My Plan for a Home Theatre...I am aroused just thinking about it!

[zippy]

Konichiwa, I am pretty set on getting the KV27FS12 for $587 locally (that is better than any online price because shipping is so freakin expensive!) and the Toshiba SD1600 DVD player for $150.

Speakers/receiver, ~$400...split that however you want it. It doesn't go a long way considering how wide of a range in quality there are in speakers/receivers.

Keep in mind that I am not an audiophile, I am more concerned with having a high quality TV. My parents and I don't have the most refined ears. Also, we don't need so much bass that the floor shakes. Too loud and my mom tells me and my dad to turn it down, too quiet and my dad says to turn it up, too much bass and my mom will get a head ache.

 

[BoberFett]

I have a Yamaha RX-V870 that I bought about 8 years ago, and I still consider a pretty nice receiver. It's only got Dolby Surround obviously, since the newer standards weren't around then. But the sound is really nice, it's got plenty of power, and plenty of inputs including several S-Video ins.

I don't know if Polk is still any good. Audio King dropped them from their catalog and Circuit City picked them up, so that's not a good sign. But I got a full Polk setup at about the same time as that receiver for not a lot of cash and it's really good sounding.

Also, I don't know if they still do it, but for a while Audio King had a deal where you could upgrade and trade in your speakers within a year and get the full value back. I did that a few times.

Edit: Noticed you just posted a $400 budget for speakers and receiver. That's not very much.

 

[Imported]

It's really hard to get a decent system (Seperate reciever, speakers, etc.) with $400. It'd be almost best to get one of those systems that are put together.

Was going to say..

4 Acoustic Research 215PS - $160
1 Acoustic Research C225PS - $90
$100 for a subwoofer, but then that'd leave only $50 for a reciever..

I have AR15s in my room for computer/bookshelf system and they are really nice, but were $300, which would definately be out of the price range.

 

[zippy]

Yeah, $400 isn't much for that stuff at all.

Maybe I should go for the Yamaha YHT-17 or Kenwood HTB503?

I probably won't be able to tell too much of a difference between those and higher end models, as I said, I am not an audiophile, so my ears aren't refined to small, quaint sounds. As long as I have decent sounding surround sound and dolby digital, I'm a happy camper.

 

[Farbio]

actually, my roomate and i just took advantage of a great deal at sound advice, if you have any near you. they have a pioneer elite reciever, model vsx-21, which retails around 650 for 325, i know that's close to your budget, but this is a sweet reciever - dts, all dolby modes, 80watts x5 of very very clean power. we've been building our system slowly, have klipsch synergy sl-1's up front, paradigm atoms as the surrounds and buying a klipsch synergy sc-1 for center channel soon. anyways, i would probably go with that kenwood system, i've heard some kenwood systems that do sound pretty good

 

[Insomnium]

My local 6th Ave. electronics has the Toshiba SD1200 going for $134 which is a pretty damn good deal.

By the way, what are you looking for in terms of features? DTS, AC-3, Dolby Digital, etc. There's a pretty good deal on a Pioneer Elite VSX21 400w Dolby Digial and AC-3 receiver for $245 @ the same store.

 

[zippy]

bump

 

[zippy]

i am so tired...

 

[zippy]

hello?

 

[ATLien247]

All y'all seem to be forgetting the cost for quality speaker cable and interconnects... probably another $200+ on top of all your other home theater components.

 

[zippy]

Gahhhh...I forgot about cable! Component video cables are about $50 right there! Shnikes!

 

[BoberFett]

You don't need to spend a fortune on cables. You'll notice far less difference between Monster Cable and generic than you will good speakers and cheap ones.

 

[zippy]

Bump...

Kenwood HTB-503 Speakers/receiver package
Yamaha YST17 speakers/receiver package

The receivers in those two packages are rated fairly well on audioreview, especially the kenwood. Are the speakers adequate for my unrefined ears?

 

[gtbuzz]

true kenwood doesn't make incredible stuff, but considering your budget, it's really not a bad deal. i think you probably would be happy with it. but i do caution you... my original ht budget was $450 (receiver, speakers, sub), so i wasn't far off from where you are. 8 months later i've spent over $2k

 

[zippy]

gt, well, this is my parents $, so there is no way that 2k is being spent.

yeah, I'm going with the Kenwood HTB503, it got some nice reviews at audioreview (a lot of people reviewed it under the review of the receiver).

 

[Wingnut]

If you want the best as far as amps...hit the "tubes"!!!

Carver Amps

The great thing about this equipment and this company is you can buy older used equipment at a great price that still spanks any of the high end solid state stuff. Uncle has the same setup shown here powering powering these HUGE a$$ Klipsch's and the sound and power is UNBELIEVABLE!!!!:Q

 

[Pacfanweb]

Yamaha receivers are generally better for the money, until you get into the very high end stuff.
M&K subs are generally considered the best, again, until you get into super high dollar.
I personally have Definitive Technology BP2002 main speakers. The bi-polar setup has a smaller, 6" woofer and a tweeter on the front and the rear. At the bottom, they have a 12", 175 watt built in powered sub. I also have an M&K MX 75 powered sub. Lots and lots and lots of bass.
I highly recommend them.

 

[Marty]

You'd probably be doing yourself a favor if you spread out the urchase over a few months and bought some higher-quality stuff. Most of those receiver/speaker packages you've posted have only one driver per box, which is a no-no if you want quality. Start off with a decent receiver... oh wait, with $400, you'd have to stop there. Well, I don't knoew too much about receivers, except that more expensive == better, so I'll leave reccomendations to the others. As for speakers, here's a nice set: Acoustic Research AR15. Thats a $300 pair of speakers, but beleive me, the quality is much higher than any of those bundled systems that were posted.

My recommendation is that you spread out the purchase over time. If you buy a mediocre-quality set right now, you'll be kicking yourself when you feel the urge to upgrade, because you'll have to throw everything out.

Marty