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7.1 System on a $1,500 Budget

post #1 of 11
10/5/11 at 3:23pm
Thread Starter 

My uncle is going to get a sound system for himself to complete his Sony Bravia 55", not XBR eek.gif. But it's okay because he wants some high-end audio and it turns out he is super picky and knows exactly what he wants in his sound system.

He wants to get 7 mini speakers and 1 sub woofer to hook up to his 7.1 Dolby Digital receiver. He needs all 7 speakers and the woofer to be under $1500, he wants a neutral sound signature, mini speakers that he can install in his ceiling (NO FLAT PANEL MONITORS), any amps or wires or anything else you guys recommend for his system would be great and he will get as long as it is all under $1500. Also they have to sound good at low-medium volumes. He is a proud owner of the legendary DQ10, which if you don't already know, are a very quiet speaker that was wildly popular in the 70s and 80s. He is very disgusted that I have a B & W Zeppelin because B & W makes loudspeakers, so they have to sound good at low volumes. I know this is a very specific list and will be almost impossible to find all this stuff in one speaker system. These things can all have some leeway except the budget.

 

Thanks for all your help,

I couldn't find anything confused.gif

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post #2 of 11
10/5/11 at 4:25pm
Thread Starter 

These are some of the things I found speaker-wise.

I know nothing regarding subs and wires and amps but here is a list of the stuff that is in the price range, I couldn't find any unbiased info about them so I was hoping you guys could help.

http://www.amazon.com/Niles-DS7HD-DS7FX-Directed-Soundfield/dp/B0051GDQOA/ref=sr_1_25?s=aht&ie=UTF8&qid=1317856006&sr=1-25

http://www.amazon.com/NHT-Aluminum-6-5-Inch-Tweeter--Ceiling/dp/B0002JFJDC/ref=sr_1_27?s=aht&ie=UTF8&qid=1317855669&sr=1-27

http://www.amazon.com/Polk-Audio-Three-Way-Vanishing-Ceiling/dp/B0057XVZ72/ref=sr_1_1?s=aht&ie=UTF8&qid=1317855735&sr=1-1

http://www.amazon.com/Definitive-Technology-Contractor--Ceiling-Speakers/dp/B001A6F20Q/ref=sr_1_8?s=aht&ie=UTF8&qid=1317855932&sr=1-8

http://www.amazon.com/Definitive-Technology-UERA--ceiling-Speaker/dp/B001UL3H0I/ref=sr_1_35?s=aht&ie=UTF8&qid=1317855150&sr=1-35

 

If the speaker is sold in ones he would obviously buy 7. If it is sold in 7 or 8 he would use them all and use the extra money or subs and stuffs. In the case that there is 8 there would be 2 as the center channel.

Am I even doing this right?

Do I need to find specific speakers for specific locations?

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post #3 of 11
10/5/11 at 8:35pm

Is seven really necessary? Unless the room is enormous, there is absolutely zero need for back surround speakers. Placement, accuracy, room treatment, and response are infinitely more important, especially considering the majority of movie soundtracks don't even include more than 5 channels.

 

Ceiling speakers are really not high-fidelity, there good for background music and that's about it.


Edited by DaveBSC - 10/5/11 at 8:37pm
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post #4 of 11
10/7/11 at 12:29pm

erm high end, not on that budget and sure as hell not in ceiling speakers, in wall maybe but in ceiling will always be a colossal compromise and in the wrong place

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post #5 of 11
10/7/11 at 6:39pm
Thread Starter 
I might have misunderstood him or maybe he wasn't clear or he is just plain wrong...
I'll tell his what you guys said.
I know for a fact he wants 7 speakers, his room is actually quite large and I'm sure he would use this surround sound system for music while he is in the kitchen, etc. Especially since his house has such an open floor plan.
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post #6 of 11
10/27/11 at 3:50pm
Thread Starter 

I'm sorry guys, I misunderstood my uncle.

He does need a receiver and he does not want in ceiling speakers, but he wants mini speakers.

He seems wayyyyyyy into the Mirage Nanosats. I don't know if there is anything better than that that he can get for under $1,500 with a receiver.

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post #7 of 11
10/29/11 at 8:41am

here's a couple of random suggestions:

 

Canton Movie Series: the smaller form speaker packages are way below your budget

 

Boston Acoustic: affordable speaker systems below your budget. also consider the A26 package

 

Dali Fazon 3 5.1: perhaps a little over your budget

 

Paradigm MilleniaOne 5.1: the speakers are $249/ea. however the sub is $1399, so you may wanna look for another sub

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post #8 of 11
10/29/11 at 1:34pm

Call me an old school. But I don't think your uncle will be happy with all mini speakers set up. I would consider buy a good powerful receiver around $700-$800, spend $300-$400 on mini 5.1 set up like Mirage Nanosats, then put $300-$500 on two good front speakers. If I got deals, I will definitely consider buy a good center speaker too. Check the 7.1 specific and blue-ray audio mastering, you will find out they didn't put much sound in surround and back channels. So the front and center speakers are most important!! You can buy a cheap 5.1 setup with good front speakers, they will beat up the fancy mini 7.1 set up easily. To me, stereo is the King.

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post #9 of 11
10/30/11 at 2:02am
Small speakers suck. If you want 7 channels, you'll end up with seven plastic boxes with horrendous drivers and a crappy subwoofer.

Besides, surround is a sales gimmick. You don't need it.

$1,500 will get an excellent two channel amp/receiver and excellent speakers. Which is all you need. Two good speakers create the center channel just fine as well as left and right. Sound behind you is grossly overrated. Two good speakers will make you forget rear channels and suck you into the content.

I had 5.1 for awhile, but my stereo setup completely demolishes it.

Also, your uncle needs to hear quality flat panel speakers. Magnepans should leave him on the floor.

I'd recommend a pair of high-end speakers. A used Magnepan 1.6 around $1,000 would be fine. Spend the other $500 on a good receiver or a used preamp/power amp or an integrated. That would shame seven crappy plastic boxes.
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post #10 of 11
10/30/11 at 8:39pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Uncle Erik View Post

Small speakers suck. If you want 7 channels, you'll end up with seven plastic boxes with horrendous drivers and a crappy subwoofer.
Besides, surround is a sales gimmick. You don't need it.
$1,500 will get an excellent two channel amp/receiver and excellent speakers. Which is all you need. Two good speakers create the center channel just fine as well as left and right. Sound behind you is grossly overrated. Two good speakers will make you forget rear channels and suck you into the content.
I had 5.1 for awhile, but my stereo setup completely demolishes it.
Also, your uncle needs to hear quality flat panel speakers. Magnepans should leave him on the floor.
I'd recommend a pair of high-end speakers. A used Magnepan 1.6 around $1,000 would be fine. Spend the other $500 on a good receiver or a used preamp/power amp or an integrated. That would shame seven crappy plastic boxes.


 

+1, a set of really good speakers totally blow cheaper 7.1's out of the water. waiting to see other suggestions from other ppl tho :)

 

popcorn.gif

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post #11 of 11
10/30/11 at 8:55pm

I don't know why he'd want 7.1, it is hardly supported. I also don't know what 5.1 setup you could scrape together for $1,500 and be completely happy with.

Could get monitor audio's RX setup for around that much, but then you have no receiver.

 

I also find the fact that people think surround is a gimmick mind-boggling.

Cannot comprehend how anyone who has actually tried some nice 5.1 albums and movies could come to that conclusion.  


Edited by Tetsuma - 10/31/11 at 7:42am
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