5.1 Speakers for 3.5k or less

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › 5.1 Speakers for 3.5k or less

kiwijunglist

2981 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

#154378 26-Oct-2014 10:56

Hi

I have a Pioneer SC-LX87 220W 9.2 AVR that I bought this week on clearance. I'll probably order some cables from blue jean cables . com

I still need 5.1 speakers for medium size room.
Budget for the speakers is around $1500 - $3500

Just wondering what peoples thoughts are on the following options:

Wharfedale Jade 5/7 Fronts, 2C Centre, and Jade 1 surrounds with stands. Will cost about $3k + subwoofer
http://www.whathifi.com/wharfedale/jade-5/review

Diamond 9 5.1 Pack $1050

Diamond 10 5.1 Pack $1600

Yamaha EF Series - NS-777 + NS-333 + NS-C444 $1900 + Subwoofer
http://soundgroup.co.nz/yamaha_ef_series

Polk TSX330 + TSX110 + TSX150C $1450 + Subwoofer

Subwoofer I'm looking at is velodyne impact 10 - $580

Thanks for any help
Kiwi

HTPC / Home automation (home assistant) enthusiast.

billgates

4704 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#1162309 26-Oct-2014 11:19

Grab the SVS package from RapalloAV before Monday midnight for the 15% off deal while you can. SVS gear thankfully is not overpriced in NZ by Rapallo and with the 15% discount, you are actually getting better prices than US.

You have couple of options with their 5.1 setup. You will need to add the component individually in the cart for the 'Labour' without quotes discount code to work. I know that you might not be a big fan of their Ultra Surrounds but I have put a link to a review below else you can go with their Ultra Bookshelf options. If you do decide, Piano Black is the best finish option to select.

1. 2 x Ultra Bookshelf, 2 x Ultra Surrounds and 1 x Ultra Center = $3484.15

2. 4 x Ultra Bookshelf (L, R and rear Surrounds) and 1 x Ultra Center = $3207.05

You will need to factor in the extra cost for the stands for Bookshelf unless you already have something in place.

Bookshelf Review

Ultra Center & Ultra Surround Review

Do whatever you want to do man.

Quic Broadband

Move to New Zealand's best fibre broadband service (affiliate link). Note that to use Quic Broadband you must be comfortable with configuring your own router.

billgates

4704 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#1162312 26-Oct-2014 11:34

btw how much did you pay for the Pioneer SC-LX87 220W 9.2 AVR and where from?

Do whatever you want to do man.

kiwijunglist

2981 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

#1162373 26-Oct-2014 13:40

1850 new from trademe. Paulhifi have some demo models for slightly less. I think thry have a 77 for sale.

HTPC / Home automation (home assistant) enthusiast.

billgates

4704 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#1162385 26-Oct-2014 13:51

Damn. That is a steal at that price. Got link for more trademe auction or the Paul Hifi link?

Do whatever you want to do man.

Dunnersfella

4083 posts

Uber Geek

#1162581 26-Oct-2014 21:05

I started listing a bunch of pros and cons of the speakers you've listed... but frankly, they're just words, and you're not buying words.
You NEED to go and listen to the speakers, demo them in your own home if you can (although it would be VERY easy to damage at least one part of a 5.1 setup in moving it to your home and back)... so that may be tough to do.
Remember, testing subs is pointless when based upon reviews - all you're reading is a review on the reviewers listening room!
Placement will have the single biggest difference to pay in the performance of your subwoofer... of course design (ported/ non-ported / front firing / downward firing etc) will play a part, but room acoustics and bass are the key. Buy the speakers based on stereo performance, sure... but get the subwoofer at a later date and try a little bit of a-b testing in your home.
I know people who are driven nuts by ported subs due to chuffing. I also know people who hate subs like the Impact 10 as they can't turn off the 'standby power' feature, meaning the sub seems to kick in a fraction too late from time to time...
Then, for some people, they think they're perfect!

Next up - system synergy.
The sound of the Pioneer's preamplifier stage and different speakers will be the next piece of the puzzle.
So, yeah...

I will give a few generalisations for your medium sized room though.
Jade's = too big for a medium room, typically over priced for their performance. VERY thirsty speakers, the stand mounts on their own a stupidly inefficient compared to other speakers you may find.
Diamond 9's = What are these now? A decade old? Diamond 10's offer better mid and top end performance.
Diamond 10's = Nice, pays to run them with a powerful amp to get the best from them (which you have) as many people end up running them on something a little too cheap and nasty, sadly.
The Yamaha's could be okay, but a forward sounding Japanese voiced speaker combined with the more forward sounding pre-amplifier stage of a Pioneer LX - could equate to a very bright sounding combo.
Polk speakers can sound a little reserved, but to my mind, they're more musical and easier to listen to for longer periods of time than many of their contemporaries.
The TSX330's are a lot smaller than the likes of the Jade 5 / 7's you're considering...
Is there a reason why you're considering them for the same room?
They offer dedicated rear speakers, something the rest of the speaker sets you've listed do not.
Typically importers think that punters will 'make do' with stand mount speakers at the back of their room, instead of dedicated rears. Why do they do this? So they have to bring fewer models into NZ...

Kopkiwi

2617 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#1164918 30-Oct-2014 11:28

I have the Jade 5 with beast center JC2.

Luckily for you they are paired with a Pioneer 77 so I can tell you straight up the combination is amazing.

Doesn't matter whether it's movies (blu-ray) or music these speakers absolutely sing.

If you're in Christchurch you're welcome to come for a listen.

kiwijunglist

2981 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

#1164943 30-Oct-2014 11:57

Im in wellington. But I'd love to call u or chat on Google hangouts.

HTPC / Home automation (home assistant) enthusiast.

Disrespective

1921 posts

Uber Geek

#1164950 30-Oct-2014 12:14

As mentioned, the Diamond 9's are old but I have a set of them with a Marantz 5.1 amp and they've been a great wee entry level package. They aren't mind blowing but for the price you certainly get some solid sound out of them. One day I might upgrade but realistically i'm not trying to get cinema sound so they'll likely be kept until they die.

kiwijunglist

2981 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

#1164998 30-Oct-2014 13:36

Yeah I would actually get the diamond 100pack now as its only 1500. Just deciding whether I should spend more than that or not...

HTPC / Home automation (home assistant) enthusiast.

kiwijunglist

2981 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

#1174827 12-Nov-2014 22:02

So my budget got exceeded slightly.

Pioneer SCLX87 220W 9.2 AVR
Wharfedale Jade 7 Fronts + Jade 5 Rears + Jade 2c Centre in Gloss Piano Black

I still need to buy a subwoofer;

Dual Velodyne impact EQ max 10" for $588x2=$1180 from local Harvey Norman
SVS SB2000 for an estimated 15% off around xmas $1099x.85= $940 + postage
SVS PB2000 an estimated 15% off around xmas $1199x.85= $1020 + postage
Dual SVS PB1000 for an estimated 15% off around xmas $749x2x.85= $1275 + postage
Dual SVS SB1000 for an estimated 15% off around xmas $749x2x.85= $1275 + postage
2nd hand REL 528 SE in Gloss Piano Black $1500 + postage
B&W AWS10 in Gloss Piano Black $1600 (incl postage)
Velodyne Ultra SPL1000 in Gloss Piano Black for $1750 (incl postage)

Any thoughts?

HTPC / Home automation (home assistant) enthusiast.