump to 7.1, what are some good side speakers? And I don't know a thing about audio cable any you can suggest me?

Thanks again

good surround speakers would be some dipole/bipole speakers. Kinda pricey though!


also...

HDMI Cables just find the lengths you need....6ft and under just get the 28awg, for 10ft+ go with 24awg.

speaker wire 14 awg should do you justice. also some Banana plugs

[crackinhedz]

Originally Posted by ChiefSneed

all of those suggestions were great. I went to J&R in NYC for most of this stuff

so what all did you get?

and make sure to post some pics of your setup when its complete!

Sticky: Home theatre pics

[ChiefSneed]

Originally Posted by crackinhedz

good surround speakers would be some dipole/bipole speakers. Kinda pricey though!


also...

HDMI Cables just find the lengths you need....6ft and under just get the 28awg, for 10ft+ go with 24awg.

speaker wire 14 awg should do you justice. also some Banana plugs

So I think I'm going to go with A4s for surround speakers. They are a bit smaller and I don't need all that much bass response in my apartment anyway.

As far as cable I'm still confused as this is the first thing I've ever needed speaker cable for (I still can't believe it). So my front Polk speakers have 4 connectors on the back, 2 red and 2 black, but the center speaker only needs 1 red and 1 black.

The reason I'm asking is because I noticed on that site you linked me they had cable with 2 conductor and 4. Do I need 4 conductor for the front speakers and 2 for everything else? Or do I just double up and get 2?

Also the banana plugs only get attached to one end correct? The end that goes into the speaker while the raw end goes into the receiver (onkyo)?

Sorry for all the novice questions, but your help is greatly appreciated.

Oh and I got every speaker you suggested btw.

[Beta Man]

Originally Posted by ChiefSneed

So I think I'm going to go with A4s for surround speakers. They are a bit smaller and I don't need all that much bass response in my apartment anyway.

As far as cable I'm still confused as this is the first thing I've ever needed speaker cable for (I still can't believe it). So my front Polk speakers have 4 connectors on the back, 2 red and 2 black, but the center speaker only needs 1 red and 1 black.

The reason I'm asking is because I noticed on that site you linked me they had cable with 2 conductor and 4. Do I need 4 conductor for the front speakers and 2 for everything else? Or do I just double up and get 2?

Also the banana plugs only get attached to one end correct? The end that goes into the speaker while the raw end goes into the receiver (onkyo)?

Sorry for all the novice questions, but your help is greatly appreciated.

Oh and I got every speaker you suggested btw.

First... because your speakers have 2 red, and 2 black posts on the back doesn't mean they "Need" four wires...

there will be a crossover/jumper/plate thing connecting the two (gold possibly?) either way, just connect one to red, and one to black (top or bottom, either one, just be consistent)

Second... it's important to note that when you connect the banana plugs (also not "NEEDED" but nice to have) you unscrew it (if that's the type you got) feed the bare wire into it, make sure you have 1/2 inch to 3/4 inch of BARE wire.... then crimp through the hole, and screw the other end in, to get a good connection.... on the Red/Black posts, SCREW THEM COMPLETELY DOWN, and then just push the banana plug into the hole in the post, in the back.... the same goes for the receiver, screw all of the red/black knobs down FIRST, then push the banana plugs into it (so yes... for EACH SPEAKER, you'll need four banana plugs, two for the speaker, two for the receiver....)

For speaker wire, just get 14 or 16 gauge wire, and you'll be fine..... and again... banana plugs are optional.


here's a pic.... to show how they connect to the speaker.



I realize you have FOUR posts... but like I said... use the top, or bottom pair.... not both.

[ChiefSneed]

thanks a ton. My only question is about my receiver. It has plastic caps that don't fully come off on them, still use banana plugs on them?

[ChiefSneed]

So every single suggestion Crackinhedz made I bought. Like I said earlier I went directly to J&R and the department manager was very impressed with the selections. I only have one last question for you.

I just bought THESE as you suggested them for good surround speakers. Since I bought these Athenas originally thinking I was only going 5.1, should I use the Polks are the rear speakers now? Or keep them on the sides and let the Athenas be the rear speakers as originally intended? Also Do you think the Athenas should eventually be swapped out as they feel like they are the weakest link (based on price alone) in my setup?

Again, thanks a ton, I've learned so much throughout this whole process, I really feel confident if it came time to do this again or for a friend.

[crackinhedz]

Originally Posted by ChiefSneed

So every single suggestion Crackinhedz made I bought. Like I said earlier I went directly to J&R and the department manager was very impressed with the selections. I only have one last question for you.

I just bought THESE as you suggested them for good surround speakers. Since I bought these Athenas originally thinking I was only going 5.1, should I use the Polks are the rear speakers now? Or keep them on the sides and let the Athenas be the rear speakers as originally intended? Also Do you think the Athenas should eventually be swapped out as they feel like they are the weakest link (based on price alone) in my setup?

Again, thanks a ton, I've learned so much throughout this whole process, I really feel confident if it came time to do this again or for a friend.

use the polks as surrounds, and the athenas as the rear. I don't think you would need to replace the athenas since the back is not pushed very hard during movies, they should hold up. Unless you notice they do not sound very good?

[Beta Man]

Originally Posted by ChiefSneed

thanks a ton. My only question is about my receiver. It has plastic caps that don't fully come off on them, still use banana plugs on them?

You don't take them off.... you screw them down, and put the banana plug in the hole that is in them.... Look at the picture above the red/black screw down cap are still there.

[ChiefSneed]

Originally Posted by crackinhedz

use the polks as surrounds, and the athenas as the rear. I don't think you would need to replace the athenas since the back is not pushed very hard during movies, they should hold up. Unless you notice they do not sound very good?

thats just what I wanted to here. I'll have pics in about a week or so. Thanks again.

[ChiefSneed]

Originally Posted by Beta Man

You don't take them off.... you screw them down, and put the banana plug in the hole that is in them.... Look at the picture above the red/black screw down cap are still there.

yeah for some reason I thought the ones on the receiver were different, I don't know, I never messed with this stuff before, I've got it all now, thanks