$3500 for 5.1 surround package

rblnr · « **on:** 13 Feb 2005, 05:23 pm »

Looking for a system for my brother-in-law, 5.1, all speakers must be bookshelf sized other than the sub. Room is small, roughly 14' x 12'. Price is $3500 or below.

I'm considering the following packages and am looking for experiences with these as well as other recommendations. I'll be tracking them all down for a listen soon.

- Nola Minis (x5) plus Thunderbolt sub. Have liked Alon speakers I've heard and there are some good reviews.

- Von Schweikert VR-1's for L/R mains, VR-1C center, matching dipole/monopole surrounds. Good reviews, consistent w/other Von Schweikerts. Dipole surrounds might be preferable in the location as the main seating is right on the back wall where the rear speakers will be.

- Epos ELS3 for L/R mains and rears, ELS3C center, Epos sub. Cheaper than above, and love Epos speakers after owning a few pairs. Am a big believer in 1st order xovers and phase coherency, although this is much less of an issue for movies vs. music. Cheaper than above choices.

Will be matching these w/a Denon,NAD, Onkyo or H/K mid to upper range receiver and a good DVD/CD player TBD.

Thanks for any comments.

gongos · « **Reply #1 on:** 13 Feb 2005, 05:47 pm »

For a receiver buy a JVC or Panasonic digital receiver depending on the speakers and connections you decide on. They're in the $150 to $350 range. That'll leave you with about $3200 for speakers/cables/power conditioning.

Suggestions:

Powervar or Oneac 12 amp power conditioner. $100 to $200
Speakers: 4 Odyssey Epiphonies & Nemesis center channel $1600
Sub: VMPS newer w/ amp about $500-$600 or there are other powered choices like SVS that would work great.
Receiver: $150 to $300 digital JVC or Panny
DVD player: Personally, I wait for an older Modwright moddified player to come up on Audiogon, which you can get in the $500 range. Or buy a used Denon 2900 or Sony 999es or look at the billion other choices.
What's left over: Cables and speaker wires of your choice.

Here you'd have a great HT setup and no sloutch when it comes to audio playback.

rblnr · « **Reply #2 on:** 15 Feb 2005, 02:12 pm »

Thanks Gongos, I'll check out your suggestions. Have any idea what type of crossover (1st order, 4th..) that the Oddyseys' use? Didn't see it on their website.

gongos · « **Reply #3 on:** 15 Feb 2005, 09:27 pm »

no clue

J@ck · « **Reply #4 on:** 16 Feb 2005, 02:38 am »

How about the Panny system, the DVD/SACD player and the XR70. This way you can have a good music and HT system in one package.
I would recommand five Ascend CBM170s for the speakers. Or you can get the new 340. However I prefer the smaller 170 in my space.
CSS has some nice looking sub you might want have a look. Otherwise Hsu or SVS all got some nice subs.

rblnr · « **Reply #5 on:** 2 Mar 2005, 12:18 am »

I'll check out the Ascend package -- heard them a couple of years ago at the home theater show in NYC and was impressed.

tvyankee · « **Reply #6 on:** 2 Mar 2005, 12:38 am »

hello.

i can tell you from experince that the vr-1 package that you are speaking about is really a great deal and sounds great as well.

the stands that they offer are of good quality and their veneers look very nice.

good luck with your search.

Marbles · « **Reply #7 on:** 2 Mar 2005, 12:41 am »

Norh marble or ceramic 4.0's if he likes the styling makes a wonderful 2 channel or HT system.

Add a nice sub and smile everytime you listen....

Odyssey Audio makes some very decore friendly speakers as well.

rblnr · « **Reply #8 on:** 6 Mar 2005, 02:26 pm »

thanks guys, am also looking at the Totem Dreamcatcher system -- heard it briefly, anyone spent some time w/it?

mcgsxr · « **Reply #9 on:** 6 Mar 2005, 02:45 pm »

I have heard the Totem Dreamcatcher setup, and did like it - is it 4 or 8ohm speakers? All the Totems I have owned were 4ohm, something that not all receivers want to push...

F-100 · « **Reply #10 on:** 6 Mar 2005, 03:20 pm »

Check out the Rocket speakers from AV123.com . With $3500 budget, you can get a very nice custom Rocket HT Package. I have the Rocket HT Package # 2 and like them very much.

Al Garay · « **Reply #11 on:** 7 Mar 2005, 12:18 am »

For $3,500 in a small room, I would go with:

Left/Right/Center - GR-Research AV3S $470/each x3 = $1410
http://www.gr-research.com/performer/av3sfinished.htm

Surrounds - GR-Research AV-1RS $629/pair
http://www.gr-research.com/performer/av3sfinished.htm

Subs - GR-Research SW-12A and PR-12A about $500
http://www.gr-research.com/sub.htm
Have him build you 1 set with a plate amp, should be less than $500

Alternative for subs - Rythmik Audio servo A350, DS12, about $500
http://www.rythmikaudio.com/drivers.htm

Receiver - (1)Marantz SR-7500 $799
http://www.audioreview.com/Receivers/Marantz/PRD_329769_1593crx.aspx
(2) HarmonKardon AVR-635 $699
(3) Panasonic XR-70 $399
(4) Pioneer VSX-1014TX-K $399

DVD - (1) Panasonic DVD S97S $299 (esp. if buy XR-70)
(2) Oppo Digital 971h $199 (this has excellent picture quality)
http://www.oppodigital.com/opdv971h.html
(3) Sony DVP-NS775V good DVD with SACD $120

Go to www.avsforum.com to research receivers and dvd players. Check out the GR-Research forum and you can contact Danny to try to arrange a demo.

For powerstrip and filter, don't go overboard. When you research it, you might decide to spend for the Brickwall unit, which I did, or get a TrippLite unit for less than $50.

Either way, these will make an excellent home theater system.

Al

NKOTB · « **Reply #12 on:** 23 Mar 2005, 02:59 am »

Von Schweikert System 12
http://www.vonschweikert.com/surround_systems.html
(Less the sub - you can do better for the sub $$)

I have this set-up and cannot recommend it enough for the money.

rblnr · « **Reply #13 on:** 28 Mar 2005, 03:24 am »

thanks guys, am probably going to go w/the Onix or Totem Dreamcatcher packages. Not sure yet on the receiver/dvd combo.