Please loan some advice to a newbie

[yarddog]

We're just building a house and I want to do the theater system right. I'm looking for speaker advice for our system.

Our room is a family room that is about 22' deep by 16' wide. It is closed on 3 sides, but totally open to the kitchen on the 4th side. This side is actually to the left as you are looking toward the TV.

This system is going to be used about 80% for video and 20% for music.

I've bought a Denon 3806 receiver so far, but I'm looking for speakers to go with it. I don't have any other amps and don't have plans to get one at this time. I want a 5.1 system. 7.1 isn't really doable for me because I'd have to ceiling mount one set of speakers and I don't see that happening.

The wife doesn't like floor standing speakers, so they'll probably have to be bookshelf-type speakers. She likes the look of the RM30 type speakers, but I understand most of you guys here don't really view those speakers as serious contenders. I also do not have a sub either.

I'd like to not go over $1500 for these guys, but the budget could be stretched a bit if need be. Any advice would be appreciated. I know when I go to the store, all of them can sound great in their dedicated speaker rooms, but I've got a different situation with my room and I know I'll probably need a lot more power than will be apparent in the store.

As I said, my wife likes the look of the RM30 series speakers. They would be good, but I'm leary of them being powerful enough to fill the space I have. The LS series looks great, but I was wondering if the RT series would be adequate for me, or even the monitor series. It has been a long time since I listened to speakers. I remember going with my friend in high school and buying a pair of SDA's and that is why I am stuck on Polk.

Thanks in advance.

[Schwingding]

$1500? No question, I'd buy the EPOS 5.1 system. Just google up some EPOS reviews.

[Deadof_knight]

PREWIRE THE LIVING ROOM and any other room your going to put stereo in. rca's included if your gonna run a sub, YOU wont regret it. Im fixing to do my living room again when the new carpet goes in because I want to run a sub on the side of the room. and I only one sub rca ran into the stairwell.

[yarddog]

It's already been wired for 5.1. Ran shielded 14ga wire to the surrounds as well as 3 other zones (dining room, patio, and living room).

[anonymouse]

If you listen to a properly powered LS setup, there is no going back as far as music is concerned. I would say go used and get three pairs of LSi9's. Upgrade that amp when you have additional funds. If your use is only HT and no music, the RTi series is a fine choice. RTi6 is a fine bookshelf. RTi6 fronts, CSi5 center and FXi3 rears.

[danger boy]

I would say.. go for the RM30 or all LSi 7's and LSiC and a subwoofer.

[Dean guitar pla]

The Bose Lifestyle series also is quite competent. I am sure other will disagree but I have always purchased what I could afford and bought the best that my budget allowed, even if it was used

In the end, just go and listen and make your decision based on what your ears tell you and not always by what reviews say

I realize your living room acoustics are not the same as a demostration room but you can get a good idea at least

[shack]

The Bose Lifestyle series also is quite competent.

With a single sentence you have lost all credibility in an audio forum....:rolleyes:

Bose may have a following but it is far from competent!

[McLoki]

If your use is only HT and no music, the RTi series is a fine choice. RTi6 is a fine bookshelf. RTi6 fronts, CSi5 center and FXi3 rears.

Based on your specs - I would say this is my top recommendation. My 2nd recomendation would be 4 LSi7's and an LSiC. It would not be ideal with the Denon, but the 7's are really not that bad a load. What volume level do you usually listen at? (if louder than moderate - ignore the 2nd recommendation and go with the RTi setup)

For Subs - the standard recommendations are HSU and SVS. (for your budget, HSU may be a better choice) You could also go with DIY if you have some ok woodworking skills.

Michael

[shack]

My next HT system will be inwall. I'll probably build a house in the next 2-4 years and there will be an inwall HT setup. LCis if I can afford them and if not the RCi series will do just fine. My 2 channel rig is a different story, but I could be completly satisfied with a quality inwall HT rig.

[atmgr]

Rti8/L&R, Csi3 or 5/center, Rti4 for surround, PSW404. All driven by HK645. That's my setup. Very satisfied. My room is quite close to what you described. Have little knowledge about the receiver your chose but Rti8 are not too demanding on power. Since it's 80% for movie, Rti line should do as good a job as LSi. Actually, I listen to music a lot more but still very happy with Rti8s. That setup should be within your budget.

[yarddog]

I went by Circuit City tonight to let the wife look at some floorstanding speakers and she is willing to let me get them now. I think my budget just went up.

All they had there were some Monitor 70 and Monitor 50 speakers. They had a CS2 center channel speaker hooked up as well. I thought this stuff sounded boxey. It could have been the Onkyo receiver they had hooked up to it, but I don't know.

Are the RTi series speakers a big improvement over the Monitor 70's that I heard tonight or do I just need to hear them with a proper amp? Circuit city can be so frustrating. Half of their stuff isn't hooked up, some isn't hooked up well, and their sales people don't really know crap about anything.

[beardog03]

The Bose Lifestyle series also is quite competent. I am sure other will disagree but I have always purchased what I could afford and bought the best that my budget allowed, even if it was used

In the end, just go and listen and make your decision based on what your ears tell you and not always by what reviews say

I realize your living room acoustics are not the same as a demostration room but you can get a good idea at least


WTF ?!

Dude why are you even here..?

Do you own a blows lifestyle system ?





you would..:rolleyes:

[dudeinaroom]

Bose is one of the most over priced 2 bass note scams out there. The build quality is second only to Durabrand. The sub I believe uses 2 or three 51/4" drivers in a quasi sixth order band pass, which is not only good for loud, but is really inaccurate, and has to peaky spots. Also there is a gap between the subs roll off, and were the sats. pick up. The sats them selves have a nasty frequency curve, it looks like the most extreme roller coaster ever made. The reason so many people think they are good is because it exaggerates the tones that untrained ears tend to like. But if you wanna pay $2500 for some thing that cost around $75 bucks to make hey it's your choice, and you ears. Personally I don't care for cheap plastic enclosures that resonate.

[janmike]

Well said dudeinroom. Here! Here!

[beardog03]

what he said...!

[cfrizz]

Let's not get sidetracked from helping YardDog fellas!

Welcome & yes the RTI series is better than the Monitor series. You will find them at Tweeter, or it's equivelent. They also have the LSI series as well. However, the LSI's need separate amplification to play to their full potential & to not damage either the receiver or themselves.

What you can do is take some of your favorite music & go listen to both series. Make sure you listen to them on another Denon 3806! What cd and or dvd player do you have? If there is an equivelent there also listen to that.

The beauty of Tweeter is if you purchase something with one of their cards, you can have up to a year to pay it off without interest. This is how I got my receiver, DVD, center & subwoofer!

[josh_parsons626]

Do like they said and since you dont plan on getting an amp anytime soon go with the RTi series. Since you dont listen a lot to music then you could do splendid with the Rti8 as fronts, CSi5 for center since the CSi3 has smaller mids and the center will be what you're most concerned with, and FXi5 for side surrounds. For a sub these guys will say SVS. I'd listen to them, but that's because I dont know that much about subs. I have a Velodyne and I think it actually does pretty good. Another thing on the surrounds, get their expert opinion about either direct-firing vs bipolar surrounds. I dont really know which one is the better choice.

[dkg999]

Friends don't let friends buy Bose!

I'll bet he's got a Bose guitar, it's easier that way because it only needs two strings :p

I would seriously look at the EPOS system. It's a good one at that price point.

[a_mattison]

Friends don't let friends buy Bose!

I'll bet he's got a Bose guitar, it's easier that way because it only needs two strings :p

I would seriously look at the EPOS system. It's a good one at that price point.

If the EPOS system is anything like the ELS3's that you brought over to H9's yesterday and are a comparable bargain, they are definately worth a serious look.