Good Starter

[Phoenix Theory]

is this good for a first start ? and can i hook this up to my ps3 and tv to watch my blu rays ? http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...=ITD&body=MAIN

[HAMP]

I wouldn't consider that a good start...
You can hook it up to your tv and PS3, but you wouldn't have HD sound

[callas01]

I have to agree with HAMP, that is not the way to go IMO. That is a sound bar and in my opinion has very little added surround sound over that of the HDTVs with virtual surround sound built into the settings.

Do you have a Budget in mind? and do you have a reciever already or do you need on of them too?

If your looking at starting off, a good way to start is just to get a receiver(click here) and the 2 front tower speakers(click here). Then add a center channel, Sub and surrounds as you go.

[Phoenix Theory]

Originally Posted by callas01

I have to agree with HAMP, that is not the way to go IMO. That is a sound bar and in my opinion has very little added surround sound over that of the HDTVs with virtual surround sound built into the settings.

Do you have a Budget in mind? and do you have a reciever already or do you need on of them too?

If your looking at starting off, a good way to start is just to get a receiver(click here) and the 2 front tower speakers(click here). Then add a center channel, Sub and surrounds as you go.

what does a receiver do ?

[HAMP]

Originally Posted by xphoenix23

what does a receiver do ?

Sounds like you have alot of reading to do. I am wondering, how old are you?
Also tell us what do you plan or would like your system to end up like and how much money do you plan on spending?

I'm sure there are things you can't do, tell us about that and people can help with better info. An example of the things a person can't do:

1. If a person lives in an apartment, they can't or shouldn't have 4 subs going.
2. If a person has a small area then they can't have large tower speakers.

[Phoenix Theory]

well i live in a apartment and don't want any complains just want something to feel the real experience a little looking to spend no more than 300$

[naturephoto1]

Originally Posted by xphoenix23

well i live in a apartment and don't want any complains just want something to feel the real experience a little looking to spend no more than 300$

Members will guide you through this, but you may wish to rethink your cap limit of $300 for everything. Ultimately, it may be much more sensible for you to consider making your purchases in pieces.

Rich

[richteer]

Originally Posted by naturephoto1

Members will guide you through this, but you may wish to rethink your cap limit of $300 for everything. Ultimately, it may be much more sensible for you to consider making your purchases in pieces.

Rich

+1 $300 is such a small amount for receiver and speakers, you'd be wasting your money. Save up a bit more cash; you'll get much more enjoyment out of it when you do buy some stuff.

[Blu Titan]

Originally Posted by richteer

+1 $300 is such a small amount for receiver and speakers, you'd be wasting your money. Save up a bit more cash; you'll get much more enjoyment out of it when you do buy some stuff.

True it makes more sense to save a little more, and enjoy much better sound at the end. The system you are planning to buy will give you a minimal improvement over your tv audio's. Not worth it in my opinion. You could start buying things now, and hooking everything up at a latter time. Newegg is selling the Polk Monitor 50s fronts for $99 each (free shipping), and the CS1 center for $99 (or so). $300 could give you a good start. You can then buy a refurbished Onkyo 606 from accessories for less for $329 (refurbished, shipped http://www.eproductwars.com/addComme...8sdfh290sdfjew) Add a couple of monitor 30s for surround for $99 (newegg). Viola a pretty good system for $729.

[callas01]

Receivers are the brains of the HT setup typically. They can take in many Audio and Video signals from CD players to Cable/Sat to Blu-ray players etc. and then properly send out the signals where they need to go, ie. HDTV or Speakers.

Here is a decent beginner receiver or this one, and packaged with speakers like this it would be a good way to start in an appartment.

Receiver1 and speakers $543
Receiver2 and speakers $518

This is a better way to begin because you could upgrade to other speakers later without having to change out the receiver. Say later you move into the house and need/want bigger speakers/bigger sound, well basically you have surround speakers from the package above to start with and then you can go out and get bigger towers and a better center speaker, without having to change the receiver. Plus typically you don't need to turn the sound up as high to enjoy suround sound with a dedicated receiver as you may find with HTiB setups. Many times with HTiB setups, if you have the desire to upgrade you will need to change out all the components, receivers and speakers to do so, which can be more costly in the long run.

Otherwise I say if you are stuck on the budget you have, you can get this HTiB, but it would not be my first option.

Good luck.

[got rice]

Callas nice write up.. you beat me to it. I like the HTIB suggestion you offered. The OP can get 2channel lossless with dig coax or toslink. So this will give him a good start. Plus it won't break the bank.

After he has a good grasp of what he likes and dislikes then I would recommend building. From what I gather he/she wants something now. This is will offer him a vialble soultion . Nice job.

[Grevlin]

Originally Posted by callas01

Receivers are the brains of the HT setup typically. They can take in many Audio and Video signals from CD players to Cable/Sat to Blu-ray players etc. and then properly send out the signals where they need to go, ie. HDTV or Speakers.

Here is a decent beginner receiver or this one, and packaged with speakers like this it would be a good way to start in an appartment.

Receiver1 and speakers $543
Receiver2 and speakers $518

This is a better way to begin because you could upgrade to other speakers later without having to change out the receiver. Say later you move into the house and need/want bigger speakers/bigger sound, well basically you have surround speakers from the package above to start with and then you can go out and get bigger towers and a better center speaker, without having to change the receiver. Plus typically you don't need to turn the sound up as high to enjoy suround sound with a dedicated receiver as you may find with HTiB setups. Many times with HTiB setups, if you have the desire to upgrade you will need to change out all the components, receivers and speakers to do so, which can be more costly in the long run.

Otherwise I say if you are stuck on the budget you have, you can get this HTiB, but it would not be my first option.

Good luck.

I had almost this exact system just a few months ago. I loved it, and I think it would be great for an apartment. It would also allow you to slowly upgrade the speakers and eventually the receiver. (While you are reading up through this forum) You could then move the HTiB to another room- like your bedroom, once you have your new system complete. (My nephew got mine)

[statikcat]

This is the best starter you can get imo

Receiver : Onkyo sr606

http://www.amazon.com/Onkyo-TX-SR606...0169662&sr=8-1

Polk RM6750 5.1 set:

http://www.amazon.com/Polk-Audio-Cha...0169654&sr=8-1

Cables and speaker wire from monoprice.com..


Save up more for this you will not regret it. The best thing about this system is you can upgrade it piece by piece in the future. If you buy something total for 300$ you are going to have the scrap the whole thing to get something better. I hate it when people advise products over the limit suggested but in this case it is really the only good option!


EDIT: callas01 beat me to it!

[lojack1976]

Another speaker option is THIS Energy setup which I picked up a couple of weeks ago. They sound fantastic and I personally think they're better than the Polk setup. They only come in silver, but if that's not a problem then check them out. The seller will accept an offer of $160 so with shipping they come to $199. Since you are using the PS3 you can also consider THIS Pioneer receiver for just under $300 shipped or THIS Yamaha receiver for $269 shipped. The newer version of this Yamaha is HERE for $329 shipped and it offers full HD audio decoding if you ever decide to go with a standalone Blu-ray player. Check out some of these lower budget options.