First Setup..buying unless you guys have some other input.

[solidcrowd 10+ year member]

Receiver: Yamaha HTR-5960

http://www.yamaha.com/yec/products/productdetail.html?CNTID=200502&CTID=5000400&ATRID=1020&DETYP=ATTRIBUTE

Fronts: Pioneer S-HF41-LR 8" 3-Way Bookshelf

http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&Partnumber=250-680

Center: Pioneer S-HF11C 5-1/4" MTM Center Channel

http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=250-685&vReviewShow=1&vReviewRand=9617270#reviews

Rears and Sides:

Pioneer S-HF21-LR 5-1/4" 2-Way Bookshelf

http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&Partnumber=250-670

OR

Pioneer S-HF31-LR 6-1/2" 2-Way Bookshelf

http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&Partnumber=250-675

Subwoofer: Not decided yet.

Click to read more...

 

[j3bus2k3 5,000+ posts]

...how much are you paying for that receiver?

 

[solidcrowd 10+ year member]

I'm thinking he'll sell it for $225. Is that a deal?

 

[joetama 5,000+ posts]

I'm betting those speakers sound like shit in a wet bag...

 

[JimJ 5,000+ posts]

Indeed.

 

[solidcrowd 10+ year member]

well than what speakers can you guys find me in the $250 range (5 or 7)

 

[JimJ 5,000+ posts]

I'd say single driver, no crossover speakers are about the only viable option for that price that has a chance at not sounding like *** //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[quakerroatmeal 10+ year member]

Outpost at frys have good sale on Polk speakers.

 

[JimJ 5,000+ posts]

http://www.frugel-horn.com

I think the Metronomes would be a good choice for you, there's a bunch of info about them over on DIYAudio's Full Range section as well.

 

[desertheat 10+ year member]

Jim *LOL* Stop it already kid is confused enough without trying to pull him into the world of full range drivers and 1w amps for his mini HT haha. But have to agree, even home theatre needs some very low standards...

I run the northridge E series for my small HT and honestly they perform VERY well for HT. They no longer produce the E series and the current stuff went down hill yet again. Seems like JBL's HT stuff comes and goes quality wise. But overall for movies with the family and friends. Setup rocks. Had them for 2-3 years now and never had an issue. Also to note, the e series was far from $75 budget equipment few years back like what your looking at. Was actually pretty darn pricey for JBL and I listened to a lot of stuff within my HT budget and the e-series came out on top. Not UBER FI by anymeans, but just a LOT better than what your looking at. I bought all mine from HK's refurb center and got it all dirt cheap. Worth every penny. If you buy any of it new, the metal domes have a LONG break in period. I was quite annoyed with them at first, so I put in a cd, slapped it on repeat and went away for the weekend to see if it would help. Dear lord yes it helped, removed the peaky harshness from them. All in all the E series is pretty mellow sounding.

For a center, this would be a great choice. I run the EC35 version, but for what your going for... this would be fine.

http://cgi.ebay.com/JBL-Northridge-EC25-Center-Channel-Speaker-Nice_W0QQitemZ130191832543QQihZ003QQcategoryZ14992QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

For fronts, I could not find any in this series for sale at this time. I run the e-80 versions. They are towers.

For rear surrounds these would be a much better choice than those pios....

http://cgi.ebay.com/Pair-JBL-Northridge-E20-Bookshelf-Surround-Speakers_W0QQitemZ190184462662QQihZ009QQcategoryZ14991QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQtrksidZp1638.m118.l1247QQcmdZViewItem

For side surrounds. These work great and are very flat. Easy to hang on the walls....

http://cgi.ebay.com/JBL-Northridge-E10-Speaker-No-Reserve_W0QQitemZ220195742162QQihZ012QQcategoryZ14991QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

For a sub, I run the same model as this. Easily able to take stuff off my bathroom walls and shake the garage. Great for HT.

http://cgi.ebay.com/JBL-E250P-NORTHRIDGE-E-SERIES-12-POWERED-SUBWOOFER-A_W0QQitemZ290201627219QQihZ019QQcategoryZ3275QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[mavster 10+ year member]

http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&Partnumber=300-692

http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&Partnumber=300-694

http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&Partnumber=300-696

 

[JimJ 5,000+ posts]

Jim *LOL* Stop it already kid is confused enough without trying to pull him into the world of full range drivers and 1w amps for his mini HT haha. But have to agree, even home theatre needs some very low standards...

He's talking about $50 a speaker. That's like the price of a foil inductor for a good design //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif

I had two Studio series JBL 3-ways when I was in the dorms. Nowhere near "hi-fi" but they had some output.

 

[solidcrowd 10+ year member]

lol well thanks guys, oo and for the sub i'm just going to be running my 12" icon. I'm at work at now and when I get home will read your post in further detail.

 

[solidcrowd 10+ year member]

http://shop4.outpost.com/product/4005092

2 for front channel

http://shop4.outpost.com/product/4878970?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG

2 for rear surround

Any good?

 

[BrianChia 10+ year member]

The low end Polk's are really bad. I would avoid them.

Honestly, why not start off with a 2.1 system? A decent 2.1 system is not overly expensive but can sound great for movies and music. A cheap 5.1 system however can be at best annoying for movies and just plain miserable for music. Why not just start with 2.1 and save up for the other 3 channels later?