Floor standing or bookshelf?

[66chevyIISS]

My room is primarily for movies and that is my main concern. Budget is around $1500. I'm kind of pricing things out right now to get an idea. Sub is not part of this budget. I used Amazon.com as a price reference for examples. Im sure prices can be found cheaper elsewhere.

1st possible setup:

Fronts: RTi8
Center: CSi5
Surrounds: RTi4
Rear: RTi4
total: $1,418.88

2nd possible setup:

Fronts: RTi6
Center: CSi5
Surrounds: FXi5
Rears: RTi6
subtotal = $1,659.79 or (subtotal = $1,539.84 if I do RTi6 for surrounds as well.)

Would doing all the same style bookshelf's be better for movies then having floorstanding speakers? any suggestions on adding or removing? I'm leaning towards buying a used denon 3805 to power them.

[dragon1952]

I like the second option way better. I also just priced it on Ebay new for around $1200 shipped (or $170 less if you go all RTi6). I've been looking at the RTi6's anyway. ;)

[Sherardp]

1st option would be the power move, sub the surrounds for an FXIx speaker keep the rti4s in rear if you want and enjoy.

[michael_w]

I'd take the 8's over the 6's and probably the 4's over the 6's. When I demo'd the 6's vs the 4's side by side I felt the difference in sound wasn't worth the extra cash. The 6's definately sounded different, but not necessarily better.

Will the rti8's even work with your room? With the giant screen and not wanting them pushed up against a wall or in a corner, they might get in the way. 6's or 4's and a good sub might be the way to go in that case. I've heard the psw202 in home but never in a two channel system with bookshelves so I can't really comment how musical it is.

Given any thought to buying used?

[engtaz]

Floor standing. Easier to position. Full sound.

engtaz

[Early B.]

Ditto.

Go with a floorstanding option.

[strider]

1st option would be the power move, sub the surrounds for an FXIx speaker keep the rti4s in rear if you want and enjoy.

This option gets my vote, too. I just got a set of LS f/x surrounds for the HT, I don't think I'll go back. Previously I had RT55's in front and rear, CS400 in the center, but I ended up swapping the rear 55's for the LS f/x's. I thought that I liked the localized effects from the rear, but with the more diffuse sound from the bipole/dipoles I find that the sound transition from the front stage to the rear is much more realistic.

[TroyD]

Personal preference is the key.

I've found that bookshelves tend to image better but don't have the full range ability, obviously.

In a small room, I'd go w/shelves. Larger room, floorstanders.

BDT

[Ricardo]

For HT, bookshelves + subwoofer will do just fine.

[sickicw]

Since you are on a budget and you are not going to be buying an external amp, i would do the following....

Fronts: RTi6
Center: CSi3 (maybe csi5)
Surrounds: RTi4
Rear: RTi4
sub: bugdet velodyne sub

[jusdrink]

i would go with the second setup given the avr that you have. the towers will need a little more power to get the full sound out of them. just my input.

[Sherardp]

that denon should drive a pair 8s for awhile until you decide to go with with seperate amplification. Depending on room size you could go with the smaller Csi3, FXi3, and Rti4s. You cant go wrong for sure, more than likely you'll want to go larger, save yourelf some coin and do it some what right the first time.

[engtaz]

I went with this:

AVR: Denon AVR-4802
Front AMP: Adcom GFA-555II
Center and Side Surround AMP: Qty - 3 Outlaw M200's
Front: Polk SDA SRS 3.1
Center: Polk Monitor 5's
Surround Side: Polk R50
Surround Back: Polk FX300i

[sickicw]

how much money do you see yourself investing in your setup within the next 3 years? if you are on a small budget, i would stick with the smaller speakers. csi3, rti6, fxi3, rti4. The rti6 sounds much better than the 8 or 10 if you are only going to use is a receiver.

[VSchneider]

csi3, rti6, fxi3, rti4. The rti6 sounds much better than the 8 or 10 if you are only going to use is a receiver.

+1 on this one, but with CSi5 center - still within you budget.

Making RTi8's sound well in your situation my be asking for too much.

just my 2 cents

[66chevyIISS]

Thanks for all the input. The room is 10.8"wx16.5"Lx7.10"H with a hallway opening. I'm worried about proper imaging from floorstanders, but I would like the stronger sound stage, as Troy D mentioned. I will have to go out and demo them obviously, but this gives me good direction. I think I'm leaning towards bookshelfs right now.

I hope I am satisfied with whatever I buy that I will have it for a long time. 5+ years.

[daniel_paul_]

I think you should go with 5.1 not 7.1. Where are you going to put the surround back speakers? You might as well have headphones. I would go with the 6's up front and FXi3 for the rears since they are right on top of you.

Put the rest of the money to a sub!?!?

[66chevyIISS]

My couch is no longer against the wall as you see it in my Sig. It's a little over a foot out and I have a 2nd sub behind it now.

[Sherardp]

If youre not planning your next upgrade until 5 yrs I would seriously go with the larger floorstanders, within that time you should be able to get decent power amplification on them by then. Adcom, Outlaws, Carver, Sun, go for pretty decent prices on Gon

Edit: Just check out your pics, thats a nice room you have there. That screenshot is awesome. How do you like the Projector youre using now? Any plans on upgrading to a Pearl or JVC DLA HD1/RS1. The guys over at AVS are going bananas over the JVC Projector.

[sickicw]

I would go with a 5.1 with rti6s for left and right, and use the saved money to buy a 5 channel amp.

[jusdrink]

def do 5.1 , 7.1 is for larger rooms.

[66chevyIISS]

I guess I was so caught up in 7.1 I didn't think about that, hmmm might be a good idea. Buying used speakers is definitely an option, I am always browsing craigslist to see what is out there.

Sherardp, when I purchased my projector the 1080p ones weren't really out yet and the prices are still really high on them. I'm really happy with the picture I am getting now and don't plan on upgrading any time soon. I only have 500 hours on mine currently. For now I am just going to finish off the screen wall if I could just determine what sized fix screen I want. I am too indecisive when it comes to A/V haha.