small budget audio

[jtwise]

I am looking to set up a home theater audio system, under 300 dollars. Any suggestions?

[langn08]

I'd start buying it Piece by piece as you find sales. I took the path of only having a few hundred bucks and got a HTIB and seriously regretted it. I have since found the light and am taking advantage of blu audio. Check out new egg.com for some great deals.

[tigtat77]

Originally Posted by jtwise

I am looking to set up a home theater audio system, under 300 dollars. Any suggestions?

You looking to start with a reciever? If you are just looking for speakers though not a popular choice on here, I just got the Sony SS-F6000 floor speakers (under 200.00 for the pair) and upgraded my center to the Sony SS-CR5000. I love them. Under 300.00 for 2 floor and a center. You can also get a pair of Sony bookshelf speakers for the surround for 50.00. Check them out on Amazon.

[jtwise]

Originally Posted by tigtat77

You looking to start with a reciever? If you are just looking for speakers though not a popular choice on here, I just got the Sony SS-F6000 floor speakers (under 200.00 for the pair) and upgraded my center to the Sony SS-CR5000. I love them. Under 300.00 for 2 floor and a center. You can also get a pair of Sony bookshelf speakers for the surround for 50.00. Check them out on Amazon.

i'm looking to get speakers and a receiver.

[langn08]

Originally Posted by jtwise

i'm looking to get speakers and a receiver.

Well you may want to look at POLK speaker packages as they are cheap and good for starters. Even going this route you will be well over your $300 budget. Would you consider piecing the system together as you have the money too? It will prolly still cost $700 minimum when all is said and done.

[dolphinc]

Originally Posted by jtwise

i'm looking to get speakers and a receiver.

$300 will not get you much if you want everything now. My only suggestion is look at the Onkyo HTiB setups, they have a couple for around that price mark. They will not have HDMI ports so you will have to run optical.

[lojack1976]

There aren't too many choices in your price range, but here's a good start. You can get THIS 5.1 Pioneer receiver which will give you PCM audio over HDMI for $187.99 shipped. You can get two of THESE which will put you a little over budget, but under $350 shipped. THESE are a good choice if you would rather have bookshelf speakers. If you absolutely have to keep it under $300 then go with THESE.

[DeadDog]

What are you looking to get? Are you wanting to take advantage of the HD audio available on blu-rays?

What kind of blu-ray player are you using as well? You're going to be hard pressed to find a complete setup in the $300 range but you MAY be able to put together a descent starter setup for around $400 depending upon the capabilites of your blu-ray player.

[jtwise]

Originally Posted by DeadDog

What are you looking to get? Are you wanting to take advantage of the HD audio available on blu-rays?

What kind of blu-ray player are you using as well? You're going to be hard pressed to find a complete setup in the $300 range but you MAY be able to put together a descent starter setup for around $400 depending upon the capabilites of your blu-ray player.

Panasonic 10ak

[DeadDog]

From what I can tell about your player, it can internally decode Dolby TrueHD but not DTS-HD MA (although it can do DTS-HD HR)

The only way you can get both HD audio codecs is to buy a receiver that decodes both (which will definitely increase your price). However, if you're o.k. with just getting True HD for now then you can actually look into getting an older receiver with analog inputs since your player has 7.1 analog outputs.

Then you could look at the polk RM6750 5.1 speaker setup. Or another speaker option is the Energy Take 5.0 set and buy a seperate subwoofer. Both would be in the $200 range depending upon where you look (maybe cheaper if you find some sales)

Someone feel free to correct me if I'm wrong about his player and its abilities.

[lojack1976]

Originally Posted by DeadDog

From what I can tell about your player, it can internally decode Dolby TrueHD but not DTS-HD MA (although it can do DTS-HD HR)

The only way you can get both HD audio codecs is to buy a receiver that decodes both (which will definitely increase your price). However, if you're o.k. with just getting True HD for now then you can actually look into getting an older receiver with analog inputs since your player has 7.1 analog outputs.

Then you could look at the polk RM6750 5.1 speaker setup. Or another speaker option is the Energy Take 5.0 set and buy a seperate subwoofer. Both would be in the $200 range depending upon where you look (maybe cheaper if you find some sales)

Someone feel free to correct me if I'm wrong about his player and its abilities.

You are correct that it doesn't decode DTS-HD MA. Its not a huge issue if the OP can live with it.

To the OP, I'm assuming from your gallery that you are setting this up in your bedroom right? If so I think a 5.1 setup should suffice which is why I recommend the Pioneer receiver. Its a new model and its pretty cheap. If you can stretch your budget to around $400 then the Polk speaker package is a good quick way to get yourself a complete 5.1 setup that will sound good, or you can go with the $200 Energy package that is also on Newegg and add a good sub later.

[callas01]

Originally Posted by jtwise

Panasonic 10ak

the 10AK cannot decode any HD audio nor can it bitstream, I have one too and have the latest firmware and there is no HD audio decoding(unless you want 2 channel audio) or bitstreaming. It can only process LPCM. There for any reciever that can handle DD, DTS or LPCM will suffice.

[Uncle Leo]

I think one of the most important questions you have to ask yourself is, How serious are you gonna get about this HOBBY? Yes it is a hobby and you will want better.(anyone mention the"itis" yet to him?). If you think you will be one and done, and never want to upgrade (yeah right) Then go with the suggestions above. If not I beg you to piece together an awesome HT. It might take a while, but you will never regret it. EVER!

[lojack1976]

Originally Posted by callas01

the 10AK cannot decode any HD audio nor can it bitstream, I have one too and have the latest firmware and there is no HD audio decoding(unless you want 2 channel audio) or bitstreaming. It can only process LPCM. There for any reciever that can handle DD, DTS or LPCM will suffice.

You sure about that? All the info posted online about this player say it decodes TrueHD and DTS HD with the latest firmware update. That's a bummer if it doesn't.

[dolphinc]

Originally Posted by Uncle Leo

I think one of the most important questions you have to ask yourself is, How serious are you gonna get about this HOBBY? Yes it is a hobby and you will want better.(anyone mention the"itis" yet to him?). If you think you will be one and done, and never want to upgrade (yeah right) Then go with the suggestions above. If not I beg you to piece together an awesome HT. It might take a while, but you will never regret it. EVER!

+1, it never ends. It's a constant quest to improve and configure your HT. believe me, I know. I started Jan of this year and have already spent 10Gs+ between equipment, movies and furniture and I am still looking for improvements.

P.S. Uncle Leo, you need to go back to the other Avatar, it always brings a smile to my face.

[callas01]

Originally Posted by lojack1976

You sure about that? All the info posted online about this player say it decodes TrueHD and DTS HD with the latest firmware update. That's a bummer if it doesn't.

Hmm, Unless I was trying when I still had my old receiver. It been in my bedroom without a receiver for almost 8 months now, so I haven't tested it recently. But the last and Final firmware update was sometime middle of last year before I got my new BDP, and I remember trying to get it to play HD audio?????. Maybe it was before the new receiver??

[browndk26]

These are what I have. Would work well in a small room. I am ready to upgrade from these.

http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/...52921665191299

http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/...52921665089167

I don't have the surrounds connected.

[Kryptonic]

www.thespeakercompany.com

I'm sure you'll find something there that'll tickle your fancy and it'll be quite a bit better than Sony speakers for sure. Start with speakers and wait for a good deal on a Pioneer, Yamaha, or Onyko receiver.