Advice with a Starter Setup (2.1 to 5.1)

[Veradun]

Okay, after my thread last Friday, I did some more research, and due to the lack of any decent looking HTiB's, I've relented to the fact that even a 2.0-2.1 system will sound much better than one of those, and leave me able to expand to 5.1 in the future. It'll be used for movies, TV, PS4 & PC.

I'm by no means an expert, so I need advice on the components I've eyed up, and if any money could be saved without affecting quality (compared to the current list). A note on the L/R speakers is I chose those for their 15cm width, look, reviews and price point, as size is important:

Receiver: Pioneer VSX-531-B 5.1 AV Receiver with Bluetooth
Front L/R Speakers: Q Acoustics 2010i Bookshelf Speakers (Pair, Graphite)
Centre Speaker: Q Acoustics 2000Ci Centre Speaker (Graphite)
Subwoofer: Pioneer S-21W 160 W Peak/100 W RMS Active Subwoofer (Black)

Total: £464.73 (£470 with some speaker wire)

Including the wire, is that all the needed components? Never set one up before as you can tell

Like I've seen a good deal of online comments saying, a 2.1 system should destroy any 5.1 HTiB around the price range, and the few that I have "liked" the look of are the same price. Advice very much appreciated!

 

[Veradun]

That sub will be dire. Save some pennies (400-500 quid) and buy something with some go in it.

Are you recommending spending 400 on a sub alone? I could spend more if needed, but I don't need anything too fancy, can't bring the walls down

Obviously a bit more, but an excellent lower priced sub is - Wharfedale Diamond SW150. I have it with a full compliment of the Acoustic Solutions 20xxi speakers. 2000 as the centre, 2020 as the fronts and 2010s as the rears.

All paired with a Sony STR-DN1050.

Im very happy with it.

I would give Richer Sounds a ring, because they have the 2020s priced at £79 if they have any left.

Seems like everyone is in agreement in regards to the sub, I'll eye another, but unfortunately, the Wharfedale one looks a tad too large width wise :/

Those 2020's, are you referring to Q Acoustics? (not sure if solutions is the same company), I believe the i's are just more compact, but £21 saving isn't bad, could go to a better sub/avr!

Never had Pioneer so don't know how well they match against Q Acoustics.
I would save up for a better sub. A crap sub will make your system sound worse, and I'd rather have no sub, than a crap one.

You will need speaker cable, HDMI cable. Possibly coaxial, optical, RCA cables. Also recommend banana plugs.

Yup a stereo/2.1 system that is the same price as a 5.1 system will sound better.

Thanks, any recommendations for a sub? I suppose I'd be comfortably going up to £200 on the sub for now, which is double that allotment, unless that would be better suited going on the AVR?