Help with home entertainment system (especially speakers)

You are a little crazy. Sonus Faber? Their bookshelves are around $1200 and their towers go into the tens of thousands. The OP was wanting $300 for multiple speakers.

Pretty good list, though - I don't like all of those companies, but definitely something for everyone on that list (MA for me, yay!). You just can't hear Mission, PSB, & NHT in Houston.

Somebody mentioned finding dealers for Paradigm and Klipsch - they are the two biggest sellers and there are multiple stores that sell them. Houston is a weak market for audio so the "big names" that have big ad budgets sell the most.

 

Tinman - lower end Monitor Audio is superior to B&W. They don't get really good until you get into the higher levels. Of course, I still think MA beats them there, but that is subjective.

 

i don't know anyone with monitor audio, i know someone who has two sets of B&Ws (the expensive ones) and I was really impressed.

 

I am saying that can often be the case. HDMI ins and outs are best for ease of use (only one cable for all of the signals) and HD sound. Their drawback is potential distortion and you pay more for a receiver that has the new HD audio codecs.

Tinman - they are both British companies so they have a similar "British sound", I just think MA is of better quality at the various price points, think they are more expansive, and just prefer the sound overall. If you like B&W and ever think of buying I strongly suggest you audition some MA as well.

The added bonus of MA is you don't have to deal with Modia/The Home Theater Store - one of the worst retail experiences in Houston.

 

the newer TVs have 4 HDMI slots.

 

Maybe, but I was just throwing names out there from the top of my head. At least I didn't mention Thiel, Red Rose, Martin Logan, McIntosh, Triangle, etc.

I would add Boston Acoustics to my "reasonable" list. Growing up, I had a pair of brand new bookshelf Bose speakers, as well as my brother's old pair of bookshelf Boston Acoustics (with one speaker blown out). Guess which pair sounded better?

 

Just an FYI, but Denon is about to release their new line of receivers with 4 HDMI inputs, new interface, and more features than you can wave a stick at. Onkyo has some good receivers, but from what I hear about these new Denon's, they will be at the top of the heap for a while.

The Klipsch Quintet III's or the Mirage Nanosats are the two I'd consider of your choices. Infinity makes some nice bookshelf speakers as well, but it really depends on your budget. 500-700 is what your looking to spend on speakers?

 

Or Wilson. Triangle actually isn't that expensive - SF are. I still want to hear the Cremona's paired with high-end McIntosh amplification. They are a little too colored for my overall tastes but I do enjoy the SF "house sound" to a degree.

BA's are definitely reasonable. I don't like the direction of their new Horizon line, but overall they are still a good, solid value company.

 

Way outside the price range you speak of, but these are what I have:

http://www.kirschloudspeakers.com/products/view_pdetails.php?value=23

By far, the absolute best speakers you can own. Not recommended for an apartment.

 

Just went to Denon's website. They seem fantastic...if you have $3,100.00 to spend on a receiver.

 

Sony STR-DG820 7.1 reciever $378

Polk R300 floorstanding 6.5 tower speakers (front channel) $80

Klipsch RC-62 Reference Series Center channel speaker $390

Dayton 12" 150 Watt sub $150

Total, 1000 exactly

 

You want the front 3 speakers to be the same brand if at all possible. Every speaker brand has their own distinctive sound to them if you have an ear for that, you don't want the center sounding different from the main L and R speakers.

Another speaker brand to think about is Magnepans. I've listened to them and they sound great, and love that they aren't your typical cones in a box speakers.

 

I think having all your speakers from the same brand is sort of overrated. If you're listening to music, the center channel isn't on anyway. If you're watching a movie, the center channel and front mains get entirely different signals anyway. With the center channel doing all the dialog work, that is the one speaker I wouldn't go cheap on... especially with your emphasis on movies.

 

I'd also recommend going with a 12" sub. A 10" sub doesn't have the effortless low response of a larger displacement woofer. If you have the sound cranked up high, it'll sound fine. At lower volume levels, the difference is more pronounced. I've had Dayton products before and only have good things to say about them, but if you'd rather go with a better known company... you could spend a few extra bucks and get a Pinnacle 12" for $190.

Sony also has a 12" sub for $125