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Re: Need Help with HT Starter System

Here's what I'd do for a starter HT system:

1. Speakers:
Fronts and Sides: (4) Axiom M3Ti's $1,000 (factory outlet)
Center: Merak MC6H (ebay about $60.00)

or, you can get 4 Michaura M55s on ebay for about $300, a pure no brainer. Great speakers, great for music, great for HT.

Sub: I got a 15" Dahlquist from uBid for $99 plus shipping. This sub has no right to sound as good as it does. Check your local Costco or other big outlet for terrific bargains on discontinued subs.

2. Receiver: Check your local on-line classifieds, you'll find an ass kicking 5.1 channel DTS receiver for under $300.

Merak is made by Axiom. The MC6H has 2 x 6.5" drivers and a 7"x3" horn tweeter, solid, anti reversion shaped cabinet, and an incredibly good sound. Great for music and great for dialogue. You'd have to spend hundreds of dollars more to match it.

I have a $1000 Onkyo 797 THX receiver in my main system. It's fantastic. I have a Sony STRDB 1070 in my office system. I paid under $300 for it from uBid (back when there were good deals galore on that site). The Sony is just about as good as the Onkyo for HT, not quite as good for music. I picked up a Technics SADX 940 5x100 watt HT receiver for stereo duty while I waited for a pair of monoblocks to get shipped. Paid about $150 at Fry's for the 940. Played through a pair of Axiom M3Ti's. The sound quality of that Technics was absolutely, ridiculously wonderful. Warm, rich, accurate, great sound stage, etc.

I gave the Technics to my secretary who uses it for an HT system, Merak center channel, Wharfdale something or other fronts and Mission 77ds backs, and a little Jensen sub. Sounds incredibly good. Cost a song.

The point is you can find deals if you look for them, or if you get lucky and step in one.

You can probably get a set of HT speakers from your Penny Saver or on line classifieds which will save you a bunch of money relative to the Axioms. Browse your local on-line ads in one window and do google searches on a second window of each interesting item. You'll find all kinds of reviews, both professional and by users. You'll also educate yourself as to MSRP and street prices. You'll find some great deals on used equipment. Folks who advertise on Audiogon and ebay tend to be pretty sophisticated. You can find some great used stuff locally from less sophisticated and sometimes more motivated sellers.

Here's what I would do:

4 Michaura M55s ......................... $300

1 Merak MC6H center channel speaker ..... 60

1 15" Dahlquist or similar sub .......... 170 (with shipping)

1 Technics SADX 940-1070 or similar Panasonic unit ... (I think it sounds better than the Outlaw 1050 I recommended to my friend)
Receiver ................................ $400 (you can do better used).

1 Philips SACD 1000 plays SACD and DVDs. . $350

You have yourself one terrific HT and music system for under $1,300.

Live long and prosper.


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