Hello Everyone!,
I'm a Soldier stationed in Daegu, South Korea and am looking at purchasing my first AVR and Front L/R Floorstanding Speakers. I'll be ordering online, as the only AVR's the local Military Exchange is carrying are over two years old and are still being sold for the original MSRP. I've been looking at ordering from Crutchfield, as they offer free shipping/no tax to APO boxes. Do you know of any other places I should consider?
As for equipment, I'm strongly considering the new Onkyo TX-SR508 ($350) or TX-SR608 ($499). These are 80 watts/7.1 and 100 watts/7.2 respectively with all the newest features. High end speakers for me would be Klipsch RF-82's ($549 each), if I go lower end it would be Infinity P362's ($200 each). Use would be 80% DVD and BLU-RAY using a PS3 with full HDMI connections through to a 65" Mitsubishi 1080P DLP, 20% music. Viewing/listening area is main living room (this is an apartment) which is about 18 feet wide with floor to ceiling glass on the left and completely open another 30 feet or so through to kitchen on the right. Walls are mostly high-end wallpaper and wood paneling, floor is wood and stone (similar to this: http://www.flickr.com/photos/usag-daegu/4388457529/in/set-72157623386251837/). I can't drill in the walls, and a high-powered sub would probably annoy the neighbors, so I need the floor standers to do it all. Components also need to be durable/have a good warranty to survive frequent moves around the world. Other factors to consider are two feisty girls, 1 1/2 and three, who will likely lean agains/try to color on speakers. Oh, and I do not have an opportunity to listen to any of this equipment prior to purchase, unless the Klipsch Speakers in the local IMAX theater count (which are absolutely phenomenal).
Some separate questions: Are the RF-82's overkill? Any recommendations on speaker cable? Any other stores I should take a gander at?
Thank you,
- Joe