Sharp HTCN300 DTS/Dolby Digital (5.1) Home Theater System with 6 speakers $128 +s/h maybe tax

[Wei2Cool]

This deal has been there for a while and I am suprised that nobody mentioned it here.

deal at outpost

Comes with 6 speakers, sub with amp and tuner build-in, a learning remote control(!).

Hot to me. Can't go wrong with a 5.1 setup for $150.

Update: According to amazon's editorial review, this unit may even have an integrated DVD/VCD/CD player! Not too sure if that is accurate looking at pictures.

Amazon link

 

[BigSmooth]

Nice deal, especially if you need something unobtrusive and cheap. It's not too versatile but it's tough to get everything you need for DTS sound any cheaper than this. For reference, it's $250 at buy.com and $177 at Amazon.

This would probably be best for a smaller room considering it's only rated at 30 watts per channel including the sub.

 

[Wei2Cool]

Originally posted by: bigsmooth
Nice deal, especially if you need something unobtrusive and cheap. It's not too versatile but it's tough to get everything you need for DTS sound any cheaper than this. For reference, it's $250 at buy.com and $177 at Amazon.

Edit: checked the specs, I wonder how it can decode digital formats if it has no digital input? Maybe I'm missing something.

The one sells for $177 at amazon is refurbished.

 

[BigSmooth]

I can't figure out if this thing actually has an integrated DVD player or not. If it doesn't have an integrated DVD player, it must have digital inputs if it can do DD/DTS, but I can't seem to find anything about that on any of the sites.



Edit: posts from people at FW indicate that it does NOT have a built in DVD player, but it does have digital inputs.

 

[tommigsr]

I actually have this setup in my room. It's a great deal for the price. To clarify some things for you guys:

1. it does not have a DVD player built in.
2. it has a radio feature
3. it has 2 digital inputs, one is coaxial and the other is using the optical digital cable.

the dts will activate automatically on detection of a digital coaxial, that's how it works using my apex dvd player with digital output. the coaxial cable HAS to be digital or else it will not work. you cannot use regular RCAs to pretend it is digital the sub is heavy.

it works great and the remote is awesome. i can control everything from that one remote instead of fumbling with multiple ones.

bought it at fry's for 127 + tax. go to Fry's right now and pick one up.

 

[chizow]

Definitely a good deal for those waffling over a PM 5.1 with encoder or a set of Z-680's. Although I imagine the satellites with those two sets to sound better, this set will give you true HT flexibility.

Chiz

 

[Wei2Cool]

Originally posted by: tommigsr
I actually have this setup in my room. It's a great deal for the price. To clarify some things for you guys:

1. it does not have a DVD player built in.
2. it has a radio feature
3. it has 2 digital inputs, one is coaxial and the other is using the optical digital cable.

the dts will activate automatically on detection of a digital coaxial, that's how it works using my apex dvd player with digital output. the coaxial cable HAS to be digital or else it will not work. you cannot use regular RCAs to pretend it is digital the sub is heavy.

it works great and the remote is awesome. i can control everything from that one remote instead of fumbling with multiple ones.

bought it at fry's for 127 + tax. go to Fry's right now and pick one up.

Nah, local Frys quoted me $430 for the same unit and they will not match to the outpost price. I cancelled my web order before I checked with the local Fry's, now I have to call again to revive that order.

 

[dudesowetodit]

I saw this deal about a month ago and ran to Fry's to test it out. You get what u pay for basically. The sound on this system is very crappy, don't intend to use it for a room, just for pc or desktop is okay. THe speakers are not that small...it looks small but they are actually 5"x5", so mounting them on the wall would look retarded. There is absolutely no DVD player in it, buy.com and amazon are misleading with their description. I turned up the sound and it rattled and gave static....do not intend to feel like a home theater system with this.

I have a 100watt per channel home theater system by JVC that i bought for $250. THAT sounds like a home theater....more watt = :-D


my $.02

 

[jrichrds]

Originally posted by: tommigsr
the dts will activate automatically on detection of a digital coaxial, that's how it works using my apex dvd player with digital output. the coaxial cable HAS to be digital or else it will not work. you cannot use regular RCAs to pretend it is digital the sub is heavy.

DTS works fine with this unit and my Apex dvd player with a regular RCA cable. Aren't these "digital" coaxial cables really just beefed up RCA cables?

 

[JJDyn0mite]

I'm looking for a CHEAP 5.1 dolby digital solution for use with my Xbox in a smallish/medium size living room. When I say cheap, I mean it, so something like this looks appealing. I guess I could go up to $250 but would prefer to keep it at $150 or less. Here are the option I see right now:

1. This unit
2. Midiland 7100plus for $89 at compgeeks
3. Kenwood HTB-205 for $250 at bestbuy
4. Wait until the logitech 680's drop below $250


Anyone have any ideas? I'm thinking of either this sharp or the midiland unit to use right now because we may be moving in a few months and I'll actually have an income at that time and may be able to buy a nicer system then, and not have to move big heavy equipment.

I've heard the s4-4060 midilands and liked them, so I'm thinking that the quality of the midiland's may be better, but the sharp offers quite a few extra features including dts, radio, and the learning remote, in a compact package. The midiland has 10w sats with a 50w sub, so it may have more bass oomph and they are pretty well regarded for having good subs.

Anyway, if anyone has any input, I would appreciate it.

JJ

 

[OulOat]

Yeah, how do these compare with the midilands?

 

[LilBlinbBlahIce]

Is this new or a refurb?

 

[Dixit]

I'm considering to get this HT system... but I'd like to listen to it before making the decision, the problem is that I can't seem to find a physical store that carries that particular system for me to go and check it out....
I'm in Atlanta, GA... does anyone know where can I go to check this thing out, somewhere in the Atlanta area?
Thanks.

 

[phantaszm]

Anyone know where I can get digital audio cables (Coaxial S/PDIF) for cheap? And what's the difference between these cables and the regular RCA cables? Can I use regular RCA cables to connect my computer to the digital input of the receiver?

 

[Wei2Cool]

Price up'd to $150 now.

 

[DinoBambino]

Originally posted by: Wei2Cool
Price up'd to $150 now.

You can still get this for $127.99. I did an expanded search for Sharp products between $100 - $200

here.

You will see that the search returns a buy price of $127.99. If you click the Buy link it will be added to your cart at $127.99.


I received my system yesterday, but I didn't get a chance to hook it up. I will give my impressions of the system when I get a chance.

 

[BigSmooth]

Originally posted by: phantaszm
Anyone know where I can get digital audio cables (Coaxial S/PDIF) for cheap? And what's the difference between these cables and the regular RCA cables? Can I use regular RCA cables to connect my computer to the digital input of the receiver?

Try Wal-Mart or Target (seriously), I know you can get optical cables for 10 bucks or less.

You shouldn't use regular RCA cables to connect the digital coax inputs. Coax cables need a higher impedance, at least 75 ohms, whereas most RCA cables are at 50 ohms. Basically, regular RCA cables can't carry the full bandwidth of the digital signal.

 

[phantaszm]

Thanks for the info bigsmooth!

I actually found out that Radioshack has some really reasonably priced ones.

 

[BigSmooth]

This isn't available at Outpost anymore, but the local Fry's ad had it for $97 this morning.

 

[NICKel]

OOS Damn it all the Hell people!:|:Q

 

[jrichrds]

Originally posted by: bigsmooth
This isn't available at Outpost anymore, but the local Fry's ad had it for $97 this morning.

That's a good price! They're really trying to get rid of these things. I bought it late last year when Fry's had it for $127, and returned it soon after. Featurelist is good, but sound quality sucked big time. Not that I expected great sound from it, but I've heard a few other cheapo home theatre systems, and those sounded a lot better. Plus, those came with built-in DVD players.

 

[zettler]

For those interested (still), you might want to check out Best Buy.

They have the KLH HA9000 on sale this week for $179.99 - and it comes with built-in tuner and DVD player. No DTS but it is listed as 270 or more watts, and the speakers are in aluminum cases.

I haven't listened to it yet, but it appears that it has been made for Best Buy, and is similar to several other units already out there (maybe one at CC). I tried Google and a few other places looking for reviews but found next to nothing.

However, I did contact a person who has one and they still like it for their home.

Just my $.02.

 

[jrichrds]

Originally posted by: zettler
For those interested (still), you might want to check out Best Buy.

They have the KLH HA9000 on sale this week for $179.99 - and it comes with built-in tuner and DVD player. No DTS but it is listed as 270 or more watts, and the speakers are in aluminum cases.

I haven't listened to it yet, but it appears that it has been made for Best Buy, and is similar to several other units already out there (maybe one at CC). I tried Google and a few other places looking for reviews but found next to nothing.

However, I did contact a person who has one and they still like it for their home.

Just my $.02.

Best Buy has had the KLH HA9000 (not to be confused with the cheaper HA7000) on sale a few times since last November for $129.99 after rebate. the aluminum-cased speakers look and feel better than the Sharp unit. The main unit is compact and also looks pretty nice, with a mirror finish on the display. And sound quality was much better than the Sharp unit. The only complaint I had with it is that even the lowest volume setting (one above mute) is pretty loud (for those still with decent hearing). If you never have a need to listen to music or watch movies at a soft volume, then it won't be a problem. Seems this isn't a problem specific to this model, as I've seen people complain about the same thing on other KLH receivers.

 

[zettler]

Originally posted by: jrichrds

Originally posted by: zettler
For those interested (still), you might want to check out Best Buy.

They have the KLH HA9000 on sale this week for $179.99 - and it comes with built-in tuner and DVD player. No DTS but it is listed as 270 or more watts, and the speakers are in aluminum cases.

I haven't listened to it yet, but it appears that it has been made for Best Buy, and is similar to several other units already out there (maybe one at CC). I tried Google and a few other places looking for reviews but found next to nothing.

However, I did contact a person who has one and they still like it for their home.

Just my $.02.

Best Buy has had the KLH HA9000 (not to be confused with the cheaper HA7000) on sale a few times since last November for $129.99 after rebate. the aluminum-cased speakers look and feel better than the Sharp unit. The main unit is compact and also looks pretty nice, with a mirror finish on the display. And sound quality was much better than the Sharp unit. The only complaint I had with it is that even the lowest volume setting (one above mute) is pretty loud (for those still with decent hearing). If you never have a need to listen to music or watch movies at a soft volume, then it won't be a problem. Seems this isn't a problem specific to this model, as I've seen people complain about the same thing on other KLH receivers.

I read about this volume control issue but I also read that people who looked into it found a fix that is either located in the manual (and settings) or through a downloadable manual which describes how to fix it while their is no DVD in the player. I can't do a search right now but look into it via a Google Groups search and you will find a couple of threads discussing this and how to correct.

Unfortuantely, this model is only marked down from their "regular" price of $250 to to $180 - and no rebates. Too bad, at $130, this would be a steal for the speakers, DVD player (with all its options), and the tuner - ALL in one box with wiring...

 

[kdegarmo]

Hmm, still shows as In Stock for me.

Here is the link at Sharp's website for more info.