home theatre systems

[rh71]

Looking to outfit my empty new home with a nice entertainment system... should I get those home-theatre-in-a-box sets or no ?

What're the best speakers out there today? I've been hearing Bose is mostly just a name and there's others for same or better quality. Help?

 

[fastman]

Dude, too many options. Need to set a budget and go from there. Try looking at http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/. They have all the answers. Good luck, you'll find Hi-Fi people to more opinionated then puter peps.

 

[Entity]

For consumer-line stuff...

Speakers: Polk, Klipsch, Boston Acoustic, Vienna Acoustic, Aperion...

Receiver: Denon (I have the 3802, great AVR), Onkyo,

http://www.audioreview.com/

If you wanna go less expensive: http://www.cheaphometheater.com/

Rob

 

[NewSc2]

Yup, what fastman said. There aren't too many decent ht-in-a-box systems out there (Except Energy 8.2) but if you're strapped for cash, then it's a good idea. After browsing those forums I picked up a Denon 1802/Diva 4.1/R3 combo for about $1300, not bad

 

[rh71]

Thanks.. definitely on a budget after all the furniture, etc. we still need to buy. I have no clue what they're supposed to cost (a budget/decent entertainment system)... I'll hit the sites you guys provided. Feel free to leave anymore ideas too.

 

[vi edit]

Define budget.

$300 for the setup? $500 for the setup? $800?

 

[vi edit]

Also, how big of a room are you looking to hook up?

 

[CrowDog]

Ive been looking around for awhile. My budget is below $500.

I will probably get the Onkyo HT-S650.

 

[nord1899]

Important details that are missing: budget and components. That is, how much are you willing to spend and what are you planning on buying? Another detail that helps narrow things down is how big is the room where its going to be put in.

Without that, no one can really help you out.

 

[rh71]

Budget = ~$500 I guess, but recommendations for a few hundred above it will be good too. How much does the avg. Joe want to spend on something like this ?

Room size = 256 sq ft.

What I need = whatever you think would be sufficient and not overboard (I'm obviously a newbie to this stuff)

What we will already have = Sony 57" widescreen (HDTV-ready)... maybe that'll negate the necessity of some audio components we're speaking of?

Thanks for everything so far... I'm looking at all the links.

 

[mithrandir2001]

Originally posted by: CrowDog
Ive been looking around for awhile. My budget is below $500.

I will probably get the Onkyo HT-S650.

That's a great buy.

 

[kami]

Don't buy Bose please.


I recommend Paradigm speakers. Their performance line is really good value if you're on a budget. Speakers are very subjective though...some people don't like paradigm sound, personally I love it...

As for recievers, if you buy any yamaha, onkyo, or denon you really can't go wrong.

 

[Snuffaluffaguss]

For around your budget I would suggest, the Pioneer 811, JBL NSP-1 speakers set, and the sony 12"sub it will run you about 600-700 and will rock. also check out the hometheater forum.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Something to consider is taking your budget and spending it all on speakers, then using an old / used / garage sale receiver until you can afford the $250-400 for a decent one (pioneer makes a nice one for $299 at etronics).

Given a choice I'd rather hear pro logic through decent speakers than 5.1 through ultra-budget.

 

[777php]

I'm going to recommend the Paradigm Reference speakers to my dad for his home theater system, does anyone know how much these babies cost?

 

[narzy]

I got 700 for a TV and HT system, you guys have any ideas for me? I wanna get a sony Vega 27 incher but have no clue as to what to get for sound. sorry to thread steal RH71 but I don wanna create a new "repost" thread."

 

[Antisocial Virge]

Friend an I were just talking about this tonight. Basically he is gonna spent as much for a whole theater in a box as I plan on just my polk speakers :Q

 

[Muadib]

Originally posted by: rh71
Looking to outfit my empty new home with a nice entertainment system... should I get those home-theatre-in-a-box sets or no ?

What're the best speakers out there today? I've been hearing Bose is mostly just a name and there's others for same or better quality. Help?

Best speakers I've heard. Add one of these, and a pair of these, and you be on your way to having the best home theatre on the block. Ok, I got a bit carried away, but you did say best speakers out thrre.

Now let's come back to earth. If the whole $500 is to be spent on speakers, then take a look at the NHT Super ones. They go on sale quite often at 6th ave electronics, so you can get a set of 5 for slightly under your price range. You will want a sub sooner of later though.

 

[kherman]

Originally posted by: rh71
Budget = ~$500 I guess, but recommendations for a few hundred above it will be good too. How much does the avg. Joe want to spend on something like this ?

Room size = 256 sq ft.

What I need = whatever you think would be sufficient and not overboard (I'm obviously a newbie to this stuff)

What we will already have = Sony 57" widescreen (HDTV-ready)... maybe that'll negate the necessity of some audio components we're speaking of?

Thanks for everything so far... I'm looking at all the links.

*smacks head* OK, you have a SICK TV and you are putting $500 of your budget to a stereo???? Oh boy. I have an $1800 TV and my DVD player was a floor model I got for half price. Half price was your budget, $500. You are not going to have a balanced system. What you're doing is like buying a frame/body of a Dodge Viper and putting an engine from a Dodge neon in it. It looks great but performs like crap.

$500. Try finding a $100 DVD player by Sony. Cripe, you arn't going to have an upgrade path.

OK, my recomendation. Buy a SICK DVD player. Go buy a Pioneer Elite DVD player with component outs. Use your TV for sound for now. Save up a minimum of $2000, and then buy a stereo. Go buy a Harmon Kardon receiver for $800 or so and dedicate the remaining $1200 to the speakers.

 

[Flashram]

Snuffaluffaguss's suggestion above would give you a VERY nice setup for the price.

smacks head* OK, you have a SICK TV and you are putting $500 of your budget to a stereo???? Oh boy. I have an $1800 TV and my DVD player was a floor model I got for half price. Half price was your budget, $500. You are not going to have a balanced system. What you're doing is like buying a frame/body of a Dodge Viper and putting an engine from a Dodge neon in it. It looks great but performs like crap.

$500. Try finding a $100 DVD player by Sony. Cripe, you arn't going to have an upgrade path.

OK, my recomendation. Buy a SICK DVD player. Go buy a Pioneer Elite DVD player with component outs. Use your TV for sound for now. Save up a minimum of $2000, and then buy a stereo. Go buy a Harmon Kardon receiver for $800 or so and dedicate the remaining $1200 to the speakers.

I wouldn't waste a ton of money on a dvd player. I have a $49 Mintek w/ component outs that has more features and an equally good picture as my $400 Pioneer dvd player. The Pioneer is built better, but that's about it.

You do not have to spend $1000 on a receiver anymore to get good quality and a similar featureset as a $300-$400 receiver. If you want to spend more, the options are there. But spending more does not always mean better.

 

[kherman]

Originally posted by: Flashram

smacks head* OK, you have a SICK TV and you are putting $500 of your budget to a stereo???? Oh boy. I have an $1800 TV and my DVD player was a floor model I got for half price. Half price was your budget, $500. You are not going to have a balanced system. What you're doing is like buying a frame/body of a Dodge Viper and putting an engine from a Dodge neon in it. It looks great but performs like crap.

$500. Try finding a $100 DVD player by Sony. Cripe, you arn't going to have an upgrade path.

OK, my recomendation. Buy a SICK DVD player. Go buy a Pioneer Elite DVD player with component outs. Use your TV for sound for now. Save up a minimum of $2000, and then buy a stereo. Go buy a Harmon Kardon receiver for $800 or so and dedicate the remaining $1200 to the speakers.

I wouldn't waste a ton of money on a dvd player. I have a $49 Mintek w/ component outs that has more features and an equally good picture as my $400 Pioneer dvd player. The Pioneer is built better, but that's about it.

You do not have to spend $1000 on a receiver anymore to get good quality and a similar featureset as a $300-$400 receiver. If you want to spend more, the options are there. But spending more does not always mean better.

That's true, but why put the V-4 in the Dodge Viper body?

 

[Flashram]

Originally posted by: kherman

Originally posted by: Flashram

smacks head* OK, you have a SICK TV and you are putting $500 of your budget to a stereo???? Oh boy. I have an $1800 TV and my DVD player was a floor model I got for half price. Half price was your budget, $500. You are not going to have a balanced system. What you're doing is like buying a frame/body of a Dodge Viper and putting an engine from a Dodge neon in it. It looks great but performs like crap.

$500. Try finding a $100 DVD player by Sony. Cripe, you arn't going to have an upgrade path.

OK, my recomendation. Buy a SICK DVD player. Go buy a Pioneer Elite DVD player with component outs. Use your TV for sound for now. Save up a minimum of $2000, and then buy a stereo. Go buy a Harmon Kardon receiver for $800 or so and dedicate the remaining $1200 to the speakers.

I wouldn't waste a ton of money on a dvd player. I have a $49 Mintek w/ component outs that has more features and an equally good picture as my $400 Pioneer dvd player. The Pioneer is built better, but that's about it.

You do not have to spend $1000 on a receiver anymore to get good quality and a similar featureset as a $300-$400 receiver. If you want to spend more, the options are there. But spending more does not always mean better.

That's true, but why put the V-4 in the Dodge Viper body?

Any of the recommendations here will sound just as good with the 57" TV as they would with a 13" Symphonic. If he didn't have a budget and could spend money freely I'd say go crazy and buy whatever, but a midpriced system does not = inferior quality anymore. 2-3 years ago even it would have, but not today.

 

[kherman]

Originally posted by: Flashram

Originally posted by: kherman

Originally posted by: Flashram

smacks head* OK, you have a SICK TV and you are putting $500 of your budget to a stereo???? Oh boy. I have an $1800 TV and my DVD player was a floor model I got for half price. Half price was your budget, $500. You are not going to have a balanced system. What you're doing is like buying a frame/body of a Dodge Viper and putting an engine from a Dodge neon in it. It looks great but performs like crap.

$500. Try finding a $100 DVD player by Sony. Cripe, you arn't going to have an upgrade path.

OK, my recomendation. Buy a SICK DVD player. Go buy a Pioneer Elite DVD player with component outs. Use your TV for sound for now. Save up a minimum of $2000, and then buy a stereo. Go buy a Harmon Kardon receiver for $800 or so and dedicate the remaining $1200 to the speakers.

I wouldn't waste a ton of money on a dvd player. I have a $49 Mintek w/ component outs that has more features and an equally good picture as my $400 Pioneer dvd player. The Pioneer is built better, but that's about it.

You do not have to spend $1000 on a receiver anymore to get good quality and a similar featureset as a $300-$400 receiver. If you want to spend more, the options are there. But spending more does not always mean better.

That's true, but why put the V-4 in the Dodge Viper body?

Any of the recommendations here will sound just as good with the 57" TV as they would with a 13" Symphonic. If he didn't have a budget and could spend money freely I'd say go crazy and buy whatever, but a midpriced system does not = inferior quality anymore. 2-3 years ago even it would have, but not today.

I hope when you say quality that you are not referring to sound quality.

 

[F117NightHawk]

You want to buy an audio receiver and DVD player that support Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS.

 

[Raincity]

You need to increase your budget just abit. Snuffaluffaguss suggestions was very good. Add another 225$ for a Panasonic RP-82 DVD player and you will have a decent starter system. I would not bother with a Pioneer DVD player. Their overpriced and the Mpeg decoder suffers from the chroma bug as well.

Rain