Building a HT for penny pinchers - Tips and Tricks

[Grevlin]

Newegg:

http://www.newegg.com/Store/Category...ame=Home-Audio

[Aerodude73]

Originally Posted by StimpsonJCat

You can save a ton of money if you don't have to own the latest greatest. I've always bought my speakers after they are discontinued and found really great prices. I got my E-series for 29% of the original MSRP. Also, you can save a lot if you buy AVRs after the next years models come out. - I agree with the tip for using Monoprice for cables (I always use them).

Love Monoprice! Just rec'd my Banana Plugs (& extra wire to Bi-amp my Front speakers), great prices, & free shipping on most orders.

Originally Posted by forsberg21

I wish the Onkyo's would follow suit and lower their prices, but they seem as high as ever for last years models and have been for quite some time.......

Someone's still in the market for the AVR w/pre-outs...

Originally Posted by Grevlin

Newegg:

http://www.newegg.com/Store/Category...ame=Home-Audio

Major + 1. LOVE that site, great deals, free shipping. It doesn't get mentioned here Day after day for nothing!

[got rice]

Audiogon

Quality at discounted prices, best VALUE around.

[Grevlin]

Originally Posted by got rice

Audiogon

Quality at discounted prices, best VALUE around.

I "window shop" there all the time... the little upgradeitis voices tell me to

[got rice]

Originally Posted by Grevlin

I "window shop" there all the time... the little upgradeitis voices tell me to

With you on that...

off topic: I'm glad to see you went with the Panny...so lookin forward to the new and improved setup.

[skygreenleopard]

Just to add my 2 cents... 720p is still quite a bargain for someone who plans to watch mostly broadcast TV or is going for a screen smaller than 50". While I love and don't regret my 40" Samsung 1080p, you can still save about $250 on average by settling for 720p if you don't plan on tons of Blu-Ray or gaming, or if you plan to sit at a suboptimal viewing distance from your set. And $250 is a lot of money, put that into a subwoofer...

[Beta Man]

Originally Posted by skygreenleopard

Just to add my 2 cents... 720p is still quite a bargain for someone who plans to watch mostly broadcast TV or is going for a screen smaller than 50". While I love and don't regret my 40" Samsung 1080p, you can still save about $250 on average by settling for 720p if you don't plan on tons of Blu-Ray or gaming, or if you plan to sit at a suboptimal viewing distance from your set. And $250 is a lot of money, put that into a subwoofer...

$599 for a 720p Projector,
$75 (because I went with some "Extras") for a DIY 106" Screen

Can't beat that with a stick (Notice the center channel in my gallery is on a milk-crate..... that wasn't by choice Lost my stand in the move )

[DonRSD]

Originally Posted by forsberg21

I wish the Onkyo's would follow suit and lower their prices, but they seem as high as ever for last years models and have been for quite some time.......

i KNOW youre waiting to get an 806/805

Originally Posted by Aerodude73

Love Monoprice! Just rec'd my Banana Plugs (& extra wire to Bi-amp my Front speakers), great prices, & free shipping on most orders.

Someone's still in the market for the AVR w/pre-outs...

HAHA the banana plugs.
im still laughing at your 'miscalculations' a far as how many to order

[Dase]

Originally Posted by Grevlin

I "window shop" there all the time... the little upgradeitis voices tell me to

+1

those darn voices whisper the word "paradigm..... paradigm...." over and over and over and AAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!....

lol

Also another vote for newegg. 6ave has coupon codes for lots of stuff. The local classifieds can also sometimes be a treasuretrove, just be sure to do some auditioning/testing. Also good are friends or acquaintences who sometimes just get rid of stuff for cheap. I picked up my PS3 and four games this way for $300.

I think patience is the key when you are on a budget, and although it's hard, it really is worth it in the end. I had to save and make a purchase, save and make a purchase a few times. It was the way to go for me. I didn't do any financing, which was very difficult because my cards were talking to me all the time. So yeah... patience.

Save for a few months and research along the way... then I puchased my Denon. Save for a few months and research... then I bought my SVS. Save for a few months... sell old equipment... sell old DLP... then I was able to upgrade my TV and speakers.

I picked up a pair of the Polk T90e's for $260, and the CS10 and a pair of OWM3's for $240 from newegg. You can't beat that with a stick.

I got my LCD during the circuit city liquidation. I waited until the second to last day and went in and got the price on the one I wanted and took it to best buy. They matched it. So I got a ridiculous discount and I was able to get the black tie warranty. All for about $500 under what the price for just the LCD was at BB.

I bought my cables from monoprice and they sent me the thinner hdmi 1.3 cables with the ferrite cores instead of the thick inwall style. BUT.. when I sent them pics of the mixup they sent me the correct ones for free and told me to keep the wrong ones as their apology. So I got 6 hdmi 1.3 cablesfor less than $20. They have made great gifts

I am also using the black twist ties for wire management. Cheap, effective, and not bad looking.

I also fished the wires through the walls, ran them under baseboards, cut the holes, etc, all by myself. It's really not hard, and MUCH cheaper than paying someone else. Again, google is your friend. There are hundreds of DIY install articles and videos. Don't be scared, just do it.

And of course ask questions. Read forums. There is a wealth of info on forums like this one. There are many manufacturer forums. And of course AVS forum.

[Johnny Vinyl]

Two more good sites for buying used are CanuckAudioMart and Kijiji, but they are based in Canada.

Some really good information here, especially the OP's take on reading/learning/researching before buying anything. After that, and once you're ready to start taking the plunge, do some serious auditioning.

One point I would like to add and one that many, many people rarely consider, is to include visits to some local high-end audio shops. You'd be amazed at some of the deals that can be had there, and oftentimes at less than what the usual suspects (BB and the like) can offer. You'll also get some exposure to other brands and the salespeople (often the owners themselves) are much more knowledgeable to boot.

Another point to consider is not to be bowled-over by specs. Do not analyze and compare specs to death, especially watts per channel ratings. Remember, not all watts are created equal.

Have fun with your project and take your time...you'll make better decisions as a result.

John