Please suggest HTS for 30-40k and 5.1 Speakers 10-15k

[jasku]

Hi all,

I am going to be moving homes, and require a HTS for the informal living room and a set of 5.1 or even 2.1 speakers for the formal living room.First off, let me say I am a complete novice wrt HTS, and this will be my first ever setup, the closest thing to a HTS I have experienced are my trusty Z2300 still totally am satisfied with em.

Anyways here are the requirements:

Budget - 40k

1) Family living (24x16)feet - HTS - Please suggest a system within 40k, will go a bit extra if its totally worth it, we are a bit stretched with the spending on the house, if you can make it scalable, it would be great. The HTS will be coupled with a 55' HX750, and will have PS3,HD DTH, Bluray player(unlikely) HTPC and Xbox (later), this is all I can think of, please point out if I am missing on any other devices. It will be predominantly for watching football matches, movies, and gaming. I have had points setup for a 7.1 speaker system in the hall, the points are 2 at the corner where the TV will be, 2 at the opposite of the room, and 2 in the center in line with the seating. I know 7.1 setup sounds ambitious given the budget, hence please suggest a scalable solution.


Budget 10-15k

2) Formal living (22x14)feet - 5.1 speakers- I have points on 4 corners (close to the ceiling, the ceiling is pretty low) of the room for speakers, this would be for when friends come over and want to listen to some light music, the control initially I thought will just have a 3.5mm jack and use and ipod/iphone. But now I feel, I may add a receiver later if it makes sense.

Other considerations:

1) I was also thinking, if its possible to connect the family living receiver to the formal hall speakers just in case want to listen to the audio of some match/tv in that room, not a high priority, but if its possible, that would be great.
2) Also, in the future if I wanna setup a projector in the formal hall, would it be practical for me to have the HTS stream to the projector? or I am I asking for too much.

 

[jasku]

Cmmon guys, no one can help with starting a HTS for 50k and speakers for 15k?

 

[Rupam]

For HT I would suggest you to build step by step. This will be more costly but best for future. Buy AVR and Front Left right and centre speakers. Don't buy HtIb.
Look at AVR from Yamaha and Denon. Specially Yamaha 373 and Denon 1713. Yamaha has very good balanced sound for music and movies. Denon is specially good for movies.
For speakers look for Polk. (go visit Profx - Advanced Audio Solutions for Polk speakers). If you don't want to extend your budget then, audition Boston Acoustics XS 5.1 package. Or if you are interested in floorstander, then jamo s 426 hcs 3 is a good entry level speaker package.

1) I was also thinking, if its possible to connect the family living receiver to the formal hall speakers just in case want to listen to the audio of some match/tv in that room, not a high priority, but if its possible, that would be great.

You are asking for multi-zone feature in AVR. It will be costly. Denon AVR2113 has this facility @ 49000/-
I would suggest you to go for good active speakers. Read some posts in Active Speakers

 

[jasku]

For HT I would suggest you to build step by step. This will be more costly but best for future. Buy AVR and Front Left right and centre speakers. Don't buy HtIb.
Look at AVR from Yamaha and Denon. Specially Yamaha 373 and Denon 1713. Yamaha has very good balanced sound for music and movies. Denon is specially good for movies.
For speakers look for Polk. (go visit Profx - Advanced Audio Solutions for Polk speakers). If you don't want to extend your budget then, audition Boston Acoustics XS 5.1 package. Or if you are interested in floorstander, then jamo s 426 hcs 3 is a good entry level speaker package.



You are asking for multi-zone feature in AVR. It will be costly. Denon AVR2113 has this facility @ 49000/-
I would suggest you to go for good active speakers. Read some posts in Active Speakers

Firstly, thank you so much for responding, as I am totally lost here. As for the AVR, the prices abroad are tempting, but I am apprehensive about importing due to lack of warranty, are AVRs prone to failure? Also wireless networking capabilities is a plus, wifi, airplay etc.

I need guidance, what do you guys think about the Sony AVRs the STR 1030 and 1040?

Coming to speakers, again further expertise on whether I should go with FS or BS, I hear FS is good for music and BS for movies, further elucidation would really help.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Rupam]

FS is good for music and BS for movies,

What is best for you is determined by your space. In other words what you have for available positioning of speakers. As others said, often times you get larger (or more) drivers in floor standing speakers, so you get a little more output in the mid bass and low end. This in turn helps to make sure that you do not have a hole in the response at the subwoofer crossover point. Another thing to consider when looking at floor standing speakers is the construction of the cabinet. With some companies, the difference between their book shelf speakers and their floor standing speakers is mainly just a larger cabinet. In these cases, you need to consider that the larger cabinet may not be braced as well as the smaller speaker.

But personally I find a pair of good bookshelf and a subwoofer can beat any floorstanders.

Coming to 2nd question : Unless you are getting a very good discount even after paying shipping charges and duty, don't get AVR from abroad. For you Yamaha 373 will be very good.

wireless networking capabilities is a plus, wifi, airplay etc. >>> go for Denon 1713 or higher model. But I would put my money in better speakers instead of investing in networking tech in AVR.

 

[jasku]

What is best for you is determined by your space. In other words what you have for available positioning of speakers. As others said, often times you get larger (or more) drivers in floor standing speakers, so you get a little more output in the mid bass and low end. This in turn helps to make sure that you do not have a hole in the response at the subwoofer crossover point. Another thing to consider when looking at floor standing speakers is the construction of the cabinet. With some companies, the difference between their book shelf speakers and their floor standing speakers is mainly just a larger cabinet. In these cases, you need to consider that the larger cabinet may not be braced as well as the smaller speaker.

But personally I find a pair of good bookshelf and a subwoofer can beat any floorstanders.

Coming to 2nd question : Unless you are getting a very good discount even after paying shipping charges and duty, don't get AVR from abroad. For you Yamaha 373 will be very good.

wireless networking capabilities is a plus, wifi, airplay etc. >>> go for Denon 1713 or higher model. But I would put my money in better speakers instead of investing in networking tech in AVR.

Rupam, I just noticed your thread on the MS 100 and responded. I am in a similar boat, simply wondering will a 522/822+ BA XS5.1 be better than a 7.1 Onkyo S5400 and provide better sound in a 300 sq feet room.

I auditioned the Magnat 5.1 setup + Pioneer VSX 822, seemed good, since I dont have a benchmark, I am not sure where to put them, and comments on the web say that the Magnat 5.1 speakers are overpriced.

I will be visiting Pro FX shortly, looks like they will push for the Pollk, and the TL 1600 is the on I will look at.

 

[jasku]

Auditioned

Onkyo S3500 - It was ok, felt the dialogues weren't very clear. But a good system for someone with a room size of about 200sq ft. The system performed good with movies, songs and DTH.
Onkyo S5500 - This was most definitely better the dialogues were sharper, fronts were definitely crisper. The system had excellent bass for the music I played, was pretty happy with this system, and was most probably going to be my first HTS.

The salesman told me they also have "Energy" spakers, the micro RC were available for demo.

Energy Micro RC + Onkyo 313 - This demo room was much larger than the one where I auditioned the S3500/5500. The speakers are really tiny, and the sub has a much smaller form factor compared to the enormous one of the S5500. These speakers simply outclassed the Onkyo systems, the dialogues were extremely sharp more punchier, excellent bass for movies and music! They did not have the DTH connected to this setup, but I didnt need it, as I knew they would excel there too. They are priced at 47k, a tad expensive, but totally love them.

The speakers sans the sub is available in the US for $180, thinking of asking a friend to carry them and buy a sub from here, what do you guys think of this option? Also, the Energy take Classic speakers are available for $300, would be superior to the micro? Would it be ok to attach a sub of another brand with the setup?

Thanks Rupam for suggesting these speakers!

 

[Rupam]

RC micro is newer model. If you get the Energy take Classic cheaper, then of-course, choose Take classic. If you can get it from abroad the go for it. Its a very good system. But please confirm from your Chennai dealer if he can sell the subwoofer of RC micro alone without the speakers.

 

[jice505]

Auditioned

Onkyo S3500 - It was ok, felt the dialogues weren't very clear. But a good system for someone with a room size of about 200sq ft. The system performed good with movies, songs and DTH.
Onkyo S5500 - This was most definitely better the dialogues were sharper, fronts were definitely crisper. The system had excellent bass for the music I played, was pretty happy with this system, and was most probably going to be my first HTS.

The salesman told me they also have "Energy" spakers, the micro RC were available for demo.

Energy Micro RC + Onkyo 313 - This demo room was much larger than the one where I auditioned the S3500/5500. The speakers are really tiny, and the sub has a much smaller form factor compared to the enormous one of the S5500. These speakers simply outclassed the Onkyo systems, the dialogues were extremely sharp more punchier, excellent bass for movies and music! They did not have the DTH connected to this setup, but I didnt need it, as I knew they would excel there too. They are priced at 47k, a tad expensive, but totally love them.

The speakers sans the sub is available in the US for $180, thinking of asking a friend to carry them and buy a sub from here, what do you guys think of this option? Also, the Energy take Classic speakers are available for $300, would be superior to the micro? Would it be ok to attach a sub of another brand with the setup?

Thanks Rupam for suggesting these speakers!

Whats the cost of 5500 ? Did u auditioned in alwarpet ?

 

[jasku]

RC micro is newer model. If you get the Energy take Classic cheaper, then of-course, choose Take classic. If you can get it from abroad the go for it. Its a very good system. But please confirm from your Chennai dealer if he can sell the subwoofer of RC micro alone without the speakers.

Yes Rupam, the sub alone is sold for 22k, thats why I wanted to know if I can add like a different brand sub, maybe Sonodyne, something more reasonable

Whats the cost of 5500 ? Did u auditioned in alwarpet ?

I went to the Alwarpet showroom first, but they are undergoing renovation, so went to the Prodigy opposite President Hotel on Cathedral road, its a Onkyo showroom, the distributor is called Prodigy. The MRP is 63k, but they will give it for 58k.