[jrokke]

Hopefully I am posting in the right place. I am mainly a 2 channel guy so don't know much about 5.1. My brother wants to set up a 5.1 speaker setup and asked me to do some research. He has from a 600-800 to spend and would consider buying used. He wants the mains to be floorstanders but not large. Anyone care to give me any recomendations on good sounding stuff in this price range. I would greatly appreciate it.

[Wayne1]

For that price range, or even higher, I would suggest looking at the AV123.com X-series speakers

http://www.av123.com/products_category_brand.php?section=speakers&brand=55

[bubba966]

Might want to read this recent thread about close to the same thing.

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=35911.0

Though it mostly says the same thing Wayne just said...

[James Romeyn]

Haven't heard all their models, esp the most recent.

But overall, I've found the www.BICAmerica.com speakers just untouchable value for money.  They use soft domes exclusively, no cheapo metal domes that might not be so pleasant on cheaper receivers. 

The floorstanders are great.  Big discounts.  Everyone I've recommended them to loves them.  Inexpensive even at full msrp.  You can get very nice sound these days for little money.  The DV64 (smaller tower) sounded great.  The average audiophile fanatic who heard these would be shocked at their musical performance for about $300pr or so, probably less.
 

[rajacat]

Ascend offers a lot for the $'s.

http://www.ascendacoustics.com/

Raj

[Bob Reynolds]

For that budget, even used, I would advise your brother to concentrate on a 2.0 system that he can grow as funds become available. I've seen numerous people try to build a 5.1 system with an unrealistically small budget; they have all been disappointed.

I would also advise skipping floorstanders -- too much of the cost goes into the box. There are several companies that make good bookshelf speakers (PSB, Paradigm, NHT) and are designed to be mated with a sub.

My personal preference is M&K. See their consumer site here: http://www.mksound.com/,

their direct sales site here: http://www.mksoundstore.com/ and

an article on bass management here: http://www.mkprofessional.com/bass_mgmt.htm.

Good luck.

[bubba966]

I'm quite fond of M&K's, which is why my entire setup is M&K (all 7 speakers & 2 subs). Though you can't throw a 5.1 setup together from them for $600-$800 if you're buying new. Used you probably could though.

I can say that when I first started looking for speaks & a receiver I figured $1,000 for speaks, and $500 for a receiver. But after I heard an M&K sub, I knew that was going to have to change. A couple of years later I had a full on THX Surround EX M&K setup...

I wasn't able to buy the whole system at once (because MSRP on my current speaker setup is $5,500 which is a decent amount of $). But I've gotta say that doing it in stages so as I could get a much better setup over time was the better way to go. I've not had much of any urge to upgrade them. I might upgrade the 4 rears at some point, but am in no hurry to do so as what I've got now works plenty well.

[F-100]

For that price range, or even higher, I would suggest looking at the AV123.com X-series speakers

http://www.av123.com/products_category_brand.php?section=speakers&brand=55

I second that. AV123 products are excellent quality at a great price.

[James Romeyn]

M&K are very nice.  Often overlooked by audiophiles.  Good value & build quality.

[jrokke]

You guys are all over it. Thanks alot    john

[Russell Dawkins]

How about a $125 6.5" 92 dB two-way and sub(s)?
Gotta wonder about these new Hsu HB-1s, reviewed by Steve Eddy in the February Affordable Audio, page 27:
http://www.affordableaudio.org/
(edited Feb 6 so the link works)
The full 5.1 package costs $999, but they are stand mounts.
These are designed by Dr Poh Ser Hsu who strikes me as a grounded and competent designer, eager to provide value and possessing good judgement, at least as it relates to bass - the subs I have had for 13 years still function as new and have earned lots of compliments over the years. And they were cheap!

[jqp]

For that budget, even used, I would advise your brother to concentrate on a 2.0 system that he can grow as funds become available. I've seen numerous people try to build a 5.1 system with an unrealistically small budget; they have all been disappointed.

I would also advise skipping floorstanders -- too much of the cost goes into the box. There are several companies that make good bookshelf speakers (PSB, Paradigm, NHT) and are designed to be mated with a sub.

My personal preference is M&K. See their consumer site here: http://www.mksound.com/,

their direct sales site here: http://www.mksoundstore.com/ and

an article on bass management here: http://www.mkprofessional.com/bass_mgmt.htm.

Good luck.

I agree - that budget for a 5.1 almost suggests a Home-theater-in-a-box that burns the skin of an audiophile like acid...

Another suggestion for more money would be a nOrh 4.0 Video System for $850, but you would need the sub and the appropriate pre/pro/receiver.

http://www.norh.com/products/norh4/index.html

I have heard rumors that the marble may be back.

[Thebiker]

Gotta love the M&K S150s for my home theater.  However, these are not what I would want to use for a 2 channel system.

I doubt even used that you could get the S125s for under $800 including the sub.  They did however start offering some slightly less expensive 5.1 systems that might be found used in that price range.

AV123 does have a couple of nice packages in that price range.  I'd seriously consider them if I wanted to stay with new.

[tex-amp]

Ascend Acoustics owner/engineer/designer is a former M&K engineer/designer.