Well any powered sub is going to be better then some passive one your going to get with the HTIB no matter what size the passive is. And people are forgetting that the Z5500 is THX certified. Yeah they had to pay to get that passed but it also means it had to meet and produce all the sound correctly including bass, mids, and highs. Because it has tiny front speakers doesnt mean it has no mids at all. if that was the case it would never of gotten the thx logo stamped on them and every review on them would bitch there was no mids
Insted all reviews are at their highest on the set EVERYWHERE and every one of them say they can be used for more then just your pc but HT as well for it sounds that good.
The Z's have a RMS, not max power, RMS 188 powered sub for deep punchy, and I mean deep punchy, bass and mids, and at times have to cut the bass down because its too much. Makes watching movies though wonderful when sh!t blows up though. Something your going to need if your going for good sound with music or HT. Why passive subs blow with HTIB. OP, yeah the Z's may be $400 now, they were $400+ when they first came out as well then went to $250 when they were selling like hot cakes, and now its a supply and demand thing going on. Logitech is prolly doing it cus Klipsch isnt going to produce anymore of theres so they are picking up all the funds they can by not flooding the market anymore with theirs, or are getting rid of all their stock before releasing a new set. I dont know but I just cannot see both of them ditching that market its a proven seller.
Check out Klipsh forums though and then logitechs. You will see all the people, not just me bitching about amps blowing with the Klipsch not oe time, but several times even after being fixed. I have had my sets for over a year now and they both get played loud all the time, if they were $400 and I was still looking for a good set of speakers with a high powered RMS sub Id still buy them, but thats me.
I have bought several things from justdeals myself. Never had a problem with them, just bought a PS2 controlled last week in fact. If you get from them they may be scratched hear or there but I doubt they wont work, if they were Klipsch Id be telling you to stay away from them, because of the brand not company, but I dont think your going to have a problem, IMO.
The Speakers you listed, Velodyne, I had a sub made from them many years ago, tiny thing 8", was really great and punchy for its size and sounded good too, so if you go with the sats I bet they will sound good, havent heard them personally just the sub, but I was very impressed with the sub. But which ever way you go just make sure you go with a powered sub and look for it RMS power rating NOT its max power. And same with the receiver, look for its RMS power out put as well, not max, for good, clear, full sound. I just love it when these companies put 1000 watts on the box and in tiny writing somewhere it says 50 watts rms x 5 (10 watts rms per channel). People get it home and then wonder why they can talk over the stereo at max volume
Anyway good luck in your search, you can either pay for something that proven by many as being perfect, or take a stab in the dark at $400 and hope you get close to Z5500 sound and pray you don't throw your money away going "dammit, it has not bass, sounds like crap, and this is as loud as it will go? Why didn't I listen to funboy
"
Or wait on your $400, save up a few bucks more and get the high dollar stuff Jello knows more about. I know the cheap end, he knows the higher up (he can afford more funtoys then me
)
OH and I find funny is those who dont own or heard a Z5500 set in a HT setting talk smack on it and how bad it is, and those who DO own it talk about how great it is, and you wont find one person who does own a set say one thing bad about it other then having to turn the bass down every now and then. Why people listen to those who don't own, haven't heard it in person is beyond me.
"Its got tiny speakers, I haven't heard it, I don't own it, every review on it and every who owns it says its the best thing since sliced bread, but the speakers are tiny so its sucks don't buy it"
I'm 35, Ive owned high dollar component HT speakers and receivers and paid out the ass for them when I was younger, and could afford such nice things, I know what sounds good when you have the money. I also know what sounds good when you don't have the money, for $400, its really going to be hard to find a good receiver, 5 matching speakers (don't want it to sound like a real plane in the front and then a rc plane in the rear), and a high powered punchy sub, for $400, to come close. I'm talking out of knowledge, ownership, and experience. Yes if you have more money you can find and buy more but for $400 your choices are VERY limited.
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