Let me start by saying I know absolutely NOTHING about the subject, but since I'm buying a new fairly decent flat panel TV, I figure I could finally make the leap and get some decent sound to go with it.

Now, I'm not talking anything even remotely top of the line, but could I get away with spending < 800-100 on something like this? Would you suggest going with a prepackaged DVD Home Theater System or building something in pieces with a nice receiver that will have some upgradeability later?

Go easy on a n00b

8/14/2007 1:36:09 PM

not just this subject

8/14/2007 1:39:46 PM

[truth]

8/14/2007 1:46:51 PM

the "sets" worth buying are the ones with a nice reciever (full blown) and brand named speakers (minus sony and bose, they suck). I like the yamaha ones and the onkyo/polk ones (might not be around anymore though)

that way you get surround sound immediately without waiting.

you can also get a nice reciever ($texas) at a Home theater store and then the 5.1 surround package at walmart($40) and replace speakers as your budget permits with nicer ones while having surround sound the entire time.

The most important speakers are the center channel and your sub. the other 4-6 don't matter nearly as much as long as those 2 things are pretty good they will not so much pick up the slack, but they are the primary sources in the first place, AND they will pick up the slack... Not saying having nice speakers all the way around isn't something to do (b/c I do) I'm just saying Center and Sub are where to start, not Right and Left. Your center and sub are where most of the sound information comes from, the rest are just directional information.

DO NOT buy an All in one surround sound package that doesn't have a full reciever that you could buy stand alone...

I mean if budget permits go ahead and pick out a decent reciever and then pick out some speakers... Selecting each component you will end up with a better over all setup.

Keep in mind what type of space your setup is going into now, and if you plan on moving into a bigger/smaller place. Also know what features your likely to use, It's sometimes difficult to truely get your A/V reciever to control the entire theater if your coming in with older components already... I'm perfectly happy with my 2nd step yamaha($399ish) and don't route any video through it b/c ever connection WILL add noise

Theres so much to say... so so much, and I wouldn't believe most of the sales people out there, they are either idiots at BB/CC or will look down at the budget consumer at a nicer place


[Edited on August 14, 2007 at 2:02 PM. Reason : Get a nice reciever($400), center channel($250), and sub($300), and then skimp on the rest to start]

8/14/2007 1:48:40 PM

I've been eyeing the 5 piece Mirage satellites. You still have to buy a sub and receiver, so that might be more than you're willing to spend, but those satellites are very crisp and produce a lot of sound with a good receiver.

If I ever get the balls to spend > $1000 on surround sound, I would definitely consider this setup:
Yamaha RX-V659: http://www.crutchfield.com/S-HSkGxCxAqyp/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?g=10420&I=022RXV659

Mirage NANOSAT: http://www.crutchfield.com/S-HSkGxCxAqyp/cgi-bin/prodview.asp?i=653NANSYPB&g=12700&search=Mirage+VENDORID653&SearchDisplay=Mirage

I've seen those speakers WITHOUT the sub, which may let you choose a better sub for less. Not sure how that sub compares really. Also Crutchfield has a great selection, but maybe not the best prices esp if you have to pay shipping, so you should look around.

8/14/2007 2:07:31 PM

I have been extremely happy with my Denon reciever. I honestly believe their sthick about having better quality for lower cost because of a lack of advertising. It is much better and more loaded than the onkyo reciever I had before it.

I have a polk mini-sat surround system I got back in 2001. The sound is still excellent. I paid around $900 for it and the 10" polk sub back then and they have never given me any problems.

well worth spending extra money on items like tese as they'll last a long, long time

8/14/2007 3:28:09 PM

http://www.hsuresearch.com/products/enthusiast2.html + http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000OOQUTC/104-4552750-2359156?ie=UTF8&seller=A30S2TZCBPBPFJ&sn=Infinity%20Sales

You can do all the research you want, but for an "entry level" system, you're not gonna find anything that'll compete with that for the price. It's a little more than you were looking to spend, but totally worth it.

Oh, and generally, if you only have x amount to spend, you're much better off spending that on high quality fronts and a center rather than full blown surround. 3 good speakers (especially the center) is >>>>> than 5-7 crap ones.

[Edited on August 14, 2007 at 4:09 PM. Reason : :]

8/14/2007 4:01:10 PM

^ eh center + sub as I said earlier... If I was on a budget or limited space I would do small satelite speakers for even the front left and right and make up the difference on the center and sub... I personally have 15"s for my front left and right... but I'd give them up in a pinch... but wouldn't give up my sub for my 15's

Denon and cheap don't belong in the same sentance...

rereading your post you said "lower cost" not cheap... but they are still comperably priced to Yamaha's and some stores claim that they are better unit to unit.

so they aren't a "Low cost" option. But they are a sturdy feature rich brand.


[Edited on August 14, 2007 at 4:18 PM. Reason : center+sub where it's at]

8/14/2007 4:01:46 PM

awesome, thanks for the input so far!!

8/14/2007 4:11:04 PM

^^Well, it depends on what you're using it for. For movies, I would most definitely agree you could get away with nothing but a center and a sub. 90% of movie soundtracks come out of the center. For music however, it's important to have great L/R mains since most music is 2 channel stereo. Also, I believe in having matching drivers in my center and mains.

8/14/2007 4:24:30 PM

well, LR orientation is important in music, but fine details can be handled very adequately with 5 channel stereo options on the reciever and the same setup mentioned... b/c then it remains the same setup in regards to directional information/warmth fill in from the center and sub...

I haven't looked at speakers in 5 years, I just went on BB and CC website and found a few things that looked decent but can't recomend anything without hearing it in person... If you have carpet, or if your in an apartment/area with neighbors you probably want a forward firing sub... however I prefer down firing subs b/c then you can't usually tell where it is in the room...

most important thing is figure out what you want to spend on each component, take your favorite CD (no mp3's plz) to the store and find the best sounding speaker in your price range. you will most likely bump your price point though with this method. KEEP IN MIND, when you get it home you won't be listening to any of the other stuff ever again and it will sound great as long as you don't psych yourself out... I like metalica's black album unforgiven(track 4) for mad crazy detail on the intro for the sub and the center... and then Prodigy fat of the land track 2 for testing the limits on a set of speakers to handle hard fast paced stuff... crappy speakers will fall apart quickly listening to those. for a more traditional song "fanfare for the common man" is a classical peace thats all horns and will tingle the hell out of your back on a proper center channel

8/14/2007 4:37:34 PM

Rule #1: Buy whatever you think sounds good.

Rule #2: If you think the "Boom" of big speakers sounds good, you have no taste. Listen to things at high volume as well as low volume. It's better for the sound to come out clear and sharp, rather than loud and shakey. If you've been to a concert at the art museum, and a concert at walnut creek, you'll know what i'm talking about...

Quote :

"take your favorite CD (no mp3's plz) to the store"

^nor anything that was burnt from your computer (which is likely encoded/compressed from a ripped cd).

Quote :

"don't route any video through it b/c ever connection WILL add noise"

^good advice, unless your video connection is digital. HDMI is digital... however with HDMI you should pay attention to if the signal is 1.2 or 1.3 or whatever, since you could lose information there (it will still work, and still work well, but you could still be losing stuff)

My Harmon Kardon AVR 146 is an excellent receiver. I selected it because of the simplicity of its interface... I know it supports everything, but honestly I didn't care to have a button for every function on the front panel of it.

8/14/2007 6:06:56 PM

With a short budget, you're kinda stuck buying an all in one kit. They all suck. Just steer clear of Bose and save up so you can get some real equipment.

8/16/2007 8:31:21 PM

onkyo makes a decent home theater in a box

8/16/2007 8:46:20 PM