If you had $3000 what TV, Reciever, and speakers would you buy?

[Irishwiseguy2006]

I already have the PS3, but what would you buy with the $3000? I am currently looking at the 50" Panasonic Plasma -$1999 Onkyo 605-$389 and Polk 5.1 speakers-$300. Anything better in your opinions that maybe im missing?

[jaydoc24]

There are so many questions to be answered before one can be supplied to you...however, Onkyo I believe offers the most bang for your receiver buck. Is 50" a maximum screen size for your space? Are you set on plasma or can it be LCD or even RP?

[haushausman]

Unless your in a studio apt or something and cramped for space; get a 60+" rear projection DLP 1080p HDTV for a little more than half of what that plasma is costing ya. Then sink the rest into your audio and movie collection. Two beefy tower speakers look so sick next to a rear projection TV.

[gearyt]

Originally Posted by Irishwiseguy2006

I already have the PS3, but what would you buy with the $3000? I am currently looking at the 50" Panasonic Plasma -$1999 Onkyo 605-$389 and Polk 5.1 speakers-$300. Anything better in your opinions that maybe im missing?

Close.... I'd go with the 42", put additional into the polks, and a sub

[jaydoc24]

You can get the most screen for your $ if you go RP. Sony makes the A3000 model now, and it is rated as one of the best and you can get a 60" screen for the same price or even less than the panasonic you listed. Before I got my KEF surround speakers, which I love by the way, I was listening to some definitive technology speakers which sounded great, but may be out of your price range. However, if I know there is wiggle room, maybe we can make a few setups.

[Petra_Kalbrain]

When I was investigating my upgrade I gave myself a $6000 budget. $3000 of that budget was my receiver (Onkyo 805), speakers (B&W M-1), and subwoofer (B&W AS-2). $3000 was for the TV (Sony Bravia KDL-52W3000 LCD).

So, as per your initial question, I am sort of torn 50/50. I couldn't see myself enjoying my home theatre without one or the other.

[Dagger]

I think you're going to want to upgrade the receiver and speakers within a year. Here's what I'd do if you're set on the TV (I would be IMO).

http://www.hometheatermag.com/hometh...x/607onksr800/

Get the Onkyo 800 7.1 HTIB. According to the reviews, you're really getting a great future proof receiver. The set will tied you over for awhile until you can get a real nice set of speakers.

Looks like this Onkyo 800 actually has more power than the 605. It has 2 HDMI ports (video only) and 2 optical ports/2 coaxial. Retails $599, but I'm sure you can get it cheaper that.

[Irishwiseguy2006]

[QUOTE=jaydoc24;581060]You can get the most screen for your $ if you go RP. Sony makes the A3000 model now, and it is rated as one of the best and you can get a 60" screen for the same price or even less than the panasonic you listed. Before I got my KEF surround speakers, which I love by the way, I was listening to some definitive technology speakers which sounded great, but may be out of your price range. However, if I know there is wiggle room, maybe we can make a few setups.[/QUOTE

I am really set on the Panny. My game/movie room is in my basement with NO windows so I really want to take advantage of that with a Plasma.

[jaydoc24]

Ok, great...now we go. That leaves us $1000 for a receiver and speakers. Next question, will there be any money in the near future? I ask because in your situation, I would get a good receiver (anything made by Onkyo like the 605, 705, etc.) and use your left-over money to begin a 5.1 system and just buy it in pieces. See if you can start with the center channel and then fronts, rears, and finally a sub. I think in the end you will be more pleased with the result. However, if you want 5.1 surround sound immediately, then I know Onkyo makes some HTIBs that are quality. I have never personally heard Polk speakers so I cannot offer advice there. I do know that Klipsch makes a good surround sound set of speakers. You want the reference line however, not what BB sells.

[Irishwiseguy2006]

Originally Posted by jaydoc24

Ok, great...now we go. That leaves us $1000 for a receiver and speakers. Next question, will there be any money in the near future? I ask because in your situation, I would get a good receiver (anything made by Onkyo like the 605, 705, etc.) and use your left-over money to begin a 5.1 system and just buy it in pieces. See if you can start with the center channel and then fronts, rears, and finally a sub. I think in the end you will be more pleased with the result. However, if you want 5.1 surround sound immediately, then I know Onkyo makes some HTIBs that are quality. I have never personally heard Polk speakers so I cannot offer advice there. I do know that Klipsch makes a good surround sound set of speakers. You want the reference line however, not what BB sells.

Thanks for the advice. I was thinking of doing the speaker by speaker option. Is the Center and fronts the ones to get first if I go that route? Otherwise I might have to hold my wifes hand in public for a week to get more money to spend...lol

[Beta Man]

Make sure the Center and Fronts are timber-matched, they are DEFINITELY the speakers to get first. Then get a sub, then surrounds. Any really cheap speakers you have laying around can work for surrounds in the meantime too..... and I mean CHEAP. If you have an cd/tape boom-box thing that has detachable speakers, or one of those small shelf systems etc. use two of those speakers, hide them in the back somewhere, and turn the levels on the receiver down so they're not over-powering, and it'll add more of a surround aspect until you're ready to buy some surrounds.

The Fronts and Center are the most important speakers in your set-up, and it's the last place to try to tighten the budget. I've seen many people put $300 surrounds behind Fronts/Centers that cost $3000 or more, and it certainly doesn't cause you to say "man your surrounds are a weak link in your system"

[Matt X]

Originally Posted by Irishwiseguy2006

I already have the PS3, but what would you buy with the $3000? I am currently looking at the 50" Panasonic Plasma -$1999 Onkyo 605-$389 and Polk 5.1 speakers-$300. Anything better in your opinions that maybe im missing?

I would beg, borrow and steal all the other components, and drop the whole wad on an Epson 1080P projector (~$3k)

[Irishwiseguy2006]

Originally Posted by Beta Man

Make sure the Center and Fronts are timber-matched, they are DEFINITELY the speakers to get first. Then get a sub, then surrounds. Any really cheap speakers you have laying around can work for surrounds in the meantime too..... and I mean CHEAP. If you have an cd/tape boom-box thing that has detachable speakers, or one of those small shelf systems etc. use two of those speakers, hide them in the back somewhere, and turn the levels on the receiver down so they're not over-powering, and it'll add more of a surround aspect until you're ready to buy some surrounds.

The Fronts and Center are the most important speakers in your set-up, and it's the last place to try to tighten the budget. I've seen many people put $300 surrounds behind Fronts/Centers that cost $3000 or more, and it certainly doesn't cause you to say "man your surrounds are a weak link in your system"

Cool...I was doing some more looking and was curious if this system will do everything I need? I mean will it give me the quality sound I am looking for?

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...outThisProduct

[Beta Man]

Originally Posted by Irishwiseguy2006

Cool...I was doing some more looking and was curious if this system will do everything I need? I mean will it give me the quality sound I am looking for?

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...outThisProduct

I'm sure you'll get instant, out-of-the-box gratification with that, but if I were on a $3k budget, I'd get this set up, minus the Sub, and get a different sub (that sub costs a lot for the given set-up, and if purely a musical system, I'd recommend it, but you can a bigger, deeper bass sub for less) Then connect it all to an Onkyo 605

http://www.bowers-wilkins.com/displa...311&terid=2315

You could also get the floor-standers instead of bookshelfs for the fronts, etc. If I had to price the entire thing out, I'd say......

RECEIVER $400

685's for fronts @ $650
686's for rears @ $480
HTM62 for the Center @ $425
and set aside $400 for a sub.

If you got floor standers instead of the 685's, you're looking at $1100 instead of $650


So if you went with Floor Standers, and the Center, you're at $1500, then you got $1,500 to get a nice 42" LCD and you can add the rest later.

[jaydoc24]

Agreed. B&W are excellent speakers. There are multiple ways you can go if you would piece your set-up together.

Klipsch
http://www.klipsch.com/products/details/rf-52.aspx

KEF are a little more expensive, but I personally found their sound tighter and cleaner than the Klipsch. Those were the two brands I had narrowed it down to.

Again, it is really up to you. I essentially pieced mine together via a 6 month wait between my TV and surround purchase. Once I had enough $ to start my speaker package, I did, and paid the rest off monthly with no interest.

[jaydoc24]

Yes, to answer your question. That is the type of system I was referring to. Definitive technology also offers some nice set-ups that you can either piece together or buy packages of. There is a lesser known company called Mirage and I considered them as well, and they may work well in your space with their omnidirectional speakers.

http://www.miragespeakers.com/v2/
http://www.definitivetech.com/

What ultimately move me toward a higher-end speaker system was a local store in my town who has been around forever and sells nicer speakers. They offered 1 year interest-free financing and that allowed me to spend more money. That may be an option for you as well.

[Irishwiseguy2006]

Great! Thanks for the advice guys. I am really a novice with audio. If I did get the orginal set up I am able to add and replace speakers down the line correct? I could just start making another surround for my living room as I replace.

[wem003]

For speakers, an overlooked option - if you can find them are Era Design 3's.

The center is about $300, and then the satellites are $400/pair unless you are getting their piano black finish - then it gets more expensive.

As a HUGE B&W fan, this is the closest sound I've found for a budget price.

http://www.signalpathint.com/index.php/Design-3-Series/

I just picked up the D3 center, and will be getting a pair of satellites soon.

Wonderful speakers, amazing build quality, and gorgeous veneers.

[jaydoc24]

You mean if you go with the original Onkyo package from Amazon? Sure, you could do that. You really want to weigh the cost v. benefit before you make the plunge however. As someone else stated, you would end up with immediate gratification but later you may have wished you pieced together a more high-end system. I'm not trying to talk you out of anything and I remember being in your exact position a little over a year ago.

Even now, there was another company sold by my speaker store called NHT. They were even more expensive than my KEF line and thinking back, I'd like to hear those again.

Of course, I was born, raised, and still live in the town where Martin Logan speakers are produced. They are some of the best speakers around. I have a sub of theirs!

[Beta Man]

Originally Posted by Irishwiseguy2006

Great! Thanks for the advice guys. I am really a novice with audio. If I did get the orginal set up I am able to add and replace speakers down the line correct? I could just start making another surround for my living room as I replace.

yeah, if nothing else, buying that Onkyo system will leave you a lot of room in your budget for the t.v. and the receiver is about $400 or so, so if you buy new fronts/center down the road, you have the surrounds and sub with the home-theater in a box deal, and it really keeps you from having to upgrade at a fast rate. I think if you drop the cash on good speakers though, you'll be very happy. I picked up new speakers, a HUGE upgrade over what I had previously, and suddenly found my interest in music revitalized in a time that it was fading. I have purchased more CDs in the past few months, than I did during a 2 year period of time..... I love listening to my system now (it's B&W, hence the biased opinion I gave you, but I went with 700 series because my audio became more of a priority than my video)

I think you'll be happy with whatever you get, but it all depends on how long..... Good speakers hold their value fairly well also, and T.V.s prices have been rapidly dropping, so that's something else to consider.