I hate to be a n00b, but I need help designing a HT setup...

[rollininstyle04 10+ year member]

So here is the deal, I know a decent amount about Car Audio, just not a lot about Home stuff. My dad wants me to help him out in a HT setup. The only thing he decided he wanted is the TV which is going to be a Panasonic 58'' Plasma (seen here, but for cheaper then BB sells it for: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7749788&type=product&productCategoryId=pcmcat95100050005&id=1140394359013 ). Now we want to do a 5.1 setup. I know that requires the main front speakers, a center, rear ones, and a sub. What else is needed other then the speakers and a receiver? (not including wire and all the install stuff, I will figure that out after I decide on the equipment). So basically this is what I need suggestions on:

1. What are some good brands? Is it worth it to match all the speakers from the same brand. I know the sub could be different, but is it worth it keeping all the mids and highs from the same company?

2. What is a good receiver? Brands, models, everything...

3. Im guessing I need a DVD player as well. What are some good suggestions for that too?

4. Subs? How many and what size are good. We dont need CRAZY bass, but definitely something that you can feel when watching movies with a good low end. I was thinking something like a single 12'' powered HT sub with maybe 500 watts or so, but in all honesty I have no idea what is good.

5. Anything else you want to throw out there that can help me learn/understand the home audio side of things.

Now obviously the most important part is price. We dont want to skimp on audio with having such as nice TV, but at the same time we do not need AMAZING SQ and perfect sound stage. Just something that sounds GOOD. Ideally we would like to spend $2000ish for everything other then the TV. Is that a good budget? Is it possible to get what I am asking within that price range?

Sorry for all the questions, but hopefully some of guys can help me out as I am really at a loss here. If you guys can send some links over my way that teaches about home audio that could help out too.

Thanks in advance for the help

-Jordan

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[Pistonsfan70 10+ year member]

My whole setup was about $1,000 with no sub....I am hooking it all up tomorrow but I used Elemental Designs setup (I LOVE THE WAY IT LOOKS, I WILL TAKE PICS!!) and the Onkyo 602 reciever......

I will review it tomorrow once my reciever comes in

 

[1loudsuv 10+ year member]

My whole setup was about $1,000 with no sub....I am hooking it all up tomorrow but I used Elemental Designs setup (I LOVE THE WAY IT LOOKS, I WILL TAKE PICS!!) and the Onkyo 602 reciever......

I will review it tomorrow once my reciever comes in

dont forget god dang it i want pix bad!!!! and not just one lol

to the op i recommend you go to the magnolia store demo some stuff they will work with you on prices. the guys i dealt with when i bought my denon were really cool and gave me a nice discount //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[Pistonsfan70 10+ year member]

Heck, if you want to wait 30 minutes or so, I'll take some now...I have everything except the rear channels in place though....but the sexy parts are all set!

 

[1loudsuv 10+ year member]

waiting lol

 

[Fixxer 10+ year member]

$2000 would be a good budget for an Axiom setup... You could get the full Epic 50 set with free shipping.

http://www.axiomaudio.com/epic50_main.html

 

[Pistonsfan70 10+ year member]

My roommates are watchin a movie...I think it ends around 3....I will take/post pics tonight..just waiting so I can turn on some HD or blu-ray and take pics of the tv with the Towers and center.

 

[rollininstyle04 10+ year member]

What do you guys think of Polk's stuff? I can probably get a deal on that, the reviews seem decent, but im not totally sure. I was looking at the Monitor 60 for the front, Monitor 40 for the rear, CS2 center, and the 12'' powered sub. Is that good stuff, or is there better for the money?

 

[JimJ 5,000+ posts]

Honestly, I'd rather run DIY than Polk...

//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[Beat_Dominator 5,000+ posts]

Outlaw Audio makes very good receiver. I'd say one of the best deals in the 5.1 speaker range is KEFs Uni-Q 5.1 system that retails for $999, it has a pretty good sub too.

 

[rollininstyle04 10+ year member]

Honestly, I'd rather run DIY than Polk...
//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

Can you suggest some good brands for me to look at then?

Also the front mains and the center are all going to be mounted flush into the wall. I know some towers (maybe all?) have their ports on the back, so that wouldnt work with my setup, correct? Do I need to buy specific in wall stuff?

 

[JimJ 5,000+ posts]

Why flush-mounting everything?

Really puts you in a hole if you end up with speakers that have bad off-axis response...or that need to be offset a bit for best performance.

 

[AcidicDreams 10+ year member]

http://emotiva.com/products.html

There is a nice pre/pro and amp for $899 to get started (the LMC-1 / LPA-1 combo)... then spend the other 1100 on speakers...

 

[rollininstyle04 10+ year member]

Why flush-mounting everything?
Really puts you in a hole if you end up with speakers that have bad off-axis response...or that need to be offset a bit for best performance.

If it was me, I wouldnt flush it all in, but my dad is paying for it all since its for him so I am just trying to figure out the best stuff for his "requirements" He wants to have everything on the TV wall (TV, front speakers, center, receiver, dvd player, etc.) all flushed into the wall. there is a closet like room behind so all the wires and everything will be back there and make it clean looking from the outside and easy to get to. Honestly he wants looks over performance. So knowing that, what are some good brands/models that will perform well in the wall?

Actually, since I mentioned in wall most of you assumed it was just a regular wall. If I have around 2 feet of space behind the wall, would it be OK to flush a set of towers into the wall? As long as they are ported in the front, I know sound staging will not be perfect if they are facing directly forward, but would that perform better then "in-wall" speakers?

 

[rollininstyle04 10+ year member]

Ok, well I solved the in-wall problem. Basically what is going to happen now is the towers and the center channel are still going to be IN the wall, but there will be around a 1'' border around them to allow for the air to flow from the ports in the rear. Then I will just make custom grills (either metal if I can find big enough metal grills, or just grill cloth) to cover the WHOLE opening to make it seem like it is just the speaker flushed in, when really there is airspace around them too.

Im still pretty overwhelmed with speaker choices though, im going to have to just go listen to a bunch of stuff and see what I like.