Good sounding Home Theater speaker set under $1000?

SET Man · « **on:** 23 Mar 2005, 09:46 pm »

Hi all,

A few day ago during my break at work I was talking with my co-worker about movie than we got into HT stuff and that when he learned that I'm an audiophile.

Than he told me that he is not really happy with his system. He says that he always have to turn the volume up to understand the words and to get more detail than the bass line will come along and it would be too loud.

I asked him what speaker he got. "B*se cube set" he replied. I answered back "That's the problem there."

Than I told him a bit of audio 101. Even before I invited him to listen to listen to my system this Sun of which he agreed. He asked me what other good speaker out there? I think he already thinking of upgrading the speaker.

Since I'm not in to HT stuff and I'm pretty much tube and Single dirver speaker guy and have not followed the HT stuffs at all. I have no idea what speaker set I should recommend to him for under $1K a set

The two usual suspects I could think of are the PSB and Paradigm. Any other good sounding HT speaker set under $1K should I look for?

Thanks guys,
Buddy

PS
I think I just recuited a new member a way from mass-market stuff and in to the world of Hi-Fi/Hi-End sound.

mcgsxr · « **Reply #1 on:** 23 Mar 2005, 10:09 pm »

The Energy Take 5 setup is respectable for the $$ - not sure if they are at 5.1, 5.2 or whatever version, but a good little system for the money.

My brother has one of the older versions, bought in 2002 or so, and it does well, and looks good.

gongos · « **Reply #2 on:** 23 Mar 2005, 10:11 pm »

av123.com

& you might be able to find some M&K speakers used for under $1000, which are great for HT.

JackStraw · « **Reply #3 on:** 23 Mar 2005, 11:43 pm »

Spending other peoples' money is fun, isn't it? How big is the room and what receiver is he using?

If he's willing to forgo super high SPL capabilities, you might consider suggesting RAD Micros for the speakers (assuming 5 that's $500). And, you can stick to your single driver speaker knitting with that reco.

Then there are a variety of sub options, including RAD's offerings, the Adire Rava, a number from HSU, etc.

Other options would be to consider upgrading the front 3.1 and/or 3.0 now and continuing the process later to get more for the money.

Tyson · « **Reply #4 on:** 23 Mar 2005, 11:52 pm »

nOrh 4.0's are still the best small HT speakers I've heard. Highly recommended.

thayerg · « **Reply #5 on:** 24 Mar 2005, 12:23 am »

The $300/pair Maggies plus the cheap maggie center plus a sub. Good looking and sound far better than they have any right to.

bubba966 · « **Reply #6 on:** 24 Mar 2005, 12:46 am »

M&K's are great for HT. But at $1k they'd have to be a used set.

AV123 has the Onix Rocket ELT's http://www.av123.com/products_product.php?section=speakers&product=60.1. Though it is a slight bit over your $1K at $1,200. But for HT at the $1K mark that'd be my choice (and I only do HT if that matters to 'ya).

I've heard decent $1K setups from both Boston Acoustics & Definitive Technologies. They both blow away the Bose cube crap, but they're not even close to the Rocket ELT's, let alone the M&K's.

pauly · « **Reply #7 on:** 24 Mar 2005, 02:41 am »

http://www.madisound.com/Audax%20Kits/doit/index.shtml

Great kit for the money. Build your own boxes. Add a sub.
Just remember your centre channel is the most important

A similar quality centre channel alone would cost +/-$700 in a good audio shop . It just sounds great for voice .

Or... build just this centre and buy 4 costco special bookshelves and a sub

Brad · « **Reply #8 on:** 24 Mar 2005, 04:09 am »

I second Tyson's recommendation of the Norh 4.0
Excellent dispersion. Great intelligibility for home theater.

If I had a separate HT system, I'd go in that direction.
Plus the shape of the drum speakers will be sure to attract attention.

thayerg · « **Reply #9 on:** 24 Mar 2005, 05:04 am »

Problem with norh 4's is that there's no way to do five for a grand, and you still don't have a sub, which is kind of basic for HT.

Read this review of the cheap maggies.

http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/magnepan/mmgw.html

I guarantee that intelligibility won't be an issue

Tyson · « **Reply #10 on:** 24 Mar 2005, 05:07 am »

nOrh has a HT package of 5 of the 4.0's for $850. You can do wood or ceramic enclosures, I'd recommend the ceramic. Maggies are good too, but need a lot more space.

Woodsea · « **Reply #11 on:** 24 Mar 2005, 07:59 am »

I had heard the 4.0's and then purchased the AscendAcoustic CBM170's for my surrounds. They now offer a center channel, with 2 midwoofers and reworked crossover.

S23-2000
CBM-170 front pr + CMT-340 center + CBM-170 surround pr
$858.00
$48.00 +shipped

Just like the model T, they come in any color as long as it is black. Damn fine speaker for the dough.

tex-amp · « **Reply #12 on:** 25 Mar 2005, 03:29 am »

I'll chime in on Ascend Acoustics. You can find more at the Ascend Forum. 200s all around with a Hsu STF-2 would be right at $1000 plus $70 in shipping.

Or go Woodsea's route and add a partsexpress.com Dayton 10" sub for $125 but frequently on sale for $99. Of course there is dropping the surround down to 200s and coming in on his budget.

They have the M&K sound for a lot le$$.

Songforyou · « **Reply #13 on:** 5 Apr 2005, 02:49 am »

I'm using a TBI Magellan VI sub and a pair of their little single driver Majestic Diamonds. They are $200 each, but will only ouput to 80hz so you need a sub with a crossover. I strongly recommend their sub for music, but it is more expensive ($1250) and you can probably find something more suitable for HT for less money. The single driver Majestics are clean, clear and wonderful though.

Good luck!

Valder · « **Reply #14 on:** 3 Jun 2005, 07:56 am »

Anyone tried the Mirage Omnisats?

inghamc · « **Reply #15 on:** 14 Nov 2005, 06:53 pm »

Hi - total newbie here, looking for a nice AND cheap home theatre setup

After finding this thread and visiting all the sites, I'm drawn to the nOrh 3.0 wood (Does the extra $55 for the prism pay off in sound quality?)

Also, the Rocket by Onix ELT is on sale right now for $249/pair

Would it be a stupid idea to get a pair of each? Based on our room setup and my wife's aesthetics, I was thinking the wall-mounted ELTs in the rear with the nOrhs as front left & right. That still leaves me with a center an sub.

Any thoughts would be GREATLY appreciated...

PhilNYC · « **Reply #16 on:** 14 Nov 2005, 07:03 pm »

IMHO, I think it's important to at least match the front speakers and the center channel. Ideally, you match all the way around, but if you are constrained aestetically or practically, using different rears is ok...I'd try to make sure that they at least have some similarity, like they use the same kinds of drivers...but that's just me...

Another speaker system to look at for HT in the sub-$1000 range are the Energy Take 5 system (for a smallish room). Not the best for music, but excellent for HT for the money...

Jon L · « **Reply #17 on:** 14 Nov 2005, 10:45 pm »

http://img468.imageshack.us/img468/9614/rocket17qd.jpg" alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us" />

With a budget like that, do what I did and buy used from videogon.com and av123.com "market" section. Spend the biggest chunk of money on the center channel. If you're going to get a sub, go smaller/cheaper for L and R mains and even cheaper for surrounds.

I spent very little money on my HT speakers by winning the Rocket 250 MKII for free

at the local meeting and buying the active Energy sub, Polk Atrium surrounds, and Rocket Bigfoot center used.

Al Garay · « **Reply #18 on:** 15 Nov 2005, 06:12 am »

Ascend Acoustics, Axiom, and AV123 are popular options. (why do they all start with A's? Adire Audio, staying with the As, would be very nice but only if you are willing to do some effort in DIY or spend more than your budget)

Just in case you like Klipsch style speakers, you should look at these:

BIC Acoustech, advertises at hometheaterforum.com, entire set for under your budget, sold at some Costco (excellent return policy)
http://www.homespeakersdirect.com/thumbnail.asp?cid=26

There's also BIC America, DV-84 HT for $709
http://www.acousticsounddesign.com/core/view_BigProduct.cfm?pid=870&sc=27

Back to the As, check out the Athena Technologies from Audio Advisor: F2.2+C1.2+B2.2 LT $750
http://www.audioadvisor.com/store/productdetail.asp?sku=ATHASF2%2E2&product_name=F2%2E2%20Speakers%20Black,%20Pair

James Romeyn · « **Reply #19 on:** 29 Nov 2005, 05:55 am »

I will eat my shorts if you can beat a BIC system in this price range.