Recommendations for home theater system?

[ryudo]

I have a crappy 27" TV and a DVD player. I need a reciever and some speakers. Looking at up to $500 total. Any suggestions?

 

[DaveSimmons]

Receiver + 5.1 for $500? Then the Onkyo box set closest to that price.

 

[ryudo]

bump for more suggestions

 

[loup garou]

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
Receiver + 5.1 for $500? Then the Onkyo box set closest to that price.

Seconded.

 

[cKGunslinger]

Whatever you do, don't get one of those cheap ~$129 systems. I thought I'd push my home theater off another year and just get one of these temporarily. Ughh, I've had more problems with that thing than any other piece of electronic equipment I've ever bought.

Lesson: Buy good the first time. :thumbsup:

 

[aeroguy]

Originally posted by: werk

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
Receiver + 5.1 for $500? Then the Onkyo box set closest to that price.

Seconded.

\gavel - motion passed

This is what I'd get... $425

Onkyo Home Theater System (HTS-770)

 

[V00DOO]

Originally posted by: aeroguy

Originally posted by: werk

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
Receiver + 5.1 for $500? Then the Onkyo box set closest to that price.

Seconded.

\gavel - motion passed

This is what I'd get... $425

Onkyo Home Theater System (HTS-770)

I help my friend setup his Onkyo HTS-770 last week. It's a very nice setup under $500.

 

[rchiu]

This is what I did

Start with this set of Fluance SX-HTB speakers, and get the best receiver I can afford. In my case, a used Marantz SR5300 for $275, and I got a really good setup that kills most of the middle of the road HT system.

 

[FFactory0x]

Check out some of the kenwood hTiB. They have nice recievers in those pacjkages

 

[jst0ney]

Originally posted by: cKGunslinger
Whatever you do, don't get one of those cheap ~$129 systems. I thought I'd push my home theater off another year and just get one of these temporarily. Ughh, I've had more problems with that thing than any other piece of electronic equipment I've ever bought.

Lesson: Buy good the first time. :thumbsup:

Yeah trying to get something for cheap causes frustration most of the time.

Go with the Onkyo. Its decent.

 

[GasX]

Thread over...

 

[WooDaddy]

Originally posted by: rchiu
This is what I did

Start with this set of Fluance SX-HTB speakers, and get the best receiver I can afford. In my case, a used Marantz SR5300 for $275, and I got a really good setup that kills most of the middle of the road HT system.

I second that. Fluance speaker kick arse. Marantz is great too. I suggested Fluance to a friend of mine and he thanks me everyday.

My system is a Kenwood VR-3080 with JBL Music 2 fronts and Sat 20s. Older speaker (1994) but they are all the envy of my friends.

 

[ryudo]

Okay, I'm trying to decide between the Onkyo HTS-770 and the Fluance speakers + separate receiver.

Any thoughts?

I don't like the look of the Fluance receivers (they're not available in black).

 

[PanzerIV]

Originally posted by: ryudo
Okay, I'm trying to decide between the Onkyo HTS-770 and the Fluance speakers + separate receiver.

Any thoughts?

I don't like the look of the Fluance receivers (they're not available in black).

Funny you should find yourself in that dilemna because I was in the same one back in November. I was all set to get Fluances as soon as I could then I found a deal on the Onkyo speakers minus the receiver which I didn't need. I bought them from Ecost with free shipping for $186.00.

I am no audiophile but the system sounds damn good to me and since I am the one who paid for it my listening pleasure is all that counts. There is no way you could get better sound with six speakers and one heavy ass sub all for free shipping for that much under $200.

Now for that widescreen t.v....*sigh*

 

[TheInvincibleMustard]

Get something from one of the links on this thread

:thumbsup:

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

I've had the Fluance SX-HTB set + SV-6 pair since June. I'm very happy with them. My only complaint is that the center channel is not matched to the mains, but they're coming out with a new center sometime this year that will math the SV set, and thus the SX-HTB mains. I started with a dayton sub and have since upgraded to an SVS PB-10. I'm powering the set with a refurbished HK AVR-325. Not only does the Fluance set sound very nice, but it looks awesome too. The pictures online don't really capture how nice the "finish" looks. Here is one of my room pics that I think is closer to how it looks. I think on Fluance's site it looks really washed out. There's other various pics of my room in there somewhere... maybe there's an even better shot.

If you're on a really tight budget and want to go with Fluance, you might want to look at sherwood receivers. I've heard good things about them, even down to the $120-ish 5.1 model. Maybe a refurbished onkyo from ecost? Spending more on speakers produces better final sound than spending more on electonics.


You might want to add a sub to the mix too eventually. The mains are pretty good on upper bass, but die off very quickly at about 40hz if I remember correctly. This subwoofer (Dayton Tiny Mighty) goes on sale for $99 or $109 fairly regularly. It's really a nice sub for the money, better than most offerings at best buy etc. that they sell for $200.

So.... $300-ish for the SX-HTBs shipped... I forget how much shipping was (box for the mains is like 75 pounds and frickin huge) + cheap receiver for around $160 + speaker wire, cables etc. for $40-ish = $500

I think adding a sub to the set added a lot. Maybe wait until the dayton goes on sale and pick it up for $99 + shipping + sub (rca) cable eventually....



If you don't want to bother with all that, I agree that onkyo makes some very attractive sets for your price point. I think you'd get more for your money with the Fluance set, but I admit it's a lot easier to just get everything together and have everything you need... plus you can demo it at circuit city or wherever.

I wouldn't discount Mwilding either on the rocket tyke set. Rockets are nice speakers and would definately sound good. You get a nice receiver with that package too. It would probably get you bonus points with a wife/so too since they're small and cute heh. Small but they'll back a nice bunch too.

I think you have 3 really good options here and would be happy with any of them. There's a large area of AVSforum deditated to HTiB sets that you might want to take a look at.

edit: I just remembered outpost.com was having a sale on their cherry finished polk speakers. It looks like the R50s are back up to the price of the Black ones ($199 each instead of $99 each). R30s are still $60 each and R15s are $50 a pair. If you live near a Fry's (that's the B&M right?... I live in WI and no Fry's anywhere) you might want to see if you could demo them. Too bad the R50 deal is over, but maybe R30s up front and a couple sets of R15s for a 6.1 set (no center channel deal). That would run you less than the fluance set, and especially save on shipping if you could just pick them up. I'm not really sure how the outpost.com vs. fry's works, so forgive me if I have it wrong. If you could get that set for that price + tax you might be able to sqeeze in a receiver and an on sale dayton sub for just about $500. I haven't heard the polks, but it would certainly be easier for you to demo them than the fluance set.

I would recommend trying to listen to speakers before you buy them. We can recommend stuff all day, but if you don't like how they sound it doesn't matter what other people think.

 

[ryudo]

Okay, after doing some more research on avsforum, I've decided to go with the Fluance speakers.

Any recommendations for recievers for $300ish?

 

[bozack]

harman kardon avr 135 from newegg.com, costs about $275 there or less...I have the 235 and love this reciever.

 

[maziwanka]

Originally posted by: werk

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
Receiver + 5.1 for $500? Then the Onkyo box set closest to that price.

Seconded.

ya

 

[randomlinh]

what's a good sub to match w/ those fluance speakers ... and do they come in black

 

[mrrman]

there is a Pioneer receiver just posted on the For Sale board for $375...great price..

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: lnguyen
what's a good sub to match w/ those fluance speakers ... and do they come in black

As for do they come in black, no the SX-HTB set doesn't. Their slightly lesses set, the AV_HTB is a black set though. I've heard both sets, but not a side by side comparison. The AV set is still good and an excellent value for the price. They are smaller physically thatn the SX set, which doesn't matter too much, except that I've found that the tweeters on the SX set are at just the right ear level, which is what you want. I was also concerned when I started looking at them that they weren't black. I'm have a very consistent black/silver color scheme going with just about everything else I own (as can be seen with the other pics in my folder I linked to above) so I was worried they would be out of place, but once I opened the box, I was in love. They are really sharp looking. The look almost identical to the special color my friend with paradigm phantoms ordered. Paradigm's pictures are a good match for the color.

As for a sub.... don't worry about getting a fluance sub to go with the fluance set. Just try to get a good sub for the money and it will be fine. Like I mentioned earlier, I think the dayton from parts express is a great value and should be a major consideration for anyone looking for a sub for under $200. There are literally hundreds of options when you go over $200... I was never really in that market so I don't have any good recommendations for that price point.... maybe look at velodyne or the jbl e series? If you get up to $400 though.... which is not too likely if you're getting these speakers.... then I'd look at offerings by SVS and HSU. Anyway, there are tons of threads at AVSforum just on "recommend me a $200 sub" or whatever. Head over there and you'll get overwhelmed and then after a while get a good idea at the good options and then narrow it down to a couple that appeal to you.... well at least that's what happened to me heh.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: ryudo
Okay, after doing some more research on avsforum, I've decided to go with the Fluance speakers.

Any recommendations for recievers for $300ish?

The new panasonic digital receivers are getting some really good reveiws. The SA-XR30 and SA-XR50 are both under $300. Normally buying receivers by the pound is a good indication of quality, but these very light digital units are very powerful for their size and price. There are some really big threads at avsforum on them.

If you want to go a more traditional route, you might want to look at onkyo... something like the 502 would be a good buy. Onkyo makes better electronics than speakers from what I understand.

I think bozack is right for recommending HK too. I really like my 325. I was able to save a lot on it by going through HK's factory remanufactured units they sell on ebay through the seller "harmanaudio" This link should work heh. They have pretty fast turnover and new items are added quite often. You might be able to get a 230 or 235 for under $300. My 325 was only $360 shipped in May. These units are checked by HK and then given a new full 2 year warranty. There are some very tiny pinprick type dents on part of the top of mine and one of the foam rubber feet is pealing off, but other than that mine is just like new.


Oh, and I notice your budget has gotten a little bigger... that tends to happen in these kind of threads heh. I think when you're pretty much done doing all your research and have everything picked out the way you want it, it would be a good idea to add it all up and decide if you think it's worth it to spend that much more than getting an onkyo htib. If you end up spending $300 on the fluance set and $300 on a receiver, and then (probably you'll get talked into it, or will get it eventually anyway) a sub for $150, and then buying speaker wire and a sub cable (that would be included with an onkyo htib).... you'll probably be spending quite a bit more than your original $500 estimate. I don't mean to say you aren't capable of this on your own, but I know from personal experience that this can get very addictive and there's always something a little better if you spend a little more... and plenty of people eager to spend someone else's money for them heh.

Good luck with all this. I hope you enjoy your future set as much as I'm enjoying mine.

 

[dakata24]

i'm perfectly happy with my el cheapo $199 sony htib (HTDDW660) i got at bestbuy alittle while ago. perfect for my living room..

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp...egoryId=pcmcat40200050004&type=product

 

[ryudo]

Thanks for all the advice. AVSforum has been a big help too. You're right, my budget is increasing. I haven't had any sort of home theater system for 3 years now, having put off purchaces till "next year". Before that, I had a Onkyo receiver, Sony CD player, and nice speakers for about 15 years. But I miss the sounds.

So I decided to get back into the swing of things and decided that $500 would be a good cutoff as a budget. But reading AVS forum has convinced me to look at the home theater as a long term investment, especially the speakers. I haven't read a single negative thing about the Fluance speakers yet. I can see them lasting me 10 years. The receiver is something I can replace in 3-4 years if I choose. So I am willing to spend a little more now because I'm in it for the long term.

I don't think I'm going to get a sub quite yet (unless I see a great deal somewhere).

I'm trying to decide between the Onkyo SR-502 for $260+shipping and the Panasonic XR-50 for $250+shipping.

Any thoughts?