Speaker upgrade for Onkyo based setup

[COUGAR]

First post on this forum!

Have had a Onkyo HT-R518 receiver with speakers for over 6 years. Now looking to upgrade speakers while retaining the AV unit.

Current connections: Tata Sky+ STB (Optical), Sony BluRay (CoAx) and PS2 (Optical). speakers currently are Onkyo standard 130W, 8 ohms which came with the system. Primary use is watching recorded HD TV shows/ documentaries, BR movies with some TV thrown in.

Overall budget for upgrade is 50k, slightly adjustable.

Based on preliminary research:
Phase 1:
Center Speaker - Polk TX250C - 17,500
Front x2 (Right + Left) - Polk OWM5 - 20,000

Phase 2:
Surround Speakers x 2 : ??

Auditioned the TX250 separately and liked it. OWM5 was not available when i checked.

Suggestions / comments?

 

[Premblr]

Why not TSx bookshelves for front and owm for surround? Bookshelves with wooden cabinet will yield better bass response.

 

[sjith]

First post on this forum!

Have had a Onkyo HT-R518 receiver with speakers for over 6 years. Now looking to upgrade speakers while retaining the AV unit.

Current connections: Tata Sky+ STB (Optical), Sony BluRay (CoAx) and PS2 (Optical). speakers currently are Onkyo standard 130W, 8 ohms which came with the system. Primary use is watching recorded HD TV shows/ documentaries, BR movies with some TV thrown in.

Overall budget for upgrade is 50k, slightly adjustable.

Based on preliminary research:
Phase 1:
Center Speaker - Polk TX250C - 17,500
Front x2 (Right + Left) - Polk OWM5 - 20,000

Phase 2:
Surround Speakers x 2 : ??

Auditioned the TX250 separately and liked it. OWM5 was not available when i checked.

Suggestions / comments?

welcome to HFV
agree with what Premblr is commenting

Polk OWM5 is intended for surrounds or rear (it can be used fronts but)

if you are selected tsx-250c for center then go for the same tsx series bookshelfs, tsx series 2 way floor standers or 3 way floor standers for fronts

unless u r selecting all channel mode
for movies centre is most important and second the fronts
for music fronts are important

so dnt compromise for these three

if these athree are in same series to compliment each other its better

select 2-3 brands and models within your budget from the dealer and pot it here to comment by FM's

u will get a good feedback amoung them accordingly u can finalise
for music

for surrounds you can keep owms as rears or else the fronts of the existing onkyo for a while

 

[COUGAR]

Any specific models for Fronts?

I prefer wall mounted! Can bookshelf speakers be wall mounted?

I have purchased adjustable Wall Mounts made by Tono Systems (model HT55) which supports speakers upto 8lbs each.

Can bookshelf speakers be mounted on these mounts? They come with keyhole type mounts?

 

[sjith]

If so, (if u r strict about wall mounting)
u can go for polk audio tsx220b or 110b bookshelfs as fronts based on ur centre speaker selection
Its a front ported wooden cab speakers
wooden bookshelfs are normally mounting on the solid platforms, less chance to fit with your mounting brackets its suitable for cubes
ht-55 can be used for rear surround speaker mounting

 

[Premblr]

TSx can be wall mounted and doesn't need any extra mounts, I have them as my surrounds. Just need a nail or screw and it hangs. And they have some kind of legs for more support when hanged.

 

[sjith]

Its a good feedback

 

[COUGAR]

"Test drove" 2 alternative options for my Home Theater speaker upgrade to get a realistic feel. Initial results and completely personal opinion.

1st the Bose setup: VCS-10V center speaker first with 161 series surround speakers (these were sold as a set), then with 2 pairs of c201's front and back. I am told the VCS-10 is NOT available for sale anymore though the c201's (and even larger 301's) are available on order.

Polk setup : CS20 Center speaker, 2 x Tx110b bookshelf speakers for Front and 2 x OM3 for the surround. ( My original choice of OM5 from front was not in stock nor the Tx220b) connected to Denon 1611 AV box.

Content for both tests:
Music : some Celine Dion numbers in 320kbps MP3
Film: scenes from Laqshya, dhoom 1, Kung Fu Panda and Matrix in HD/MP4 format
HDTV: scenes from CSI (HD-MP4) and Tata Sky + HD channels.

My opinion: the Polk system sounded WAAAAAAY better at most levels! Bose system was marginally sharper (clearer dialogues) at lower volumes but at regular volumes that i normally use for movie and tv, the polk system was better.

MUCH better.