Please help design my audio system spotties! Need Advice!

 

New member
Username: Demfourlife

Post Number: 8
Registered: Sep-05
Spotties, I am building a small dedicated HT. It will be 14' long by 10' wide. I just purchased a InFocus 4805 FP. I want to design an Audio System, but need your help. I would love to have a theater that wows me with it's sound and is capable of being functional for a few good years. My budget would be under $1,000, but I might need to spend more to have a worthwile system, I don't know. This is what I currently have:

SONY STR-DE635 Receiver (purchased 5 or 6 years ago). It's 5.1. Is it time for a new receiver? If so, what do you recommend?

I have a CV center channel speaker, my fronts are BOSE 301 Series 3, my rears are BOSE Model 100. Time for new speakers? If so what should I get? In ceiling an option you would recommend to save space or not? I don't have a subwoofer.

My DVD player is a Pioneer DV-563A that I purchaed about 2 years ago. Should I get something else?

Thanks so much for helping me with this!
 

Gold Member
Username: Edster922

Abubala, Ababala The Occupation

Post Number: 2673
Registered: Mar-05
Smart man, a projector! That's what I plan to get when I move to a house with a dedicated HT room with more light control.

The following should make a very dramatic difference, within your $1000 budget.

SPEAKERS:
Athena AS-B1s, 2 pairs for $200
Athena AS-C1 center channel, $!00
from audioadvisor.com

SUBWOOFER: (once you have one you'll never be able to live without it especially for HT)
Hsu STF-2 subwoofer,
$425 shipped
or $350 shipped B-stock
from hsuresearch.com

RECEIVER:
Panasonic sa-xr55 pure digital receiver,
$230 shipped from amazon.com

A couple of threads about this receiver on different forums:

https://www.ecoustics.com/electronics/forum/home-audio/160136.html

http://forum.ascendacoustics.com/showthread.php?t=1251&page=1&p p=10

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=530504

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=417894

You should be able to get at least $500 from eBaying your current receiver and speakers, so if you're willing to go up to a $1500 budget the incredibly well-reviewed Ascend speakers would give you a lot more finesse over the Athenas:

CMT-340center
CBM-170 L/R
CBM-170 surrounds
Hsu STF-2 subwoofer
$1321 shipped from ascendacoustics.com

Here's a subjective review comparing the Athenas and Ascends:

http://swbg1.tripod.com/ascend_speakers.htm

As for your DVD player, it's ok for HT but for CDs you'd be better off with a dedicated CDP.
 

New member
Username: Demfourlife

Post Number: 9
Registered: Sep-05
Wow! Thanks for the detailed response. I really apprecaite you taking the time.
 

New member
Username: Demfourlife

Post Number: 10
Registered: Sep-05
My Sony STR-DE635, I purchased a few years ago. sounds great! Should I get a new receiver if I'm creating a new HT? Does it have component issues with new speakers, etc.? Thanks.
 

Bronze Member
Username: Paul98

Post Number: 58
Registered: Oct-05
Yes you should, that Panasonic will blow your sony away in terms of clarity. Also it is 7.1, and has component video switching.
 

Gold Member
Username: Edster922

Abubala, Ababala The Occupation

Post Number: 2674
Registered: Mar-05
You're very welcome, CM. As for the receiver, I ditto Paul.
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