Moving out my condo soon, and I'm now on a budget since I'm funding my own startup. I've been using my roomate's PSB Image series speakers + Velodyne sub with my setup, but since I'm moving out, I need speakers and a sub, and I don't want to spend more than $500 or so.

I have a Rotel 1055 to power them and Tara Labs cabling to wire them. I've been looking at the Hsu Ventriloquist, but might want to try to get something used, or maybe even forgo 5.1 and get a good set of used mains and a used sub...

Any ideas? Since I have the ear for decent equipment now, I fear a crappier set of speakers will disappoint me - so maybe a decent used set is the best idea. The reviews for the Ventiloquist are positive, but reviewers said they will distort at high levels, being tiny satellites. Maybe an Energy set (like the Take 6) would be good as well...

<img src="http://www.rotel.com/products/images/RSX1056.jpg">

...I mean really horrible.
Your best bet with $500 is to buy a nice pair of used speakers (ebay etc) just for stereo sound. You have a fine receiver and it's designed to drive quality speakers. Really good stereo is faaaaaaaaar better than poor surround sound.
Sound quality always is more stimulating than sound effects.
Even if you had a budget of $2500, I'd still suggest you go with $2500 worth of front L&amp;R and save for the rest of the surround set-up.
PSB are okay speakers, but there are plenty of other speakers with a more remarkable sound quality to them than PSB.

<ul><li><a href="http://www.mksound.com/mp4512.htm">http://www.mksound.com/mp4512.htm</a</li></ul>

..these out; a little out of left field but worth a serious look:<ul><li><a href="http://www.magnepan.com/spk_mmg.php">Magnepan's entry level</a></li></ul>

I just went and demoed some Kef Q series bookshelf speakers, and was very impressed with their performance (only $450 for the pair). I think that plus a decent used sub might be the way to go, but I'll check out these MMG's too. Thanks!

the smaller ones don't put out a lot of bass (quantitatively), but what bass they do make is v. nice (qualitatively). they're not very efficient, and won't play at rock-concert levels. but with careful placement their sound will be absolutely addicting. later you can pair 'em up with a decent sub for a nice combo. when I get a bigger amp, I will most likely have some big Maggies myself.

For some it might be better for me to get some Kef's and a sub...

Also my Rotel is only 75W RMS at 8ohms, so not sure if it would be enough power for these.

Won't break the bank, either.

Maggie also makes HT combos as you can see from the site. so the technology is sound. I have yet to hear a good music speaker that wasn't good at movies. music is far more difficult to reproduce accurately (other than ultra-low frequency effects).
For conventional speakers, OTOH, you can probably pick up a used pair Paradigm Studio/20 for less than $500 including stands.
either way, good luck !

I just bought a set of these speakers (Venus S3.5) for my office at home. There are mostly used for music but they are absolutely amazingly tight, and clear. They blew away a Friend of mines very expensive Jamo speakers. Made them sound like crap. I bought them for about $250 per speaker from a company in Windsor Ont. that likes to sell to Americans called Audio Two. With the exchange rate it was a great deal.<ul><li><a href="http://www.revelationaudio.com/revelation_eng.htm">http://www.revelationaudio.com/revelation_eng.htm</a</li></ul>

music has a much greater dynamic range than movie soundtracks. Music has much higher quality sound aswell. Movie sound (usually Dolby Digital or DTS) is the same quality as MP3, which has only a fraction of the information of (redbook) CD.

75 Rotel watts is like 100 Denon watts or 150 Sony watts.
At the average listening level, most amplifiers are pumping out little more than 2-3 watts per channel.

<ul><li><a href="http://www.axiomaudio.com">Axiom</a></li></ul>

you'd be a bit better off but like you said probably look at Energy Take 6 or maybe a polk system. However I'm almost positive that if your limited to $500 you'd be better off buying a set of speakers you'd want to keep and add to after a while.

Like others have said consider getting a nice pair of speakers. I would highly recommend Monitor AUdio I think you can pick up a set of their lower end Standing Floor speakers Silver 6 for around $500-700. They are turely a great sounding speaker and beautiful.

I've also heard great things about Axiom speakers...they sell only online I think but they offer a great 30day return policy with Free Shipping. Prices are great and when I was looking at them I think alot of people on hometheaterforums recommended them.


BTW: WHat type of startup?<ul><li><a href="http://www.axiomaudio.com/hometheaters.html">http://www.axiomaudio.com/hometheaters.html</a</li></ul>

Seriously though... I worked at a retailer for 4 years and haven't paid anything above cost for a single one of my (many) components, but without discounts anymore, I have to be more creative.
So, recently I got EXTREMELY lucky and picked up a set of Energy Take 5s for $125 -- that's right, for the 4 satellites and center -- still in the original box! The guy was kind of a neat freak and kept everything.
I picked up a (sort of) matching Energy S8.2 sub on ebay for $125 shipped, brand new.
You should be able to find a new Energy Take 5+1 system (That's the take 5's with the s8 sub) for &lt;$500 if you look hard enough. They used to sell at $700. They're outdated now, I guess you could say, since they've been replaced by the 5.2s (which you might be able to find for $500 too), and now the 6s. How much are they now, BTW?
I've heard just about everything, and I think Energy makes amazing speakers, ESPECIALLY for their price. Every speaker I own is Energy (Audissey line for my HT, Take 5s on my computer). They're Canadian (same makers as Mirage) and their service is top quality. 5-year warranty (which is pretty standard on speakers, but they're quick about it).

about startup. I currently am working for a startup right now...so I know how it is ;)

Good Luck with that!