I am putting a hometheater system in my basement and was trying to get some opinions on speakers/recievers.?

Question

i looked at def techs, klipsch, and infinity. i will be watching more movies than music so please give me your opinions or input.

my budget is around $ 3000.00.

Answer 1

$3000 is a healthy budget for speakers.  I'd skip those brands you looked at and seek some Paradigm Studio 60s, PSB Image, or Ascend Acoustics 340se.  Pair these bad boys up with a Hsu HO Turbo and you'll be rocking the foundation.

Answer 2

I am also a fan of Yamaha and they pair well with my DefTech towers.

The bipolar speakers have a unique feature: if you can pull them into the room about 3-4 feet from a back wall - they can fool your ears into sensing the room is a lot bigger than it really is.  I did this with my towers one day (the room was empty for re-painting) and I watched "The Fugitive".  There was a scene that toggled from the outdoors/swamp to an office during a phone call. My ears almost popped as I sensed a closed-in office that suddenly expanded to open-air. Very cool.  But you have to be able to pull the bipolars into the room enough to create the back-echo delay.  (Search the internet for the "Hass Effect" if you want to see the research).

My advice would be to get the un-powered BP8's, and a subwoofer from either SVS or HSU Research.

My second choice in your list would be Infinity as being a well-respected company and slightly more musical.  But Klipsch is good to so it's a Coke vs Pepsi decision.

RECEIVERS:

While I love Yamaha (I have 3), The Onkyo TX-SR505, 605 and 705 receivers have quietly been blowing people away with features only found on other flagship units.  Lots of value for the money.

Answer 3

I dont care what anyone else tells you... if you want the best quality sound u need a BOSE surround system. any speakers they sell are of the highest quality. have fun with the system

Answer 4

You've chosen 3 good brands. I have the Klipsch myself and I love them but you have to spend some time listening for yourself. Speaker performance is really in the ear of the beholder so I can't give you any better advice than to choose between good brand names (which you've already done).

Answer 5

Depends on the acoustics of the room but usually some bookshelf size speakers with a descent sub (very important, you want to feel it and enjoy it and not be embarassed by it).  I like Klipsch myself but those are all good brands.  I am a big fan of Yamaha receivers.  They use discrete amplification which is rare in most receivers.  That basically means that there is a seperate amp for each channel of sound as opposed to one amp for all channels.  Gives you truer power