Posted: 12/3/2024 4:43:11 PM EDT
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By Semi- budget I mean somewhat decent receiver, that a 5.1 speaker setup (EX:FL,Center, FR, RL, RR, Sub). I don't really have the room space to go with a big fancy 11.3.3 or whatever they are up too now and I don't really care for sound bar setups. Looking for some inspiration on what others may have... Sadly, (maybe like others) I'm pickier than I can afford to be. I used to be really into home system, then I divorced, moved, changed jobs, etc, etc and got away from it and more into other hobbies. Now, I guess due to winter and a few health issues, being less mobile and talking to a friend about his throw together off Marketplace finds, I find myself wanting to get back into it. So far I have a NIB, Never used Yamaha RX-V3800 home theater receiver. It was a highly rated and latest thing when I bought it several years ago. I realize, its far from that now, but not junk either. I have a few speakers, but they are nothing worth mention. |
LARUEMINATI
NRA Endowment Life Member
Originally Posted By Boom_Stick:
""AKs are for villagers you have to tell not to shit in their water supply.""
NRA Endowment Life Member
Originally Posted By Boom_Stick:
""AKs are for villagers you have to tell not to shit in their water supply.""
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Push the budget and buy a great pair of main speakers. My experience. I bought a beautiful pair of black piano finish Klipsh Lascalas for $750 in '93 from a private party. I did have to replace both voice coils in the tweeters that cost $22 a piece when I snagged them. $750 in '93 dollars is around $1,630 in today's dollars. For over 30 years I have had the pleasure of experiencing these unbelievable speakers daily and the fact they have held their value so well that I could easily sell them tomorrow for what I have in them is icing on the cake. Good luck! |
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What is wrong with the Yamaha? I have an RX-V385, some Sony bookshelfs in front, a JBL center, Pioneer bookshelfs in the rear, and a powered Yamaha 8" sub that when added up will fricking rock my place if I want it to. Granted, it is not a cathedral. That does all I need it to with my ears and how they are.. I'd call that a budget system. No complaints. I have also had a lot of compliments on the sound, even from audiophiles. 
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Originally Posted By JoseCuervo: What is wrong with the Yamaha? I have an RX-V385, some Sony bookshelfs in front, a JBL center, Pioneer bookshelfs in the rear, and a powered Yamaha 8" sub that when added up will fricking rock my place if I want it to. Granted, it is not a cathedral. That does all I need it to with my ears and how they are.. I'd call that a budget system. No complaints. I have also had a lot of compliments on the sound, even from audiophiles. Nothing wrong with Yamie's, just mine is about a half decade older than yours, so it's bound to not have as many bells, whistles and modes... I was wrong in my Op, I think I stated it was a 5.1, turns out it's 7.1.2... But that's OK as I don't think in my crowded livin room I'd ever do much more than LCR, RR, LR and a Sub or two... |
LARUEMINATI
NRA Endowment Life Member
Originally Posted By Boom_Stick:
""AKs are for villagers you have to tell not to shit in their water supply.""
NRA Endowment Life Member
Originally Posted By Boom_Stick:
""AKs are for villagers you have to tell not to shit in their water supply.""
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Originally Posted By smullen: Sounds like you have a pretty decent system there, especially if you and your pals are digging it. Nothing wrong with Yamie's, just mine is about a half decade older than yours, so it's bound to not have as many bells, whistles and modes... I was wrong in my Op, I think I stated it was a 5.1, turns out it's 7.1.2... But that's OK as I don't think in my crowded livin room I'd ever do much more than LCR, RR, LR and a Sub or two... Hook up what you kind of / might have. You said a new in box receiver, IIRC. Unbox that shit.. Install some fronts, rears, a center, and a sub and go from there. You might be surprised. |
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Originally Posted By JoseCuervo: Hook up what you kind of / might have. You said a new in box receiver, IIRC. Unbox that shit.. Install some fronts, rears, a center, and a sub and go from there. You might be surprised. Originally Posted By JoseCuervo: Originally Posted By smullen: Sounds like you have a pretty decent system there, especially if you and your pals are digging it. Nothing wrong with Yamie's, just mine is about a half decade older than yours, so it's bound to not have as many bells, whistles and modes... I was wrong in my Op, I think I stated it was a 5.1, turns out it's 7.1.2... But that's OK as I don't think in my crowded livin room I'd ever do much more than LCR, RR, LR and a Sub or two... Hook up what you kind of / might have. You said a new in box receiver, IIRC. Unbox that shit.. Install some fronts, rears, a center, and a sub and go from there. You might be surprised. I plan on it, but I have a couple of obstacles. 1. My right dominate foot is in an "Iron Man" looking boot as I have a ulcer trying to eat a large hole in my foot from the bottom through from "The Beetus". so it limits my getting up and down on the floor and getting behind my crappy entertainment center. 2. My stupid entertainment center is only maybe 14" deep at most. (not sure if wide enough yet either, but I think it is) I think the receiver is like almost 16" not counting the knobs sticking out the front, or the terminals and connections coming out the back and the strain relief. I know it's at least 15" I'm hoping to get a Flat Screen TV wall mount this weekend from Menards and get the TV off the stand. Then I might try cutting the back out of the center so I can scoot it back. I also need to hobble down to the basement and find my big roll of 10 or 12 ga speaker wire and box of 5-way Binding post connecters. I won't have a center channel or sub for a while, just can't afford it, but I can get the LF, RF, LR, RR going for now and see how they sound. |
LARUEMINATI
NRA Endowment Life Member
Originally Posted By Boom_Stick:
""AKs are for villagers you have to tell not to shit in their water supply.""
NRA Endowment Life Member
Originally Posted By Boom_Stick:
""AKs are for villagers you have to tell not to shit in their water supply.""
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Dang, smullen, sorry for your issues. Any information that can be provided, helps those of us on the other side, help you.. Can you post any pictures of what you are working with? I mounted my 65" class Q7 Samsung to the wall and found an "[entertainment] center" that is like 4 feet (wide) by 2 feet (tall), by 15 inches deep. It is late in the day, and the shadows are overtaking things so no detail. I can't seem to find a link to it for you though, but here is a (shitty...) pic taken in the dark. The yellow color is a strap on a tackle box, and there are some 4" lifts under the console that jacks it up a bit. The sub is in that corner on the right. Attached File If you can take some / any pics / maybe provide a diagram or layout of your plan we might be able to help more. I am sorry about the pain you have, I have been there and done that. Don't give up, don't let it stop you if at all possible. Enlist help if you can. There are a lot of people with extra time on their hands and nothing else to do. A center speaker, or subwoofer, aren't crazy money or heavy. If you can, guide us with a budget. The sub I mentioned above is $180. Bookshelfs are or were like $100 / pair, probably more now. The first reply has you headed into a couple large, easy. That was not wrong, but a budget wasn't noted either. A lot of furniture [like a console or entertainment center] can easily be moved around on sliders 'link', either on carpet or hardwood flooring. Are you looking to DIY, or pay for labor? Give us the lay of your land. |
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Originally Posted By smullen: LOL... I plan on it, but I have a couple of obstacles. 1. My right dominate foot is in an "Iron Man" looking boot as I have a ulcer trying to eat a large hole in my foot from the bottom through from "The Beetus". so it limits my getting up and down on the floor and getting behind my crappy entertainment center. 2. My stupid entertainment center is only maybe 14" deep at most. (not sure if wide enough yet either, but I think it is) I think the receiver is like almost 16" not counting the knobs sticking out the front, or the terminals and connections coming out the back and the strain relief. I know it's at least 15" I'm hoping to get a Flat Screen TV wall mount this weekend from Menards and get the TV off the stand. Then I might try cutting the back out of the center so I can scoot it back. I also need to hobble down to the basement and find my big roll of 10 or 12 ga speaker wire and box of 5-way Binding post connecters. I won't have a center channel or sub for a while, just can't afford it, but I can get the LF, RF, LR, RR going for now and see how they sound. I have a stereo setup in my shop, HT in the house & guesthouse, I'm constantly moving shit around trying to improve. I have several old receivers but there's something non functional or something I don't like about each of them, I'm really needing something new |
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Originally Posted By JoseCuervo: Dang, smullen, sorry for your issues. Any information that can be provided, helps those of us on the other side, help you.. Can you post any pictures of what you are working with? I mounted my 65" class Q7 Samsung to the wall and found an "[entertainment] center" that is like 4 feet (wide) by 2 feet (tall), by 15 inches deep. It is late in the day, and the shadows are overtaking things so no detail. I can't seem to find a link to it for you though, but here is a (shitty...) pic taken in the dark. The yellow color is a strap on a tackle box, and there are some 4" lifts under the console that jacks it up a bit. The sub is in that corner on the right. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/79749/center_jpg-3402387.JPG If you can take some / any pics / maybe provide a diagram or layout of your plan we might be able to help more. I am sorry about the pain you have, I have been there and done that. Don't give up, don't let it stop you if at all possible. Enlist help if you can. There are a lot of people with extra time on their hands and nothing else to do. A center speaker, or subwoofer, aren't crazy money or heavy. If you can, guide us with a budget. The sub I mentioned above is $180. Bookshelfs are or were like $100 / pair, probably more now. The first reply has you headed into a couple large, easy. That was not wrong, but a budget wasn't noted either. A lot of furniture [like a console or entertainment center] can easily be moved around on sliders 'link', either on carpet or hardwood flooring. Are you looking to DIY, or pay for labor? Give us the lay of your land. Techniques SB-CR33 10" woofer, 140 Watts, Pretty dang old, but still play like new. Or did last I heard them. Attached File Polk Audio RTi-A3 6.5" Woofer, 150Watt, somewhat old, maybe 8 yrs, but still play like new. Or did last I heard them. Attached File I plan on putting both sets of them on some type of speaker stands to get them up around face height to see how long it is till the grand kids or dogs knock them off... The fronts may go on a set of 12" subs (if/when I get them). I know some say not to do that, but I've seen others do it and I have done it, more than once. I don't have a layout of the room, but its crowded and not at all ideally shaped for a theater. I'm kinda picky about placement, but you can only do what you can do.. I'll just have to cram crap in there and make it work... Lol. Pic of my TV sitting on the current TV stand or entertainment center. Plan is to Mount it on the wall and centered. That will improve the view, its a bit low now and it will free up space for the center Channel when I get one. I'll have to re-arrange some crap on the wall too or just get rid of it. PS, Excuse Joey and Chnandler Bong below. The wife is a habitual "Friends" watcher. If it ever stops streaming, I'll be in some trouble. Or be forced to dig out the DVD box set. Attached File Any work to be done will be either by myself or my step son. I just don't have the budget for hiring out. I'm pretty fair with most types of low voltage wiring, car and home audio. I'm better, when I am more mobile. I can walk, just this boot makes it difficult to get into areas where I want/need to be and to get down on the floor or back up and I can't kneel..  Fuckin decrepit, sometimes... Hopefully in less than 2 weeks I'll be outta the boot. I'd like to have the TV mounted on the wall before Christmas... I hope to try and shoehorn the receiver in this weekend and at least get stereo sounds. |
LARUEMINATI
NRA Endowment Life Member
Originally Posted By Boom_Stick:
""AKs are for villagers you have to tell not to shit in their water supply.""
NRA Endowment Life Member
Originally Posted By Boom_Stick:
""AKs are for villagers you have to tell not to shit in their water supply.""
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That is very similar to my space. My thingy is a shelving unit so speaks are in it. Just get that TV on the wall. Mounting a TV is easy. You can do that standing up, slide the cabinet out of the way, measure three times, drill twice. Hang that sucker. I am anal and would center it on the wall left and right. Up and down, space it to clear your speakers per below. Not too high. With the cabinet now cleared off, your fronts (Polk Audio) go right on top of the cabinet. Lay them on their side (they are "shorter" that way) all of the way out to the edges, and to the back. You then have some space for remotes and shit. Get a center channel in between them, centered, at the back.. Done. Tuck a sub in the corner. |
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@smullen I know I'm late to the party, but here is my 2 Cents on a budget system. For reference I've got about $6500 in my 7.4.1 main home theater. Add another $3250 to that for music. But I've got a 5.1 system in the bedroom that cost about $700 if you don't count the TV. 1. Get another receiver. The Yamaha does not support 4K and some other stuff you would like to have. Something like a Denon AVR-X1800H for around $550 would work. You want something with good room correction software. Audyssey is decent. Dirac Live is better, but you have to spend a few hundred more to purchase the app for Dirac. 2. Look at ELAC, Wharfedale, Kef, and Dali speakers. Here is short list under $1500 for speakers. a. At the lower end of the spectrum Energy Take 5 Classic for $300 including a subwoofer. This is what I have in the bedroom paired with a Marantz NR1403 receiver. They are small, but you'll be surprised how good they can sound. b. Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2 for $650. c. Elac Debut 2.0 B6.2 for $825. d. Wharfedale Diamond 12.0 for $1050. e. Kef Q150 for $1100. My main system has 10 Q150's and a Q250C. Don't drive your amp into clipping with the Q150's if you go this route. Their flat aluminum cones have a habit of exploding when over driven. f. Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 for $1250. g. Elac Debut 3.0 DB63 for $1300. h. Dali Oberon 1 for $1450. i. You will want to add a subwoofer to B through H. Look at HSU, SVS, Monoprice Monolith, and Rhythmic. Expect to spend another $600 to $1200 for one of these. 3. Speaker placement is important for surround sound. You also want to match your speakers. Your left, right, center and surrounds need to have the same sound. Doing something like pairing the Wharedale Diamond 12.1 fronts and center with 12.0 for surrounds would probably work well, but you don't want to mix brands if you can help it. You also probably want a center channel speaker that is designed to be a center channel speaker. You can use the same speaker as your fronts, but don't lay it on its side. That could cause the dispersion pattern could be wrong that way. |
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I am ashamed of myself for admitting this, but I switched over to Sonos sound bars a few years ago and am very happy. I used to invest a lot of money into my setup and I just got tired of it. The kids messed it up, my wife forgot how to use it...etc, etc. I got an Arc Sound bar with the woofer and a pair of rears and it's been great. Simple, sounds good, unobtrusive...I'm just over the monster system. Maybe I'm just getting old, but it's so much simpler. |
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I just use Bluetooth PA speakers for in home audio now You can't beat the performance for the cost. Dual purpose, I can play a show with it, throw a party and rattle pictures off the walls, or run a Bluetooth adaptor for TV. Can get a pretty sweet sounding stacks for not a lot of money. |