Anybody know anything about home theatre system?

[optimistic]

I'm not going for anything top-of-the-line-spend-$10-grand-kind-of-sound, I just want to improve my Dad's current home theater system.

Now my question is... will this reciever match up okay with the speakers he already owns?

CENTER:
Pioneer CS-C400/G 70W (All the info I could find online)

FRONT x2
Klipsch KG 4.2 (100 watts maximum continuous (500 watts peak, 8 ohms)

REAR x2
Boston HD5 (50W RMS)


RECIEVER HE HAS NOW
La crapola Technics SA-GX470 my mom says he got for $80 back in 1995? During the "Laser disc era" before DVDs became popular.


RECIEVER I PLAN TO GET
Harmon/Kardon AVR225 for $279 (PM from Fry's sale)
- Front Power (Watts) 55 x 2 @ 8 Ohms
- Center Power (Watts) 55 x 1
- Surround Power (Watts) 55 x 2


Does it look okay? Or do I need to get a more powerful reciever? He has no sub, maybe I'll get him that for his bday.

 

[TallBill]

Only thing I know is that even a small sub would definitly turn it into a HOME THEATRE! Does he have a spot to put it though?

 

[Heisenberg]

If you're going to buy all new speakers anyway, I would suggest getting ones that are voice matched (i.e. the same brand/series).
Edit: Doh. Missed a line.

 

[isekii]

Originally posted by: TallBill
Only thing I know is that even a small sub would definitly turn it into a HOME THEATRE! Does he have a spot to put it though?

a sub can be placed anywhere...

you can't hear where the bass would be coming from anyhow.

 

[olds]

Since your not looking for "top-of-the-line", if that receiver has the functions ( DD/DTS/PLII) he wants he'll be fine. If it were me , I'd be more concerned with the speakers matching.

 

[optimistic]

No new speakers, his current ones sound great! Just underpowerd.

Keep in mind I can't go overboard with the expenses, because I'm your minimum wage earning college student.

As for the sub question, he could buy one himself, or wait till his birthday! But I think his fronts are pretty bassy enough.

 

[Shawn]

Well the speakers will be underpowered but it'll work fine.

 

[isekii]

Originally posted by: optimistic
No new speakers, his current ones sound great! Just underpowerd.

Keep in mind I can't go overboard with the expenses, because I'm your minimum wage earning college student.

As for the sub question, he could buy one himself, or wait till his birthday! But I think his fronts are pretty bassy enough.

the stand alone sub would definitely make a difference.

my 120w yamaha woofer does it's job well..

 

[optimistic]

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
Since your not looking for "top-of-the-line", if that receiver has the functions ( DD/DTS/PLII) he wants he'll be fine. If it were me , I'd be more concerned with the speakers matching.

PLII? How about Logic 7 is that importnat? It has though, DD, DTS (not DTS:ES though) and no THX <~~ I think that's an old standard.

 

[TallBill]

Originally posted by: isekii

Originally posted by: TallBill
Only thing I know is that even a small sub would definitly turn it into a HOME THEATRE! Does he have a spot to put it though?

a sub can be placed anywhere...

you can't hear where the bass would be coming from anyhow.

i realize this.. but there is absolutly zero spot to put a sub in my mom's living room. the way the entertainment center is in the corner..

 

[optimistic]

Originally posted by: isekii
the stand alone sub would definitely make a difference.

my 120w yamaha woofer does it's job well..

Hmm, can you recommend me a sub that would match up with my reciever above?

 

[olds]

Originally posted by: optimistic

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
Since your not looking for "top-of-the-line", if that receiver has the functions ( DD/DTS/PLII) he wants he'll be fine. If it were me , I'd be more concerned with the speakers matching.

PLII? How about Logic 7 is that importnat? It has though, DD, DTS (not DTS:ES though) and no THX <~~ I think that's an old standard.

THX has been around for a while but I don't believe it's an "old" standard. You won't find THX in the price range I assume you are in.
I am not sure what Logic 7 is, I never heard of it.

 

[optimistic]

Originally posted by: iloveme2
Well the speakers will be underpowered but it'll work fine.

Its gotta be better than what he has right now right? I mean how much power can $80 bucks buy you? And right now you can't even hear the rears when we turn on the surround.

 

[olds]

Originally posted by: TallBill

Originally posted by: isekii

Originally posted by: TallBill
Only thing I know is that even a small sub would definitly turn it into a HOME THEATRE! Does he have a spot to put it though?

a sub can be placed anywhere...

you can't hear where the bass would be coming from anyhow.

i realize this.. but there is absolutly zero spot to put a sub in my mom's living room. the way the entertainment center is in the corner..

If you truly want "Home Theater" you need a sub. You can get them built into the main speakers but it starts getting on the expensive side.

 

[olds]

Originally posted by: optimistic

Originally posted by: iloveme2
Well the speakers will be underpowered but it'll work fine.

Its gotta be better than what he has right now right? I mean how much power can $80 bucks buy you? And right now you can't even hear the rears when we turn on the surround.

You may not have it set up correctly. You shouldn't be able to pin point the rears. It is supposed to be a diffused sound.

 

[optimistic]

Well right now, it sounds very muted. It doesn't even have an effect on the actual movie. It sits there mumbling. Connections are good. The wires are your special coated 18-thread (something) copper coated looking speaker wires.

But despite that, I still think this reciever needs replacing baddd. I can just imagine the damage it's doing to our front spkrs. Underpowered = damge right?

 

[isekii]

Originally posted by: optimistic

Originally posted by: isekii
the stand alone sub would definitely make a difference.

my 120w yamaha woofer does it's job well..

Hmm, can you recommend me a sub that would match up with my reciever above?

Sony has one ... it's really afforable ~

Here

That seems to be on the expensive side.. You should be able to find it way cheaper.

 

[optimistic]

How about this reciever? A little more power & features different brand.

Onkyo ONK TXSR501 $299
- 6.1-Channel Dolby® Digital EX/DTS®-ES Surround Sound Receiver
- Front Power (Watts) 65 x 2 @ 8 Ohms
- Center Power (Watts) 65 x 1
- Surround Power (Watts) 65 x 3

And here's what I gathered about Logic 7


<<In addition to Dolby® Digital and DTS® surround sound, it offers sophisticated features such as Logic 7--which produces a convincing impression of 5.1-channel surround sound from stereo sources--and VMAx processing--which simulates surround using just two speakers.

>>

 

[optimistic]

Onkyo ONK TXSR700 $579

- 6.1-Channel Surround Sound Receiver
- Dolby® Digital EX, DTS-ES, and Dolby® Pro Logic II
- Front Power (Watts) 100 x 2 @ 8 Ohms
- Center Power (Watts) 100
- Surround Power (Watts) 100 x 4

Fits the power bill, but not my bill. If you think it's really worth getting, maybe I'll get my mom into the whole father's day gift thing, even though my father never got her a mother's day gift.