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General discussion

Help me pick what to buy - more speakers or a sub?

by accidentprone8 Oct 2, 2008 8:11AM PDT

Okay, I have a VERY small room, and the only upgrade I will be seeing any time soon is a college dorm. I salvaged my amp, if you can call it that, from my basement, so it is a old Yamaha Natural Sound Stereo Receiver RX-360. I recently bought two speakers - $89 a pair Insignia 6.5" bookshelf speakers. I love them. They, with a little tuning from the Yamaha, give loud sound and okay bass. And let me tell you, I LOVE bass. I also love surround sound. I realize I cant shoot for the stars for $300. But here's the deal. Im about to get a job, and am determined to blow around $300 dollars on an upgrade. I was thinking a few things. Either
another pair of Insignias
a pair of Paradigm Atom v.5s(the $289 a pair bookshelves)
a speaker bar (worth it? could the RX 360 take it? looking for suggestions)
or a sub (again, could the RX 360 take it? looking for suggestions)

Thanks for any advice you can give me.

Discussion is locked

3 Posts
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If you thight on space a small self powered sub?
by jcrobso Oct 10, 2008 6:21AM PDT

There are several on the market that should work for you. John

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Yeah, most subs are self powered.
by NM_Bill Oct 12, 2008 12:06AM PDT

As an old small time audiophile, I can't resist saying to always pay attention to speaker quality rather than quantity. I bet the Paradigm Atoms sound better than the cheaper Insignias but you have them already & like the sound.

Surround is nice but requires upgrading the receiver & buying more speakers.

You love bass, so why not make getting a $300 self powered sub woofer you next project.

Sound bars are getting decent reviews, but bear in mind their "surround" is not real but simulated. I would rather spend for best speaker quality rather than a sound bar.

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Thanks!
by accidentprone8 Oct 13, 2008 2:13AM PDT

Thanks so much guys.

I think that since the amp can handle 4 speakers, I will get the atoms, and then save up for a sub. You are right, I don't want to replace the amp, and I've listened to the atoms, and they do sound better and have really nice base as well. I figure the 4 speakers combined will make me happy. I think I will use the atoms as fronts, and put the insignias on the sides.

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