For a home entertainment system, are speakers/receiver going to make or break my DVD watching experience?

[zippy]

I am thinking of getting the following:

-JVC AV27D201 27" MTS Stereo Television
-Toshiba SD-1600 DVDPlayer
-Dreamcast (PS2 next summer? GT3 though... )
-Speakers?

I am quite satisfied with the sound quality from my computer (Microsoft DSS80 speakers), so should I bother getting a separate set of speakers? If so, which ones? I don't think I have the budget to get a receiver/speaker set up, probably just the speakers.

Thanks.

 

[Soybomb]

Whats your budget man? Give us some prices and maybe we can help out! I just dont think dvds are the same if you cant hear the bullet ricochet around you, and feel your chest shake when a car explodes

 

[Wolfman35]

Zip; whazup home boy?? Speakers are the #1 priority in home theater. No matter how good the original recording is or how expensive the electronics are .....Speakers are what you actually "Hear". Just like you can have a 1.5Gig CPU and if all yer doing is playing solitare ... It's a waste. Check into the MSN 20% deal at Crutchfield and look at the NHT Super Zero speakers (along with a Good Subwoofer). I use the Super 0's for my computer speakers along with a Yamaha YST-150 Sub and it makes an awesome nearfield combo. (w/Yamaha 901 Integrated Amp)

Edit: If you're going to use that TV for Computer display look at the Toshiba's. Better Text display using S-Video.

 

[zippy]

Well, I'm paying for DC...so my parents...

TV- ~$400
DVD- ~$150
Audio- ???

What would you guys recommend for a mid range receiver+speaker combo?

Maybe I'll get the TV later on. My current TV has RCA jacks and an S-Video jack, so for DVDs S-Video should be fine. It's a Toshiba 27" from 1990, it's still pretty nice, but that JVC is noticeably nicer!

 

[Soybomb]

go to www.800.com and browse their hometheater systems, they have alot in the 300-500 price range and for a couple days you can get 20% off I think. Nice deals

 

[Imported]

Speakers are not necessarily the number one priority. I've heard the speaker cable itself had better be good or your speakers are going to end up sounding like crap anyways.

 

[zippy]

This home theatre has nothing to do with my computer btw.

Pioneer VSX-D309 receiver
Reviews of this receiver...
KLH HTA-9006 Home-Theater Speaker System

 

[Soybomb]

Here you go check THIS out. $400 plus shipping!

 

[Imported]

How big is the room? If it's fairly small, then these might be pretty good speakers:

Ensemble IV

 

[zippy]

That's $500+shipping...

 

[zippy]

Thanks for the help everyone!

One day this week I'll go to best buy and ask to hear some receiver+speaker set ups. I don't think I'm as picky as some of you. I also don't think I have as big of a budget to work with as I think.

 

[Soybomb]

Pay attention, I say pay attention boy, you get 20% off at 800.com instantly with the microsoft passport discount! 20% off $500 is $100, leaving the price at $400 So whats your price range then? dollar ammount please

 

[zippy]

<< MSN Holiday Bonus has ended
The MSN Holiday Bonus at 800.com, a limited time offer courtesy of Microsoft, has ended. >>


Soybomb, that deal has been over for about 2 weeks.

 

[Soybomb]

Pooh I thought that was supposed to run until dec 20th or something!

 

[zippy]

Hmmm...what if I got a Sony Wega? I don't really think I need such a high end speaker system, as long as it is clear, it's fine by me. I don't have the most spectacular hearing and neither do my parents.

Does the Wega have a better sound system than most TVs? I am more concerned with the picture on the TV, which is why I am mentioning the Wega.

BTW, any good deals on the Sony KV27FS16 Wega? It's an $800 TV...so if I could miraculously find it for like $650 that would be perfect.

 

[vi edit]

Well, I would recommend a Yamaha or a Denon for the reciever. You should be able to get their entry level DTS receivers for about $350 or so.

As for speakers check out Ubid's speaker auction.

I bought a full wharfedale setup for under $450. I will put money on it that it is one of the best sounding setups for the $$.

Also, check out the klipsch quintet, and the Energy 5 series. Both of those setups should run you about $500 or so. Great for movies, ok for music.

It's not home theatre without the surround sound! You gotta drop the money to pick one up. Also, don't go cheap on the speakers. They'll last longer than any other component in the setup(sort of like monitors and speakers for a computer), so you want to be happy with them.

 

[Mday]

yes, the audio will make or break your DVD watching experience.

if you don't think so, play games and watch movies with the audio off. see if you enjoy it more that way.

YOU NEED THE SPEAKERS.

you may not need the BEST, but you sure as heck can't live with the ones that come ON the television sets.

trust me, better speakers and more of them will make things better.

 

[AndrewR]

Yet another tribute to speakers for a listening experience. I am currently assembling my home theater (waiting on my speakers), but I have hooked up my receiver and DVD player and connected my current stereo speakers for the DVD audio (POS Sony's). The difference from the TV was striking, begging the question as to why I didn't route the sound there before. Granted, my Samsung TV doesn't have the best audio, though it is stereo, but the quality from even garbage bookshelf speakers was amazingly better.

Now, when my Infinity HTS-10 speakers arrive, I'll be in audio heaven, thoroughly pissing off my door slamming neighbors with 5.1 wall shaking goodness.