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Home audio & video: How much did your 5.1 speaker system cost?
I hope the messages combined of Mightymike & me may inspire
by NM_Bill - 2/4/08 5:23 PM In reply to: Thanks, by hyghwaymanyou to gently get your wife involved that her could develop knowing why such a more expensive move can be very well worth it for the longer run.
Once a person does find some sound lacking enough, there is real value in just getting beyond that for much more pleasing experience.
I have a sister in law who makes twice what most folks make. Lucky for her. However, she knows nothing of audio. When visiting she called our A/V sound "Just like the movie theater." I took that as a compliment.
Yes, there has to be a sort of entry level expense to get to really nice sound. Some relatively affordable speakers actually do shock people with how swell they can sound.
A couple of examples that come readily to mind include: Paradigm Atom Monitors @ $249/pr, PSB Alpha B1 @ $279/pr, or perhaps NHT Zero @ $500/pr. Almost amazing sound at those price points. Seek some of those to take a serious listen.
..
by jostenmeat - 2/5/08 12:53 PM In reply to: I hope the messages combined of Mightymike & me may inspire by NM_BillHowever, she knows nothing of audio. When visiting she called our A/V sound "Just like the movie theater." I took that as a compliment.
Good point. Im not one-upping here, but I'd also like to brag. My HT sounds better than any theater near me. My friends agree.
Now the video is not as immerssive quite yet. But I am working on that as we speak.
Yes, I can count on you to be working on it.
by NM_Bill - 2/5/08 1:39 PM In reply to: .. by jostenmeatI do suppose you can count your present sound system around the 98th %ile as it is.
Good luck on your budget allowing you to make further progess.
How much did your 5.1 speaker system cost?
by appreciative viewer - 2/8/08 5:33 PM In reply to: How much did your 5.1 speaker system cost? by hyghwaymanYour wife will probably not believe this, but the 1K you want to spend is the absolute minimum for a decent 5.1 system. I personally would recommend the definitive technology pro cinema 800 (or even the pro cinema 600) over the svs. The 800 will run about 1k, while the 600 is about 800. Both come with you lf, rf, center, ls, rs, and a powered sub-woofer. Having used def tech speakers for many years, I can tell you it is hard to get more bang for the buck.
As to how much did my system cost....2 def tech bp7001 sc towers for the front (1800 ea), clr 2500 center (800), 2 bpvx p bipolar surrounds (750 ea), 2 bpvx rear surrounds (600 ea) for a total of $7100.00.
My first surround system was the pro cinema 60 system (forerunner of the pro cinema 600 mentioned above) I have had that system for 15 years and it is still in use in my office.
I pair my system with a denon avr receiver. If you need one, be sure and get one with the audessy auto calibration system for the speakers, it will truly improve your sound and make you glad you have surround sound.
I have a friend whose surround system is by sonus faber and cost him over $30,000.00 for the surround system plus sub-woofer.
So your wife should be thanking her lucky stars you are so frugal.
Good Luck.
Jim
Good Value 7.1 system ($700)
by MikeG55 - 2/8/08 7:17 PM In reply to: How much did your 5.1 speaker system cost? by hyghwaymanI bought:-
Creative Labs Gigaworks S750 7.1 Speakers
Type: 7.1 channel surround speakers
Manufacturer: Creative Labs
MSRP: € 350 (about US$700)
This an awesome system for a small living room or den.(Endorsed by Lucas Film)
Crawl, then walk...........
by macthknife - 2/8/08 7:53 PM In reply to: How much did your 5.1 speaker system cost? by hyghwaymanI think some of my brothers are losing sight of the goal here. There is a benefit/cost ratio for buget vs. sound delivered that each family has to determine individually. More $ will deliver better sound, but without question there are diminishing returns for each additional dollar spent. The goal is to strike a balance between budget and performance. Like you, I have a wife who had to be led to the promised land. You are not going to get your endgame speaker first time out. Your goal should be to get a nice 5.1 system in place and let her see for herself that better sound makes for a better movie experience. Then, she will have an appreciation for why you might want to upgrade later on.
You are 42, I am 48. I got my first quadraphonic system in '1976, I got my first 5.1 in 2006. I went with the Advent Heritage speakers. They were reasonably priced and were well recommended on the website that I go to for A/V discussion (AVSFORUM.com). Here is my initial system
Advent Heritage H500 - Fronts
Advent Heritage Center - duh
Advent Heritage H200 - Rears
The H500's are towers with a lot of bottom. I bought them because i knew I wasn't going to be able to get the sub initially. Using them for fronts allowed me to delay getting the sub for a bit. My surround receiver gave me the option to set the fronts for "BIG" and to get my bass from the H500's. This did not replace the sub, but was a reasonable alternative until I got the macdaddy sub that followed. I did a quick google for Advent Heritage and did not see the H500's still available, but there were some H400's for an amazing 50$ a pair (didn't check what the shipping was). I probably paid 400 to 500 for the the H500's, so this is an astounding price. The H200's that I used for the rears are going for about 140$ a pair which shows you what a great deal the H400's are. The Heritage Center was in short supply 2 years ago, and now you probably can only find them on Ebay. You should be able to find an acceptable center in the sub $200 range. Had I been getting a sub to begin with, I would have replaced the H500's with H200's as I would not have needed the bass. All told, you can put togeather an acceptable 5.0 setup for 400-500$. Any additional money in your budget should go to the subwoofer. What initially got me to respond to your post was your mention of the SVS system. After much dithering over which sub to go with, and about a year after I got the other speakers, I chose the SVS PB12-Plus. I haven't regretted it a second. The bottom line would be that I paid about 1k for the speakers and 1k for the sub. This brings us back to your question about the SVS system. I can heartily recommend the SVS products. I would have loved to have started out with the system you are looking at. Definately spend the extra $150 to get it with the upgrade to the PBS12-NSD sub. Additional money spent on the sub is never a bad thing.
We did the family Christmas party this year, and when I did a demo, one of my cousins wives told her husband, "now I understand why you want the surround sound"......
Another trick
by dinox64 - 2/9/08 1:23 PM In reply to: Crawl, then walk........... by macthknifeStop taking her to the movies. Then she has to rent DVDs,and will want something nice to watch them on as well as sounding good to get the experience she thinks she'd get in a theatre. My wifes almost ready to go from our 42" ED Panasonic to something bigger and HD.
It does help when they're into movies. Even if not the same genre as you. I come home many a night with the lights out and she's on the couch enjoying a movie she rented. I don't have kick a-- speakers but a decent AVR and it'll be turned up as well. Again Duals in the corners, Advent powered sub, something for a center. Denon 1905 AVR.
I agree with
by jostenmeat - 2/9/08 4:00 PM In reply to: Crawl, then walk........... by macthknifeAdditional money spent on the sub is never a bad thing.
And after you recover from that, start thinking about the second sub. 
No, seriously, most people have never, ever, once, heard a great HT sub. Terrible place to skimp for HT lovers.
Work it out, my friend.
by natronforever - 2/9/08 2:25 PM In reply to: How much did your 5.1 speaker system cost? by hyghwaymanSorry you're in such a pickle. The difference between the SVS system and the Curtis isn't even worth discussing. I own an SVS sub and a friend of mine just bought SBS-01 system on my recommendation. He's been one happy camper every since. For the money, they are fantastic. Plus, they're not too obtrusive, excepting perhaps the sub, which is probably one of the largest 10" subs you'll find. I'll never recommend that somebody choose a speaker over marriage, but find a way to work it out with your wife. When she hears them, she'll come around in a hurry.
Thanks to everyone for responding to my ?
by hyghwayman - 2/9/08 8:28 PM In reply to: Work it out, my friend. by natronforeverI took my wife out to dinner last night, QT well spent I must say. Today we went to several stores auditioning speakers and receivers. She's now willing to let me get the speakers of my choice, although in trade it's going to cost me another $900 for a new reclining Sofa that she said we need! http://www.samsclub.com/shopping/navigate.do?dest=5&item=383039
Plus, Plus for me He He, Life is Great!
So I thank everyone here for your support and replies.
hyghwayman
Tell me you're not going to be reclining more than the
by NM_Bill - 2/9/08 8:55 PM In reply to: Thanks to everyone for responding to my ? by hyghwaymanmissus...
Maybe..
by hyghwayman - 2/10/08 1:45 PM In reply to: Tell me you're not going to be reclining more than the by NM_BillI never owned a recliner, so I'm not sure.
I do remember when I was a kid sitting/passing out in my Grandpa's recliner. OMG I'm getting old!
hyghwayman
None of us set out to be older than dirt, but
by NM_Bill - 2/10/08 3:08 PM In reply to: Maybe.. by hyghwaymanas time goes on.......
Update!
by hyghwayman - 2/10/08 1:34 PM In reply to: Thanks to everyone for responding to my ? by hyghwaymanBesides the $900.oo I'm spending on a new reclining Sofa, I also got talked into buying/upgrading my wifes OE car sound system today. Her 95 Olds. Cutlass Supreme receiver didn't have a CD player, so I bought her a JVC KDHD-1 CD player w/ a built in HD Tuner for another $200.oo (the HD audio sounds so good compaired to analog). While waiting for the install, she got a new Leather coat for $150.oo and a new pair of shoes for $55.oo to boot. So for me to get the speakers I want it's costing me another $1,305.oo plus the 1k.
hyghwayman
Well, you had to because
by NM_Bill - 2/10/08 3:07 PM In reply to: Update! by hyghwaymanif momma ain't happy, ain't nobody happy. (a fact of life)
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