Looking for advice on buying a 5.1 home theatre setup.

Im looking to spend about $250-300 on a nice 5.1 speaker system. I really dont know much about this stuf, im currently using my xbox for a dvd player, i know some kits come with a dvd player, which i dont mind.

anyway, anyone have any recomendations about a good modertly priced system?

neo-geo 2 said:

Im looking to spend about $250-300 on a nice 5.1 speaker system. anyway, anyone have any recomendations about a good modertly priced system?

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Um, no. Thats not moderately priced. Thats generaly low. Try as hard as you can to up your budget a little. A semi high end speaker company named mirage makes O.K. floorstand speakers but they make amazing satellite speakers (for thier price) called the AVS sats. They will be a bit hard to find but it is worth the search. If you have a local tweeter, hi-fi buys, sound advice, hillcrest audio or showcase audio around you you may be abble to find one of the tweeter wisebuy 4 systems that they were recently closing out. It is a 6.1 system that is compromised of 5 AVS sats, an AVS center channel a mirage sub and a Denon 5803 reciver. at a closeout price of around $650 to $750 (originally $1500) it is and absolutely outstanding system for the price.
You should also be able to find some great closeout merchandise in Crutchfields catalog or on thier website.

Most HTIBs are junk because the speakers are plastic.

1. The subwoofers don't go very low, so you miss out on the best part of owning a subwoofer: bass.

2. The cheap speakers also don't go very low, so they often don't reach down far enough to meet the highest frequencies the sub puts out. You get a nice big fat hole in the middle of the frequency spectrum.

3. The cheap speakers don't go very high either, so the highest frequencies are rolled off and everything sounds muddy.

I'd suggest you hit ebay, Videogon, and Audiogon. You'll find tons of used gear at those last two sites at very reasonable prices. Increase your budget a bit if possible and get yourself a receiver and set of speakers.

If you simply can't increase your budget and have to stick with an HTIB, go with Onkyo. Of all the manufacturers, their HTIB speakers tend to be the best, and the budget receivers they included in their HTIBs are pretty decent.

If $300 is your max:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/con...=ONHTS570S&is=REG&Q=&O=productlist&sku=348602

If you can increase your budget a bit, you'll get better speakers:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/con...=ONHTS670B&is=REG&Q=&O=productlist&sku=325865

Stick with your Xbox for DVDs for the time being and spend the money on the audio system. Then upgrade to a better DVD player later when you have the cash ($150 will get you a very decent DVD player these days).

A decent home audio setup is typically about $1,000 plus depending on the speaker and receiver you pickup. One of the most important things you want to spend your money on is a good receiver. Something that will grow with your system as time passes. Typically all cheap receivers will do 5.1 Dolby Digital and DTS. You may want to look into a receiver that has the capability to do 6.1. You may not utilize it, have the option to run it. A typical receiver will run you 300-500 depending on the brand you choose.

I would recommend a good Denon, Yamaha or maybe even a Pioneer receiver. Other then that, your center channel becomes the next most important to focus on.

Do you have an ultimate electronics near you or a major home audio company? They are running 24 months no interest specials right now at alot of places. It could stretch your dollar some more.

His profile says he's a student. When the guy says he wants to spend $300, you have to try to work within that limit. Immediately suggesting he triple his budget isn't very helpful.

Actually, if he's going to spend that kind of money, he should spend most of it on the speakers. They'll affect the way his system sounds more than any mass market receiver (except for a select few, which I'll get to later).

Receivers don't really "grow" with your system, and unless you have really nice speakers (tough to do with a $1000 budget), the minor differences between receivers from different brands won't be that apparent.

Denon and Pioneer receivers are underpowered (their rated specs are usually worthless exaggeration), so if you plan on cranking the volume, go with Yamaha or Harman Kardon. HK's often test higher than their rated output.

Never underestimate the importance of high wattage--as long as it's accurately reported, that is. You simply can't beat Harman Kardon in the mass market when it comes to power.

6.1 is overkill unless you have a large room. My theater is 15' x 14', and I have a 7.1 setup. I did that because I have a serious disease. For most people, it's not necessary.

I recently sold about $15,000 worth of A/V gear and scaled back my system to recover some funds. I learned that more money doesn't necessarily translate into better sound. I replaced $5,000 worth of M&K THX Ultra speakers with $2,200 worth of these--complete with shipping and nice solid stands--and couldn't be more pleased. They sound even better than the M&K's and cost far less.

Your absolute best bang for the buck in receivers today is one with digital amplification. Panasonic makes two models: the SA-XR50 and the SA-XR70. What you might find interesting is that there are many audiophiles who have replaced $10,000+ worth of preamps and amplification with these little bugdet receivers. The reason they sound so good is because digital amplification lets you take digital signals such as Dolby Digital, DTS, and PCM (from CD players) and amplify them digitally. Background noise is drastically reduced.

If you're going to spend around $1,000, do yourself a favor: get the Panasonic XR50 and a set of these. Impossible to beat at the price.