Receiver & Speaker setup for $600 or so?

[Alone]

I'm looking to put together a home theater setup, and I have nothing of worth so I'd like to get a decent receiver, speakers (with surround) and sub. Is $600 (CAD) a realistic budget? What should I get?

 

[Rubycon]

Realistic?

Is that brand even around any more?

 

[Alone]

Originally posted by: Rubycon
Realistic?

Is that brand even around any more?

:laugh:

 

[Kaido]

Sure. I built my system (sans subwoofer) for around $450. Sherwood 5.1 receiver, a pair of Dayton BR-1s fronts, and a Fluance center and satellites. Add on one of those $100 subwoofer Parts Express specials and you're set. Not the greatest, but good for the money. You may also consider a Logitech system such as the z-680s, z-5500s, or z-5450s - 5.1 speaker systems with a mini-receiver.

 

[IEC]

You should go to AVS Forum for more informed answers/recommendations:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forumdisplay.php?f=88

Personally, I would look at:

Onkyo TX-SR 504 Receiver ~$170
Linkified

Velodyne CHT Front Row (5 speakers F/C/R) - $199
Linkified

Dayton 10" Subwoofer ~$125
Linkified

That would make a pretty decent HT system that would beat HTIBs in that price range. Alternatively you could get the Bic H-100 subwoofer for around $220 thru a guy on ebay...

Other alternatives to HTIB at AVS Forum

 

[Kaido]

Fluance has a pretty nice 5-piece set as well. Black is $199:

http://www.fluance.com/fluanceavhtb.html

Nicer set available in wood for $299:

http://www.fluance.com/fluan5speaks.html

125-watt Dayton 10" subwoofer for $125:

http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&Partnumber=300-633

5.1 Pioneer receiver for $180: (also available in Silver)

http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&Partnumber=250-501

If you get the black Fluance speakers, that's $200 + $125 + $180 = $505 USD. Should be better than most HTIB kits.

 

[Alone]

Looks nice. I know nothing about audio so I can't just jump on it. Hopefully others will chime in and yay/nay the suggestions.

Thanks!

 

[IEC]

Originally posted by: Alone
Looks nice. I know nothing about audio so I can't just jump on it. Hopefully others will chime in and yay/nay the suggestions.

Thanks!

Hang around AVS Forum's Audio Forum long enough and you'll be more than educated

 

[Alone]

Originally posted by: Spartan Niner

Originally posted by: Alone
Looks nice. I know nothing about audio so I can't just jump on it. Hopefully others will chime in and yay/nay the suggestions.

Thanks!

Hang around AVS Forum's Audio Forum long enough and you'll be more than educated

Don't know if my brain can hold any more.

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: Alone
Looks nice. I know nothing about audio so I can't just jump on it. Hopefully others will chime in and yay/nay the suggestions.

Thanks!

Be sure to make room in your budget for cables. You will need audio cables, video cables, and speaker wire. You will also want to get a surge protector/power strip. Monoprice.com is an excellent place to get quality cables.

 

[IEC]

FWIW the Onkyo TX-SR 504 I linked is a great inexpensive receiver... although it's refurb'd it's direct from Onkyo, and my experience with refurb'd Onkyo products has been great. The refurb HT-590S HTIB I bought a while back was "refurbished" due to "minor cosmetic defects"

Edit: For cables monoprice.com is good, as well as CablesForLess

I got 100' of 16 gauge copper speaker wire, 25' coaxial cable, and a bunch of miscellaneous RCA cable/y-adapters etc. for about $25 shipped last time I ordered from cablesforless. Note that cablesforless is different from cables4less, so don't be fooled :laugh:

 

[Alone]

Monoprice has been bookmarked for months, my dad was looking for cables a while back. So I guess we can all agree on the Onkyo receiver? AVS seems to think they're good, too. =]

 

[jfall]

Onkyo htib ftw

 

[Alone]

All the HTIB's I can find from Onkyo are with tiny desk speakers, I'd like to get some bigass fronts or rears, like here that Kaido mentioned.

EDIT: Actually, I really like that set. I think I'll get those and the Onkyo, sound good?

 

[Alone]

You know what? Screw it. I'm going to do it right and spend something in the neighborhood of $2000-$3000. There's a Target HiFi downtown that I go to a lot with my dad, and they'll help me find somethin'.

 

[five40]

go bose!....lol...here comes the pain

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: Alone
You know what? Screw it. I'm going to do it right and spend something in the neighborhood of $2000-$3000. There's a Target HiFi downtown that I go to a lot with my dad, and they'll help me find somethin'.

The Fluance set is ok, but I'd only really consider that if you NEED floorstanders on a small budget.

Polk R-series from fry's is another cheap floorstander option.

For $2k-$3k you can get a serious setup going.

Some online brands to look at would be
Axiom (made in Canada btw)
Ascend
AV123
Aperion Audio

Well those are some that start with "A" at least

Subwoofers from
SVS
HSU


Paradigm, B&W, Monitor Audio, Def Tech, Klipsh, etc. should be available at retail stores and have options in your range.

I think I got better bang for my buck going with internet direct vs. the products I demo-ed from retail stores. A lot of the online companies have very good in-home trial periods to test things out without risk or worst case, shipping (depending on the company).

Bring a demo-disc with some material you're familiar with to demo options. Your speaker choice is probably going to be the biggest personal choice as to how things are going to sound in the end.

 

[Alone]

I hope I did alright. How much would you have paid for a setup like this?

Fronts: Paradigm 3SE
Rears: Paradigm 7s
Center: Paradigm CC170
Receiver: Yamaha HTR5830
Sub: Cerwin Vega

 

[teckmaster]

I did an Onkyo Receiver and an Infinity 7.1 setup for someone for a couple hundred more than the $600

 

[fire400]

good post on prices

 

[Fiat1]

Originally posted by: Rubycon
Realistic?

Is that brand even around any more?

Radio Shack?

 

[Fiat1]

 

[imported_Imp]

Might be a bit short. Here's what I just got, all prices CAD:

Paradign Atoms V4 (sale & floors): $180
Pioneer VSX-516 (sale & promotion): $235
Velodyne VX-10 (combined sales): $160 *Got this 4 months later.
Cables: $65 ***I was very hasty and got a 30' Monsters for $30, you can get same for $6.

Grand total: ~$575 + cables + tax

All my gear is pretty budget, but it still kills anything I've heard before. Know what you want, then wait for sales. It's what I did and payed off.

 

[jpeyton]

Living Room:
Panasonic SA-XR25 - $150
Athena Micra 6 - $225
Total: $375

Bedroom:
Sony STR-DG500 - $125
Insignia NS-B2111 - $27/pair
Velodyne VX-10 - $150
Total: $355

 

[Howard]

Certainly can be if you start small and DIY.