Howard Ferstler wrote:
I'd at least go for something that can handle real
bass.
Why? The package will include a subwoofer. Don't sell the
little Ascend speakers short above the low bass range. I
compared them to some pretty upscale units I had on hand to
review at the time, as well as to my Dunlavy Cantatas and
NHT ST4 units. They were not shamed by any means.
Because 100hz is directional. This is the same problem
you face with the smallest Magnepans - you need *two*
subwoofers to fill in the 50-100hz range, whiere stereo
imagine still exists, barring a 10*12 room.
Also, a subwoofer for stereo music tends to not integrate
well due to how the receiver handles processing and
crossover points(unless the receiver can keep presets for
each mode completely seperate).
Your front two speakers should at least be small towers
capable of good stereo music by themselves. The sub
should function either not at all in that mode, or
as below 50hz reinforcement only.
Mirage and Paradigm make better sounding speakers.
Perhaps they do. I was just indicating that it is possible
to get good sound for not all that much money. I assume you
have compared the Ascend units I discussed to those Mirage
and Paradigm models. Good comparing means separate amps for
each pair, so the average levels can be overlaid.
Mirage are quite affordable, especially given their low
actual street price. I used to recommend Tannoy's
Mercury series - budget speakers that don't sound
budget. The M4 and M5 towers were superb sounding,
easily outclassing most others in their price range.
Athena almost makes nice speakers. The older Mirage
FRX spakers are essientially the current Athena speakers,
other than the superb FRx-9, which was amazing, with a sub
in each tower.
I'd recommend the AS-F2 fronts(larger towers rated to
35hz), AS-F1 rears(small towers give better bass and
take up the same floorspace as a bookself and a stand).
I'd personally go and spend $600 on the better HSU sub.
The Athena sub, unfortunately, is weak at 100W RMS.
Best Buy has the F1 and centers for $477. The F2
towers are $399 a pair if you shop around.
www.slickdeals.net is a great place to locate coupons and
drop $50-$100 off of something like this. Almost every
large e-tailer like Best Buy has free in-store pickup
and coupons for $50-$100 off of larger amounts.
~800 for five speakers using methods like this.
(retail is $979)
The HSU VTF-3 is $699, but would be appropriate, IMO.
$1500 plus $399 for a receiver and $100 for a DVD player
would take you to $2000 for the entire system. Yes, the
Sub kind of outclasses the speakers, but IMO, the sub
is the one item that you shouldn't have to replace for
a long time as a $400 sub up to a $1000 sub is a steep hit
compared to $600 for better fronts.
No problem here. Denon is probably the best of the bunch
at the low end, though they have about the worst tuner
section for FM that I've ever run across and a nasty
remote. Still, for A/V processing, it's great.
I am not particularly interested in FM.
Thankfully, most people are not either. Denon rocks,
though, for inexpensive and functional A/V. Tons of
modes and features, plus it can run a lot more actual
power than most of the competition.
DVD/CD player: $200 (any number of mainstream brands will
fill the bill.
$100 should do it. You don't need anything fancy.
Agreed. However, going a bit upscale might gain the user
some DVD-A or SACD abilities. Also, there is progressive
scan and the like if future video use is contemplated.
True, but I've seen DVD-A and progressive scan models for
about $100 lately. It's amazing how much of a commodity
item they have become. I'd definately go cheap as possible
as once HDTV is set in stone, we'll all need new HD-DVD
players. That's when you drop $300-$400 for a player.
The same goes with a TV set. Make due. In a year, CRT
HDTV sets will drop to $500-$600 and are a no-brainer compared
to projection units. They are heavy as hell, but have
a better picture by far for about half the money. Currently,
$1200-$1400 is what the better models cost, and the budget
Sony 16:9 tube set with a tuner in it is about $800. A bit
much, but in a year, when the HDTV standard is mandated to
be part of all VHF channels(and therefore, most cable TV
as well), prices will drop like a rock.
I have compared the $300 Hsu SFT-1 to several subs in that
$600 price category and it clobbered them. I have also
compared it and the VTF-2 to the Velodyne FSR-12 servo model
in my living-room system and down to 25 Hz the VTF-2 was
subjectively equal to that $1300 Velodyne,
That's why I recommended the VTF-3.
I really do like the HSU
subs, but the SFT-1 is inderpowered with the speakers I
recommended. I suppose the VTF-2 would work as well, but
the budget can afford it, and IMO, it pays to buy a good
sub and amplifier if you can, as they are the most expensive
components in most systems anyways.
For A $1000 5.1 setup, though, the $300 HSU sub would be
perfect.
$50. I'd not even include this in the overall cost - just
$2000 plus wire and tax, as a roll of 12 gauge wire(500ft)
isn't even $30. 16 gauge is too small as well - 14 or 12
gauge is better and is only a dollar or two more per roll.
You are probably correct about his wire costs. However, you
did forgot the interconnects. Even cheap Radio Shack Golds
cost at least twelve bucks.
I went to the local electronics store(read - real deal, with
tons of rows of little baggies with components in them) and
got lug connectors for $1 for 4. Add in a decent crimping
tool if you don't have access to one. Everyone should have
one, though, IMO, so it's a "tool" and not really part of the
cost.
Regarding your comments about wire gauge, I once compared
24-foot runs of 16 AWG wire both to 12-foot runs of $1000
Dunlavy Ultra speaker cable, and also to 4-foot runs of
Monster style 12 AWG stuff. The sound was the same. Small
wire looks less obnoxious laying on the floor.
Yep. My trick is to use 12 or 14 gauge electrical wire
and do the drill motor and twist routine(2-3 twists per
foot) - then wrap all of that in heat shrink tubing.
Small, thin, and as pro looking as you can get. It's
about as thin as common zip-cord, In fact. Just say no
to poofy insulation.
I'd like to know where you got a 500-foot roll of 12 AWG
wire for under $30. Do you live in China?
Heh. This would make 250ft of speaker wire, which is plenty
for most installs. The last time I was at Home Depot, it
was around $30 for a roll of electrical wire. Of course,
spray paint the ends of one wire so you can tell which is which.
Of course, a 250 ft roll of 1/4 inch(shrunk size)heat shrink
tubing isn't cheap. It is compared to the boutique wire,
though.