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Budgie HT Setup for my BR

M

MrPabulum

Platinum Member
I'm currently putting a new TV in my 13 x 9 room, a 27in. Toshiba, and already have a PS2 that's going to serve as a DVD player. Now, given the space limitations, what HT systems do you guys recommend? The Logitech Z-680s seems pretty good (the digital decoder is very useful). Anyone have any experience with the Z-680s as a home theater system (not on the PC). Fluance looked good, but that requires a reciever, which adds another $250-300. Anything better than the Z-680s, in terms of price/performance? Thanks for the help! :beer:

Edit: Hmm..are the refubished Onkyo's 650s decent?
 
If you want a decent reciever, I bought the JVC RX-6020V (sometimes labeled RX-6020VBK) at BJ's (wholesale club) for $100! It is last years model, but it is quite a reciever! Has Dolby Digital, Pro Logic II, DTS, etc, along with 1 digital optical and 1 digital coaxial inputs. Also has around 6 inputs, and outputs for 2 fronts, 2 rears, 1 center, 1 sub, 1 vcr (for recording sound), and 1 tape player/standalone CDR/standalone DVD-R (for recording sound). IMO its a nice reciever! From tons of experience, nothing sounds better than a set of speakers and a reciever!
 
I've been using the Cambridge Soundworks FPS2000 for a few years in a dorm room, and they're a pretty decent set of computer speakers for that kind of space, if you don't mind a 4.1. The little cube speakers are actually remarkably good in the midrange, and it's got a decent sub that makes up for their lackluster bass. I wouldn't advise it for a larger room, but if you're in a small room like that (just over 100sf), and you won't be trying to blast music as loudly as possible, I'm not sure you need much more. It's no Z-680, but it also only costs $100. 🙂 You should read the description of it just for the marketing hype, which was apparently written when Unreal and Half-Life were the big games on the market, and EAX was a hot new feature:

http://www.cambridgesoundworks.com/store/category.cgi?category=mul_speakers&item=c1fp2000&type=store

😛

They have a much higher-end solution that's designed to compete with the Z-680, the "Megaworks 505". Haven't used it, but it's apparently right up there in terms of quality and power, though it may cost a bit more than the 680.
 
bump...i had an old set of FPS2000s...three years ago. 😉 Served me well, but I'm looking for something better. :beer:
 
Hmm..its come down to these choices:

1.) Onkyo GXW 5.1 - Cheapest 5.1 I've seen, and I have heard good things about it. Great for movies, ok for music. Just what kind of quality do these babies produce at medium power?

2.) Logitech Z-680s - Reviews are great, comes with digital decoder, but how much better is it than the one above, in terms of sound quality, not power. Is it worth the extra expense?

3.) Klipsch 5.1 Ultras w/ decoder - This gets expensive, even with an employee discount at Best Buy. $430 (the discount is quite nice), but again, the digital decoder gets expensive. And does it beat the setup below?

4.) Refurbished Onkyo 650s (free Onkyo DVD player) - $400 buys all of this, and its my second choice after the GXW. But it will probably require some monster cable for optimal sound quality, so it'll come to $450 all together, which is still a good deal.

Now, even though the room is 13 x 9, only half of it will be for home theater, so power is not an issue. Sound quality, however, is very important. I'd like the system to be able to play movies and music well. (again, quality, not power so much). Also, I'm currently using my PS2 as a DVD player, and I imagine that the $79 Samsung, Panasonic or Onkyo Progressive Scan is going to do a better job, IQ wise? #4 is tempting, but is it overkill? Apologies for this long-winded post. History grad student, so I'm prone to asking lots of questions before coming to a conclusion. 😉

Additional thoughts?
 
I'd go with the 680s. I was working at BestBuy earlier this year was absolutely blown away by the awesome sound quality these little things put out. I worked at one of the larger stores, and the computer section where I worked was a good distance away from the home theater section. One night, someone had put on some rap music somewhere back there and turned it up rather loud. I was thinking (from the volume and high sound quality) it was coming from one of the full-size systems back in HT, as the sound absolutely filled the store. Little did I know it was actually coming from a set of 680s running on a Sony VAIO one aisle down from me!

I'm in the market for some new speakers as well, but I think I'm going with the 560s since I don't need 5.1, but they have about the same output wattage and are also THX-certified.
 
I'd get the 680's!

Get the Klipsches if you won't be turning them up loud and if you don't care about truly powerful bass. The quality from the Klipsches, when they're not pushed, is excellent. They just can't produce enough volume for my liking. And the sub can't keep up with ultra-low frequencies and/or high volumes.

Get the 680's if you will ever want to blast your system. Plus, the bass at any volume will beat the Klipsch sub from here to next week.
 
Regarding the DVD player, I'm not sure whether I'll purchase a new one (from the list mentioned above) because I currently have my PS2 attached to my TV's component video. (it is a nice difference). Is there any way to have both a PS2 and a DVD player attached to my TV's component connections. (a splitter perhaps?)

I'll decide on the speakers today or tomorrow. Thanks for your suggestions. 🙂
 
3.) Klipsch 5.1 Ultras w/ decoder - This gets expensive, even with an employee discount at Best Buy. $430 (the discount is quite nice), but again, the digital decoder gets expensive. And does it beat the setup below?
Click to expand...

I could be mislead but I thought the Klipch 5.1 did not have a digital decoder? Heard thru the grapevine its a analog out only.
 
The Digital Decoder (DD 5.1) is sold seperately (come by and see our entire inventory!! 😉). I don't think that many people use it, but its a nice option to have. A bit on the expensive side though. ($169)

Edit: I'd love to know if there is a way to connect both my PS2 and a DVD player to the one Component Video input on my Toshiba. Or am I stuck with either or?😕
 
Wait...I'm confused. A budgie? I don't think birds care too much about home theatres. I recommend buying $400 worth of millet, your budgie will love you for it.
 
Well..I can't find #1 (GXW), so its either the Onkyo 650s or Logitechs 680s. I'd love to know about the composite video connection. 😉 Then I can decide whether I should purchase a better DVD player. :beer:
 
If you've got the money... Get a better DVD player. Even a cheapie will look/sound better than your PS2.

Do it for that reason alone.
 
Hmm...I might very well do that. Maybe I can find a splitter of some sort. Or is there a way to add additional component-video connections? Going back and forth from PS2 to dvd player would not be fun. 🙁
 
Going to finish the whole setup this weekend. Local J&R Musicworld has refurbushed Onkyo HT760s for $299, so its either those or new Logitech 680s. DVD player will be either Sony NS325B or Panasonic S55s. Thanks for the help! 🙂

EDIT: Found the GXWs at Vanns.com for $149 shipped. Looks like a sweet deal.
 
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