7.2+ System for $4k-5k - Thoughts on a Possible Setup

[Jefferad]

Hi, I've got a friend who is looking to replace a cheap home theater setup in a small end of his basement (about 11x18). He wants to spend about $4-5k. He would rather buy fewer, quality components initially and add to it over time. I think he's interested in a 5.1.2 setup. My thoughts were:

• Buy a strong receiver that has a bit of expandability, but not too much beyond what he needs as this will already be a big step up. Dual zone support is needed as he wants to power a pair of existing speakers in another portion of the basement for music so should get 9.1 at minimum and could use some decent power as a result.
• Stick to speakers from a single, reliable vendor to make expansion and tone matching easier in the future.
• Start with a single, but quality Sub at first. Can add a 2nd later as desired.
• Use his existing cheaper speakers for height and surrounds initially. Can replace over time as desired.

Here's one option I'm thinking of recommending. Any thoughts?

• Receiver - Denon X3800H $1800 (though see note *** below)
• Subwoofer - SVS PB-2000 Pro $1200
• LR - SVS Ultra Evolution Bookshelf $1200 (600 x 2)
• C - SVS Ultra Evolution Center $800
• Total - $5k
• Later adds as desired in this order - new surrounds (pair SVS Prime satellite $400), new height speakers (pair Prime Elevation $450), a 2nd Sub ($1200)

*** I have the Pioneer VSX-LX805. I notice you can still buy this for the same as the Denon. With the discontinuation of the Pioneer line, this comes with some risk of course in terms of support, but you get more power, Dirac, Chromecast / Airplay, etc. Any thoughts on the Pioneer as an alternative?

So, what reactions do you have on this? Are there better options for the speaker vendor to go with? Thoughts on the trade-off of where the $ is going (e.g., spend less on a sub to leave more money for other elements?). Thanks!

 

[JStewart]

My thought is you have a solid plan for the reasons you mentioned.
Don’t forget the used and refurbished market for some savings if having new isn’t a requirement. For example SVS has discounts all the time for minor blemishes you can’t even see in your room and they come with full warranty.
Accessories4Less has Denon factory refurbished. For new, you should be able to do better than retail. There are solid dealers who will discount.
For the size space, the Prime Satellites are pretty small for surrounds. When the time comes I think your friend would find something larger in the SVS lineup will be better suited.

 

[Todd Anderson]

My first question, what kind of content is he into and how does he source it?

 

[Jefferad]

Movies and sports primarily ... Streaming and cable provider. Music on Spotify or vinyl.

 

[Todd Anderson]

Ok. Just wanted to understand if gaming was involved.

This, to me, says that it's okay to look at some older receivers (HDMI 2.0) without having to worry about missing out on important HDMI gaming features.

Would he be willing to buy used? He might be able to find an older top-line model for sub $1K. But, it might take some time.

I like your speaker recommendations, by the way, but I'm going to toss out an alternate recommendation:

Right now select GoldenEar speakers are on sale (I think the sale lasts for 3 more days)... I love the GoldenEar sound. You've heard the Triton One.Rs in my theater.

The Triton 5 towers and SuperCenter XL would be a sweet rig. Those three would run him $2400 at AudioAdvice. That leaves $2600 for a sub and a receiver.

I hear your concern about the LX805. I *think* it will be supported going forward... but, if it's a real concern, you could look to the Onkyo RZ50. Right now at Accessories4Less (great call, @JStewart), you can find it for $1099. That leaves you a nice little budget for a sub.

SVS is a great choice on so many levels. He might also consider a Monolith sub (like this: https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=41496). SVS has nicer, more durable finishes on their subs, but Monolith gives you access to a lot of performance for the price.

 

[JStewart]

That Denon 3800 is Dirac and Dirac Art capable though.

 

[Todd Anderson]

That's true. He can gain access to bass control with the RZ50, which works well. ART is certainly a draw, depending on how far he wants to push setup.

 

[busdriver13]

I think your friend’s approach is very solid overall, especially prioritizing the front stage, subwoofer, and processing first while reusing existing surrounds and height speakers initially. In a room that size, that strategy will provide a much larger improvement than trying to spread the budget across an entire speaker package right away.

Between the two receiver options, I would personally lean toward the Denon AVR-X3800H. While the Pioneer offers excellent value on paper with Dirac included and higher rated power, the Denon platform has proven to be exceptionally reliable with a stronger long-term support ecosystem, excellent bass management capabilities, and plenty of flexibility for future expansion. For a system designed to grow over time, I think it’s the safer long-term investment.

I also agree completely with prioritizing a quality subwoofer from the beginning. The SVS PB-2000 Pro is an excellent choice for that space and will make a dramatic difference in overall immersion and impact. Adding a second subwoofer later would be a great upgrade path.

As far as speakers go, staying within a single manufacturer is definitely beneficial for tonal consistency and future expansion. One option I would also strongly encourage considering is the RBH Impression Series. The Impression line offers excellent dynamics, clarity, and theater performance while remaining very approachable within this type of budget. They pair exceptionally well with Denon processing and provide a very engaging, cinematic presentation without sounding harsh or fatiguing.

Overall, I think your “buy fewer, better components now and expand later” philosophy is absolutely the right approach for long-term satisfaction.

I’d be happy to help put together pricing or recommend a complete package based on the room and budget if needed. Feel free to PM me anytime.

 

[Jefferad]

Hey @busdriver13 thanks for the info and offer. I'm a bit behind in an update so this was a nice prompt. He actually did end up getting the Denon and SVS ultra towers / center for front sound stage with a single sb-3000 sub for now. He broke the budget a bit and got a pair of SVS ultra nanos as the surround. We repurposed some other small speakers he had for a single pair of height speakers for now. Everything is installed and I'm just waiting to find another day to go over to help with Dirac calibration. That said he's already super happy and I agree it sounds really good. Future purchases over time may include a second sub and maybe even a set of four height speakers. Thanks again everyone for your thoughts and advice.