HTiB vs receiver and speakers seperate?

[Benchman]

I have been looking to setup some surround sound for my new tv. I only have 500 dollars to spend. Would I be able to find a good receiver and speaker set for less than that or should I just go with a HTiB?

[crazyBLUE]

Originally Posted by ben.baf

I have been looking to setup some surround sound for my new tv. I only have 500 dollars to spend. Would I be able to find a good receiver and speaker set for less than that or should I just go with a HTiB?

In the long run it would be better getting a receiver & speakers vs. a HTIB. For 500 to start with I would say get a receiver & your front 2 speakers and then add as you can, center - sub - surrounds .

Here is a good place to get good gear for cheep

http://www.newegg.com/index.aspx?nm_...A-_-3086273071

[OG Pooh]

Originally Posted by crazyBLUE

In the long run it would be better getting a receiver & speakers vs. a HTIB. For 500 to start with I would say get a receiver & your front 2 speakers and the add as you can, center - sub - surrounds .

Here is a good place to get good gear for cheep

http://www.newegg.com/index.aspx?nm_...A-_-3086273071

Exactly what I was going to say. Don't even bother with an HTiB. You will eventually regret it. Like crazyBLUE said, start with an inexpensive receiver & stereo speakers, then upgrade & add as you can. An HTiB system is really a waste of money if you want a decent setup. They're not even a good start, as quite a few of them use custom "idiot" connectors that only work with that particular unit. Most (especially in your current price range) have very few, if any external inputs. I'm not trying to sound like a snob or anything, but for $500, how good do you think the components will really be?

[brap88]

if you want to go the HTIB way. i would recomend the Onkyo ht-s5300. you can find it for 500 or less. i have the 5200 wich is the version before this in my condo. i dont have any complaints about it.

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...7BBTkwCjCECjCE

[28BlusLater]

Honestly, if you don't want to have to deal with buying individual speakers and you don't have a lot of room, i very highly recommend getting one of the Definitive Technology ProMonitor series. The 600s, 800s, and 1000s are all excellent. I use the 800s for surround speakers, but my buddy has them as fronts. If you get the set, it comes with the center speaker, fronts, surrounds, and subwoofer. You should check them out. These push a lot of sound out of such small speakers.

I had HTiB a long time ago and deeply regretted it soon after. It doesn't sound very good, the speaker wire that comes with them are usually crap, and my subwoofer from the HTiB blew in a month at a low setting. The center speaker was soft, as well. I highly recommend just getting one of the Def Tech series (or Polk if you want to spend less) and get a Pioneer receiver (they're at reasonable prices).

[mangosta]

The HTiB is a good start to kill the beast of the need for home theater, but then most likely you'll want to upgrade your system. A HTiB will not allow it unless you purchase a type Receivers + speakers, then you can change everything slowly.

[neos_peace]

If your VERY desperate for a system then sure get a HTIB setup. it'll kill the need for having a system. BUT remember as many have said you'll regret it later. I used to have one. And as soon as Blu-ray hit. It wasn't good enough. But if you can be paitent with your self. do as what was recommended, get a decent receiver fro your needs, and at lest the fronts. As with HTIB sets you can't really upgrade them at all.

[MrHT]

I had a Sony HTIB for about 6 years now and loved it! However, there is one thing about it that disappoints me....the subwoofer it came with is a passive subwoofer, meaning it doesn't have a built-in amp. All standalone receivers are meant to be used with an active subwoofer. I loved my HTIB for 6 wonderful years, but the receiver is starting to die on me and now I'm in a position where I need to replace the whole thing. Had I bought everything separately, I'd only have to buy the receiver. That's my only complaint with a HTIB. When one part of the HTIB breaks, you need to throw out the WHOLE thing and buy a whole new HTIB. Or if you simply want to upgrade to lossless audio, you need to upgrade the WHOLE thing. Very annoying. So, in a way, I do wish I bought separately. Either that or I should have bought a HTIB that included non-disposable speakers and sub.

So, right now, I'm replacing my components separately. I got my front three speakers and sub replaced. Now, all I have to do is buy the rears before I replace the receiver, which is about go any day.

[roar]

I stepped from a HTIB into 2 channel sound with a 10+ year old Onkyo AVR and a nice pair of 15+ year old Celestion speakers into what I have now. Upgrading gradually has worked for me, but the first step was the HTIB.

[MiC. UHD]

I've always owned a HTiB. It really gets the job done for me, especially for its price range. Eventually I may buy a new system with separate components, but for the time being it satisfies my need for surround sound.