help building a low cost home theater setup..

[Valhalla1]

my dad was telling me he was about to order some cheap home theater all in one package thing, I told him hold off and let me see what I can find, maybe something better and I'll go in with him on buying it..

so he wants a dvd player with cd and mp3 player capability.. and some speakers and receiver or whatever required. I have klipsch promedia pc speakers, I want something that will crank and sound great like these but NOT expensive.. he only wants to spend a few hundred on this whole getup.. supposedly there is a dvd/mp3 player at target for 90bux he wants. what speakers would be good but cheap? surround with sub

 

[Luden]

try a kenwood htb05 system, Text you get 5 speakers, a sub and a 500watt reciever

 

[Viperoni]

Yech the Kenwood system yet again

The best thing I can think of for cheap is this audiosource HT system, 4 sats, center, and a sub.
If you wanna go DIY, I know a $250-for-5-sat-setup that's awesome...

 

[LordThing]

I would love to build my own speakers, but I am a total Nuub at doing stuff like crossovers and such. If there was an easy, diagram filled walkthrough, I would be all over it. I would love to do a project like This. Ah well, probably have to purchase an all-in-one box.

 

[Valhalla1]

thanks.. viperoni - whats wrong with that kenwood system anyway ?

 

[Viperoni]

Lordthing,

I'm actually building the Dayton HT center channel
I already have a (dfferent sized) box built already, I just have to cut holes and install everything. Won't be done for a while as I need to sell some of my other stuff (3 different subs and a couple pairs of speakers)...but it will be nice.
BTW: Wayne J hasn't posted the center + main layout diagrams or crossover schematics because he's been really busy, but I emailed him and he sent them to me a while back.
Also he posted them on the PE forum, and one guy put it all together onto one page.
wkelch's Dayton HT page

Valhalla, Wayne J's first "dip" into modern HT was a Kenwood HT303 or 304...apparently they haven't changed much. He took measurements of them and as expected their pretty crappy.
Here's an interesting read on why DIY is better, and he includes measurements of those Kenwood speakers.

This one quote sums it all up:



<< As is evident from the response curve, there was no emphasis on flat response. >>

 

[Valhalla1]

i dont have the time, patience, or know-how to build DIY speakers, but it was an interesting read..

 

[Viperoni]

<< i dont have the time, patience, or know-how to build DIY speakers, but it was an interesting read.. >>



Those are the few things DIY takes; time and patience. But when you build that $100 pair satellites and hear them running against some $300 polks or infinities and it doesn't have much trouble dusting them off, that's when you feel good

 

[LordThing]

I would love to build my own. One of the main reasons i turned to building and modding computers is because I knew I could do a better job than Packard Bell and at a cheaper price. Still, even looking at the hand drawings of the crossovers and parts list, lord knows I wouldnt begin to know where and how to properly sodder a crossover or wiring to get the speakers working. Again, i guess I need a bit more hand holding. Ah well. Thanks for the info though.

 

[Viperoni]

<< I would love to build my own. One of the main reasons i turned to building and modding computers is because I knew I could do a better job than Packard Bell and at a cheaper price. Still, even looking at the hand drawings of the crossovers and parts list, lord knows I wouldnt begin to know where and how to properly sodder a crossover or wiring to get the speakers working. Again, i guess I need a bit more hand holding. Ah well. Thanks for the info though. >>



Speakers are exactly the same as building your own comp, save for a bit more hands on work.....like not just slide a card into a slot, load drivers, etc etc.....

Speakerbuilder.net's crossover building article

You literally just hookup the components in that order, wire the drivers to the crossover, crossover to the terminals on the back of the cabinet, and that's it
It does take patience, but man, it's worth it in the end. See my sub that I built just a few days ago? Man I can't wait to pickup the wire+plugs I bought from parts express, make the subs cable, mod the amp's internal crossover, put it in its spot and crank some terminator 2/U571/Die Hard/etc etc

 

[tm37]

<< try a kenwood htb05 system, Text you get 5 speakers, a sub and a 500watt reciever >>



and it's only $300!!! @ sam's

I have this unit. Boought it for 300 and sold the amp/ sub for 150.

They sound fime. I listen to movies and there is no disternible distortion.

As far as the freq stuff you posted viper, Remember the Speech spectrum is on about 1000HZ-4000Hz

Also they are measured in SPL as opposed to HL which is what we here.

If you get your hearing tested and you can here 70dB HL that earhone is accually producing 77dB SPL. @ 1000HZ and 79dB @2000HZ nad 84.4 @6000HZ and 115dB @ 125HZ

so when measuring and wanting a FLAT response your ears aren't. Also it is RARE that you even have a flat respoce when measuring in HL! usually they will vary by 5-20 db accross the spectrum! More if you have a hearing loss!

Having said that like I said I am Very happy with the speakers in that kenwood setup, I do not doubt that they are not the best but unless you are looking to listen to concert hall music, and your room is accoustically sound, (Yes the room can make a huge difference in the quality of sound) and you do not have a desire to to build your I know, As a owner of the kenwood setup (speakers only) I would definately suggest them as an inexpensive home theater setup.

 

[yellowperil]

I bought the HTB-503 based on reviews at audioreview and hometheatermag. It is my first 'big' home audio purchase and I have no complaints about it. I haven't gotten to really turn it up because I'm living in an apartment, but adds a nice theater ambience to DVD's and the subwoofer and receiver alone are worth the amount I paid. It was $300 including shipping, since it was refurbished from uBid (no signs that it was used, however).

The Apex AD-500W ($89, Wal-mart) is a good basic player w/MP3. If your TV has S-Video or component inputs I'd recommend going for the Panasonic DVD-RV31

 

[Viperoni]

<< Remember the Speech spectrum is on about 1000HZ-4000Hz >>



Voices usually start from ~100hz, male voices usually lower......that's why you sometimes hear them coming through your sub......

Don't get me wrong, it is a good deal for someone that wants a basic HT with sound, nobody can deny that.

True that your hearing level is off a lot, but if speakers aren't made with flat response, well, it's increedibly hard to tailor for each persons hearing level....

 

[tm37]

<< Voices usually start from ~100hz, male voices usually lower >>



Perhaps barrywhites voice but not your average voice.

more like 500HZ


Audiologists test 125Hz - 12000HZ

Hearing loss is determained by 1000-3000(or 4k depending on the states you live in)

You may here the lowest end in the sub but then again Clinically speaking anything below 750HZ is considered LOW FREQUENCY.

The only reason that they test out to those edges is to see the response curve of your ear!

OSHA only requires testing as low as 500HZ and many AUdiologist say in a screening program it is totally unnessisary.

 

[GasX]

How do Sony's all-in-one sets compare to Kenwood's? I know their cheaps subs are very good. I was wondering if that price/quality ratio translated into a good, cheap HT system...

 

[Viperoni]

Honestly I think it's lower than 500hz. Probably on average, but definetely not the lowest it can go.

I didn't know that about hearing testing, thanks

IMO they both suck, but you do get a pretty complete set for the money. Definetely worth it for the money if you don't want to spend anymore cash on it (IE; not a big time DVD nut )

 

[Spendthrift]

if you really want an all-in-one home theater setup then go with the energy take 5 system. otherwise you can pick up some psb alpha a/v speakers pretty cheap and theyll sound great.

dvd player - go for the panasonic rv31 or pioneer 343. both can be had for about $130 and well worth the money

reciever - pick up an onkyo 494 off ebay or spend a little more money for a denon 1802. you wont regret it.

whatever you do be sure and pick up a quality reciever and dvd player. you can always upgrade the speakers later.