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Home theater/surround sound


Coors

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I'm wanting to upgrade my speakers to go with my recently purchased TV.  Now I've never been an audiophile so i'm not looking to spend an absurd amount of money but I am willing to spend enough to get a decent setup.  Trying to stay under $1200 as that is the current amount of credit available on my Newegg account.  I think I've pretty much already decided on the speakers but not sure about the receiver or the sub.

 

My main uses are going to be a mix of TV/movies and music (mostly rock, country, classic rock)

 

Fronts:  http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882117426

 

Center:  http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA3JX1UC4797

 

Rears:  http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882117424

 

Receiver:  http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882105721

 

Sub:  ???

 

Speaker wire:  http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA03T0KB7939

 

 

 

From what I've read the Pioneer's are highly praised for the price range.  But the pioneer sub looks pretty underwhleming. 

 

The receiver is probably more than I need but the price looks good for the features. 

 

Is the speaker wire good enough?  The rears are going to need to be 42' each.

 

Any suggestions for the sub?  If I get the Sony receiver that leaves about $200 to spend on a sub.  Or I could get a cheaper receiver and have a higher budget for the sub.  Or I could keep the Sony and just add a sub later on when I have the funds to get something better.

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Well damn, just noticed the receiver has an additional $100 off making it $350...I think i'm going to pull the trigger on it tonight unless someone suggests otherwise. 

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Do you really want surround sound or would you be happier with a more music-oriented stereo/sub setup?

 

I used to run a 5.1 setup but I've been strictly stereo + subwoofer for the past few years simply because of voicing/staging.

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Stereo + sub meaning like a 2.1 setup?  Honestly I'd probably be ok with that.  I mean I've been watching movies with the built in TV speakers and it's not too bad.  But I've also never spoiled myself with surround sound so I'm sure it's one of those things where after you've experienced something it's hard to go back to not having it.  I figured I'd finally splurge on my audio since I never have before.  Even my computer speakers are over 10 years old now.  It's a Logitech 5.1 but I've always used it as a 2.1 with the extra speakers in a box somewhere.

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I thought I'd stick with surround sound too...but in the end I opted for a "better" setup with large front speakers and a big subwoofer.

 

Before you buy it'd be worth finding somewhere to demo both. Music, IMHO, on 5.1/7.1 sucks. Movies in surround are neat but if the tradeoff is crappier speakers (since you need more of them) and a crappier subwoofer...it's hard for me to go down that route.

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Well I'll probably watch more TV/movies then I will listen to music on it.  I think I'll stick with a 5.1.  I suppose receivers don't have an option to setup profiles for different devices?  Like have Pandora use a 2.1 and Netflix use a 5.1...if they don't...they should lol.

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I suppose receivers don't have an option to setup profiles for different devices?  Like have Pandora use a 2.1 and Netflix use a 5.1...if they don't...they should lol.

They do - it should be input-specific on most. Even my old receiver can do that and it's damn near a decade old at this point.

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Receiver = Almost any around $350+ are good.

Front Speakers = Pioneer SP-FS22-LR ($65)

Rear Speakers = Pioneer SP-FS22-LR ($65), or Pioneer SP-BS52-LR ($80), or SP-BS2-LR ($65)

Subwoofer = You don't really need much these days, a $100 subwoofer is pretty good.

Center Speaker = Pioneer SP-C22 ($50)

Speaker Wire = Monoprice 12AWG Speaker Wires (50ft = $15) - These are the best all-around speaker wires: http://thewirecutter.com/reviews/the-best-speaker-cable/

 

The Pioneer speakers are the best price per performance speakers you can get. They'll outshine speakers even in the $1000+ range. Unless you want to spend a budget of $10K for the best audiophile surround sound setup for your Home Theater, you can spend less than $700 and 99% of people won't know the difference between that and the $10K setup.

 

P.S. If you wait around a while, you'll see sales about 2-3 times a year when the prices for the Pioneer speakers get to the prices I put. Otherwise, they're about double the price.

Edited by El_Capitan

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Sadly, the center speaker is not available from Newegg, but his 2 driver brother, the SP-C21, is available. The speaker wire would be OK if kept within 20 feet, but at 40 I'd get the 12AWG El_Capitan suggested. The Sony receiver's specs (165W) are for 1 kHz and one channel driven, meaning that the real power available for two channels is 75 to 80W each at full musical range. Yes it is dishonest and a lot of retail receiver manufacturers are using this neat little trick. The Denon AVR-S700W seems to be better appreciated by audiophiles and has more features related to music, and is specced at 75Wper channel.

 

The sub could be, as bp said, a  Klipsch Synergy Sub-10 420W or a polk PSW10 . I'd also recommend a sub because the 4" drivers in the Pioneer mains are too small, to me. Having a sub is going to increase the overall dynamic of the system.

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The Pioneer speakers are the best price per performance speakers you can get. They'll outshine speakers even in the $1000+ range.

What do you base this on? I've always been pretty underwhelmed by Pioneer speakers and I'm definitely not snobby about audio hardware...

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The Pioneer speakers are the best price per performance speakers you can get. They'll outshine speakers even in the $1000+ range.

What do you base this on? I've always been pretty underwhelmed by Pioneer speakers and I'm definitely not snobby about audio hardware...

 

This:

http://hometheaterreview.com/pioneer-sp-fs52-floor-standing-loudspeaker-reviewed/

 

This:

http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/loudspeakers/81868-pioneer-andrew-jones-sp-pk52fs-review.html

 

This:

http://www.cnet.com/products/pioneer-sp-pk52fs/

 

Along with personal experience and user reviews on Amazon, Newegg, Best Buy, you name it.

 

Here are some interviews with Andrew Jones:

http://www.forbes.com/sites/geoffreymorrison/2014/03/15/12-questions-for-andrew-jones-director-of-speaker-engineering-for-pioneer-electronics-and-tad-labs/

 

http://www.stereophile.com/content/surpassing-expectations-pioneers-andrew-jones

 

His speakers have been around since 2010, but has caught quite the following for those getting into audiophile territory, without having to spend the cost of a new car to get one setup.

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