Advise on 7.1 Channel Surround System & Speaker

Too many brands, too many models, too many tastes, too many price points. And you'll get too many opinions too.

So, go to whatever HiFi or HT dealers you have in your area and start listening to sets of 7.1 speakers. Once you find the speakers you really love the sound of, then select an AVR or separates that will properly drive them to whatever levels you comfortably want to listen at without the risk of clipping. Then you'll have the 7.1 HT system that's best for you. And not us.

Or have a bunch a strangers on the internet tell you how to spend your 10K.

Here's my suggestion:

Get 4 pairs of KEF LS50 or 3 pairs + 1 if your dealer can swing it. At 1.5k a pair, it's about 6k for the speakers for 8.

The benefit? You get identical speakers that if you place correctly - you can listen to multi channel Pure Audio blurays and SACDs and DVDAs without employing too much DSP - just Pure Direct.

Plus the KEF LS50s are amazing speakers - KEF puts it in their "Flagship" range and it is no mistake.

Get a Denon X4000 with XT32 and preamp outputs. This goes for about 1k with the new model coming out.

That leaves you with 3K

You can spend 1.9k on the JL Audio E112 or 1.5k on the JL E110.

The remainder would go towards power amps for the front 3 speakers.

I'd look at the Wyred4Sound's ST MkII ST-500 for the front L and R speakers (1.5k) or mAmp mono block (1k) for the centre speaker. Depending on which option for subwoofer you went for.

When funds allow, I'd upgrade to more ST-500s or mAmps because the KEF LS50s are remarkable speakers and would easily benefit from better amplification.

If you aren't so keen on music/multichannel music, I'd only use the LS50 for front L and R and use a set of 5.1 KEF E305s to make up the 7.1

In this case, you can use the AVR to power the E305s and just get a pair of mAmps to drive the L and R LS50s. The UniQ drivers on the E305s and LS50s make it easier to handle timbre matching. That would also give you a lot of change left.

Thank you for all the feedback and advice..

Appericated and Thank you very much.

Thank you for all the feedback and advice..

Appericated and Thank you very much.

Have your needs been met I would like to show you some photos of what I have.

E.C.Speakers
Model - Classic 2

audiophileconsultant at yahoo