need help in selecting home theater system

[bose-dk]

Hi all,

New to this forum and my first post, so this may sound a repetitive question, if so, my apologies.

Looking to setup a HT- 90% movies, 10% music. budget close to 2.5L. room size 12x10.

initially thinking of

B&W 684 - front
B&W 686 - rear
B&W HTM62 - center
B&W ASW608 - sub
AV receiver - Marantz 5005

Since now 684's are not in stock and have to wait a month how about
B&W 685 - front
B&W 686 - rear
B&W HTM61 - center
B&W ASW610 - sub

will sound?

Since marantz 5005 is 60k are there any better receivers at that price? Is there any better HT combination at my price range?

Any help is very much appreciated.

-Rohit.

 

[just4kix]

You should audition a lot of speaker systems and then decide the best amp suited for the speakers.

 

[bose-dk]

I visited B&W shop and listened to various speaker combinations but unfortunately all his receivers are Marantz but there are few Rotels but beyond my price point. Being new to AV systems I am not sure what to check . Is KEF compares to B&W quality (consider this as layman's question, before I anger KEF loyals). If so, what are the equivalent setup I should ask? Most of the sales guys feedback are very subjective and hence my request for guidance from the pro's in this forum before I blow serious money and regret later.

Again, thanks in advance.

 

[just4kix]

Do not focus on brands. Try auditioning as many speakers as possible with no bias to a brand. Select the ones that sound best to you and fit in your budget.

No one has the same listening characteristics. Some like bass, some like treble, some are very particular about mid-range freq, etc.

Costlier speakers are not necessarily better. The speakers that bear your name are prime examples. :lol:

If you like B&W, go ahead with them.

 

[sud98]

For 2.5 lakhs, you have the following options

1. Keep approx. 1.5 lakhs for 5.1
2. 70-75k for receiver
3. Misc. - wires, connectors, racks and such

For 1.5 lakhs in 5.1 you can audition

Keep around 40-50k for subs
Options are deftech, HSU, SVS

For 5.0 speakers of 1 lakh

Deftech, Paradigm, Jamo, Kef's, Polk

Try audition as much as possible and decide

For AVR's, if you like separates then Emotiva is an option else

Denon, Yamaha, Onkyo and Marantz are popular options

 

[afj]

imo the lower range of b&w speakers arent so great. didnt really like the 6 series. the 7 series was decent. the 8 series was good. at that price point you definitely should have the monitor audio silver series on your list. amps to look at are the marantz, nad / cambridge (though they are quite expensive), onkyo

for your listening habits i suggest bookshelves for the fronts as well, since you will have a sub woofer for the bass

 

[bose-dk]

@just4kix's,@sud98,@afj - Thank you so much for your inputs.

Did further auditioning this weekend. I didn't like the 685 as I feel the sound lacks the mid-range smoothness when compared to 683. Well, tested the CM7's even though they sounded pretty good but since my main purpose is movies over HT and of course due to my budget they are out of reach. Now I liked the sound from 683 but now my budget moved to closed to 4L (now at this price point are there better systems that gives VFM?)

From the suggestion I am planning to test Monitor RX6 series and see how it sounds. Did anyone in the past did a comparison of 683 and Rx6? Anyone know how much it costs?

Thanks,