Need Advice for a Home Theater System

[GoldenGuppy]

Hi, I'm a college student, and quite frankly, I'm pretty much always broke. However, I have managed to save up around 1500 dollars to spend on a decent home theater system for myself.

I plan on getting the SONY 27 inch trinitron wega wide screen TV for sure, since it gives me the best price return... I would opt for a 32 incher.. but that'd cost me another 600 dollars ...

THIS BRINGS me to my main question: Should I shell out around 700-800 dollars for a Home Theater system from Sony/Panasonic/Pioneer w/ a DVD player...

Or will the CREATIVE LABS DESKTOP THEATER 5.1 <recently saw at Best Buy for 219.99> be sufficient for my SOUND NEEDS?

I really want to experience the best for my money.

Here are some links on what I plan on getting if you are truly interested...

THE TV I plan on getting.. model KV-27FV16
http://www.sel.sony.com/SEL/consumer/ss5/generic/television/trinitronrtmfdtrinitr
onwegatmtv27inch/index.shtml

THE SONY Home Theater System that interests me the most.. model HT-1000D
http://www.sel.sony.com/SEL/consumer/ss5/home/homeentertainment/hometheaterpackages/ht-1000d.shtml

THE PANASONIC Home Theater System that interests me the most... model SC-HT80
http://www.prodcat.panasonic.com/shop/product.asp?sku=SC-HT80&amp;CategoryID=211

AND we all know what the DESKTOP 5.1 is like will it provide enough power?

All your help is appreciated thanks in advance

 

[GoldenGuppy]

.

 

[Napalm381]

If you plan on sitting more than 3 feet away from your TV, go with the Sony/Panasonic setup. My experience is that computer speakers work good as long as you are sitting very close to them...they are not really designed for filling up a whole room with sound.

 

[GoldenGuppy]

Any tips on which ones are the best for the money?

 

[step-dawg]

Hey,

Being a fellow college student, i understand your budget constraints. I'm living in an apt right now so we don't have a huge living room. I'm guessing that's the same for you. I'm using the Midiland S4-8200. It has all the same features as the CL speakers your are looking at. Comes with a Dobly Digital 5.1 decoder. These speakers are perfect for my living room. Granted a real speaker set up would put mine to shame, but for ~$270, I think I got a good deal. Oh, these puppies pump out way more wattage than the Creative labs ones. The midiland's pump out 200 watts of sound (100 watt sub and 5 X 20watt satellites).

Basically, I consider the midiland's a reasonable alternative if price is an issue. I think it beats the Creative labs speakers.

Here's a review if you are interested:

gamers's depot review

Techno Yard Review

I think Anandtech has a reveiw too if you search for it. Hope this helps. Later.

 

[Makoto]

I think that computer speaker systems are nice, but you should really spend the extra money and buy a good reciever and some good speakers. Also, the home theater system sets from panasonic and sony might look cool or might be decent, but with the same money, you can get something a lot better. Buy a good reciever and then buy good speakers. Go check out www.audioreview.com and check out the reviews for some speakers and recievers. Also go check out their tecktalk corner and ask this same question there. There are a lot of people that can help you decide.

Anyways if it was up to me I would by 5 paradigm atom speakers to handle the front, rear, and center channel. And then buy a velodyne ct-100 or ct80 subwoofer. You can also get a pair of paradigm titans for the front channel because they produce a little more bass. Check out the reviews for the atoms and the titans. There really good. And if you can get a chance, go listen to them at your local hifi store. I've listened to both and i can say theres a big difference with these and with sony or panasonic speakers. good luck

 

[GoldenGuppy]

Ah, I checked out the reviews, it looks really nice, kinda ugly looking though I love the fact that the subwoofer is 100watts cuz I'm a huge fan of bass. I'll look more into this one, thanks

 

[Tetsuo316]

i've got a jvc setup that has an 80 watt sub, and 5x100 watt surround speakers, with an ac3 etc. receiver. paid 400 for it, and it's so worth it! don't go for the pc surround, because like everyone has said, they don't really work for home theater. btw, i'm a poor college student too, so i know where you're coming from. luckily, my roommate and i split the cost of the surround.