Home Theater Help - Blu-ray Forum

kratos187 · 11-08-2013, 10:44 PM

Hello i am new to the forums and i have absolute no experience or knowledge of receivers and speakers. I have many blu rays and a pretty good Samsung 55 inch LED 3D. I am at a budget id say around $2,000 or more. I am trying to get the imax type movie theater sound in my living room. I have no ideal what brands are good and which ones are not, i am sure that this kind of thread has been posted before. I am currently using a Yamaha Rx-V861 which sadly does not support dts hd master or dolby ture hd audio formats, and along with that i have the mirage nano set speakers which happen to be not bad at all and pretty loud and that's the left,center,right and two background ones. I kinda jumped into this when i was at best buy a couple years ago, and i actually thought i was getting the dts sound i was suppose to but i am not. I need a receiver that has 3d ready, and for my front speakers they could be the book shelf type or even the floor stand type. Callas01 has helped me threw private messages. But i need all the suggestions i can get. I keep reading and looking but i honestly am not sure what to get, in review wise and rating wise... Would this be something i can order online or have to go to a retailer ? Any suggestions anybody..

Drew664 · 11-08-2013, 11:48 PM

Here is my 2 cents on the matter.

As for whether getting it online vs in store, go wherever you can make your dollar go further. Usually ends up being online.

Whatever speakers you end up getting, I suggest you look for a set with a 3 way center. Clearer diolog being the seling point, imo. A quality sub will be impotrant as well for that big sound you want - don't skimp here. The AVR is probably the least important piece out of the puzzle. I would get something that has a feature set, ease of use, and strong reviews. Getting refurbished or on clearance is a great way to get the most for your money. Monoprice for all cables and you should be good to go!

Lack of identifying brands was intentional. You should trust your own judgment on what you prefer for features, prices, sounds, and asthetics.

Can you give us an idea of where you were leaning?

Johnny Vinyl · 11-09-2013, 12:08 AM

This is not advice per se, but rather just comment based on Drew664's opinion that you should go wherever your dollar takes you furthest.

I don't necessarily disagree, and online is usually the place where you'll get the best price, but there is more to it IMO. I wouldn't want to see any one working with a local B&M dealer and choosing a unit, then deciding to buy it online to save a few bucks. It doesn't seem right to do that. After all, the dealer has invested his time and opinion to cater to a customer. Far too many people do this. Is it any wonder our B&M audio shops are going under?

onyxbfly · 11-09-2013, 12:49 AM

You can stretch your dollar buying used from places like http://app.audiogon.com/listings?ord...reated_at+DESC

or if you don't mind buying refurbished you can stretch your dollar here http://www.accessories4less.com/

If you decide to shop online many places will let you do a 30 day in home trial period.

I agree with Johnny Vinyl. If you do decide to go audition different things at B&M stores look for deals or package deals...tell them they have the same item for such and such online. See if they will be competitive. Least this way you are not wasting anyone's time.

kratos187 · 11-09-2013, 02:05 AM

learning from reading bits of stuff on the forums here.. still don't really know which brand names speakers are best or what...

Drew664 · 11-09-2013, 02:50 AM

I should explain my bias for internet delivery as I do live in a rural state. Not a lot of speciality stores - anywhere, lol.

I agree you should give local business a chance to price match if online or any other retailer has a better price point and you want to work with that location.

What kind of space do you have to work with?

kratos187 · 11-09-2013, 03:06 AM

ill have to take a picture to give u an ideal some time tomorrow, and now more then $2,000 in my price range.

Drew664 · 11-09-2013, 03:22 AM

Around $2k total for 5 speakers, 1 sub, cables, and an AVR? Very doable for quality.

As a rough guide maybe someone can suggest based on the following price points:

Fronts $1,200
Surrounds (repurpose/use existing speakers)
Subwoofer $500
AVR $400
Cables $50

I lurk more than I research anymore, so sorry I can't name drop suggestions for you. Good luck!

bigshot · 11-09-2013, 03:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drew664

Fronts $1,200
Surrounds (repurpose/use existing speakers)
Subwoofer $500
AVR $400
Cables $50[

This makes sense to me. Spend your money on your mains first. The sub second, the center channel third and the rears last. Speakers are what makes or breaks a system, not the electronics.

callas01 · 11-09-2013, 04:46 AM

music direct has a nice sale on focal speakers

focal 705V $349/pr x2 for fronts and surrounds
focal CC700v $349 for center channel
hsu research stf-2 subwoofer $329 available online at hsuresearch.com
onkyo 717 $450 for an avr at amazon.com

then you will need stands to put the speakers on top of; you might want 2 pairs since one for the fronts and one for the rears.

http://www.amazon.com/Sanus-Systems-...speaker+stands

and dont forget the blue tack to help hold the speakers to the stands
http://www.amazon.com/Country-801103...ords=blue+tack

and go to monoprice.com for some speaker wire.

rpatt · 11-09-2013, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by callas01

music direct has a nice sale on focal speakers

focal 705V $349/pr x2 for fronts and surrounds
focal CC700v $349 for center channel
hsu research stf-2 subwoofer $329 available online at hsuresearch.com
onkyo 717 $450 for an avr at amazon.com

then you will need stands to put the speakers on top of; you might want 2 pairs since one for the fronts and one for the rears.

http://www.amazon.com/Sanus-Systems-...speaker+stands

and dont forget the blue tack to help hold the speakers to the stands
http://www.amazon.com/Country-801103...ords=blue+tack

and go to monoprice.com for some speaker wire.

I second the recommendation on the Sanus stands. Very solid product.

Johnny Vinyl · 11-09-2013, 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rpatt

I second the recommendation on the Sanus stands. Very solid product.

Agreed, and the Focal suggestion isn't too shabby either! Good all around speaker from a great company.

kratos187 · 11-09-2013, 11:49 AM

thanks for all the help guys i will let u know how it turns out..

drmittens · 11-12-2013, 01:12 AM

I must say I agree and disagree with some of the suggestions given, for eaches own I guess.

I believe a good receiver is the foundation of a good system. Remember a system is only as good as its weakest link whether that's the receiver, speakers or even the connections.

Do not use spaghetti thin speaker wire, 16 awg the thinnest. I myself use 12 awg. The smaller the number the thicker the wire.

I didn't see anyone mention anything on center channels. It is very important to make sure that your fronts match your center. You can use a different brand for rears or satellites but the fronts must match, I can't stress that enough.

If you are buying a reconditioned unit (receiver) try and get a factory reconditioned unit perhaps with a warranty. Accessories 4 Less is a good place to start looking or Fry's often has good deals, sometimes really good deals.
As far as brands go you can't go wrong with Pioneer Elite, Maraantz, or Onkyo. I own the latter and couldn't be happier.

When it comes to subs there is a wide assortment of options. I will recommend that you get two separate subs and place them apart from each other to achieve a balance in your viewing area if space allows. You will have to play with the placement of the subs but when you find the sweet spot you're ears will be rewarded. You will also want to use a y-splitter for your subs, that will give you a day and night difference in sound.

I hope this helps and if there is anything else I can do let me know.

Joos519 · 11-17-2013, 06:26 PM

I have a designated theater room and was on somewhat of a budget like you. I started from scratch, so my budget had to be stretched to cover video and audio.

First off, if you want great theater sound, I wouldn't suggest a theater in a box set. They can give you a taste of surround, but not the true Hi def sound and fidelity, along with thx quality you're looking for.

Obviously, if you had a bigger budget, my suggestion, like other members on here, would be different. But since this is a limited budget, I'll try to stay within your budget and give you a full audio set up.

Sub:
I have two Jbl es250pbk (you'll only need one, trust me). My theater room is 20ft x 30ft. And I was afraid that one sub wouldn't fill the room. With both, I don't even have them a quarter of the way up. Excellent clean sound and the bass is so deep and low you can feel it.

Price is $199.00 Here: http://www.amazon.com/JBL-ES250PBK-H...=jbl+subwoofer

Receiver:

For a receiver I suggest the Onkyo 717, it's THX certified and 3d capable with all the bells and whistles. Extremely powerful and will have inputs for all your needs. I have the 818, but for your budget, this is the best bang. Price is $498.98

Here: http://www.amazon.com/Onkyo-TX-NR717...ords=onkyo+7.2

Center channel speaker:

For the center channel, I have a JBl ES25cbk, crisp, clean and very powerful. Price is $169.99

Here: http://www.amazon.com/JBL-ES25CBK-Ce...rds=jbl+center

Fronts:

Now for fronts you might want to take the other members suggestions, since I own two QSC k12 pro audio speakers that are priced above your budget ($900 each) and don't have any experience with other fronts.

But if you want to stay within budget and want your speakers to match, you can continue with the JBLs. These are the towers that go with the rest of the series I suggested( they have great reviews). I have no personal experience with them, but I do with the others, and the quality and fidelity are top notch for the money.

Price is $329 x 2 ($660) total
Here http://www.amazon.com/JBL-ES80BK-3-W...ords=jbl+tower

Rears:

I own 4 HDW80 from HTD.com, awesome crisp sound. They have a level two book shelf version if in wall speakers won't work for you. Price is $199 for the pair.

So, for all of the a/v equipment, your total is $1,726.97 before taxes. Leaving you enough money to buy cables. Check out monoprice.com for your cable needs. Good luck!

kratos187 · 11-20-2013, 10:18 AM

I actually went with what callas01 offered, and I could not be happier, will have to take pictures to show.

11-08-2013, 10:44 PM	#1
kratos187 Member Member since:May 2009 4K collection:630 Blu-ray collection:1201	Home Theater Help Hello i am new to the forums and i have absolute no experience or knowledge of receivers and speakers. I have many blu rays and a pretty good Samsung 55 inch LED 3D. I am at a budget id say around $2,000 or more. I am trying to get the imax type movie theater sound in my living room. I have no ideal what brands are good and which ones are not, i am sure that this kind of thread has been posted before. I am currently using a Yamaha Rx-V861 which sadly does not support dts hd master or dolby ture hd audio formats, and along with that i have the mirage nano set speakers which happen to be not bad at all and pretty loud and that's the left,center,right and two background ones. I kinda jumped into this when i was at best buy a couple years ago, and i actually thought i was getting the dts sound i was suppose to but i am not. I need a receiver that has 3d ready, and for my front speakers they could be the book shelf type or even the floor stand type. Callas01 has helped me threw private messages. But i need all the suggestions i can get. I keep reading and looking but i honestly am not sure what to get, in review wise and rating wise... Would this be something i can order online or have to go to a retailer ? Any suggestions anybody.. Last edited by kratos187; 11-08-2013 at 11:02 PM.

11-09-2013, 02:05 AM	#5
kratos187 Member Member since:May 2009 4K collection:630 Blu-ray collection:1201	learning from reading bits of stuff on the forums here.. still don't really know which brand names speakers are best or what... Last edited by kratos187; 11-09-2013 at 02:18 AM.

11-17-2013, 06:26 PM	#15
Joos519 Active Member Member since:Jun 2012 Location:From NYC now in Wichita KS? Trading Score:149	I have a designated theater room and was on somewhat of a budget like you. I started from scratch, so my budget had to be stretched to cover video and audio. First off, if you want great theater sound, I wouldn't suggest a theater in a box set. They can give you a taste of surround, but not the true Hi def sound and fidelity, along with thx quality you're looking for. Obviously, if you had a bigger budget, my suggestion, like other members on here, would be different. But since this is a limited budget, I'll try to stay within your budget and give you a full audio set up. Sub: I have two Jbl es250pbk (you'll only need one, trust me). My theater room is 20ft x 30ft. And I was afraid that one sub wouldn't fill the room. With both, I don't even have them a quarter of the way up. Excellent clean sound and the bass is so deep and low you can feel it. Price is $199.00 Here: http://www.amazon.com/JBL-ES250PBK-H...=jbl+subwoofer Receiver: For a receiver I suggest the Onkyo 717, it's THX certified and 3d capable with all the bells and whistles. Extremely powerful and will have inputs for all your needs. I have the 818, but for your budget, this is the best bang. Price is $498.98 Here: http://www.amazon.com/Onkyo-TX-NR717...ords=onkyo+7.2 Center channel speaker: For the center channel, I have a JBl ES25cbk, crisp, clean and very powerful. Price is $169.99 Here: http://www.amazon.com/JBL-ES25CBK-Ce...rds=jbl+center Fronts: Now for fronts you might want to take the other members suggestions, since I own two QSC k12 pro audio speakers that are priced above your budget ($900 each) and don't have any experience with other fronts. But if you want to stay within budget and want your speakers to match, you can continue with the JBLs. These are the towers that go with the rest of the series I suggested( they have great reviews). I have no personal experience with them, but I do with the others, and the quality and fidelity are top notch for the money. Price is $329 x 2 ($660) total Here http://www.amazon.com/JBL-ES80BK-3-W...ords=jbl+tower Rears: I own 4 HDW80 from HTD.com, awesome crisp sound. They have a level two book shelf version if in wall speakers won't work for you. Price is $199 for the pair. So, for all of the a/v equipment, your total is $1,726.97 before taxes. Leaving you enough money to buy cables. Check out monoprice.com for your cable needs. Good luck! Last edited by Joos519; 11-17-2013 at 07:55 PM.

11-08-2013, 11:48 PM	#2
Drew664 Blu-ray Guru Top contributor Member since:Oct 2007 Location:South Dakota Home Theater Gallery:28 Blu-ray collection:68	Here is my 2 cents on the matter. As for whether getting it online vs in store, go wherever you can make your dollar go further. Usually ends up being online. Whatever speakers you end up getting, I suggest you look for a set with a 3 way center. Clearer diolog being the seling point, imo. A quality sub will be impotrant as well for that big sound you want - don't skimp here. The AVR is probably the least important piece out of the puzzle. I would get something that has a feature set, ease of use, and strong reviews. Getting refurbished or on clearance is a great way to get the most for your money. Monoprice for all cables and you should be good to go! Lack of identifying brands was intentional. You should trust your own judgment on what you prefer for features, prices, sounds, and asthetics. Can you give us an idea of where you were leaning?

11-09-2013, 12:08 AM	#3
Johnny Vinyl Moderator Top ranked HT gallery Top contributor Member since:Jul 2007 Location:At the crossroad of Analogue Dr & 2CH Ave Home Theater Gallery:19 Blu-ray collection:205 DVD collection:7 Blu-ray reviews:3 Trading Score:8	This is not advice per se, but rather just comment based on Drew664's opinion that you should go wherever your dollar takes you furthest. I don't necessarily disagree, and online is usually the place where you'll get the best price, but there is more to it IMO. I wouldn't want to see any one working with a local B&M dealer and choosing a unit, then deciding to buy it online to save a few bucks. It doesn't seem right to do that. After all, the dealer has invested his time and opinion to cater to a customer. Far too many people do this. Is it any wonder our B&M audio shops are going under?

11-09-2013, 12:49 AM	#4
onyxbfly Blu-ray Guru Member since:Feb 2009 Blu-ray collection:780 DVD collection:29 Trading Score:47	You can stretch your dollar buying used from places like http://app.audiogon.com/listings?ord...reated_at+DESC or if you don't mind buying refurbished you can stretch your dollar here http://www.accessories4less.com/ If you decide to shop online many places will let you do a 30 day in home trial period. I agree with Johnny Vinyl. If you do decide to go audition different things at B&M stores look for deals or package deals...tell them they have the same item for such and such online. See if they will be competitive. Least this way you are not wasting anyone's time.

11-09-2013, 02:50 AM	#6
Drew664 Blu-ray Guru Top contributor Member since:Oct 2007 Location:South Dakota Home Theater Gallery:28 Blu-ray collection:68	I should explain my bias for internet delivery as I do live in a rural state. Not a lot of speciality stores - anywhere, lol. I agree you should give local business a chance to price match if online or any other retailer has a better price point and you want to work with that location. What kind of space do you have to work with?

11-09-2013, 03:06 AM	#7
kratos187 Member Member since:May 2009 4K collection:630 Blu-ray collection:1201	ill have to take a picture to give u an ideal some time tomorrow, and now more then $2,000 in my price range.

11-09-2013, 03:22 AM	#8
Drew664 Blu-ray Guru Top contributor Member since:Oct 2007 Location:South Dakota Home Theater Gallery:28 Blu-ray collection:68	Around $2k total for 5 speakers, 1 sub, cables, and an AVR? Very doable for quality. As a rough guide maybe someone can suggest based on the following price points: Fronts $1,200 Surrounds (repurpose/use existing speakers) Subwoofer $500 AVR $400 Cables $50 I lurk more than I research anymore, so sorry I can't name drop suggestions for you. Good luck!

11-09-2013, 04:46 AM	#10
callas01 Blu-ray Prince Top contributor Member since:Jun 2008 Location:Riverside, CA Home Theater Gallery:42 Blu-ray collection:230 DVD collection:47	music direct has a nice sale on focal speakers focal 705V $349/pr x2 for fronts and surrounds focal CC700v $349 for center channel hsu research stf-2 subwoofer $329 available online at hsuresearch.com onkyo 717 $450 for an avr at amazon.com then you will need stands to put the speakers on top of; you might want 2 pairs since one for the fronts and one for the rears. http://www.amazon.com/Sanus-Systems-...speaker+stands and dont forget the blue tack to help hold the speakers to the stands http://www.amazon.com/Country-801103...ords=blue+tack and go to monoprice.com for some speaker wire.

11-09-2013, 11:49 AM	#13
kratos187 Member Member since:May 2009 4K collection:630 Blu-ray collection:1201	thanks for all the help guys i will let u know how it turns out..

11-12-2013, 01:12 AM	#14
drmittens Senior Member Member since:Nov 2010 Location:the 954 son! Blu-ray collection:67	I must say I agree and disagree with some of the suggestions given, for eaches own I guess. I believe a good receiver is the foundation of a good system. Remember a system is only as good as its weakest link whether that's the receiver, speakers or even the connections. Do not use spaghetti thin speaker wire, 16 awg the thinnest. I myself use 12 awg. The smaller the number the thicker the wire. I didn't see anyone mention anything on center channels. It is very important to make sure that your fronts match your center. You can use a different brand for rears or satellites but the fronts must match, I can't stress that enough. If you are buying a reconditioned unit (receiver) try and get a factory reconditioned unit perhaps with a warranty. Accessories 4 Less is a good place to start looking or Fry's often has good deals, sometimes really good deals. As far as brands go you can't go wrong with Pioneer Elite, Maraantz, or Onkyo. I own the latter and couldn't be happier. When it comes to subs there is a wide assortment of options. I will recommend that you get two separate subs and place them apart from each other to achieve a balance in your viewing area if space allows. You will have to play with the placement of the subs but when you find the sweet spot you're ears will be rewarded. You will also want to use a y-splitter for your subs, that will give you a day and night difference in sound. I hope this helps and if there is anything else I can do let me know.

11-20-2013, 10:18 AM	#16
kratos187 Member Member since:May 2009 4K collection:630 Blu-ray collection:1201	I actually went with what callas01 offered, and I could not be happier, will have to take pictures to show.

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