Budget 5.1 setup

[viralbug]

Hi everyone!

I'm looking for a 5.1 setup for my room. My budget is pretty limited at 30-35k. It will be used for 50% music/50% movies and connected to my computer. Room size is 13x10 and listening distance is 1.5 feet when listening to music and 8 feet when watching movies. I need DTS-HDMA decoding and 4K support from the AVR.

This is the setup I was considering:
Pioneer VSX-329
Pioneer BS22 for fronts
BA XS satellites for rear surrounds (will be bought later)
Pioneer C22 center speaker (will be bought later)
Will consider a subwoofer later if and when required.

I was considering the Yamaha YHT-299, but it doesn't support 4K.
Other AVR options like Yamaha 477 are over my budget.
What are the grey market options in Mumbai/Navi Mumbai and are they advisable to go for?
Right now I'm looking at BS22 bookshelves and a decent AVR to go with it. The Pioneer VSX-329 seems to meet my requirements since I don't need anything extra.

Am I making the right choice of going with BS22 bookshelves if I would be listening to music at such close distance? Also these are back ported speakers and I have limited space on my computer table which means they will be placed very close to the wall.

Earlier I was thinking of cheap 5.1 speaker systems, but decided to increase my budget and go for separates for the long run. However, the bookshelves size requirement is something I am confused with.

Kindly help a confused soul in choosing the right components.

 

[efernand1]

Hi

The models mentioned by you are good for entry level and you should start building your system slowly ...patience is a virtue....

If you are open to owning pre owned equipment, look at Hifi Ads or OLX or For Sale by Owner section where you might just get lucky and get something nice....

End of the day...most of us will keep changing our systems from time to time in order to own the latest and best technology for extreme AV performance...

 

[Ahuja]

Hi ViralBug, according to the specifification of YHT-299, it does support "4K pass-through".

 

[viralbug]

Hi

The models mentioned by you are good for entry level and you should start building your system slowly ...patience is a virtue....

If you are open to owning pre owned equipment, look at Hifi Ads or OLX or For Sale by Owner section where you might just get lucky and get something nice....

End of the day...most of us will keep changing our systems from time to time in order to own the latest and best technology for extreme AV performance...

Yes this is what made me go ahead with just buying decent pair of BS and AVR first and add other speakers later.
How reliable are Alfa, Heera Panna for grey market components? The prices for AVR are very lucrative from what I gathered from the forums.

Hi ViralBug, according to the specifification of YHT-299, it does support "4K pass-through".

It seems it does! Thanks for pointing that out. I must have gotten confused and looked at some other specs. I might really consider this option now.

 

[viralbug]

I just checked the manual of YHT 299 and it supports only 4K 30hz which is useless.
4K 60 hz is a must.

The Pioneer VSX 329 is looking very lucrative now. It supports 4K 60hz.

 

[saikatbiswas82]

I just checked the manual of YHT 299 and it supports only 4K 30hz which is useless.
4K 60 hz is a must.

The Pioneer VSX 329 is looking very lucrative now. It supports 4K 60hz.

Why the video spcs is mandatory for avr? This should be the specs for a TV or projector.

Anyway, what devices are you using that is capable to send 4k @60hz? I am talking about true 4k resolution only.

 

[AKT]

Here's my suggestion.

Stick with Pioneer VSX series. I have used a VSX AVR for 4 years and was quite impressed with its bang for the buck. Its not a great AVR (not the best video processing, not the best sound but with a very good room correction and an impressive array of features). With or without 4K does not really matter. Chances are by the time you have decent 4k content, the upgrade bug would have already bit you.

I have not auditioned the BS22 speakers. The reviews look impressive but I was put off slightly by the weight of the speakers (I am an old school guy). If you can, check KEF or B&W. Even if you get a used pair which has been taken good care of; it would be a winner. Speakers age quite slowly as compared to digital electronics.

Alternatively, if you can audition the BS22 with a Pio VSX and YOU like it; then nobody should say nothing against the pair

 

[sachinv_81]

Hi everyone!

I'm looking for a 5.1 setup for my room. My budget is pretty limited at 30-35k. It will be used for 50% music/50% movies and connected to my computer. Room size is 13x10 and listening distance is 1.5 feet when listening to music and 8 feet when watching movies. I need DTS-HDMA decoding and 4K support from the AVR.

This is the setup I was considering:
Pioneer VSX-329
Pioneer BS22 for fronts
BA XS satellites for rear surrounds (will be bought later)
Pioneer C22 center speaker (will be bought later)
Will consider a subwoofer later if and when required.

I was considering the Yamaha YHT-299, but it doesn't support 4K.
Other AVR options like Yamaha 477 are over my budget.
What are the grey market options in Mumbai/Navi Mumbai and are they advisable to go for?
Right now I'm looking at BS22 bookshelves and a decent AVR to go with it. The Pioneer VSX-329 seems to meet my requirements since I don't need anything extra.

Am I making the right choice of going with BS22 bookshelves if I would be listening to music at such close distance? Also these are back ported speakers and I have limited space on my computer table which means they will be placed very close to the wall.

Earlier I was thinking of cheap 5.1 speaker systems, but decided to increase my budget and go for separates for the long run. However, the bookshelves size requirement is something I am confused with.

Kindly help a confused soul in choosing the right components.

Hi Viral,

What is the budget you are planning to spend on the HT? have you bought VSX 329? Also, are you only looking for centre & bookself right now?

 

[viralbug]

Why the video spcs is mandatory for avr? This should be the specs for a TV or projector.

Anyway, what devices are you using that is capable to send 4k @60hz? I am talking about true 4k resolution only.

I will be planning for a 4K panel in the near future which is why I'm looking at 4K video output from AVR. Like I said in my first post, I will be connecting it to my PC so 4k60 is not a problem.
The Pioneer VSX-329 does do 4K 60 but only with 4:2:0 chroma and not 4:4:4 which I will need. However I can let this slide since AVRs supporting this are more expensive and not to mention the 329 is the cheapest AVR I can find.

Hi Viral,

What is the budget you are planning to spend on the HT? have you bought VSX 329? Also, are you only looking for centre & bookself right now?

I haven't bought anything yet, though almost closing in on the VSX 329. I have a budget of 30-35k for AVR + fronts. Surrounds will be added later, center and sub will also be added later if required.

The Wharfedale 220 is another option which is highly regarded on whathifi. However, I haven't found much reviews or comparisons from users. Also these will overshoot my budget quite a bit.
Anyone can give a comparison between the Pioneer BS22 and Wharfedale 220?

 

[binnyraj]

Hi All this is Binesh from Bangalore I am Looking to get Onkyo HT-S3700 , I reside in Whitefield . Any Idea where to get this product please.

 

[viralbug]

Here's an update:
I have purchased a Denon X520BT AVR and Wharfedale Diamond 210 bookshelves as front.
Really happy with my purchase. The Denon is just awesome and the 210 sound great for the size! The reason I went for these were space constraints near my PC. Also bigger speakers wouldn't give justice to near field listening.

I'm looking to add surrounds and a center speaker. The Yamaha NS P150 looks decent enough and cheap enough to fit my budget. Any reviews on how these sound? Couple of reviews mentioned the center speaker is pretty decent for the price.

 

[suhrid_s]

Here's an update:
I have purchased a Denon X520BT AVR and Wharfedale Diamond 210 bookshelves as front. ..

Congratulation for your purchase......Enjoy the system....

Also please let us know the price in which you got the AVR and speakers..

 

[efernand1]

Hi Viral

Congrats.....where did you purchase and at what price?

 

[sachinv_81]

Here's an update:
I have purchased a Denon X520BT AVR and Wharfedale Diamond 210 bookshelves as front.
Really happy with my purchase. The Denon is just awesome and the 210 sound great for the size! The reason I went for these were space constraints near my PC. Also bigger speakers wouldn't give justice to near field listening.

I'm looking to add surrounds and a center speaker. The Yamaha NS P150 looks decent enough and cheap enough to fit my budget. Any reviews on how these sound? Couple of reviews mentioned the center speaker is pretty decent for the price.

I will suggest to go with Yamaha NS-P51 which comes in the same price range of ~9k but has better output compared to his cousin P150.. P51 can handle input power up to 120W where P150 only till ~70W.. This makes a difference. P51 is the US/UK version. Last month I bought it from Infibeam but currently out of stock. Don't worry about the warranty, you will have from Yamaha India..

Yamaha NS-P51 Speaker Price: Buy Yamaha NS-P51 Speaker Online in India - Infibeam.com

You should definitely go with this set!

 

[viralbug]

Congratulation for your purchase......Enjoy the system....

Also please let us know the price in which you got the AVR and speakers..

Hi Viral

Congrats.....where did you purchase and at what price?

Thanks guys! I got the Denon X520BT for 29k from Fair Deal Electronics and Wharfs from hifimart.

I will suggest to go with Yamaha NS-P51 which comes in the same price range of ~9k but has better output compared to his cousin P150.. P51 can handle input power up to 120W where P150 only till ~70W.. This makes a difference. P51 is the US/UK version. Last month I bought it from Infibeam but currently out of stock. Don't worry about the warranty, you will have from Yamaha India..

Yamaha NS-P51 Speaker Price: Buy Yamaha NS-P51 Speaker Online in India - Infibeam.com

You should definitely go with this set!

Thanks for your input. I didn't find much about either of these speakers so didn't go for them. For now, I'm holding out on buying a center speaker till I find something decent that will match my speakers.
I have bought a pair of Boston Acoustics XS satellites for rear surrounds. Will be installing them over the coming weekend.

 

[balzac]

Did you find the Fair Deal to be a good seller? Does it provide a good warranty?