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Speaker Asylum General speaker questions for audio and home theater. |
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Speaker Asylum General speaker questions for audio and home theater. |
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I posted this in another forum, but just came across this place and thought I'd try to get some advice here as well. I feel as if I crossed some sort of invisible border because a lot of the brands mentioned here (I briefly browsed/skimmed), I've never heard of.
I'm looking for a 5.1 system for my desktop (and xb360). This means it will be mostly for gaming, some music, and little tv/movie watching.
After reading and posting on many forums, doing countless searches, more reading, and store hopping, I've narrowed it down to 3 options, mostly out of availability.
I live in Calgary, Canada, so most of the deals you guys enjoy in the US, I can't. I'm restricted to Canadian retailers (online or brick & mortar) due to shipping costs primarily.
That's why I have the options that I do. I wish I had more, but too bad. I know that the best way for me to decide so to go into a store and listen to my potential purchase. The problem I've had is most stores here seem very unaccommodating to that (or me). The impression I get from salesmen is either that I'm wasting their time, or that I "owe" it to them to buy it after "forcing" them to help me out (which they rarely do). I've listened to option 3 (RTi A3...) and really liked it, though my experience was brief, and could only immediately compare/contrast it with Energy CB-20s. The only other option I can listen to is option 1, which I plan on doing tomorrow. However, I'll be comparing it to something much more expensive (option 3). The best alternative I have is to buy something, listen to it, then return it if I don't like it (provided I bought it locally, new, not online or used).
When I started my hunt, my budget was $500 CDN for 5 speakers, 1 sub, 1 receiver, and I did not want a HTIB. That budget restraint has basically gone out the window now, and I am seriously considering going over $1300 CDN, provided it is a good deal and I like what I hear. My preference is to get the best bang-for-buck deal, while still being under $1000 total. However if the best bang-for-buck deal is a few hundred dollars more, and it sounds great, then I'm open to it. I have not decided on a receiver yet, or a sub. My idea was to pick those AFTER I've decided on speakers.
Sorry for rambling, just wanted to give some background info. Here are my options:
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option 1:
front: PSB Alphas (~8 years old)
center: TBD
rear: PSB Alpha Mites (~8 years old)
total cost: $120 CDN + appropriate centre channel
option 2:
front: PSB Alpha B1 ($250 CDN)
center: PSB Alpha C1/CLR1 ($150-$250)
rear: PSB Alpha LR1 ($185 CDN)
total cost: $585-$685 CDN
option 3:
front: Polk RTi A3 ($330 CDN)
center: Polk CSi A6 ($350 CDN)
rear: Polk FXi A4 ($350 CDN)
total cost: $1030 CDN
option 4*:
front: Polk RTi4 ($150 USD)
center: 2x Polk CSi3 ($260 USD)
rear: Polk Rti4 ($150 USD)
bonus: PSW111
total cost: $817 USD (shipping, duty, tax) = ~$862 CDN
* = this option included as reference...just curious how it would compare to the rest even though the extra costs involved means I probably won't get it. I do get an extra center channel and subwoofer that I could try selling here...so given that, is $862 worth it, compared to the other options?
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I would appreciate advice and recommendations on the above. Comparisons between them, other options I didn't list, etc. are all appreciated! Potentially, I can construct a Klipsch/Energy/Mission/Kef option as well, but I have not had enough time to read/search/hunt/compare for those. The only Paradigm option I saw was cinema micro for $150, but nothing else. From the above, I'm interested in your opinion on which option is "best" and which one is "best bang for buck" and..hell anything else. Don't know where to start on receivers/subs so I left them out. I'm not sure if there will be deals on this stuff during boxing day, but provided I buy *new*, I can return it a few days after boxing day.
I apologize for the long post + rambling.
TIA
PS -- I am a noob at this stuff, but have been enjoying my HT since I was a kid (~12 years), which is Mirage 190is for fronts, 90is for rears, AVS 100 centre, PS-8 sub, and pioneer elite vsx-05 receiver. So if anyone can compare that to the above options, it helps me as well! Also, the only reason I did not look at floorstanding speakers is because I'm afraid my huge computer desk might distort the sound somehow.
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Topic - newbie needs help picking 5.1 system for desktop - dfn 22:58:25 11/30/09 (0)
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