Another "Which Should I buy" Thread.

[KarenMarie]

I am looking to upgrade my home theater system. I am not a millionaire but don't have a set and settled budget. What I am willing/able to spend would depend on what I would get to make the price worth while.

I have been looking around for a few days and while I don't have my heart set on anything, I kinda like the look of these two systems.

JVC TH-D60

Panasonic SC-PT1050

Opinions, thoughts, ideas and suggestions welcomed.

Thanks.

 

[montypythizzle]

Is there any real reason you want the DVD player built in?!?!
TBH having components stacked in each other makes it harder to replace, for instance if the PSU fails then you will need to get both a new receiver and DVD player.
For HTIB pick this:
http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm...m/ccd/productDetail.do
Or another Onkyo HTIB, only one with a real sub and decent amp, Yamaha, Denon, and combos from BB may be close, or just as good.

So... How much DO you make?

 

[KarenMarie]

I have no aversion to buying components. In fact, I was considering getting speakers now and waiting for the HD DVD since I have a 55 inch HDTV and HD Satelitte reciever. I am upgrading sound now, and will upgrade to an LCD when the prices come down a bit for the sizes I am looking for.

But for now... i want a nice system ... of whatever makeup... that will not have to be upgraded for a few years.

I want to watch movies occasionally and listen to music.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Onkyo is pretty much my "go to" recommendation again. They're pretty consistent across the range of $150 - $1000 as offering good bang for the buck offerings.

You should check out http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forumdisplay.php?f=109 to get some information on how the ones you mentioned are performing vs. other options.

As always with electronics, there's also the "for only $XXX more, you could get Y", but you're also getting close to the range where you'd have a lot of really great options for putting together your own system as well.

You should check out my "Upgrade Path" section of my sticky guide to at least look what the options are as an alternative to the usual HTIB route.

 

[KarenMarie]

seems like what I am looking for is the Onkyo HT-SP908

Need to read more though.

The ebay store they keep mentioning do not seem to have them right now.

 

[KarenMarie]

Oh... and just a little side note... a sort of update on my original post.

I had actually purchased the Panasonic listed above. I was not really impressed with it to be honest, but was surrounded by ppl who loved it and thought i should get it. So, I did. And I got it home and tried to hook it up and came to find that I had been sold a previously sold and broken product. Many of the wires were already hooked up to the speakers. There was a Hispanic music home burned CD in the player, all the stations were preset to hispanic channels and the woofer was broken.

Plus, it claims that it is WIRELESS and it is not. It goes back tomorrow.

The Subwoofer is wireless. Then there is another box that is wireless, but the rear speakers need to be wired in that. So, while I do not have wires across the entire room, directly into the subwoofer, I have wires into the little box.

All in all, I am not really impressed. But, it got really good reviews and all the ppl surrounding me were telling me what a good system it was.

 

[Shawn]

Get yourself some HD DVD goodness. $98 at Walmart 8am tomorrow only.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: KarenMarie
seems like what I am looking for is the Onkyo HT-SP908

Need to read more though.

The ebay store they keep mentioning do not seem to have them right now.

Which ebay store are you talking about?

The 908 set is pretty new and includes the very feature filled Onkyo 605 receiver, which does pretty much everything you'd want a receiver in this range to do.

6ave has the 908 set for $750, which is a good deal if you know you need small speakers and the features of the receiver which goes for $400+ on its own.
http://www.6ave.com/shop/produ...pricegrabberONKHTSP908

If you don't necessarily have space limitations that require very small speakers, you could do significantly better than the ones that come with these HTIB sets.

Who were these people telling you to get the panasonic set?

Yeah, most of these "wireless" sets do have you messing around with wires anyway, and sometimes in an even more irritating way since you need to find multiple power outlets to plug in all the little boxes.

I'm not really sure what your total budget is, but if ~$750 is your limit and you want a full 5.1/7.1 right away and want the new HD audio formats, I think the 908 set is a good idea.

If space constraints aren't that big of a factor and you're looking for a significant step up in sound quality as well, then you have a lot more options if you're willing to spend some more on the system.

Also keep in mind that how something sounds in the store is not going to match up with how it sounds in your own home. The room you're playing your system in is going to have a big impact on how it sounds along with how you set it up, calibrate it, place your speakers, etc.

 

[montypythizzle]

LOL the gringos bumpin their musik liek in ther impalaz and s10z???

 

[KarenMarie]

Yoyo... a little history might help....

I used to have a component system that cost more than a mid sized car. But in the divorce, 2 decades ago, I got my daughter, he got the house which included the system.

Now... after paying 4 years college CASH and her wedding, last week, CASH, it is time to do something for ME! I earned it. The system I have now.... it was a walmart special. A Sanyo DWM-3500... crap, but at the time I had no alimony, no child support and refused all gvnmt aid.

Now that everything is paid, I have a bit of cash, but am NOT rich. I am not setting a budget... there is always that X factor that says ' for another $X you can have...' so, I will not limit myself. I am looking for something that is not higher than $1,000-2000 but for that money, it has to last for YEARS.

The room is 17 long, 15 wide. I have a Mitisubishi 55in HDTV and an LG HDTV DirecTV receiver. Both of which I hope to upgrade within the next year.



edit: the ebay store mention was E-Warehouse.

 

[montypythizzle]

WOW, that Onkyo system looks AMAZING, and excellent upgradiness!!!
It is awesome that they have the larger speakers for surrounds and everything!
The only thing that might needed to be upgraded first is the subwoofer, but hell I got the stock Onkyo sub and it does a nice job.
I could only guess what a nice 12"er would do to my house/room....

 

[montypythizzle]

Originally posted by: KarenMarie
Yoyo... a little history might help....

I used to have a component system that cost more than a mid sized car. But in the divorce, 2 decades ago, I got my daughter, he got the house which included the system.

Now... after paying 4 years college CASH and her wedding, last week, CASH, it is time to do something for ME! I earned it. The system I have now.... it was a walmart special. A Sanyo DWM-3500... crap, but at the time I had no alimony, no child support and refused all gvnmt aid.

Now that everything is paid, I have a bit of cash, but am NOT rich. I am not setting a budget... there is always that X factor that says ' for another $X you can have...' so, I will not limit myself. I am looking for something that is not higher than $1,000-2000 but for that money, it has to last for YEARS.

The room is 17 long, 15 wide. I have a Mitisubishi 55in HDTV and an LG HDTV DirecTV receiver. Both of which I hope to upgrade within the next year.



edit: the ebay store mention was E-Warehouse.

Honestly the Onkyo will give you the best value, and will allow for many upgrades.
Yes, you could buy items individually, but this is a great deal, and includes the larger speakers. (which don't sound bad at all)

And for ~675-770 it isn't bad at all.
You may want to upgrade the sub with the money saved, along with some thicker gauge wire from monoprice.com, along with some necessary optical and coaxial audio cables to get the most out of the sat. box and DVD player, along with component or HDMI cables(if sat. box has them).


BTW, that DVD player is progressive scan, w00t.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: montypythizzle

Originally posted by: KarenMarie
Yoyo... a little history might help....

I used to have a component system that cost more than a mid sized car. But in the divorce, 2 decades ago, I got my daughter, he got the house which included the system.

Now... after paying 4 years college CASH and her wedding, last week, CASH, it is time to do something for ME! I earned it. The system I have now.... it was a walmart special. A Sanyo DWM-3500... crap, but at the time I had no alimony, no child support and refused all gvnmt aid.

Now that everything is paid, I have a bit of cash, but am NOT rich. I am not setting a budget... there is always that X factor that says ' for another $X you can have...' so, I will not limit myself. I am looking for something that is not higher than $1,000-2000 but for that money, it has to last for YEARS.

The room is 17 long, 15 wide. I have a Mitisubishi 55in HDTV and an LG HDTV DirecTV receiver. Both of which I hope to upgrade within the next year.



edit: the ebay store mention was E-Warehouse.

Honestly the Onkyo will give you the best value, and will allow for many upgrades.
Yes, you could buy items individually, but this is a great deal, and includes the larger speakers. (which don't sound bad at all)

And for ~675-770 it isn't bad at all.
You may want to upgrade the sub with the money saved, along with some thicker gauge wire from monoprice.com, along with some necessary optical and coaxial audio cables to get the most out of the sat. box and DVD player, along with component or HDMI cables(if sat. box has them).


BTW, that DVD player is progressive scan, w00t.

And it's upconverting too



Sorry you lost your old system (along with a lot of other more important stuff)

If you're willing to spend some more money on equipment if you find the right products to fit your needs and your preferences and you've had a quality system in the past, then I think you should do out and audition some stuff.

The really strong point of the 908 system is the receiver, which you can get on its own and then you have the opportunity to get whatever speakers you want that would really appeal to you.

Do you know what kind of sound you like already based on your past experience?
Would you be willing to take the time to go out to some AV type stores and demo some different options at different priceranges to see what appeals to you?
If not, (or even if so), would you be willing to take some internet direct brands up on their ~30 day in home trial offers and get a couple pairs to evaluate how they would sound in your own room?

How big is the room this system is going in? Openings to other areas too?

Is this a movie only system, or is music a priority too?

 

[montypythizzle]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Originally posted by: montypythizzle

Originally posted by: KarenMarie
Yoyo... a little history might help....

I used to have a component system that cost more than a mid sized car. But in the divorce, 2 decades ago, I got my daughter, he got the house which included the system.

Now... after paying 4 years college CASH and her wedding, last week, CASH, it is time to do something for ME! I earned it. The system I have now.... it was a walmart special. A Sanyo DWM-3500... crap, but at the time I had no alimony, no child support and refused all gvnmt aid.

Now that everything is paid, I have a bit of cash, but am NOT rich. I am not setting a budget... there is always that X factor that says ' for another $X you can have...' so, I will not limit myself. I am looking for something that is not higher than $1,000-2000 but for that money, it has to last for YEARS.

The room is 17 long, 15 wide. I have a Mitisubishi 55in HDTV and an LG HDTV DirecTV receiver. Both of which I hope to upgrade within the next year.



edit: the ebay store mention was E-Warehouse.

Honestly the Onkyo will give you the best value, and will allow for many upgrades.
Yes, you could buy items individually, but this is a great deal, and includes the larger speakers. (which don't sound bad at all)

And for ~675-770 it isn't bad at all.
You may want to upgrade the sub with the money saved, along with some thicker gauge wire from monoprice.com, along with some necessary optical and coaxial audio cables to get the most out of the sat. box and DVD player, along with component or HDMI cables(if sat. box has them).


BTW, that DVD player is progressive scan, w00t.

And it's upconverting too

Damn, didn't see the HDMI output

 

[Tiamat]

while you have gotten quite a bit of help already, Id like to spin it in a slightly different direction...

Is the "looks" of the speakers important to you? Size of speakers, wood finish vs. vinyl vs. flat black vs. piano black, stand mount vs floorstanding? There is no question that within the 1k-2k region, the speakers will last for years. Electronics do get phased out over time (different dolby processing techniques etc), but the speakers (i have found) that are beyond 150$ per pair really start to have good craftsmanship built into the units.

Is surround sound important to you? (surround takes more "work" to setup "properly" and to fish wire around or hide the wires). Would a good pair of front speakers with a good center speaker appeal to you -- or would you find that unacceptable compared to having a full 5.1+ setup?

Would you use the system more for music or more for movies? (or balanced between both?)

How large is the room (17x15x?) that your system will go in, and is it sealed or open to other rooms (this determines the power of the amps and the size/number of subwoofers "required")?


And finally (for now), here is the question you may not like. Do you know what kind of sound you want? Have you auditioned speakers from local dealers of name brands such as klipsch, jbl, paradigm, b&w, monitor, etc.?

This final question is only important if you feel that you want to move to a system that is "the next step" beyond home theater in a box (HTIB) sets. If you enjoy speakers that make you feel like you are sitting front row vs. sitting in the middle of the concert hall, that is good information as well.

For an idea of what you might expect when moving from HTIB to separate speakers in terms of finish, here is an example.

Overall, if you want to buy "something and be done with it" HTIB like the one Yoyo recommended is a great choice. If you don't mind getting more involved with this, then perhaps you may want to consider separate internet direct speakers (they come with 30 day money back guarantee). In addition to (my experience) awesome customer service and support, these companies tend to take in less markup and instead put the money into more beautiful finishes (might be important to you) and better quality parts overall.

 

[montypythizzle]

TBH, the HTIB route gets you in the home theater game and you will still have a set of 7.1 speakers while upgrading.
Save for some floorstanders in the front or sub, get your next-gen DVD player, etc...

 

[SlickSnake]

<snip>

I haven't gone wrong yet by purchasing Harman Kardon products for the last 8 years. I have bought refurb products online, from Ebay at their store and from their online store that were either in perfect refurb condition, or new in the box and sold as refurbs, including Infinity Interlude and Beta speaker systems. All their products bought from them as refurbs have a full manufacturers warranty, too.

Harman Audio Ebay Store

Harman Audio Online Store

They also make JBL products and higher end products, too! If you can afford them.

They do not lie on the actual output of their audio products, too. If they state 100 watts per channel at 8 ohms, they mean it. Their equipment will power lower 4 ohm loads, which many HT receivers will simply burn out trying to power continuously. Something to keep in mind when purchasing speakers, too.