Is it even possible to get a basic receiver/speakers for $500?

[beer]

Right now I'm running audio for movies out of my TV. TV audio is suck. I have read several threads before this and a lot of the "low end" stuff talked about starts at like $700, just for the speakers. I'm a very poor student; can $500 get me any real combination of a receiver and speakrs?

 

[crab]

I paid $287 for my Kenwood 5.1 surround system...
Sounds amazing for $300

 

[Z24]

look into yamaha starter packages.

 

[Jmman]

Sony makes a cool integrated receiver/dvd 6 speaker setup for <$600......link

 

[Z24]

Yamaha 5.1 speakers system and receiver
Best Buy for $399

Reviews of the included receiver (btw, the HTR-5230=RX-V396):
Yamaha HTR-5230
Yamaha RX-V396

I'm pretty sure it comes with the HTR version, as Yamaha intends the HTR for mass market stores, and the RX-V for HiFi stores.

EDIT: The speakers are by no means 'audiophile', but they will be leaps and bounds above what is on your TV. The included receiver will be more than powerful enough to run any speaker upgrades you might want to do at a later time.

 

[divinemartyr]

<< Sony makes a cool integrated receiver/dvd 6 speaker setup for <$600 >>



Yeah and it sounds absolutely horrible. It sounds RELATIVELY decent with movies and I say relative, based on the cost. For music you might as well completely forget it, sounds worse than Bose systems, and that's saying something.

My personal recommendation for the best 'bang for your buck' would be the JVC DS-TP230. As far as complete home theatre setups go, for $350 you simply CANNOT beat this system. I have not heard a ready-to-setup home theatre for this price even come close to the sound of this one.

You should definitely read a review that was given by the owner of the Home theatre forum here as it might surprise you what $350 can do.

Definitely worth your time.

dm

 

[Z24]

Best Buy also has the next step up aswell. It's $599 I think.

It includes the next step up in receiver (HTR-5420) and better speakers.

I dunno if that's out of your pricerange though.

 

[Z24]

I've just been doing some reading, and it appears the the speakers/subwoofer that come with the YHT-23 ($599) are much more substantial than what comes with the YHT-17 ($399).

It also seems that Sears (among others) will pricematch the lowest online price you can find.

YHT-17
Yamaha HTR-5230 (Dolby Digital, 60W x 5, no S-Video switching)
adequate speakers, but don't expect miracles. subwoofer has 6.5&quot; driver (somewhat small)

YHT-23
Yamaha HTR-5240 (Dolby Digital, DTS, 70W x 5, S-Video switching, front inputs)
better speakers, 8&quot; subwoofer

 

[pdiddy]

i hear paradigm is good, but dont know the price range for them

 

[Z24]

Paradigm makes great speakers. The problem is, a whole 5.1 set is out of this pricerange. You don't get much in the way of speakers when trying to do a receiver and 6 speakers for <$500.

If you do want to 'upgrade' past the kind of speakers bundled in these kits, Paradigm is a great way to go. And if you can get to Canada, the prices are cheaper (the dollars are the same, but it's in Canadian dollars $1US=$1.50Cdn) because they're made in Canada.


You can always do what I did, which is to get a receiver and only a few, but better speakers. I went:

Yamaha RX-V496
B&amp;W DM302 fronts
B&amp;W ASW500 subwoofer

My listening position is such that I don't really need a center channel right now, but will add one later. For rears, I use old bookshelf speakers I had laying around, but I only use these for movies, never for music (they sound completely different from the fronts)

 

[beer]

Thanks ya'll. This was really quite a few responses; I will look around at work today. If I have any more questions I'll know where to look...

 

[poop]

If you really want to ge quality, I would recommend a low-end Denon receiver ($250 or so) and a pair of Titans ($220). The CC-170 is around $150, I think. That is just around your budget, and you will be very happy with the sound. Then, if you want surrounds, wait until you get some more money. Same with a sub.

It is better to buy quality a little at a time than to buy crap all at once.

Stay away form the all in ones, as well. They are generally not worth the cardboard they come packed in. I have yet to hear one with a remotely decent sub.

If you want to go cheaper, Sony is decent. Check out etronics.com for excellent prices on the newer sony speakers.

 

[BigSmooth]

I agree with poop &amp; Z24, I would initially buy a decent receiver (I recommend Yamaha or Denon) and a set of good main speakers. This will probably eat up the $500 you want to spend right now, but will be a huge improvement over what you have.

Later on, add the rest because a good center channel and sub can set you back a pretty penny. Don't waste your money on a low-end sub, you will be disappointed. I had a cheaper Klipsch sub before I got my M&amp;K, the difference is tremendous.

 

[beer]

What if I did something like this:

I bought a Yamaha 5230 receiver for about $239 online. I then would pick up a pair of good front speakers and a subwoofer for another $200 or so. That way I could get good 2.1 sound...it won't be 5.1 but that's fine if it sound's better anyways.

 

[thraashman]

Somebody said Bose was bad sounding. WHAT?!? Bose is probably the absolute best brand out there for sound. I have a pair of cheap (and I mean really cheap) Bose speakers. They sound amazing. They sound better than nay other brand of speaker I've had. (Sony, Aiwa, JBL, Panasonic) The problem with Bose is that they're expensive, but they're worth every cent of their cost.

 

[beer]

Bose have NO midrange!! They sound &quot;good&quot; but their overall midrange response best exlemplifies the phrase, &quot;Is suck.&quot;

 

[Marty]

thraashman, you don't know how incredibly wrong you are. I suggest you walk into something besides a Sears or Best Buy whenm you're looking for quality audio.

Marty

 

[Eug]

<< will look around at work today. >>

Heheh.


<< Somebody said Bose was bad sounding. WHAT?!? Bose is probably the absolute best brand out there for sound. I have a pair of cheap (and I mean really cheap) Bose speakers. They sound amazing. They sound better than nay other brand of speaker I've had. (Sony, Aiwa, JBL, Panasonic) The problem with Bose is that they're expensive, but they're worth every cent of their cost. >>

Bose is suck. If you go and actually compare some good quality and MUCH CHEAPER speakers like PSB or Paradigm against the Bose, then you'll know what you're missing. Sony, Aiwa, and Panasonic consistently make some of the worst speakers out there, so the mediocre Bose is of course going to sound better. JBL has some OK stuff though, if I remember correctly.


<< Technics puts out better recievers in the <$500 price range than Yammy. >>

While I much prefer Yamaha in general, I would agree your statement. The low end Technics are better than the low end Yamaha for the same price. I prefer Kenwood in general over both for the low end however. I don't have much experience with JVC though.

Anyways, what I would suggest is a nice pair of Paradigm Titans or PSB Alphas for your mains. There isn't much base response, but the mids and highs are stunning. Those will be $200+. Then get yourself a reasonable DD 5.1 receiver for $300+. Total about $550 plus tax.

You can add a centre channel, and a sub later. When you get the cash (and you have more space) you can get some towers for the fronts and stick the Titans in the rear as surrounds.

 

[beer]

Where could I buy Paradigm's at? Do any online stores carry them that I could look at some pricing information at?

Also, what particular model numbers of Technics receivers were you lookin at? I will look into them as well.

 

[Thorn]

<< thraashman, you don't know how incredibly wrong you are. I suggest you walk into something besides a Sears or Best Buy whenm you're looking for quality audio. >>


Amen Brother Marty! Talk about over-priced, cheaply made garbage. Bose is the biggest ripoff in audio.

&quot;No highs, no lows, it must be Bose!&quot;

or another that I like...

&quot;Friends don't let friends buy Bose&quot;


<< They sound better than nay other brand of speaker I've had. (Sony, Aiwa, JBL, Panasonic) >>


That's not a very good cross-section of speakers... pretty low-end mediocre stuff.


<< The problem with Bose is that they're expensive, but they're worth every cent of their cost. >>


Not even! Lets see... .25 cent paper cones, very cheap crossovers, and gimicky &quot;chambering&quot; that defuses the sound making it sound &quot;spacious&quot; but in reality destroys accuracy. That's what Bose is all about. They pump millions and millions of $ into advertising and payola to magazines and radio stations to spread their hype... and the truth is, it's all just a line of BS to astronomically markup their sub-standard product.

Have doubts? Don't just go by my experiences, check out this thread on HTF and see the examples and facts given.

 

[glen]

I love the pioneer recievers.

 

[Napalm381]

I don't believe Paradigm is available through any major online retailer. From what I've gathered, Paradigm prefers to keep its distribution limited to local audio stores. Go to Paradigm.com and use their dealer locater to find to closest place. You can usually find a few Paradigms on E-bay, but buyer beware, as always.

Pricing for the least expensive Paradigms goes something like this:
Micro- $150/pr
Atom- $190/pr
Titan- $220/pr
SB-8- $250
PDR-8- $280
PDR-10- $350
CC-70- $140
ADP-70- $300/pr

May be a bit off though.

 

[BigSmooth]

Elemental007 - BTW, I forgot to mention what kind of speakers I got when I was in your situation.
Boston Acoustics makes an excellent &quot;Compact Reference&quot; series of bookshelf speakers that are fairly cheap considering the quality of sound they put out and you can use them as your main speakers now and surround speakers later, depending on which model you get. I have the CR8 speakers, you can see reviews at AudioReview.com.

I'm a big fan of Boston Acoustics, I think they make quality products for the price.

 

[beer]

I actually have a Boston Acousics Media Theater speaker setup on my PC. I'm very happy with it.

 

[beer]

$340 for a pair of bookshelf speakers? Holy sh!t!!