What are the best surround sound speakers?

Question

What is the best combination of surround sound speakers for music, and then for home theater for under $2500? What type of Receiver would I need with that?

Answer 1

$2500 is a good budget for speakers. The speakers that sound the best to you within your budget are the ones to get, but at that price I would go with M&K speakers and an HSU sub. M&K makes GREAT subs too, but they are pricey. HSU subs are without doubt the best value in subwoofers. Great subs. Low cost. If I had your budget the speakers below would be my choice:

M&K LCR750M2 Mains
M&K LCR750CM2 Center
M&K LCR 651 Rears
HSU VTF-3 MK3 Subwoofer

(I know this is a little above your budget but you will not regret the extra expense. When you consider how long you will have the system and how much you will enjoy it over that time it is a small expense. If you absolutely must stay within your budget both companies have other options.)

For speakers you may also consider the Monitor Audio silver series. M&K and Monitor sound quite different but both are outstanding.

For a receiver, I reccomend Denon, whatever brand speakers you get. You might consider the AVR2807. If you match that audio system with a comparable TV you will have a truly outstanding home theater on a reasonable budget!

Answer 2

Go to your local "hi-end" stereo store and start listening to speakers. With a budget of $2500 you will find something very nice. The advantage of "high-end" store is that they have people who understand the stuff they sell and they have better quality brands that will never show up in the Circuit Citys/BestBuys of this world.

My local store has a very nice pair of speakers for $400. They sound great with music. For a surround system, you'll need to get a second pair, a center channel speaker and a sub (or 2 as subs are not omnidirectional below 100 hz although most people can't tell the difference). With a bit of a discount (always ask, prices are always negotiable) you should be able to take home a very decent speaker set for $15-1800. Or you may decide to go with something a bit better and spend a bit more. If you hear the difference and and you can afford it, why not?

Notice that I do not mention a brand. That is because you may not find this particular speaker in your local store and there is no need for you to go in there with a name in mind.

Just be honest with your salesperson about your budget and they'll work with you. Sometimes they'll also have speakers/equipment at reduced prices because they're trying to make room and you can get some real good deals that way. The main thing to remember is that aside from the sub (s), all speakers in a surround system need to be matched so you want to buy them all at the same time just in case the store decides not to carry those anymore.

Once you've decided on the speakers your salesperson will help you with the amp, cables, etc.

Stick to a 5.1 sytem (most movies are 5.1)

Answer 3

"encompass Sound audio equipment" aren't from now on some thing better than regularly happening audio equipment, what makes them "encompass Sound audio equipment" is the very incontrovertible truth that you may want to placed 2 audio equipment (or 3, or 4) in the back of you, therefore the "encompass" section. speaker programs that contain 5 audio equipment and a subwoofer, the .a million contained in the 5.a million sound, are reliable programs to look at. you get a center channel, which suits on or below the television, 2 the front audio equipment (a left and a good), and 2 rear audio equipment, (a rear left and a rear good). and the sub is going on the floor many times up the front by the receiver or a the front speaker

Answer 4

Hi there. Lets start at the beginning..There are no best speakers.Speakers all vary in how they reproduce sound,and it comes down to personal preference.I don't know if you have any knowledge about high fidelity sound reproduction.Most people who are so called" audio video enthusiasts" get it wrong when it comes to hi fi equipment choice and order of importance in the hi fi chain.They have no idea how to put one together for excellent results.And if you are one of those you will not give me the 10 points but i don't care.
There are numerous web sites dealing with the correct procedure of putting a sound system together but no one bothers to look. Anyway here is the correct method for achieving the best sound with your budget

The signal starts at the source (CD player,DVD/CD player Tuner, Turntable, or what ever else you have) .Next a good quality Interconnects to carry the signal from the source to the Pre-amp,(either dedicated or part of your receiver) then a good quality power amp(s) (either dedicated or part of your receiver) Then the signal has to travel to your speakers ,so use a good quality speaker cable that suits your speakers.Now if the signal makes it to your speakers as unchanged as possible(except for gain) your speakers will reproduce it to the best of their ability. Just remember speakers can't create sound they only reproduce it .They cannot change a bad signal into a good one.I dont know why it so hard for people to grasp this, it is really common sense .
So in conclusion buy the best source, interconnects, amplifier and speaker cables first, then choose your speakers.

I AM SURPRISED YOU ARE ASKING FOR ADVISE.ARN'T YOU A TOP CONTRIBUTOR ADVISING OTHERS WHAT TO BUY?

Here is a link to prove what i say is true.(i have used this link before but no body bothered to check it out)

http://www.tunehifi.com/NS/essay_technical.htm

Answer 5

For this kind of money ($2,500 for speaker, and probably about the same for electronics - otherwise the investment in speakers is not really justified), DO NOT GO TO CIRCUIT CITY! DO NOT GO TO BEST BUY! DO NOT GO TO ANY CHAIN STORE SELLING MASS PRODUCED PRODUCTS!
Go to your local hi-end retailer and LISTEN! Bring your favorite movies and CDs and listen. Spend few hours and make sure your substantial investment in the audio system brings you JOY!
The retailer will most likely will have few brands for you to listen which you never heard of before - but this is GOOD! It it is NOT sold at BestBuy - it is GOOD (with few exceptions).
You will probably get to hear M&K, NHT, KEF, B&K, Adcom, Rotel, Arcam, Rega, Creek, Music Hall, NAD, Outlaw and other brands.

Answer 6

Try looking at some polk speakers, I have run these since early 80's. I use them for home theatre and have others for plain old music. I agree with one of the other posters, go with adcom, rotel, denon type recievers. they are built right. have had all three brands and loved them all. good luck

Answer 7

You need a preamp, 3 stereo amplifiers, 6 identical speakers and a powered sub-woofer...One amp for the FRONT speakers, one amp for the REAR speakers and one amp for the CENTER and CENTER REAR..."6.1" is exactly the same as "7.1"...Don't let anyone tell you any different...You can put this together for $1,000.