alkemyst

Something good bang for buck or even DIY is fine, I have all the wood tools I need...even nice blades. It's be nice under $500, but if not I would rather work that into the budget than go with something off. If it comes down to it I will just build risers.

Looking for a sub that can be used under the quartet, if possible.

What's a good low cost setup for a set of Quartets (powered by 90W from a Yamaha HTR-5960)? Mostly looking to get them up a bit higher and hoping this could be a platform for them.

How about a Denon AVR-990 at around $650 shipped and either the Emotiva XPA-3 or UPA-5 for $539 shipped? I was thinking the high power XPA-3 (200w x 3) and use the Denon to power the surrounds.

At the $1200 pricepoint I was thinking Audiogon/etc and snagging some good buys.

Well TV is up and the Chorus II's sounded really good on his Onkyo mini system running them temporarily. Can anyone give a good breakdown of the pluses that the SC27 Elite will give over the 1020 Pioneer with an Academy/Chorus II/unknown surrounds/unknown subs (if any)? Room size is 18x15 roughly but it's an open floorplan opening up to the dining and living room areas behind the listening room. Taller than standard ceilings as well. Maybe 10'? My dad will answer better. It's a nice sized room.

My dad is looking at the Pioneer Elite SC-27. My brother and I are trying to sway him to something like the Pioneer 1020, Onkyo 607/608 or Denon's in the $400 range. He has a bit of the bug in him just upgrading after years with a 27" CRT and an Onkyo all in one setup. He just picked up the Vizio 552 LED LCD last night and his Chorus II's today. He is looking for the Academy. He is partial to Pioneer because his disc changer requires a Pioneer with the control port to use a remote. I have a Quartet, Academy, RS-25 setup on a Yamaha 5890...it is loud if I want. He is just seeing all the buzzwords/features the SC-27 brings but I never think he will use them He is going to have a bluray, cable box, vcr for old school, disc changer and thats about it. Not a heavy video switching need. Any advice? Suggestions? Have an Academy for sale?

My dad and I just picked up a set of black Chorus II's for his new theatre room...a bit of raised grain on one (drinks on top probably). They need some refinishing anyway. What's the best way to do this and what finish do we use to match? Thanks

I had one academy delivered with major box damage. The speaker was ruined. When I was buying a 21" CRT monitor a few years ago it took 6 shipments and a change of carrier to get one not DOA and majorly damaged. It stinks with irreplacable items like Hertiage speakers.

I am running Academy and Quartets up front. As much as I wanted to go Chorus II and move my Quartets to surround duty, my room just doesn't support it. I tried to do two more academy or kg2.2's, but again not enough room the way the layout is. I got a steal on some RS-25's only used as display models. Now I can't say I listen at 0dB much, but at a pretty decent clip from my Yamaha 5890 I don't think I am missing much surround detail. I was in virtual surround before and now it's like night and day.

he will have the option to corner load both mains in his room. He doesn't have the option to go 3 large speakers. An academy can work though for him.

First he is upgrading his whole setup...some Onkyo all in one mini system, 27" TV, old DVD player. He's set on a 55" LED LCD (Vizio 552) and more or less on the Pioneer 1020 or better (he has a changer that requires a Pioneer control out). I was trying to sway him to an Onkyo SR608. For BluRay he may end up with a PS3, still seems the best bang for buck out there. He likes my Quartet/Academy setup. He only wants to do 3 channel surround for now (I have SS-25's in the rear). He likes the look of the more boxy and oiled oak cabinets. What's the best bang for buck right now? I was thinking the KG series...he is looking to try and stay $500-750 for them. He was looking at the Polk Monitor 70's and RTi10's which new would run that same price with the center speaker. We are located in the Palm Beach County Area of S. Florida if there is anyone looking to unload a setup that would work. Any suggestions are appreciated. I know anything he goes with is going to be a major improvement. Å

Sadly I think the industry is going to keep crippling us thinking sales will improve. The latest talk is allowing set top boxes to selectively control outputs. They say the goal is to have current movies available to the home viewer, this is never going to happen unless they kill the movie theatre. If that happens then you will see: Watch Iron Man2: in stereo $29.99 in 3 channel $32.99 5.1 $40 6.1 $45 7.1 $50 Unlocked with DVD sent in 30 days: $75

I am taking this is a small place, but why have those RB's up front?

80's style Cerwin Vega's

Wife factor is why I am running white RS-2.5's instead of a more 'boxy' match to my Quartet - Academy setup. I want to go Chorus or Cornwall up front eventually as a subwoofer is not in the cards for 'her' The room shakes enough with the Quartets. Personally I'd like two 10-15" and to be able to listen at reference level.

Definitely...even if you think no one will ever put anything on them. I had someone set a can of compressed air they were using on one of my Quartets and it etched a ring in the veneer. The body has been well hidden. I wanted to add, it looks like another Cornwall would fit find in the middle. You can probably sell that Academy? for more than an odd one. When I go flat panel I am probably going to do a 3 main setup with my EQ rack being on both sides of the center for symmetry.

I believe in responsibility in my setups. When I had to live in apartments was when I sold off my original Definitive Tech setup with subs that would shake a pretty major listening room. Even with my Quartets I was dumbing down the low freq's. Still there was always some asshat with 2 or more ghetto subs just pounding action tracks over and over. I even downsized and then sold my Academy that took almost 5 years to replace (I was targeting what I sold the original for back in 199x and a local pickup because of poor packing practices of others I tried to get). Your new theatre is awesome and I know you aren't guilty of what I am talking about, but that storage container center/tv stand reminded me of some "AWESOME SETUP YOU HAVE TO SEE". I want subs now...my wife (japanese only in the US for about a decade now) is used to quiet and not disturbing neighbors. I want to jam now! I have a nicely separated home. .

I will have to say that too. It's a very cozy room and probably would smoke most dedicated rooms. I have been flamed here for not putting the 'best' speaker over asthetics. At the end of the night I want my wife to be happy, me happy, and guests happy. I have a 16x22 room but it's just not layed out perfect. My simple quartet, academy and RS-25 setup gets to beyond wife levels much of the time.

in a bedroom I'd complain probably.

you can't be serious if you think these are going to be a good setup unless you can go listen to them. I never heard of this setup nor did google enlighten me.

if one is finding curtains alone aren't working, you can treat behind them and even make it aesthetic to a window with layers. If you do need easy access to a window or door/sliding door behind curtains then it's probably not worth it. I hope one day I can have a no-compromise listening room (and mobile one for that matter )...for now my family room is a multi-purpose room. I have RS surrounds instead of hertiage that would match my quartets and academy better. I would love to move my quarts to the rear and pick up Chorus or Cornwalls for the front (along with two subs). My wife hates impact sounds which my setup can deliver already in our 16x20' mostly open room. I have to admit that sometimes even I get uncomfortable esp late at night with the impact when she is not home. Other times I crank it and put on a great action movie or some music.

I can agree with this. Too many today are buying the biggest HDTV's when they are sitting all of 6' away. Putting multiple subs in that same room and trying to do full-sized 7.x sound. I have quartets and an academy...I didn't have room for floor standers in the rear but everyone insisted I had to use them for it to sound right or go to the KG's(?) 2.2's or 1.2's which also would not have fit into the room properly. I ended up with RS3's and they fit into the room design as well as sound damn good.

If you look up best bluray players on google the PS3 often makes the cut (not on money no object lists though). The bonus of a game system makes it a pretty no brainer for most ppl. When I am ready this is what I am buying.

so you had the La Scalas from where and what gave you the idea to T-Amp them?