Help Wanted: 3.1 HT for Small Room

John,

Interesting task because the budget gets you right to the edge of some satisfying solutions:

Assuming that you want a large, flat screen TV (55" or +), I would think that app. $1k is spoken for (last I looked).

For $400, both Denon and Onkyo offer reasonably powerful AVRs with Audyssey - which I believe is virtually mandatory for both seamless subwoofer integration and for smooth bass in a smallish room. I haven't auditioned the relevant models, but I do use an Onkyo Pre-Pro in my main system and an Integra AVR in my HT system - both with happy results. (My Onkyo pre-pro has Audyssey XT32 which is fabulous and recommended without reservation, but thus-equipped AVRs start out at +/- $1500. The Integra is an older unit and the Audyssey performance is still very good - tho you won't confuse it for XT32.)

Add the entry level SVS subwoofer (they start at $650), and there goes your $2K.

The center channel is the lowest priority to me, so I wouldn't make a recommendation - other than to suggest that you don't use much budget capacity on whatever you buy.

Obviously, anything you save on the TV brings you back towards the preferred expenditure levels.

Good Luck.

Marty

Just to muddy the waters (this is A'gon, after all) a bit with temptation. The 73" Mitsubishi DLP runs $1400ish. Very good (tho not great) image, not for wall-mounting, and comes replete with a sorta glitchy power-up sequence, but 73" makes a statement.

Marty

I think you're right, Marty. The TV is likely to be in the range of 1k. I'm thinking 46-52" and internet equipped (Netflx, NBA Pass); any suggestions on the model?

So a grand for everything else: 400 for the receiver, 600 for center and sub. I'll folow your advice and keep the center cheap, maybe a modest Warfdale. Any suggestions on the sub?

Sorry to pepper you with questions; I've not thought about this before.

John

John,

I did a ton of subwoofer research over the last few years and concluded that Rythmik and SVS appeared to be top flight performers with reasonable price tags.

Some of the following is based on my years with the Rythmiks, others based on published test results and my experience on how that correlates to performance. So......a grain of salt might be appropriate

The sealed Rythmiks are really notable for their low group delay and the resultant bass character (some folks might say "fast", I prefer "tight" bass). The relative trade-off vs the ported SVS is that clean SPL capability on the 12" Ryhtmik starts to fade at +\- 35hz. The SVS can go deeper while staying clean and loud, but it can't get to the tight highly damped bass quality of the Rythmik.

I use my subs in a 2.2 ch music only system, so Rythmik was an easy choice for me. In an HT system like the one you propose, I'd certainly think hard about SVS

Good luck

Marty

PS both units allow some control of damping (Rythmik electronically, SVS has plugs for the ports) so there's bit of flexibility either way.

Thanks Marty. I'll look seriously at both, and keep you posted.

I'm leaning towards a Samsung or Sony 46" LCD.

John