Budget 3.1 or 5.1 Home Theater Speakers

[Ooztuncer]

Hello,
I am on a quest again and would like to buy something within a week or so. I partly did my research. I said partly since I couldn't listen any options that I came up with.

Basically, I am looking for a 3.1 or 5.1 system for around $700-$750 (at most; ideally around $450). I sold my Athena Micra 6 (5.1) for $225 and ready to add some dough on top of it to buy something at least as good as Athena's. I'm after best bang for the buck system.

It will be used 85% for movies/15% for music in our 13x11 room which have 2 windows, 1 door and one big opening to dining room. I will put a floor plan later.

Here is my not too short shortlist:

1) Elemental Designs - $670 - http://www.edesignaudio.com/htpackage.php:
A6-5T5 L/C/R
A3-5TC Rears
A2-250 Sub


2) Athena LS system - $595:
Athena -- LS Series Home Theater System with LS-100 rears-Audio Advisor
3rd party sub: $160


3) BIC Acoustech HT-64 Home Theater System: $729
Bic acoustech speakers, NHT, Klipsch Speakers, Infinity, In Wall Speakers, In Ceiling Speakers + More Call 800-691-6914


4) Fluance speakers - $299:
Fluance™ 5 Speaker Surround Sound Home Theater System SX-HTB+
3rd party sub $160


5) Polk:
R150x4 - $200
CSR center - $80
3rd party sub - $160


6) SVSound 5.0 Channel Set - $599:
SVSound - Speakers
3rd party sub - $160


7) The Speaker Company
HT-600 - P Series 5.1 Home Theater Speakers - $300
The Speaker Company Online Store - Product Information


8) Klipsch Quintet II Black - $200
Vanns.com: Klipsch Quintet II Black 5-Piece Quintet II Home Theater Speaker System, Black Finish (Quintet II Black) Features


9) PSB Alpha series - PSB Speakers - Alpha Series
Alpha CLR1 -$169
Alpha C1 - $229
Alpha LR1 - $199
3rd party sub - $160


10) AV123 - used $650
x-series sub
x-cs center
x-series fronts
x-series rears


11) HTD speakers (3.1) - HTD Level THREE Speakers
Level THREE Bookshelf Speakers - $299
Level THREE Center Channel Speaker - $199
3rd party sub - $160


12) Aperion (3.1)
Intimus 632-LR Bookshelf Speaker - $299 - Intimus 632-LR Bookshelf Speaker - Aperion Audio
Intimus 533-VAC Center Channel Speaker - $280 - Center Channel - Aperion Audio
3rd party sub - $160


13) AV123 (3.1)
x-ls encore fronts - $300
x-ls encore center - $200
x-sub - $160



Thanks in advance!!

[Ooztuncer]

this is simply getting ridiculuous as I read/search more. The worst thing is I can't audition any one of them except the Polk's

I believe I will be buying a good stereo speakers (but something that has a matching center in the market for future 3.0 or 5.0 system).

Overall targets in the radar are:

Dali Ikon 6
Energy RC-30
Monitor Audio RS6
Totem Arro
Vandersteen 2ce
Elemental Design A6-6T6
AV123 - Rocket 450
Polk 4x R50 + CSR center

what to do - what to do...

[colonelkernel8]

I am in a similar position friend. I have decided that HTD deserves my money. You cannot beat buying direct, and their speakers are apparently very high quality.

[Ooztuncer]

Yesterday, to my surprise, I found out that one and only serious local dealer is an authorized Vandersteen dealer. Therefore, I auditioned the Vandersteen 2CE signatures (both old ones and the new mark II's) as well as model 1's.

I definitely love the sound. Upper and mid-range is simply beautiful. It is also airy, however, dealer doesn't feed them with enough juice I think. I was expecting much better bass response and punch. From the same source/amp, model 1's sound much more dynamic. I don't think my Onkyo 605 would be sufficient for 2CEs.

Furthermore, I found a 1987 made 2Cs for $500 - kind of a steal, right. Well they are 4 hours away from me and the looks of 2CEs in the delaer didn't pass WAF. Life play games on us - all the time...

I also stopped by Tweeter and auditioned Polk LSi25s and Focal 826s. To my surprise, both of them had better imaging than Vandersteen 2Ce's and model 1s. I liked the Focal sound a lot. Though I bet with a more appropriate setup in the dealer Vandersteen's beat those guys hands down (at least I feel that way). Something was missing in the dealer's setup...

Anyways, I came home; started to review my opinions with my lovely wife and told her that "honey, you remember the very first vandersteens" - "yes, the ugliest speakers i've ever seen" - "you remember that the dealer was asking $1700? I found them for $500!!" - "no way they can enter this home, even for $250".... life play games...

After couple of more hours of thinking I decided to settle down for a temporary solution. I bought a pair of HTD level three bookshelves from egay for $100 shipped.

I will continue auditoning as much as I can do; then I invest...

Thanks for your help.