i was thinking about getting the onkyo but i was wondering if there are other brands out there that can rival the onkyos bang per buck
is the onkyo HT-s650 the best bang per buck speaker system?
- Thread starter gregshin
- Start date
Adul
Elite Member
Maybe the Energy Take5+1. It's $700 without a receiver. Or the Kenwood HTB-505, ~$400 with receiver.
If this is the system I think it is then it is good. I got one for my dad for his birthday. What makes it great? look at the inputs. The inputs cant be beaten at this price. It is worth it.
Again if this is the system I think it is.
A linky would help
Again if this is the system I think it is.
A linky would help
I just got one, and talked my friend into getting the same thing. I think for the money nothing else comes close. We're both very happy with our systems, although his is set up in a much better room for theatre surround sound. The only thing that is really Mickey Mouse is the thin little speaker wires they give you. Kind of a joke, but it's not hard to get good 14 or 12 guage wire at Home Depot or wherever. The sub on this system is really powerful, and clean. And you can even adjust the crossover freq. for the sub in the receiver. Unless you have a really big room, the 65w/channel should do just fine.
By the way, we both got the system at CC, with the MSN wallet promo that's going on. You can get the max $100 back from MSN (really a credit to be spent elsewhere, but still a great deal), and CC has free shipping to boot.
WebDude
By the way, we both got the system at CC, with the MSN wallet promo that's going on. You can get the max $100 back from MSN (really a credit to be spent elsewhere, but still a great deal), and CC has free shipping to boot.
WebDude
Talyrius
Member
Talyrius
Member
I'm looking into buying a home theater in a box kind of setup for my new 57" widescreen HDTV. I figure $400-500 should buy me a pretty decent setup.
I think I've narrowed my choices down to the Onkyo HTS-S650 and the Kenwood HTB-505. The Kenwood is like a hundred dollars cheaper, but it seems to offer the same things as the Onkyo. Does anyone know why the Onkyo is more expensive? Does it sound better?
I think I've narrowed my choices down to the Onkyo HTS-S650 and the Kenwood HTB-505. The Kenwood is like a hundred dollars cheaper, but it seems to offer the same things as the Onkyo. Does anyone know why the Onkyo is more expensive? Does it sound better?
Talyrius
Member
Adul
Elite Member
Onkyo is probably the better of the 2... with that, I tried out the Onkyo 5.1 set that comes bundled with this reciever, but returned it after a few days. I instead opted for the JBL Northridge Series (NSP1II) and a seperate JBL 10" Sub (PB10)... Granted, I spent over double the asking price of the Onkyo speakers, but I am much more pleased with these. I found the Onkyo's to be lacking on mids, and the sub didn't quite have the punch I was looking for.
codehack2 is right. the sub does lack punch and the speakers are weak in the mids. but that is to be expected in a system at this price.
the onkyo has a MUCH better amp than the kenwood. WRAT power baby I live by it with my 797!!!
Also again please compare the conections. Onkyo has some good ones!
the onkyo has a MUCH better amp than the kenwood. WRAT power baby I live by it with my 797!!!
Also again please compare the conections. Onkyo has some good ones!
Hmmm...them JBL's is purdy speakers.
Anyone recommend Harmon/Kardon? I think its the same company that owns JBL and Infinity...which one is the higher end ones?
Harmon Kardon makes EXCELENT recievers. JBL and Infinity are the speaker companies while HK is the electronics company.
JBL makes the best speakers of the two but you have to pay for them. When you go to a THX theater often their are JBLs on the walls costing many many thousands. THey also make HUGE subs. Think industiral size!!
For the home Infinity makes the best speakers. again you pay for them but if you power them with enough power WOW.
For most all these speakers you'll get about the same performance in the low price range. listen to it before you buy it.
A not about watage: for computer people often there is a disconnect on what a watt means. In the audio industry companies like Dennon, HK, Marantz (a creative company), and Onkyo can output like 60watts while a sony or some other brands will say 100watts but not produce the quality of the 60watt Onkyo. Kinda like Kliptch and Logitech speakers, they say 500 watts but THAT IS NOT THE CASE. audio companies can mess with the numbers like a grafics company can mess with memory thorouput. (heh nvidia)
JBL makes the best speakers of the two but you have to pay for them. When you go to a THX theater often their are JBLs on the walls costing many many thousands. THey also make HUGE subs. Think industiral size!!
For the home Infinity makes the best speakers. again you pay for them but if you power them with enough power WOW.
For most all these speakers you'll get about the same performance in the low price range. listen to it before you buy it.
A not about watage: for computer people often there is a disconnect on what a watt means. In the audio industry companies like Dennon, HK, Marantz (a creative company), and Onkyo can output like 60watts while a sony or some other brands will say 100watts but not produce the quality of the 60watt Onkyo. Kinda like Kliptch and Logitech speakers, they say 500 watts but THAT IS NOT THE CASE. audio companies can mess with the numbers like a grafics company can mess with memory thorouput. (heh nvidia)
I couldn't agree more about the price range... for the asking price of $250, one would be hard pressed to find a better complete set. I just happened to have a higher budget and wanted a little bit more
On the topic of JBL... I am very pleased with the set I picked up. Very tight, crisp response. Along with that, they have a very non-intrusive look to them (i.e. the lady of the house won't complain about the looks/size) The sub also does a great job of filling the room. On top of all that, they have a great warranty... 3 or 5 years, not sure which, I need to check my documentation.
CH2
again codehack2 rases some great points.
1) esthetics matters. The onkyo's look like big black boxes and are not all that perty. keep looks in mind if you have a significant other. ALSO remember to factor in the cost of stands. in this price range speaker stands become a significant expence. (yes you do need them, they help sonic quality and can make em (in cheech martin voice) "LOOOKIN GOOD" har har har)
2) warenty - not all companies are created equal. Onkyo has a longer warenty on their recievers than on their other components. Also service centers are spread out. I had to have my 797 worked on because I litteraly have one from the first batch off the assembly line and it helped to have a good warenty and a local service ceneter.
1) esthetics matters. The onkyo's look like big black boxes and are not all that perty. keep looks in mind if you have a significant other. ALSO remember to factor in the cost of stands. in this price range speaker stands become a significant expence. (yes you do need them, they help sonic quality and can make em (in cheech martin voice) "LOOOKIN GOOD" har har har)
2) warenty - not all companies are created equal. Onkyo has a longer warenty on their recievers than on their other components. Also service centers are spread out. I had to have my 797 worked on because I litteraly have one from the first batch off the assembly line and it helped to have a good warenty and a local service ceneter.
Talyrius
Member
If I get the Onkyo's, they would be put in a 8' x 24' room. Do you think they would fill the room with realistic sound?
heh yea the'll be fine. That is an awefully narow room. (dorm room?) You could propbably do fine with a basic PC speaker setup like the new logitechs or kliptch 5.1 systems. The onkyo will do fine in that room just spend time placing everything right.
FYI the best thing you can do in setup is place the sub in your listening spot and play a sub test and crawl around on floor and find the spot where you get the best sub sound, then put the sub their.
FYI the best thing you can do in setup is place the sub in your listening spot and play a sub test and crawl around on floor and find the spot where you get the best sub sound, then put the sub their.
Talyrius
Member
Yes, it is kind of narrow. I just measured it to make sure my estimates were right. It is actually about 10' x 25'. I was off a bit, but darn close.
Nope, it isn't a dorm room--it's my bed room!
Nope, it isn't a dorm room--it's my bed room!
If you are looking for a good system, I would go with the JBL SCS150SI speakers. Theese are available for about $380 from online stores including shipping and for $499 from Best Buy. For the money, they cannot be beat. The bass response is extremely good and the mids and highs are pretty accurate. You would still need a receiver. Whichever one you get, make sure it has at least one optical output and component connections. Most home theater systems in a box are known for being pretty weak performers. I have not looked into the set that you want, but do a google search on the name of the model number and the word review and you could probably find some reviews of the set. If anything though, Onkyo should be pretty good. They are not a bargain product.
Talyrius
Member
Right now, I have the Creative MegaWorks 510D hooked up to my computer. On review sites they rate them equal to Klipsch's ProMedia 5.1. That is actually why I bought them.
I've thought about hooking these up to my TV, but I think it would just be too much work. It doesn't use standard speaker connections. I think it uses 1/8" mini-plugs.
I've thought about hooking these up to my TV, but I think it would just be too much work. It doesn't use standard speaker connections. I think it uses 1/8" mini-plugs.
I actually checked out the JBL SCS150SI at BB when I was there last week. Another very nice system in a box. My only gripe was the lack of mids for music listening. Highs and lows were excellent on this system, but the mids just didn't quite hit it for me. My home theater speakers see just as much music time as they do movies, so I'm probably a little picky when it comes to fullness at the varying frequencies
My other complaint about super small form factor speakers is their inablity to create a "Sound Field". With most of the tiny speakers out there, when listening to a DD DVD for example, I can tell exactly which speaker the sounds are coming from, rather than the general vacinity of the sound, and along with that they have a tough time filling in the "gaps" between the speakers. Please keep in mind, I'm not knocking the JBL SCS150SI's or any other particular speaker, just making an observation on what I've noticed.
This is really a good discussion, and a nice and needed break from the PC talk.
BTW, checked my documentation and JBL does warrant their Speakers for 5 years, parts an labour. Very cool in my book.
Take care guys,
CH2
Tough Break... Just for kicks I checked out what it would take to get the Klipsch 5.1 PC speakers hooked up in a home theater. Really wouldn't be that tough of a job. The surrounds use standard speaker wire... my only concern would be the sub input and the break out control box. I assume that one would have to leave the control box hooked to the sub to control the level/volume?
CH2
I went to those JBL speakers after comparing them to another set and determined that music playback on them sucks. For me, the music playback on the JBL speakers sounds great. But to be honest, I do not have much to compare them to. I am currently using a Kenwood VR-510 THX receiver. If you do go with the boxed set at Best buy, be careful as they sell 2 different ones. One comes with a receiver, and the other doesn't. The one with the receiver comes with a 100 watt powered sub, but the one without the receiver has all of the same speakers but has a 150 watt powered sub.
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