Home theatre set up...

[zippy]

Okay, my basement is about to get pimped out! WOOHOO!

The plans are the following, we are getting the wood panels painted off white, we are getting a billiards table, we have a little fridge and I want to get a couch and a home theatre set up for down there. I know we are getting a new TV for the basement, but I just have to convince my parents about the speakers and dvd player.

I also need some advice on which TV to get (19-27&quot, speakers and DVD player to get.

I'm thinking the Toshiba SD2200 (Mercata- SD2200) for the DVD player (it has a CD player in it too so I don't need to get a stereo for down there too. ).

What was that DVD player that could play MP3 CDs?

I don't know what to get for speakers and a TV though.

I figure the total budget I have to work with is around $700.

 

[Finality]

You'll need a good reciever. Something that does DTS

A $1000 HTS setup would be a coupled with an Take 5 speakers Energy eSXl-8 an 8 inch sub. You can pick it up for $800 USD from audioshop.ca . Its quality is equivalent of a $2000+ systems.

Audioreview website have the best user reviews for a variety of speakers/DVDS/receivers etc.

You are better off spending about $1200 on a full theater system, Receiver cabling included. I paid about that for a 10' Energy sub (overkill).

 

[vi edit]

The apex was one of the DVD players that could play MP3's.

I own a toshiba 3109 w/ the dual tray setup. A very nice DVD player. My biggest beef is that it refused to play CDR's :|

 

[vi edit]

I paid about that for a 10' Energy sub (overkill).

I'll say :Q

 

[lotust]

apex yuckkk that is the worst picture I have ever seen on a DVD player EVER. just thought I would share that with you..


sony makes a good reciver for 399. stdre 845.. the only bad thing about it is it gets real hot when yo crank it up( and I mean 160Deg's). But I will take case of that with a heatsink and fan too.

EDIT:the wost spelling I've ever done ,,OUCH!

 

[Farbio]

lotust, what have u been smoking????


and finality, a 10 foot sub for only 1200???? man where do i get my hands on one of those? think i can fit it in my trunk to get the full rice effect?

 

[amb#cog]

Ummm..... my Apex has a great picture. Dunno what was wrong with the one you saw???

I was at my buds house watching Any Given Sunday (great flick BTW) on his 62" Philips/Magnavox (suhweeeeet) w/ his Phiplips/Magnavox DVD player ($300+), and it did some skipping thing. It just did it once, but it did it. My Apex has never done that, ever, and the picture quality is the same IMO.

So for the $171.99 + 7% sales tax I paid. I'd say it was one of the best buys I've ever gotten.

I highly recommend the WEGA series of TV's. They make a 24" now (like $400 I think) that may keep you in budget. I honestly don't see how you could do a HT for $700, but nothings impossible.

I'd go 24" WEGA, Apex DVD, and either wait for enough cash to do up a real system, or get a set of 5.1 computer style (i.e. Midiland 7100's, Cambridge Soundworks 2500's).

I have an Apex (w/ loophole menu), a 27" WEGA (just got it Wed), an Infinity 8" 60 watt sub, a set of JBL's (old, but nice (i.e polypropalene cones) 8" woofer, 6in mid, 1in titanium tweet) for the fronts (one has a blown tweet, but still under warranty), some cheap Aiwa surrounds from a mini system.

I need a nice receiver, and better surround speaks. I wanna get a real nice center channel with dual 6in cones (I need nice mid-bass), and will most likely spend a lot on it ($300-$500), because that's where most of your sound comes from while watching a movie. Then maybe a nice set of rears, nothing too special though. Then I'll be all set. I'd rather wait for the money to roll in, then get something I won't be happy with.

Either way. Good luck, and let us know what you get.

 

[lotust]

Farbio
WOw thats the worst spelling I have ever seen here on the boards. My spelling I mean. Dam I should check that next time . Lol he h e

 

[Tripleshot]

? Is there any reason a souped up comp with a kick ars vid card with proper output could not be used for home theater using a soundbaster live and some nice 5.1 speakers in a normal living room or den say about 12X12 size? I am curious as to why one would spend 5-10 thousand for home theater when I would think you could get nice effects with a 27 in set or 30 in set hooked to your PC. Am I up in the night about this?

 

[Wangel]

I agree. A good computer can take much of the home theatre load.

 

[zippy]

I have a very nice computer with some sweet speakers (got a great deal on them too...MS DSS80s for $40 after rebate...WOOHOO!), a DVD drive, and a nice 19" monitor. However, I refuse to watch TV on my friggin computer! Why? Because my dad is COMPLETELY computer illiterate and won't go within ten feet of my computer.

I want to get a nice TV for down there, we have one in the den/family room but the sound sucks and its too casual I guess you could say, for DVDs and stuff. The reason I want a TV in the basement is because I will have a billiards table there and I could have my friends over more and we could be down there. Also, the VCR in the den is POS that is about 12 years old and is dying. DVD is a must! Except if I can't appreciate the DVD over VHS by using it on an aging, not too terribly clear within 10 feet (its about 8-9 years old but its about 35" or so), TV with weak and sometimes fuzzy sound, then what's the point?

Those are my reasons for wanting a home theatre set up down there instead of putting my computer down there.

What if I got the Apex MP3 CD capable DVD player, Sony 24" Wega TV, and a set of ?????? speakers? Computeresque speakers are fine because its a small room...all I want is clarity and the ability to crank it up and appreciate the sound effects (I love action movies...).

BTW I think I will have to leave my computer in the computer room (really my sister's room, cept she is all grown up and not living at home ) due to space constraints. However...i have an idea...lemme draw something up in Photoshop real quick...

 

[zippy]

Idea 1...
Idea 2...

Idea 2 is most likely...though, I could save myself the trouble of getting anything more than two more speakers (rear...not shown) by going with #1...however, I'd have to get a receiver...$$$. Plus, I don't really want to do my homework in the basement.

 

[yata]

My suggestion is to buy a decent amp and a pair of really nice speakers, other than the TV you're going to have. Those two should be the top priority. Movies and all need those kinds of power sound cards cannot provide. Whether you want digital or not Dolby hooked to your DVD player it's up to you. And you can buy cheap surround speakers for upgrade or a sub in the future, just to play around.

This may cost much if you add the DVD player. DVD's are expensive too. You can hold off the player and get the sound set up with VHS. It's not bad at all.

Actually speakers should be more important than amp. That's where the sound comes from.

 

[zippy]

Maybe Home Theatre isn't the best terminology for what i'm getting... hmmm...

How about these speakers:
Altec Lansing 880R
Altec Lansing's info on the speakers...

What about this for a DVD player:
Toshiba SD2200

TV:
Panny flat screen
Someone in my old home theatre advice thread (a few weeks/months ago when i wasn't positive i was getting this...) said that this was very good...

 

[lotust]

zippy
flat screens are nice. I use my holywood DVD decoder card with Digital out connected to my DTS home reciver. this works awsome and the picture is awsome too.

 

[Mr.IncrediblyBored]

Zippy don't buy online. You may regret it.

 

[The Stigenator]

Damn.. I hit cancel after writing all that..

Zippy, dont buy anything online before checking them out in a B&M store.

First thing first.. listen to the audio ... it makes such a difference to get a good audio system.. I suggest teh Kenwood Combo with (dolby digital + dts) with 5 speakers + sub.600 W for 400USD. Its 100 W per channel + 100W SUB.

The TV and dvd make sure you check them out on a B&M store check out quality (esp. tv's) before bying online if model found cheaper.

When we bought my friends system, we went around shopping and after spending quite a while listening on to differnet combo (amp+speakers) and seperate (buy amp + speaker seperate).. we decided to buy the kenwood system.

 

[zippy]

The Good Guy, of course, I am just showing some pages with them and the features.

Thanks for the advice guys!

Any more advice...preferably in my price range.

 

[The Stigenator]

this is the model I was suggesting

If not there is a model withouth DTS for about 300USD.

 

[lotust]

The_good_guy
that looks like a really good deal. I just wonder how that speakers sound, But for 500$ its a good deal. DTS and all .


zippy what do you think?

 

[The Stigenator]

It sounds awesome.. the speakers are extremely balenced and crisp. We infact play "Perfect Dark" with the N64 routed thru the amp so it plays dolby surround. Infact we routed everything thru the amp, the tv sounds, the video sounds (thru the tv to the amp), dvd, n64 (thru the tv to the amp).. My friend couldnt be happier.

Just one thing, make sure you get some good cable.. the cable that comes with it is horrible..
I got 16Gauge MegaCable from Radio Shack. Its like 17 bucks for 50 feet. Its good quality cable.
The cable looks clear with a red strip on one cable.

I plan to get teh amp alone for myself. I have Technics Speakers at home 200W each, and I have a horrid amp.

 

[poop]

Hey, I got that DVD player from mercata, and it is excellent. It plays CD-R's, as well. The picture is really nice (slightly better than my old samsung player), and the dolby digital built in is a realy money saver. One REALLY cool feature is that the unit can read cd-text. So burned cd's with text show the song titles and stuff. Definitely cool.

My setup is with a Panasonic 27" TV w/ component inputs that my roomate and I split. Not the best TV, but excellent for college guyss on a budget. I HIGHLY recommend getting a TV with components for DVD. It makes a world of difference.

As for a reciever, you can pick up a Dolby Digital Ready reciever from ubid for like $100. I got one like 1.5 years ago, and it is still running nicely.

Speakers are the real expense. That is if you want really nice ones. It all depends on how picky you are. Just remember that the center channel is VERY important. Next come the mains. You will probably want to get nice mains, unless you only want to watch movies. The cheapest you will find decent speakers (center/mains/surrounds) is probably around $300. You can go WAY higher, but with your budget, that doesn't seem likely. You can go lower, as well. But most cheaper speakers just aren't that nice. If you aren't a picky listener, you might not notice. A sub is also very nice, but almost impossible on your budget.

One thing you will find out is that wires kill your budget, too. Componenet video cables run at least $50. Then comes the speaker wire. I would recommend at least 16 gauge. Though 12 gauge is not too much more. The audio cables and connectors will set you back some more. I found that you cannot skimp on audio, esp the sub. I did and noticed a TON of noise. I ended up upgrading to get rid of annoying hiss. In any case: DO NOT underestimate wiring costs like I did .

Realistic prices:
$ 200 - DVD Player
$ 350 - TV
$ 100 - Reciever
$ 100 - Center
$ 200 - Mains
$ 50 - Surrounds
$ 100 - Wiring
$ 75 - Movies (you can't buy a player without any movies )
$ 200 - Sub
-----------------
$1375

Remember that these are for mid-lo fi hardware. The 'good stuff' is generally VERY expensive. So your best bet is to decide what is most important now, then buy that stuff with your $700. You are much better off getting things of a little higher quality later than cramming it all into a $700 budget now.

 

[zippy]

Cables and speakers are that expensive?! I don't need something that will pop my ear drums on the lowest setting man...e gads! I just want something clear that will give me an accurate sound effect.

What about those altec lansing speakers? Or no, because there is no center speaker?

That Dolby® Digital/DTS? Home Theater System HTB503 does look mighty fine though...Dolby Digital/DTS...nice speakers and a receiver for $500...<drool>.

Okay, what about TV though? I will have to go to Best Buy to check out speakers...but that kenwood set looks nice, because I have an N64 (that i never play really any more...) and I plan to get the Nintendo Gaming Cube next year.

I think its pretty much settled that I should get the Toshiba SD2200?

Thanks for all this advice guys! I'm a just about a newbie on this stuff, as you can plainly see, so this advice is reallllly helpful so I don't get ripped off.

 

[poop]

Honestly, if you look at the entire range of products, the prices I mentioned are quite low.

I don't generally trust those all-in-ones. I have never listened to a set that sounds very good. By sound good, I mean accurate audio portrayal. If you look closely at that system you linked to, the center channel is not very nice. The page doesn't list speaker specifics, but the center is only a 2-cone model. I don't even see frequency ranges listed, or a sensitivity rating.

Your best bet is to go somewhere and listen to the system. A good thing to do is put in a movie, and turn it up a bit. Then play some dialogue, some explosions, and some music. If you notice any popping or distortion, pick another unit. This seems to be a common problem with cheaper centers. In my opinion, it is annoying as HELL to hear distortion in a movie.

Bottom line: do your resarch (listen). Buy what sounds best in your price range. Sound is extremely subjective, and different peopel will tell you totally different things.

 

[poop]

Oh, I forgot. That JVC tv you mentioned earlier is pretty nice. But you can get a panasonig nearly identical for $50 less. It is not quite as nice as the JVC, but very close. My roomate and I could not tell a $50 difference between the sets, that is for sure.