Best of the worst? *Pre-packaged HT in a box*

[CougarGuy 10+ year member]

i have 2 logitech z5500 sets and there recockulous...

and they're cheap!

 

[IamDeMan 5,000+ posts]

Say it again!

 

[Johnny Drama 5,000+ posts]

^^ that would be fiber optic aka digital audio out - optical toslink cable.

THIS (7.1)- 457.00 + free S&H

Amazon.com: Onkyo HT-S5200 7.1-Channel Home Entertainment…

or THIS (5.1) - $330.00 + free S&H

Amazon.com: Onkyo HT-S3300 5.1-Channel Home Theater Receiver/Speaker Package (Black): Electronics

Im contemplating the 5.1 you have there. Seems like it will do fine.

the dayton setup on pe.com with the 12 is decent.. it will get loud enough especially in an apartment. For receivers look for used pioneers..

Ive been watching partsexpress's dayton stuff like a hawk. The receiver is what is going to break my budget.

Check out some raw parts stores. Can find a receiver that does 100x5 for $200 or so then use the rest to create and build the speakers' date=' enclosures, whatever you want.
Not very convenient, however.[/quote']

I live in an apartment and gave away/sold all my tools. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/frown.gif.a3531fa0534503350665a1e957861287.gif

6.5" speakers for $10 2 for each tower 1 for each surround 2-3 for center thats 80-90 then tweets they are having major blowout sales.. so build your own?Peerless 835004 SDS 6-1/2" Woofer 4 Ohm | Parts-Express.com

Same as above, had to give away all my tools.

i have 2 logitech z5500 sets and there recockulous...

and they're cheap!

Ill pass...

 

[CougarGuy 10+ year member]

^ laugh if you want, its thx and sounds very good...my other room has a Denon 7.1 audessey reciever...

 

[kpozr2 10+ year member]

price drop on the Onkyo 5.1 now to 280.00 with FREE shipping

Newegg.com - ONKYO HT-S3300 Home Theater in a Box

 

[Suicide Bobb 5,000+ posts]

Just do a search on the local craigslist for the best deals...

 

[stangman67 10+ year member]

The logitech system is actually better than you might expect. But I'd say Onkyo makes the best budget HTIB's.

 

[Suicide Bobb 5,000+ posts]

I'd say Onkyo makes the best budget HTIB's.

Yeah, that's pretty much the general consensus of the home audio world.

 

[stangman67 10+ year member]

I personally built my HT from craigslist. Hk avr-235 receiver-150. Polk Rt800 towers- 150 - Boston acoustics sub- 150- Sony surrounds- 50 (new)

It kicks the arse out of any "mainstream" htib.

 

[Suicide Bobb 5,000+ posts]

I personally built my HT from craigslist. Hk avr-235 receiver-150. Polk Rt800 towers- 150 - Boston acoustics sub- 150- Sony surrounds- 50 (new)

It kicks the arse out of any "mainstream" htib.

Yeah, that's the smart way to go about it. You must favor music at least as much as you favor movies, eh? Sounds like a setup suited for music first, movies later.

 

[stangman67 10+ year member]

It was 70 percent aimed at music. 30 percent for movies. I got shit for surrounds and don't even use a center channel because the fronts are so close together, the center "image" function on the receiver does enough for me. It sure sounds sweet on some Journey though //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

Its a pretty nice setup for a college apt. When I get my commission, I plan on getting some PSB towers, center, sub. surrounds. A higher end HK or Denon receiver. My tv is nice, so I will keep that.

 

[stangman67 10+ year member]

I see you are in Wa too. Ever used anything from Blue Jeans Cable?? They are in Interbay Seattle here. I built my speaker cable using stuff from them. Very affordable, no frills cable.

 

[Suicide Bobb 5,000+ posts]

It was 70 percent aimed at music. 30 percent for movies. I got shit for surrounds and don't even use a center channel because the fronts are so close together, the center "image" function on the receiver does enough for me. It sure sounds sweet on some Journey though //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif
Its a pretty nice setup for a college apt. When I get my commission, I plan on getting some PSB towers, center, sub. surrounds. A higher end HK or Denon receiver. My tv is nice, so I will keep that.

Man I'm good //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

Typically, for movies, people match the surrounds with the front speakers, similarly with the center.

I HIGHLY suggest you get a center though. The point of a center speaker is not the placement of it (in the center), but how the sound is apportioned. Without a center speaker, voices will sound muted. Do yourself a HUGE favor and drop $50 on a cheap center, it doesn't really matter what it is because no matter what, the difference will be phenomenal.

I had run some killer vintage speakers for my fronts for the longest time, speakers that would rival those costing thousands in the modern market. They sounded awesome on music, as they should. But it wasn't until I got a $50 Klipsch center speaker that movies really opened up. Trust me on this one, I can guarantee you won't be disappointed.

Good choice on PSB, btw. Grab some mid-fi cables while your at it, and make sure you are running at least 16ga speaker wire. Cables don't make a huge difference, but good enough to justify buying a mid-fi cable over cheap cables. Don't even think about buying high-end cables, they are as big a scam as Bose.

H/K makes nice receivers, but I don't think they are worth it unless you buy them used (then they are an awesome deal). Same goes for NAD...you will be very impressed with how NAD sounds on music. If you are buying new, poke around with Pioneer Elite, Onkyo Integra, and Denon. Then, grab a vintage Receiver/Amp for music. You may even end up using the surround sound proccesor pre-amp section of your Denon/Integra/Elite and the amp section of the vintage Receiver/Amp for both movies and music. A good bang-for-buck, warm sounding and very understated vintage receiver would be an MCS 3275. You may be able to find one for under $100...

 

[Suicide Bobb 5,000+ posts]

I see you are in Wa too. Ever used anything from Blue Jeans Cable?? They are in Interbay Seattle here. I built my speaker cable using stuff from them. Very affordable, no frills cable.

No way??? I had no idea they were from Seattle! I have been deeply considering building a nice set of speaker wires using their wire - My DIY spiffy looking speaker cable guide.. - AudioKarma.org Home Audio Stereo Discussion Forums

You may want to get some banana plugs, come to think of it. They are very handy...I love my Nak BP's, you can get a set of 48 for $36 shipped on eBay, which is an amazing deal for some quality plugs...They have two screws on opposite sides to clamp the wire down, and are quite good looking. The only downside would be the fact that they could short if touched together since they are protected with sleeves or something of the sort. No problem if you're careful...

 

[stangman67 10+ year member]

I had a center for awhile. It was the matching polk but believe it or not I hated the way the sound was proportioned in movies. I don't know if it is something with how the receiver is setup ( I am pretty good at setting things up and I exhausted the settings), but it took so much sound away from the towers. The towers almost sounded secondary to the center in all aspects. I hated it so I got rid of the center.

The blue jeans stuff is awesome. I use their 10 gauge belden 5t00up wire with their "locking banana plugs" on both ends. If you are ever up here, drop by their place. They are really nice guys and the shop is just as you might expect. They are normal guys who are extremely laid back.

My dad has some serious Home audio stuff so thats kind of where I get my obsession from. He used to have some PSB statuses a few years back and dropped them to go with Krell Res 1's. All powered by Krell Home Theater Standard electronics. I of course cannot afford anything in that price range but I'd life to spend some money on the PSB imagine line and get a nice all in one receiver ( I was looking at the sunfire's too. Look to be mighty nice units and they can be had used for a pretty decent price)