Best Home theater system for <$400

[EnragedPC]

Whats the best home theater system I can get for under $400?..or just a LITTLE bit over?...by home theater system i mean a DVD player and kick ass speaker system that works with it...

 

[EnragedPC]

BUMP...sorry I want to order tonite

 

[mithrandir2001]

I'm glad to see our member from Ridgway is still making it.

You're best bet is to go to a B&M and listen to the various units since sound quality is often highly variable at this price level.

Go to www.circuitcity.com and search for "KEN HTB405". I'd give you a link but their URLs are full session crap. For $379 this looks pretty good. I like the fact that the speakers are all 2-ways (not a single full-range driver) and are magnetically shielded. $379 shipped sounds good.

 

[yellowperil]

Maybe the Pioneer HTD-520DV (comes with DVD player) or Kenwood HTB-505 (doesn't). You can find both on eBay for around $400 new. Neither have 'kickass' speakers (more like a glorified multimedia speaker set) but they're the best you can get for the price. The sub and receiver on the Kenwood set is actually pretty decent. That new Logitech set has DD5.1/DTS but I haven't heard it, I'm guessing it won't sound as good though

 

[mithrandir2001]

Oops, that doesn't come with a DVD player but you can pick one of those up pretty cheap, like the Apex AD1500 for like $69 at Amazon.

 

[EnragedPC]

well what would be some good speakers to plug into a DVD player??...i dont want to go TO expensive but gimme some ideas if i want really good surround and that stuff

 

[NuclearFusi0n]

what TV?

 

[mithrandir2001]

You do understand that you don't plug the speakers directly into the DVD player. You need a receiver...or one of those units that combines the DVD player and receiver together.

Don't be so hasty to blow through $400 if you haven't thought this through. Where are you going to put the equipment? In a living room? Bedroom? Dorm? What kind of TV do you have? Will you need wall mounts? Speaker stands? Do you want higher quality or just high output? There are a lot of things for you to consider. Why do you want to order tonight? Because you are impatient (we all suffer from it) or because you absolutely need it?

 

[tkdkid]

Go to circuit city and buy the onkyo 650 for $499 (you get 5 speakers, sub, receiver and speaker wire). Whatever you get that's cheaper is going to sound like crap and you will regret buying it. Add a cheapo DVD player and you're all set.

 

[EnragedPC]

well see im not that big of an Audiophile...i just want the sound to be crisp clear and powerful...and mainly i want to be able to hear the words on DVD's im watching...for some reason the background sounds come real clear but the voices are very very quiet....

 

[mithrandir2001]

Do you already have a home theater setup? It sounds like you do. What are you using as a DVD player and speakers? Maybe you just need a good channel channel speaker...and you can replace the other stuff in the future, one step at a time.

You might also have the volume too low for the center channel. Your receiver should have a facility to set the volume for each channel using test tones. For instance, I have my center at +3 dB and surrounds at +2 dB; mains are flat.

 

[EnragedPC]

I have a DVD player but no speakers...sound comes from the TV

 

[Mani]

The Digitheater DTS is selling for $275, there's a thread about it in Hot Deals. It's supposed to be a nice HT setup, just ordered it last night myself.

 

[ScoobMaster]

May I recommend the JVC DS-TP370.

I have the older model (DS-TP-350) and for the money (I got mine for $299.99 SHIPPED) I don't think you can beat it

The place I bought mine (Vanns.com) has the 370 for $319 & free shipping.

100 Watts x 5 (Surround), 100 Watts x 2 (Stereo)
8" 100 Watt Powered Polycone Subwoofer
Magnetically Shielded Full Range Front Speakers
Magnetically Shielded Full Range Surround Speakers
Magnetically Shielded Full Range Center Speaker
2 Composite Video Inputs, 2 Composite Video Outputs
2 Assignable Digital Inputs (1 Optical, 1 Coaxial)
Digital Acoustic Processor (DAP) for 2 Channel Sources
Multibrand A/V Remote Control
Dolby Digital, DTS & Dolby Pro Logic II Decoding
Fluorescent Display
Bass and Treble Tone Controls
15 AM and 30 FM Station Memory
Line Level Subwoofer Output
Fixed Low Pass Filter & Subsonic Filter on Subwoofer
Subwoofer Anti-Clipping Circuit & Variable Volume Control
Single RCA Input on Subwoofer
Frequency Response (Satellite & Center Speakers): 200 - 16 kHz
Frequency Response Subwoofer: 33Hz - 200Hz
Enhanced COMPU LINK System
19 lbs. (A/V Receiver)
17 3/16" x 5 13/16" x 16 7/16" (A/V Receiver)

 

[Muadib]

Another vote for the Kenwood HTIB!!

 

[sandorski]

If you have a DVD player that has 5.1 RCA output, just get yourself a set of Klipsch Promedia 5.1s. That will be the best setup you're going to get for that price.