[Gauntlet3h]

1. State your budget: 300-500 (up to 800 for exceptional system)

2. State your music tastes: Rock/Rap

3. State what perks are highly desirable: All around -- 20% gaming, 30% movies, 50% music

4. State what products you already have and are planning on using with your recommended item: 5 klipsch satellites 25Hz-20kHz +/- 5dB FTC Rated per Satellite: 60 w/channel @ ≤ 1% THD, 100Hz - 1KHz (Note: all channels driven)

5. State how you are going to use the item: Connect it to my PC

6. State where you live and offer some sites that are known for having good prices / being reputable so we can help recommend you products in your country's currency (like Amazon or ebay).- Live in the USA in Ohio, shop online a lot

7. Other: I am not looking for a 5.1 system or 7.1 system out of the box. I rather build my own with what I have and upgrade speakers etc whenever I want.

Please share some input as to where I should start and how to go about this. Thanks!

 

[chinesekiwi]

Is this headphones or a speaker setup as I am confused.

 

[bobfig]

I'd start off by scouring craigslist for a decent receiver and then find some bookshelf speakers and a sub to start. You will still have the upgradeabillity to go surround sound later.

At work atm so i cant link stuff yet

 

[Gauntlet3h]

Speakers. My 5.1 system blew out an amp. So its now a 5.0 system without an amp/subwoofer. I am looking to keep the speakers and replace it with a receiver/amp and subwoofer or an alternative.

 

[pioneerisloud]

I would start off with this receiver:
http://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-RX-V471BL-5-1-Channel-AV-Receiver/dp/B004QR56R0/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1336526086&sr=1-2

And this subwoofer:
http://www.amazon.com/Polk-Audio-12-Inch-Powered-Subwoofer/dp/B000092TT0

Upgrade your speakers later on since thats what you said you wanted to do. Depending on your speaker budget later on down the road, that'll determine what speakers you should go with at that time.

 

[Gauntlet3h]

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobfig

I'd start off by scouring craigslist for a decent receiver and then find some bookshelf speakers and a sub to start. You will still have the upgradeabillity to go surround sound later.
At work atm so i cant link stuff yet

I'm not a big fan of craigslist I rather buy new stuff.

I figure I'd buy a midrange receiver off amazon or retailer online. Just don't know what features or connections I need. I know my motherboard has a SPDIF

Realtek® ALC892 8-Channel High Definition Audio CODEC
- Supports : Jack-detection, Multi-streaming, Front Panel Jack-retasking
Audio Feature :
- Absolute Pitch 192kHz/ 24-bit True BD Lossless Sound
- Blu-ray audio layer Content Protection
- Optical S/PDIF out port(s) at back panel

Should I get a sound card. This system is just a supplement to my home audio. I want it to be good-great (Better than any logitech 5.1 computer system) but not amazing.

 

[pioneerisloud]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gauntlet3h

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobfig

I'd start off by scouring craigslist for a decent receiver and then find some bookshelf speakers and a sub to start. You will still have the upgradeabillity to go surround sound later.
At work atm so i cant link stuff yet

I'm not a big fan of craigslist I rather buy new stuff.

I figure I'd buy a midrange receiver off amazon or retailer online. Just don't know what features or connections I need. I know my motherboard has a SPDIF

Realtek® ALC892 8-Channel High Definition Audio CODEC
- Supports : Jack-detection, Multi-streaming, Front Panel Jack-retasking
Audio Feature :
- Absolute Pitch 192kHz/ 24-bit True BD Lossless Sound
- Blu-ray audio layer Content Protection
- Optical S/PDIF out port(s) at back panel

Should I get a sound card. This system is just a supplement to my home audio. I want it to be good-great (Better than any logitech 5.1 computer system) but not amazing.

Get the receiver I linked you above, and use an optical cable. I personally own that same receiver, and I run if off onboard sound on my HTPC. Works very well. It also has pre outs for 7.1 if you added a power amp for the rear channels later on.

 

[Gauntlet3h]

Quote:

Originally Posted by pioneerisloud

I would start off with this receiver:
http://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-RX-V471BL-5-1-Channel-AV-Receiver/dp/B004QR56R0/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1336526086&sr=1-2
And this subwoofer:
http://www.amazon.com/Polk-Audio-12-Inch-Powered-Subwoofer/dp/B000092TT0
Upgrade your speakers later on since thats what you said you wanted to do. Depending on your speaker budget later on down the road, that'll determine what speakers you should go with at that time.

Awesome man those look badass. My computer den is 8 foot by 11 foot ... u sure a 12 inch sub is safe in that small area LOL

 

[pioneerisloud]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gauntlet3h

Quote:

Originally Posted by pioneerisloud

I would start off with this receiver:
http://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-RX-V471BL-5-1-Channel-AV-Receiver/dp/B004QR56R0/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1336526086&sr=1-2
And this subwoofer:
http://www.amazon.com/Polk-Audio-12-Inch-Powered-Subwoofer/dp/B000092TT0
Upgrade your speakers later on since thats what you said you wanted to do. Depending on your speaker budget later on down the road, that'll determine what speakers you should go with at that time.

Awesome man those look badass. My computer den is 8 foot by 11 foot ... u sure a 12 inch sub is safe in that small area LOL

Of course its safe.

Never said you had to crank it up to the max.....

Reason I chose that subwoofer is because of the frequency response. Movies and gaming, you're going to want as low as possible. Music, not so much usually....but it is nice sometimes (certain rap songs). Just because its a large sub with a powerful amp, doesn't mean you have to use it at full blast all the time.

 

[bobfig]

Give craigslist a chance. I got a reciever that was a few years old but in mint condition for only $120 and the only thing it dosnt have is hdmi inputs.

 

[Gauntlet3h]

I just searched on craigslist for yamaha receivers. Saw one for sell for 100 new was 150 on amazon. Another one 150 new was 220 on amazon. I rather just buy new unless someone is really giving it away!

I wish I had found polk audio sooner. They have some sick sport headphones would have been great for working out rather than the bose ear buds that keep falling out

 

[trog]

The RX-V371 is $180 free ship if u looking for more wallet friendlier/brand new options

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882115313
btw older/used coax/optical AVRs can really be as low as $40-80 at times

 

[Gauntlet3h]

I checked craigslist a bit but searching through all those ads is a full time job!

I ended up buying the exact 2 products pioneerisloud linked.

I got the sub from newegg. It was for 250 and they had a 50 dollar off promotion for that item today. So I got that 200 dollars shipped.

The yamaha receiver I checked it out at bestbuy and liked it. They had it for 330. I got it for 239 and I had 75 dollars of amazon gift cards I found from Christmas.

So grand total counting gift cards came out to 365!

 

[Bobotheklown]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gauntlet3h

I checked craigslist a bit but searching through all those ads is a full time job!
I ended up buying the exact 2 products pioneerisloud linked.
I got the sub from newegg. It was for 250 and they had a 50 dollar off promotion for that item today. So I got that 200 dollars shipped.
The yamaha receiver I checked it out at bestbuy and liked it. They had it for 330. I got it for 239 and I had 75 dollars of amazon gift cards I found from Christmas.
So grand total counting gift cards came out to 365!

Nice work! Your setup is going to rock that den haha

 

[bobfig]

i agree nice buy. when ever you plan on moving up the speakers and if you want a little diy project take a look at ether overnight sensation or dayton audio BR-1

http://www.diysoundgroup.com/speaker-kits.html
http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=300-706
http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=300-640

 

[Gauntlet3h]

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobfig

i agree nice buy. when ever you plan on moving up the speakers and if you want a little diy project take a look at ether overnight sensation or dayton audio BR-1
http://www.diysoundgroup.com/speaker-kits.html
http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=300-706
http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=300-640

Wow I watched both videos on them and I would need to be Macgyver to pull that off. I rather spend double that to get speakers that look/sound better.

I also found something called a subdude. To put under my PSW505, anyone have any experience with subdudes if it makes the sound better and less rattling. I have an apartment with people below me.

 

[pioneerisloud]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gauntlet3h

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobfig

i agree nice buy. when ever you plan on moving up the speakers and if you want a little diy project take a look at ether overnight sensation or dayton audio BR-1
http://www.diysoundgroup.com/speaker-kits.html
http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=300-706
http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=300-640

Wow I watched both videos on them and I would need to be Macgyver to pull that off. I rather spend double that to get speakers that look/sound better.

I also found something called a subdude. To put under my PSW505, anyone have any experience with subdudes if it makes the sound better and less rattling. I have an apartment with people below me.

With a PSW505, in an upstairs apartment.....it might not be a bad idea. For your neighbor's sake.

 

[bobfig]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gauntlet3h

Wow I watched both videos on them and I would need to be Macgyver to pull that off. I rather spend double that to get speakers that look/sound better.

wow you mustn't have used glue and a solder gun. the midnight sensations are just glues the box, drill 2 holes, solder up the crossover, and mount everything. finishing the box could be extra but not needed. as for the dayton br-1 its just making the crossover and mounting the stuff. ether of those is very easy.