Need help with Home Theatre set-up

[Denoku]

Ok so I've never had a High Def setup and really don't know too much about it. I've had crappy speakers for the longest time and I'm ready to make the upgrade. I'm looking to spend less than $1000 for it. It doesn't have to be the best but something good enough to experience my games and Blu-rays. I've been told it's best to purchase a reciever and then to buy speakers for it. I use my PS3 so I'm looking for something that will work with that. I've looked but I figured I would ask if anyone here had some good suggestions. Thanks

[roar]

Well the thought that'd you'd buy your receiver before your speakers is only true in the sense that a speaker without a receiver will leave you with nothing to drive the speaker, thus leaving you without any sound.

If 1k is your budget I think you will find something to your liking but some sacrafices may have to be made, perhaps a nice 2 channel sound system with a nice receiver will do you better in the long run and as more funds come up you can start to add the other channels.

This way you don't sacrifice on sound quality just for the sake of getting everything at once. There are plenty of receivers in the market for $500 and I'm sure you could find a nice pair of speakers for the same amount. I'd then add a sub after that when and the surrounds after that. It may take you 6 months or a year or longer to get it all, but I think it is worth it.

[K_Williamson42]

Originally Posted by roar

Well the thought that'd you'd buy your receiver before your speakers is only true in the sense that a speaker without a receiver will leave you with nothing to drive the speaker, thus leaving you without any sound.

If 1k is your budget I think you will find something to your liking but some sacrafices may have to be made, perhaps a nice 2 channel sound system with a nice receiver will do you better in the long run and as more funds come up you can start to add the other channels.

This way you don't sacrifice on sound quality just for the sake of getting everything at once. There are plenty of receivers in the market for $500 and I'm sure you could find a nice pair of speakers for the same amount. I'd then add a sub after that when and the surrounds after that. It may take you 6 months or a year or longer to get it all, but I think it is worth it.

I couldnt of said it better myself. I don't have HD audio yet, I wont be able to till I have my own place, but thats the best way to start IMO. Get what you can now, save money, add to the system, and be very happy when the end finally rolls around.

[callas01]

Originally Posted by K_Williamson42

I couldnt of said it better myself. I don't have HD audio yet, I wont be able to till I have my own place, but thats the best way to start IMO. Get what you can now, save money, add to the system, and be very happy when the end finally rolls around.

I agree, a very good 2.0 system to start with would be the best way to go

Look at these receiver for $400-500 to then add speakers to.
Denon 1910 or 790
Yamaha 765
Onkyo 608
Marantz 5003 refurb@ http://www.accessories4less.com (recommendation)

For speakers
PSB Alpha T1
Energy RC-30s(recommendation $599 ea list, on sale $299ea)
Monitor Audio BR5
Energy CF-30s
Jamo C605s
Klipsch RF-52s

If you don't mind bookshelfs on stands
PSB Image B6
Energy RC-10
Totem Mites (other recommendation)

BUT I would listen to as much as you can.....its the fun part of the buying.

[Drew664]

Gonna have to disagree with that, slightly.

The end never comes around, lol. Upgraditis is incurable. I would get yourself a solid HTiB, which will cover your surrounds, sub, receiver, and front sound stage needs. This will get you exactly what you want, and allow you to later piece together something nice if you choose to do so. I don't see the point in spending a lot for parts of a nicer system only to upgrade it later to an only slightly nicer system. You see it a lot in the HT section. Spend your funds now to get everything ( i.e. what a good HTiB offers) and then when the urge to upgrade hits, spend a small fortune on every piece.

Build a skeleton before you lay a foundation.

[Denoku]

Well thanks for the suggestions. I'm not really sure which way to go, I would rather have a full system I can enjoy now. I live in a dorm so I don't need anything to crazy for now.Well at least for now I want to get a receiver, speakers and get a sub later. I want at least a 5.1 system. How are you supposed to know if your speakers will be compatible with your reciever?

[Blu-ray Fanatic]

Originally Posted by hotsauce

Well thanks for the suggestions. I'm not really sure which way to go, I would rather have a full system I can enjoy now. I live in a dorm so I don't need anything to crazy for now.Well at least for now I want to get a receiver, speakers and get a sub later. I want at least a 5.1 system. How are you supposed to know if your speakers will be compatible with your reciever?

<---------Look at my system. It's one of the best HTiB you can get and its only $300 on eBay or Amazon. It comes with a receiver, subwoofer, and 5 speakers. The best thing about it is its 1.4, it decodes Dolby TrueHD, DTSMA, etc, its upgradable, and it sounds pretty damn good for what its worth.

[MrFattBill]

Originally Posted by Blu-ray Fanatic

<---------Look at my system. It's one of the best HTiB you can get and its only $300 on eBay or Amazon. It comes with a receiver, subwoofer, and 5 speakers. The best thing about it is its 1.4, it decodes Dolby TrueHD, DTSMA, etc, its upgradable, and it sounds pretty damn good for what its worth.

Although this would probably work well for the few hundred it costs, without preouts I wouldn't qualify it as "upgradable".



Bill

[mtbkr]

http://onkyousa.com/prod_class.cfm?class=Systems

[Denoku]

Cool I've heard Onkyo is pretty good, so I'll look at those.

[Drew664]

The upper crust of Onkyo HTiBs are nothing to sneeze at. The one linked for you is extremely similar to the one I purchased over 2 years ago, see my gallery for 'living room HTiB'. I enjoyed mine very much.

[jlafrenz]

My suggestion is to find a pair of speakers that you like. They will have the largest influence on the sound. From there pick a receiver that can power them. A lot of people have suggested that you build a 2 channel system now. I think that is a good idea and upgrade as the funds become available. If you must have a full surround, I would focus on the main speakers and center channel. You can use something inexpensive for surrounds to get you by until you save up some more cash.

Are you wanting something to fit the size of your dorm room only or do you plan on keeping the system when you move?

[Denoku]

Well something to fit my dorm room but I plan on keeping it. I could go the route your talking about and upgrade it once I move. I'm just not sure I would know how or where to begin with that. Well I'm not sure what you mean by upgrading. If I have 2 channel system can I upgrade to 5 speakers or 7 speakers? I was looking at the Onkyo website and they have some nice systems for under $1000. I'm kind of new to this so I'm not too sure what to do. I'm sure I can figure out how the setup works. I just need something not too crazy good enough to watch my blurays and play my games in a small dorm room. But yes I would like to upgrade it later when I move out. So as long as it hooks up to my ps3, sounds good, is upgradable, and not too big I'm up for it.

[crazyBLUE]

Originally Posted by jlafrenz

My suggestion is to find a pair of speakers that you like. They will have the largest influence on the sound. From there pick a receiver that can power them. A lot of people have suggested that you build a 2 channel system now. I think that is a good idea and upgrade as the funds become available. If you must have a full surround, I would focus on the main speakers and center channel. You can use something inexpensive for surrounds to get you by until you save up some more cash.

Are you wanting something to fit the size of your dorm room only or do you plan on keeping the system when you move?

This is just how I would do it having done it the way I did a few years ago .
Good advise Jl for the OP .

[Denoku]

By upgrading later do you mean just adding more speakers to it? Or adding better speakers, subs? Or just anyway you want? So I would need a 5.1 receiver or 7.1 receiver if I want to add more speakers? Can you only have 2 speakers hooked up on a 5.1 or 7.1? Sorry for the all questions, I like to be 100% sure about things.

[crazyBLUE]

Originally Posted by hotsauce

By upgrading later do you mean just adding more speakers to it? Or adding better speakers, subs? Or just anyway you want? So I would need a 5.1 receiver or 7.1 receiver if I want to add more speakers? Can you only have 2 speakers hooked up on a 5.1 or 7.1? Sorry for the all questions, I like to be 100% sure about things.

If you get a 7.1 capable receiver you can just have the 2 speakers & then add to them as you go hotsauce . I say better a 7.1 than a 5.1 so if down the road you want 7.1 you can do it without having to get another receiver .

[Denoku]

Originally Posted by crazyBLUE

If you get a 7.1 capable receiver you can just have the 2 speakers & then add to them as you go hotsauce . I say better a 7.1 than a 5.1 so if down the road you want 7.1 you can do it without having to get another receiver .

Haha coolSo basically I could just get a nice 7.1 receiver for now and find some decent small speakers for my dorm and upgrade it later. Now if I want to upgrade the speakers later can I just add to the ones I already have or would I need to replace them? And thanks again I appreciate all the help

[crazyBLUE]

Originally Posted by hotsauce

Haha coolSo basically I could just get a nice 7.1 receiver for now and find some decent small speakers for my dorm and upgrade it later. Now if I want to upgrade the speakers later can I just add to the ones I already have or would I need to replace them? And thanks again I appreciate all the help

You can always buy some good front speakers & a center & move the little ones to the surrounds

[Denoku]

OK so start off with small ones. Then when I get good front speakers and a center move the small for surround? I'm just clarifying, lol I'm not slow.

[jlafrenz]

Spend some time listening to a pair of towers or bookshelfs around the $500 mark and that should allow you enough money for a receiver and possibly a sub. Starting basic with something you like and working your way up is the way to go. Otherwise you end up spending more just replacing everything. In the long run your money will be invested in quality gear you like instead of just replacing stuff that got you by.

Let me do a little searching and see if I can give you some ideas for speakers at the price point I suggested. I will also see what receivers I can give you links for.

Also, if you find something you like, but it is out of your price range, you may want to check the used market. You can get some great deals on really nice gear.