Good 2-speaker home theater setup?

[PCFan]

I have no room for 5.1 speakers but I hate the sound coming out of my 26 inch LCD tv's speakers and want a better sound system. I was considering a Sony DH100 for a receiver and a pair of Sony SSB1000 speakers. I just want quality sound and my budget is $500. I have a blu-ray player and can buy a receiver with DTS-HD decoding but with only 2 speakers will I still benefit from DTS-HD decoding? If I won't, I might as will get the 2-channel stereo receiver?

[ZedsDead]

Well with 2-channel you are probably going to want a subwoofer at some point, unless you want to bump your budget up a bit. But keeping your current budget in mind, I would recommend the following.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-010-_-Product For your speakers

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-131-_-Product For your receiver

This actually leaves you some money left to buy some new blu's.

[Beta Man]

You'll want to just get a receiver that can accept PCM Stereo.....

Of course it'd be good to leave it open for potential upgrades in the future, but with your price-point, you'd likely "Out-grow" whatever AVR you buy now, by the time you're ready to upgrade anyways.

I wouldn't look at what you're looking at though..... I'd get something like this...


http://www.accessories4less.com/make...itching/1.html

or

http://www.accessories4less.com/make...h-Black/1.html


And you'll have $300 left in your budget (or $150 each) and you can get a nice little pair of speakers......

If it were me (and I'm not you) I'd probably look at these.

http://www.dedicatedaudio.com/inc/sdetail/22366

http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls....11707&/Rega-R1

http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls....nd-Linn-Stands
(Over budget, but includes stands)

And this one is much further over budget.... but the brand holds a dear place in my heart. (and they are great at the low end)

http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls....646&/Thiel-CS2

[HiDefRev]

To answer one of your questions - NO, you really will not benefit from DTS MasterAudio nor Dolby TrueHD with only 2 speakers. You need a minimum of a 5.1 speaker set up to enjoy the HD audio tracks. When playing a Blu-
Ray disc, you're only getting half of the enjoyment by not taking advantage of the HD audio that Blu-Ray offers. Before you decide, check out the Onkyo Home Theater Packages at www.accessories4less.com. You may just change your mind.

[Turnda643]

Have you considered a smaller Home Theater in a Box? (HTiB) I know almost everyone here hates them. But I have the sony HT-SS2000, and for the size of the room and being in an apartment, it rocks! It has four small surrounds, one small legthy front channel, and a smaller sub that actually puts out good LFE. The current model i believe is the HT-S360. Pretty much the same unit, just current. It does decode the HD codecs outboard or if you dont have a bitstreaming BD unit, it accepts it as PCM.

Well again, most people hate these HTiB's, but until I have a house to get crazy with, this unit suffices well beyond expectation. I'd atleast take a look at it for the price. Which is $350 @ Best Buy.

Hope this helped!!!

[PCFan]

Originally Posted by Turnda643

Have you considered a smaller Home Theater in a Box? (HTiB) I know almost everyone here hates them. But I have the sony HT-SS2000, and for the size of the room and being in an apartment, it rocks! It has four small surrounds, one small legthy front channel, and a smaller sub that actually puts out good LFE. The current model i believe is the HT-S360. Pretty much the same unit, just current. It does decode the HD codecs outboard or if you dont have a bitstreaming BD unit, it accepts it as PCM.

Well again, most people hate these HTiB's, but until I have a house to get crazy with, this unit suffices well beyond expectation. I'd atleast take a look at it for the price. Which is $350 @ Best Buy.

Hope this helped!!!

I did try out the Sony SS360. I returned it because I wasn't satisfied with the center speaker and no upgradablity at all with that system. I recently bought a Yamaha RX-V465 receiver and am waiting for my Yamaha SP1800 speakers to arrive. Even though the speakers are 5.1, I only plan on using the 3 front speakers and the subwoofer and I got a a very good deal on the speakers.

[Travis]

Originally Posted by PCFan

I have no room for 5.1 speakers but I hate the sound coming out of my 26 inch LCD tv's speakers and want a better sound system. I was considering a Sony DH100 for a receiver and a pair of Sony SSB1000 speakers. I just want quality sound and my budget is $500. I have a blu-ray player and can buy a receiver with DTS-HD decoding but with only 2 speakers will I still benefit from DTS-HD decoding? If I won't, I might as will get the 2-channel stereo receiver?

PCFan,

When will you get into 5.1?

2ch receiver is good, but if 5.1 is a year or so away for you, why not get a 5.1 ch AVR now, add some bookshelves that can be used in 2 ch now. Later move them to the back for surrounds. Small bookshelves used as fronts will still outperform TV and be quality.

Originally that is how is started, a 5.1 ch AVR and 2 little speakers. May have also bought the sub and center in the begining too, or a few weeks after, can't remeber. Point is, I liked my bookshelves so much I bought another pair for the back. I have spent the last 10 years living in apartments, so big floorstanders would have been too much.

[PCFan]

Originally Posted by Travis

PCFan,

When will you get into 5.1?

2ch receiver is good, but if 5.1 is a year or so away for you, why not get a 5.1 ch AVR now, add some bookshelves that can be used in 2 ch now. Later move them to the back for surrounds. Small bookshelves used as fronts will still outperform TV and be quality.

Originally that is how is started, a 5.1 ch AVR and 2 little speakers. May have also bought the sub and center in the begining too, or a few weeks after, can't remeber. Point is, I liked my bookshelves so much I bought another pair for the back. I have spent the last 10 years living in apartments, so big floorstanders would have been too much.

Read my last post. I have no room for bookshelf speakers and a subwoofer combined and I want a subwoofer. I think that the speakers I bought are a good start as they already come with a powered subwoofer. This is going in a bedroom and my bedroom is very limited in space. If I decide to sell my speakers in the future, I shouldn't be out too much money since I got a good deal on them.

[Travis]

Originally Posted by PCFan

Read my last post. I have no room for bookshelf speakers and a subwoofer combined and I want a subwoofer. I think that the speakers I bought are a good start as they already come with a powered subwoofer. This is going in a bedroom and my bedroom is very limited in space. If I decide to sell my speakers in the future, I shouldn't be out too much money since I got a good deal on them.

Sorry, didn't read your last post carefully.

Subs are great, but they are over-rated. Good quality fronts are the most important in any system. Way more important than the sub or center.

You said in your original post, "I just want quality sound and my budget is $500." Well, I would have gone with fronts similar to the ones BetaMan or ZedsDead suggested or another brand, like Monitor Audio, KEF or many others. They would have given you the "quality sound" that you wanted.

Some people running 2 ch setups for the HT prefer not having a center. Even some people run 4.1 (no center). The center is responsible for much of the dialogue. If the center isn't great, it can be outclassed by 2 fair fronts. The center will localize the dialogue under the screen which is great in a big room, especially when you are sitting on the side. In a bedroom, if you are in front of the screen, it won't matter. Having the fronts incorporate the center channel will make the soundstage appear larger, just not as localized. Try it, and see for yourself.

If you are just looking to get a few steps up over the TV's sound, the Yamaha speaker package will do it.

[SDBlu]

I agree with Travis to a certain point. I would say for music 2.0 is fine, but for Home Theater use 3.0 would be the minimal requirement. I think the front three speakers are the most important. The center channel is VERY important because as Travis pointed out...that is where your dialogue is coming from. I would recommend getting an AVR and 3.0 speaker system. If your budget will not allow for Center now...just save up and get it later.

[Travis]

Originally Posted by MarcosG

I agree with Travis to a certain point. I would say for music 2.0 is fine, but for Home Theater use 3.0 would be the minimal requirement. I think the front three speakers are the most important. The center channel is VERY important because as Travis pointed out...that is where your dialogue is coming from. I would recommend getting an AVR and 3.0 speaker system. If your budget will not allow for Center now...just save up and get it later.

"I agree with Travis to a certain point." Well, I never! Hmm, a certain point, indeed.

I have to say I agree with MarcosG on everything except agreeing with Travis to a certain point. I agree with Travis 100%.

Center is VERY important, not the place to cut corners or save a few bucks. In my setup, I wish I would have gone for a bigger center, it is my only tiny regret. Anyone getting into a new HT setup: if you can't get a good center now, don't get any.

[SDBlu]

Originally Posted by travis

"i agree with travis to a certain point." well, i never! hmm, a certain point, indeed.

i have to say i agree with marcosg on everything except agreeing with travis to a certain point. I agree with travis 100%.

center is very important, not the place to cut corners or save a few bucks. In my setup, i wish i would have gone for a bigger center, it is my only tiny regret. Anyone getting into a new ht setup: If you can't get a good center now, don't get any.

I agree with Travis again!

[Travis]

Originally Posted by MarcosG

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I agree with Travis again!

Thanks.