Looking for a good 5.1 Speaker System with powered subwoofer for $100-250

[MrHT]

I have THIS HTIB and one thing that bugs me about it is that these are HTIB speakers (6 ohm) and the subwoofer is receiver powered. So, in the event I want to upgrade equipment, I have to buy a whole new HTIB rather than just simply upgrading receivers. I want to replace these speakers for standard ones that I can hook up to any receiver I buy later on. So, I'm looking for a good 5.1 speaker system that includes a powered subwoofer.

I'm looking for one that has good sound and costs around $100-250. I'm hoping not to going higher than $200, if possible, but if I must, I'll consider it. I live in an apartment, so I'm not looking for the best of the best. Just a simple 5.1 speaker system with good sound will do. Of course, it would be nice if the speakers are better than the ones I currently have.

Keep in mind that I'm looking for a 5.1 standard speaker system that will work with any receiver I buy in the future. So, in the event I upgrade to an HDMI receiver, I can hook these speakers up to it.

Can anyone recommend anything?
I happened to see THIS at Amazon. Is this good?

Thank you.

[Big Daddy]

Yamaha is a reputable company. They make excellent electronics and speakers. However, the speakers that you linked are at the very bottom of their product line. If you buy them now, you may want to upgrade your speakers in a few months. My suggestion is that you forget about the subwoofer for the time being and buy 5 speakers for $200 and then save some money and buy a better subwoofer later.

Another alternative is to buy the three front speakers right now with a subwoofer and add the surround speakers later when you have the money.

An online company that sells inexpensive speakers is Fluance.

http://www.fluance.com/shop-speakers.html

A company that makes good and inexpensive subwoofers is Acoustic Audio. If you bid on some of their subwoofers, you may be able to buy them at exceptional prices. A few months ago, I managed to buy a 15" subwoofer from them for $169 plus free shipping. You can easily manage to buy a 10" subwoofer for under $100.

Acoustic Audio Ebay Store:

• HD-SUB10 Front-Firing: HD-SUB10. Great deals on eBay!, (temporarily out of stock)
• HD-SUB12 Front-Firing: HD-SUB12, Electronics, acoustic audio. Great deals on eBay!
• HD-SUB15 Front-Firing: HD-SUB15, Electronics, hd sub12. Great deals on eBay!
• PSW Down-Firing: http://shop.ebay.com/i.html?_kw=acou...oofers&_sop=12
• RWSUB Down-Firing: http://shop.ebay.com/i.html?_nkw=Aco....c0.m270.l1313
• The Deep Discount Retail Store: http://stores.ebay.com/thedeepdiscount

[Blu-Benny]

i'm gonna steal your recommendation on accoustic audio big daddy!!

i've been looking for a sub for about $100 just to get me by until i can afford to upgrade everything.

needless to say, w/2 little ones, a crappy economy, and gas prices being so high, new speakers aren't to high on the list of priorities @ my house.

[MrHT]

Originally Posted by Blu-Benny

new speakers aren't to high on the list of priorities @ my house.

It's not on my priority list either. I'm just buying them to protect myself because should my receiver die, I won't have to buy another HTIB. Buying another HTIB is cheaper, but buying one when it's only the receiver that needs replacement is kind of annoying. Maybe I might just get a powered subwoofer only. I believe many receivers now are compatible with 6 ohm speakers, so my 5 speakers should work with most receivers. It's the sub that's the issue since it's receiver powered.

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by Blu-Benny

i'm gonna steal your recommendation on accoustic audio big daddy!!

i've been looking for a sub for about $100 just to get me by until i can afford to upgrade everything.

needless to say, w/2 little ones, a crappy economy, and gas prices being so high, new speakers aren't to high on the list of priorities @ my house.

If you are patient, you should be able to win a 10" or 12" subwoofer for $100 or less. I waited until the last 10 minutes of the auction before I entered my bid, which was the highest bid by a couple of dollars. Within a couple of minutes, somebody outbid me. I waited until the last 30-40 seconds and entered a bid that was the highest by about $50. There was no time for anyone else to outbid me and I won a maple 15" subwoofer for $169 and no shipping charge. The subwoofer was worth every penny.

Unfortunately, I am a crazy tweaker and couldn't leave it alone. I took the driver out, expanded the opening, added some polyfill to it, installed a $400 driver, and turned the subwoofer into a high-end subwoofer.

[HAMP]

You’re not in as bad shape as you may think. You can upgrade in parts, by the look of things. Upgrading in parts is a lot easier on your pockets.

Since you have 6ohms speakers, you should be ok to upgrade those first if you want.
Or get a nice receiver now and use your current speakers, and upgrade the speakers later.
Only problem with getting the receiver first, is your sub is not powered.

Here is an ideas for you:

Jamo Bundle $259.88, Two bookshelf speakers & an 8" subwoofer.

Later you can add the center channel and then surrounds, by using the same bookshelf speakers that cost $129.


It sound like you just want to really get another HTiB, but you really should consider moving up.

[HAMP]

Originally Posted by MrHT

It's not on my priority list either. I'm just buying them to protect myself because should my receiver die, I won't have to buy another HTIB. Buying another HTIB is cheaper, but buying one when it's only the receiver that needs replacement is kind of annoying. Maybe I might just get a powered subwoofer only. I believe many receivers now are compatible with 6 ohm speakers, so my 5 speakers should work with most receivers. It's the sub that's the issue since it's receiver powered.

You do have a pre-out for a powered sub, so this is something you can do. You can get a really nice receiver that is much better then a HTiB receiver and still enjoy the HD sound thru your current speakers.


http://www.accessories4less.com/make...Package/1.html

[MrHT]

Originally Posted by HAMP

You do have a pre-out for a powered sub, so this is something you can do. You can get a really nice receiver that is much better then a HTiB receiver and still enjoy the HD sound thru your current speakers.


http://www.accessories4less.com/make...Package/1.html

Yes, my current receiver has a sub out for a powered sub.

And I don't think my speakers would sound good without a sub. That's why I would prefer to buy a sub first before upgrading the receiver.

[Blu-Benny]

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

If you are patient, you should be able to win a 10" or 12" subwoofer for $100 or less. I waited until the last 10 minutes of the auction before I entered my bid, which was the highest bid by a couple of dollars. Within a couple of minutes, somebody outbid me. I waited until the last 30-40 seconds and entered a bid that was the highest by about $50. There was no time for anyone else to outbid me and I won a maple 15" subwoofer for $169 and no shipping charge. The subwoofer was worth every penny.

Unfortunately, I am a crazy tweaker and couldn't leave it alone. I took the driver out, expanded the opening, added some polyfill to it, installed a $400 driver, and turned the subwoofer into a high-end subwoofer.

that's awesome!!!

I’ve been on ebay a lot lately w/my son’s b-day coming up @ the end of the month….i’ll have to do some searches for subs 2nite again.

Thanks for the tip!!

[Almadacr]

Originally Posted by Blu-Benny

that's awesome!!!

I’ve been on ebay a lot lately w/my son’s b-day coming up @ the end of the month….i’ll have to do some searches for subs 2nite again.

Thanks for the tip!!

My Klipsch RW-10D

http://www.klipsch.com/na-en/products/rw-10d-overview/


I paid only 150$ in Canada i think you might get it chaper in the US

[MrHT]

What do you guys think of these?

http://cgi.ebay.com/Sony-Surround-So...item45fa74d293

My cousin has these speakers set up in his house and they sound freakin' amazing. Does anyone recommend these?

[Blu-Benny]

Originally Posted by Almadacr

My Klipsch RW-10D

http://www.klipsch.com/na-en/products/rw-10d-overview/


I paid only 150$ in Canada i think you might get it chaper in the US

i'm watching a couple acoustic audio sub auctions and i'm hoping the one that ends today doesn't go north of $90.

it's less than $50 w/10 hours to go i think.

[HAMP]

Originally Posted by MrHT

What do you guys think of these?

http://cgi.ebay.com/Sony-Surround-So...item45fa74d293

My cousin has these speakers set up in his house and they sound freakin' amazing. Does anyone recommend these?

This is a very odd post. If they sound amazing too you, why are you asking us our opinion?

Not trying to sound like a smart arse, but listening to speakers and buying what you like is the biggest recommendation that is usually given.

[Almadacr]

Originally Posted by HAMP

This is a very odd post. If they sound amazing too you, why are you asking us our opinion?

Not trying to sound like a smart arse, but listening to speakers and buying what you like is the biggest recommendation that is usually given.

Going on the thoughts of HAMP i would buy that if it was for .......free

[MrHT]

Originally Posted by HAMP

This is a very odd post. If they sound amazing too you, why are you asking us our opinion?

Not trying to sound like a smart arse, but listening to speakers and buying what you like is the biggest recommendation that is usually given.

Because many of you said that the Yamaha speakers I linked before are of low quality. Well, I'm trying to determine what your definition of "low quality" is. If you think those Sony speakers are low quality, then that means those Yamaha speakers I linked before are good quality, in my book.

[HAMP]

Originally Posted by Almadacr

Going on the thoughts of HAMP i would buy that if it was for .......free

Same thoughts here.

[Almadacr]

Originally Posted by MrHT

Because many of you said that the Yamaha speakers I linked before are of low quality. Well, I'm trying to determine what your definition of "low quality" is. If you think those Sony speakers are low quality, then that means those Yamaha speakers I linked before are good quality, in my book.

Big Daddy gave you great links , that IMO you would be better satisfied with a new system , those fluance speakers would be better than any 200$ HTIB , just my 2cents

[HAMP]

Originally Posted by MrHT

Because many of you said that the Yamaha speakers I linked before are of low quality. Well, I'm trying to determine what your definition of "low quality" is. If you think those Sony speakers are low quality, then that means those Yamaha speakers I linked before are good quality, in my book.

What’s going on here is a little familiar. Before I found this site and learned some things, I had already bought two HTiB.

One of them cost me $98(which was a refurb) and the other around $150, and they sounded ok.

Reading things on blu-ray.com, I did my first upgrade with a receiver. Honestly those speakers that were with my old cheap $150 HTiB sounded really good with the new receiver, which was my Onkyo 805.

The room they were in was my main theater room, the room was pretty large and with the lights out, it was a nice surround setup.

I had a PS3, 65” DLP, Onkyo 805 and some cheap speakers.

I was in an apartment like you, but I ended up getting out of hand with my upgrading. I ended up buying towers, better surrounds and two 12” subs. I loved it, and not to be funny, but someone else loved it too, because they broke into my apartment and stole it all. lol

Before I make this post too long to read.

My suggestion would be to pretty much as you have already stated, You want to go the route of being able to upgrade easily and not stuck with proprietary units, and everything has to be upgraded/switch at the same time.

[MrHT]

Originally Posted by Almadacr

Big Daddy gave you great links , that IMO you would be better satisfied with a new system , those fluance speakers would be better than any 200$ HTIB , just my 2cents

But that's quite a pricey route, don't ya think?

[HAMP]

Originally Posted by MrHT

But that's quite a pricey route, don't ya think?

Like I said in another post to you, with what you have now, your not in as bad of shape with upgrading as some who want to move up from the HTiB.

Your receiver does have a pre-out for a powered sub
Your current speakers are 6ohms

With those two things, your next move can be a really nice satisfying upgrade. You have a few ways you can go. Myself and the other people just have to keep in mind, your in an apartment and your not trying to build a Home Theater for six or so people.
You want something sweet and comfy for you and your partner.

The link you provided really seems like a lateral move instead of upping your system.

Looking at your signature and seeing you have a good list of movies, I really believe you would enjoy getting that receiver and sub first, and then looking for nice speakers.

At the moment your not getting any High-Def audio and believe me, that’s half of the blu-ray experience.

You said your cousin has the sony speakers and they sound amazing, but the question is, what source is he using on them? Your current speakers may sound the same as his, if you had a High-Def source.

I seriously think you should get off the speaker search for now, and really look into a nice receiver and powered sub. You may have to get one at a time, but that’s ok, at least you will be gettin it done.