Sound?

[LeChuck]

As some of you might know, I finally got around to purchasing my projector. Ouais! But now I was thinking of going all the way and getting some surround sound thrown in there. Unfortunately, I have never even looked at audio equipment in my life and really have no idea what I need and no idea how much such an operation would cost. What are some of my options and for these options what would I need? Thanks a lot. You guys have been great in the past in helping me out with hardware stuff.

[Pirate]

Originally Posted by LeChuck

As some of you might know, I finally got around to purchasing my projector. Ouais! But now I was thinking of going all the way and getting some surround sound thrown in there. Unfortunately, I have never even looked at audio equipment in my life and really have no idea what I need and no idea how much such an operation would cost. What are some of my options and for these options what would I need? Thanks a lot. You guys have been great in the past in helping me out with hardware stuff.

A few questions:

1. How big is the room the HT will go in?

2. What's your ballpark budget?

3. How close are you to your neighbors?

-PH

[chlngr1970]

There were some threads a while back that had some basics at given price ranges for HT setups. If you like, when I get home, I will look them up and link them for you.

Budget, room size, and personal taste ( brands, speaker size, S/O factor ) are the bigest factors to consider when looking into any major purchase. The net is a valuable source of info...exploit the hell out of it

j

[tomdkat]

Originally Posted by chlngr1970

There were some threads a while back that had some basics at given price ranges for HT setups.

I remember those. That was a brilliant idea, whoever thought of it.

Peace...

[Iguana Man]

Originally Posted by tomdkat

I remember those. That was a brilliant idea, whoever thought of it.

Peace...

I remember that thread. I remember giving someone the idea to create that thread. I remember everything I want to and the way I want to remember it.



Seriously, I'm dissapointed that thread wasn't somehow turned into a sticky and updated with newer gear as time progressed. It was and still is an excellent idea.

LeChuck, just buy all Mark Levinson gear and ... of course I'm kidding. PH hit on some good questions. I'll add one...

What kind of sound do you like? Can you describe it?

[LeChuck]

Originally Posted by piratehunter

A few questions:

1. How big is the room the HT will go in?

2. What's your ballpark budget?

3. How close are you to your neighbors?

-PH

1. The room is probably about 11' by 17' (used my body as the meter stick, so it is not entirely accurate)
2. Right now, I have not much to spend. I was trying to find a cheap, but very good sounding speaker set up. I just want to know about how much I need to save up before I can afford this.
3. Neighbors...huh?

[Pirate]

Originally Posted by LeChuck

1. The room is probably about 11' by 17' (used my body as the meter stick, so it is not entirely accurate)
2. Right now, I have not much to spend. I was trying to find a cheap, but very good sounding speaker set up. I just want to know about how much I need to save up before I can afford this.
3. Neighbors...huh?

You could go to Best Buy and buy a HT in a box if you want to keep it on the cheap. Do you want 5.1 sound or do you want to go up to 6.1 or 7.1? Also, keep in mind that HD may make some of the stuff you buy obsolete.

-PH

[Pirate]

You could go for something like this which is $1600:


http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....prd38700050001

-PH

[Pirate]

If you go for separates, think:

$300-$500 for a decent receiver.

$200-$500 for decent speakers.

-PH

[sub780lime]

it doesnt sound like you want to spend a whole bunch, but avoid HTIB, not all of them, but the ones you most often see in BB and CC are just crap, if your just looking for decent sound without spending much, buy a good reciever and some ok speakers, you can always buy better speakers when you get more money, but atleast youll have the reciever to power the new ones, as opposed to buying a cheap reciever and better speakers, where the speakers will sound like crap because of the cheap recievers, you want to go decently cheap but not terribly sounding, by some Polk Audios, or Polk as they are now called

[Pirate]

I'm a Pioneer whore, so if you get separates, I recommend anything in the ELITE line. DTS ES and THX EX will make you happy.

-PH

[Iguana Man]

Originally Posted by LeChuck

2. Right now, I have not much to spend. I was trying to find a cheap, but very good sounding speaker set up. I just want to know about how much I need to save up before I can afford this.
3. Neighbors...huh?

Yeah but, how much? And do you just want to get it all in one shot 'cheaply' for now and then upgrade down the road?

The whole idea of a first time HT buying process is very personal IMO. Meaning, what key ingredients are your looking for foremost? A quality receiver, or speakers that you can live with for some time? The thing is, are you one to be comfortable with you initial purchase for several years and NOT get the upgrade bug for that time? It's tough...at least for me it was/is.

Those Athenas look snazy, but I don't think they would be for me since I want loud, punchy, in your face clarity and bass. But that's me. And I'm only one opinion. Again I ask, what kind of sound are you looking for? I know it's tough to describe, but please try...and list a speaker you may have heard that you like.

[tomdkat]

Originally Posted by Iguana Man

I remember everything I want to and the way I want to remember it.

Which is obviously the wrong way since there were a few threads listing HT suggestions at different price points, like $500, $1000, $1500, and maybe unlimited funds.

Peace...

[Taxi]

Sheesh.. Some ex-Admins around here sure are lazy...






(I believe the "Build your home theater for $10,000" thread never materialized.)

[Iguana Man]

Originally Posted by tomdkat

Which is obviously the wrong way since there were a few threads listing HT suggestions at different price points, like $500, $1000, $1500, and maybe unlimited funds.

Peace...

They all could have been combined into one sticky....no? Hey man, I did think it was a good idea, and still can be. How it's updated as time goes on is the hard part...to me.

[LeChuck]

Thanks for the suggestions. I was thinking of avoiding the "in a box" approach because the whole idea seems like crap. I did do a little research in the Pioneer line. My main problem is I have no idea which brands are good.
Actually, that is not my main problem. My big problem is that I am a broke college student who just happens to love movies a little too much. I have rent to pay and have a part time job at an independant movie theater. This all adds up to hardly any real cash to spend. And then if I did spend a lot, I would feel kind of guilty blowing so much in one place. So I am trying to get an estimate as to a good sound system might cost, going for pretty cheap, but not cheap enough to destroy the sound quality.
As to what kind of sound I like, that is a difficult question. As I have never really had any experience in sound other than in theaters, I would have to say that I enjoy a balance where nothing stands out as much as another, i.e. I don't want a loud bass sound. Something that captures it all in a blend. I want to be surrounded, captivated by it all.

If you need any more info, let me know. Thanks already. There is some good stuff to look for.

[LeChuck]

Oh and I would probably start with 5.1 with the intention of adding speakers as I could afford them.

[Iguana Man]

Hows $840 sound? Gotta add tax too, but hey, I'm trying dude.

http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Pione...oductDetail.do fronts

http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Pione...oductDetail.do center

http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Pione...oductDetail.do surrounds


http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Velod...oductDetail.do sub

(I would spend more here, but that's your call)


http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....=1099396102345 receiver

[Wirehed]

I'm a big fan of B&W. I would look at the 600s, get two pair and the matching center. Hold off on the sub for now to save money.

600s run $350 pair, and the center is about the same.

[zepplongfellow]

I would put alot of your buget in a sub. It gives you a real home theatre experence. I have a 16x11 room and bought a svs pb10 sub. I never felt real bass until I bought this sub. It literlly hits your chest.

[LeChuck]

So what sort of specs should I be looking for when I get speakers. I really had no idea what any of the technical lingo meant.

[PunkMunkey]

Specs aren't as important as how they sound to you...the best thing to do is allot some time for auditioning a lot of different speakers before you buy anything...develop a taste for what you like and the type of sound you're looking fir, then find a set of speakers that sounds good to you and fits your budget...I know mine is a pretty vauge sounding, open-ended answer, but it's the best advice I can give you about how to choose speakers. Take a couple of weeks or even a couple of months and listen to some different speaker brands before you take the plunge.

[plissken99]

I highly recommend Klipsch speakers. You should at least audition them in your search, for your budget, check out the Synergy line sold at Best Buy. www.klipsch.com

[Pirate]

Originally Posted by plissken99

I highly recommend Klipsch speakers. You should at least audition them in your search, for your budget, check out the Synergy line sold at Best Buy. www.klipsch.com

I second Klipsch and Pioneer. Pioneer is a little cheaper I think and might be better if you're on a budget, but the Klipsch I tested at BB sounded nice.

If you come into some cash or get a credit card, I highly recommend AXIOM. It took me a little while to break them in (shhh, Tom!), but I now love them. The rear speakers are incredible

-PH

[LeChuck]

Another question: are there any speakers that are designed for the specific situation, i.e. are there "rear" speakers or "front" speakers?

[plissken99]

Yeah, some people use bookshelf speakers, others say they are happy with dipolar speakers. With Klipsch, I use these . Their basically a dipolar design, but different, they spread the side sounds nicely. See, good speakers disperse sound, so when you hear a side sound, it sounds like it came from the general direction of the side speaker, not right from it. It's hard to explain.