5.1 Speaker setups in the £450 - £550 range?

WantoN · 16 Sep 2009 at 23:53

Hi guys,
I'm looking for a speaker package to pair with my Onkyo 606. Prime uses will be games, DVDs and music.Games and DVDs total immersion is important, for music, I won't be sat down solely to listen so that's slightly less priority.

Wants:
-speakers are detailed and balanced
-subwoofer delivers significant power
-can handle moderately high volume.

Unfortunately, big floorstanders are a no no due to space. Little ones MIGHT be doable, but I'd prefer bookshelfs or sats.

I've been looking at the Q acoustics 1010i which now are right at the rock bottom of my budget, so is there something else? Don't mind cobbling together some bits.

-Ad- · 17 Sep 2009 at 08:56

I would say stay away from an all in one package, as your budget is sufficient enough to cobble speakers together.

£200 on a BK gemini mkII sub giving you £350 for the 5 speakers. Say £50 for some van damme cable and stands/brackets leaving about £300 for the speakers. Check out avforums classifieds and ebay for speakers from the likes of Monitor Audio, B&W, wharfedale, and especially the Tannoy mercury F1 custom.

Someome on here had a big home cinema DIY build thread and has the Tannoys. You can get a pair for about £114, so total cinema:

TANNOY Pair (Front L/R) = £114
TANNOY Pair (Rear L/R) = £114
TANNOY Centre = £100
BK Gemini MKII = £200
TOTAL = £528 (accessories and cable on top).

That would be a great system

Nathan · 17 Sep 2009 at 10:47

I demoed the tannoy's for my new build and I was not a great fan. I would look at buying monitor audio's seperately second hand from the places ad has mentioned. The Q acoustics set is suprisingly good for the money, upgrade on the fronts to 1020i and they are a match for the tannoys if not better judging by my ears

ubern00b · 17 Sep 2009 at 11:23

The Q Acoustics 2000 range is coming out in October, 5.1 package is £550. Might be worth investigating if you're not in a rush.

WantoN · 19 Sep 2009 at 15:04

I love the idea of seperates. Anyone got any ideas?

I may well hold out and take a look at those new 2000s!

Ant :cool:

wolvers · 21 Sep 2009 at 14:44

I probably wouldn't pair MAs with an Onkyo. It's a very 'bright' combination. It may be to your taste though so just have a very thorough listen before buying.

Also, I'd avoid sats (except maybe for rears). I've never heard any that I'd consider buying particularly if you intend to play music through it sometimes.

Ad's suggestion looks good.