How's this very budget HT 5.1 setup look? $550'ish budget.

[vi edit]

Receiver will be an older Yamaha RX-795 hand-me-down from me. It does Dolby Digital but is a very solid, powerful 5.1 channel receiver. No cost there.

Subwoofer: $292.50 Dayton/HSU 10"
http://www.partsexpress.com/pe...fm?&Partnumber=300-392

Front Speakers: $75/pr Best Buy Insignia bookshelfs
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/ol...oduct&id=1138085354138

Rear Speakers: $75/pr Best Buy Insignia bookshelfs
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/ol...oduct&id=1138085354138

Center Channel:$80(plus shipping) Polk Audio CSR
http://shop4.outpost.com/produ...sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG

He's going to be putting this in a medium sized room...about 12x16 with pretty low ceilings. He's space limited in front and back so bookshelfs are preferred over tower.

Use will be about 50/50 Games/Movies. No music really at all.

He prefers something a little more clean & accurate than loud & boomy. I was looking at the Polk R50's for $150 pair and one of the $150 12" Dayton subs, but this setup looked a little more dynamic in range/sound stage. The HSU rebadge from Dayton goes a little lower and probably is a better sub, but he gives up a bit in volume & size up front.

For $550 I think I put together a decent little system for him.

 

[jpeyton]

Where is he putting the speakers? Stands? Shelves?

 

[vi edit]

Fronts will be sitting on some AV cabinets that are on either side of his 50" RPTV.

Rears will either be mounted on stands or on more likely a wall mount of some form. The front porting of the little Insignia gives him a little more freedom on placement.