want to get my first surround sound system

[merk]

Hi all,

I'd like to get my first surround sound system. I don't really know much about sound systems. Been using the built in speakers on the tv until now.

My current living room set up is a samsung hdtv, ps3 and dishnetwork. So obviously i'd like this to work for both watching bluerays, dish tv and playing games.

I'd like to keep the cost around $300.

Anyone have some suggestions for what system to consider? or just some advice in general as to what i should look for in a system?

Oh and the living room isn't huge so it doesn't need to have mega volume. So I prefer something that sounds good over sounds loud. And i'd really like it to sound accurate as far position goes since it would be cool to play games where the sound actually sounds like it coming from the correct direction in the game.

Thanks

 

[zerocool84]

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...=ATVPDKIKX0DER

ONKYO HT-S3300 $299

 

[merk]

thanks for the suggestion. Have you bought/used that system before? or did you just pick a highly rated system from amazon? i.e. why'd you suggest this system over any others?

thanks

 

[ericlp]

300 bucks your not gonna get much better then that. It's what you can afford.

Tho, this is what I'd would do if I were you. Go down to fry's or buy online even newegg has good sales from polk speakers. Get yourself a some cheap speakers like polk they are ten steps above onkoyo speakers.

The problem you have is your 300.00 budget. You could then go online and buy your amp used. Tho, your trying to pull a rabbit out of a hat asking about ratings and what not since your are at the BOTTOM feeder line for a 300.00 budget. It's gonna sound like shit unless you happen to get a good one. Compared to say if you had 600-1500 budget. It's just impossible to buy a good set of speakers for 300 bucks let alone a sub and an amp.

A good starter system I guess. But nothing you can really build off of. If you just want something better then your tv speakers this will do.

Read the reviews on Amazon.

 

[merk]

do you consider yourself an audiophile? I don't consider myself one. I usually wind up using whatever headphones come with whatever mp3 player i am using. And as i said, i've been using the built in tv speakers with all the tv's i've owned.

I'm not trying to argue with you. I'm just wondering if your standards are way higher then mine. I didn't think $300 would be as crappy as you are making it out to be. Just wondering if i am wrong or if you just demand more quality then i do. i.e. you said it's sound like shit, but that it would be better then the tv speakers. The tv speakers to me don't sound like shit. They seem adequate. What i'm mainly trying to get from this is the 'surround' bit. I'd like the sound to sound like it's coming from the actual direction as in the movie, and especially game.

If i were to consider going as high as $600 total, how much of a difference is it going to make? Although right now i think i'm going to try one of the $300 packages and if it sounds sucky when i hook it up, i'll return it and considering something higher up the food chain.

Thanks for your advice

 

[s44]

The Onkyo is the only way to go. Why? Because it's the only HTIB that comes with a real receiver. Then if you want to upgrade you can just replace the speakers a few at a time.

At its price the 3300 is a steal.

 

[merk]

what does the sony come with if it's a not a 'real' receiver? is the sony only going to work with the sony speakers or something?

thanks

 

[ericlp]

Yes I would consider myself an Audiophile.

Currently my setup is Sonic Class D amp... With two Infinity 2000.4 reference speakers. With just some oxygen free sound king 16Gauge speaker wire. Honestly I couldn't be happier. Tho, I do have an Onkyo amp with the same Infinity speakers for the front stereo and Polk center and rear surrounds 5.1 setup in the living room.

My class D doesn't even hold a candle to onkyo junk. I got an 301 and that burned up... Got a 601. Onkyo does makes a good receiver... Use to have some ACI Sapphires but I gave them up because I couldn't hear much difference in my Infinity's... I actually like the sound of Infinity's. I felt they were more detailed.

But, even in stereo mode on my onkyo in the living room it's disappointing that my class D amp is so much better. I always think how much better my system would sound with a tri-path chip over onkyo. I am really thinking about building an amp for the living room so I can enjoy music with out being disappointed.

I guess I enjoy my music more then movies and could care less what it sounds like.

You need five things for decent sound

1) Clean power - Battery or Solid State Power Supply with 4+ amp head room
2) Good amp
3) Good Speaker Wire with good contacts (clean wire no oxidation)
4) Good Speakers with matching drivers. I prefer Silk Dome. Whatever sounds good to you. I actually went into best buy and listened to some CMMD drivers from infinity ... I was impressed with the sound.
5) Placement of speakers and sound acoustic friendly rooms.

There ya have it!

I've auditioned a lot of different amps and speakers ... Sadly no one can tell you what might sound good to you ears might not sound good to someone else. I have read a lot of reviews and tried speakers from energy, polk, aci, infinity, Klipsch, JBL, etc...etc... So maybe Onkyo box system might sound good to you. If so consider yourself lucky and ENJOY it!

 

[merk]

I think i'll probably try the onkyo. It sounds like your standards for audio are WAY higher then mine. Like i said, i've been ok just using the built in speakers in the tv for the last 10+ years.

And from the reviews that system has gotten, it sounds like (no pun intended) it'll be good enough for me. I don't think i'd invite you over though to listen to music on it

thanks

 

[zerocool84]

I think i'll probably try the onkyo. It sounds like your standards for audio are WAY higher then mine. Like i said, i've been ok just using the built in speakers in the tv for the last 10+ years.

And from the reviews that system has gotten, it sounds like (no pun intended) it'll be good enough for me. I don't think i'd invite you over though to listen to music on it

thanks

Seriously, even though it's low end, the difference from going to built-in tv speakers to a separate surround system is HUGE. It'll be like watching a movie for the first time. You'll wonder why you ever stuck with tv speakers for this long.

 

[merk]

just in case anyone is interested - got the onkyo. Somewhat under-whelmed about it. I guess i expected even every day tv shows to suddenly somehow sound amazing. It really only pops on certain movies or every once in a while on a tv show where suddenly there's some sound that sounds like it's actually coming from somewhere other then the tv. I guess for most tv shows the action is all centered in front of the camera so there wouldn't really be much 'surround sound' going on.

sounds pretty good though when something big is going on with lots of background action or music. The bass is especially noticable, which i guess isn't surprising coming from the built in tv speakers

 

[alcoholbob]

You can build a Fluance HT system with a $600 budget I'm pretty sure.

http://www.fluance.com/shop-speakers.html#complete-speaker-system

Get one of the systems + a receiver.

 

[velillen]

just in case anyone is interested - got the onkyo. Somewhat under-whelmed about it. I guess i expected even every day tv shows to suddenly somehow sound amazing. It really only pops on certain movies or every once in a while on a tv show where suddenly there's some sound that sounds like it's actually coming from somewhere other then the tv. I guess for most tv shows the action is all centered in front of the camera so there wouldn't really be much 'surround sound' going on.

sounds pretty good though when something big is going on with lots of background action or music. The bass is especially noticable, which i guess isn't surprising coming from the built in tv speakers

Not every show on tv is 5.1 that i know of. Also not every show/movie really needs/utilizes surrounds/bass. Action movies really are the way to go if you want to watch movies that sound good on HT system.

I'd recommend taking a look at this thread over at AVS
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1190265

Pick a couple movies from the reference/tier 0 and try them out. Those are movies people are highly impressed with audio wise.

Just gotta remember not all movies really take advantage of HT systems as much as they could...especially tv shows from what i've watched. I know when i watch the simpsons/family guy/flash point/mythbusters in HD they all have 5.1 but rarely do you hear anything out of the rears. but plop in say The matrix lobby scene and you sure do notice the rears Or saving private ryan, beach scene....youll really notice them there!

 

[merk]

Sounds like a good excuse for me to go and watch the matrix again Of course now i'll have to make sure i have the blueray version instead of dvd

thanks