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"poor-mans" First proper Home Theatre Setup

post #1 of 4
2/4/09 at 10:06pm
Thread Starter 
So this might be a mute question and if that be so... disregard and kill...

I'm a "poor" college student who has recently gotten into some money $500 and I am considering my options. One option is a Home Theater overhaul.

I have a relatively new Samsung 50" DLP HDTV (ding and dent from the Crutch). I have an original (non-HDMI) xbox 360 that is dieing.. fast... I stream low quality dvd backups from a NAS to the xbox and I have the HD-DVD add-on and I am aquiring a PS3. I will have HD tv in a few years (damm apartments)

now the bolts...
I have some old-ass hand-me-down sony reciever (dead as of Jan 1). I have equally old "Laser Audio" towers and Yamaha bookshelf (one as a center).

Disregarding the crap i've accumulated.. I have $500 and I would like opinions... I've heard alot of noise about the Onkyo TX-SR606 on xbox forums and equally good things from my buddies on over at ReadyNAS.com... (yes, i know "they don't know AV like you guys")... is this what I should even be looking at... or should I go with a HTiB???

Thanks for your eyetime and let me know if this is just a waste of space

~Poor College Student ~
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post #2 of 4
2/5/09 at 10:14am
Either way will work, but read the (very very long) HTiB alternatives thread: it's full of fabulous information on starter systems, and don't forget used options if you think you know what you're doing on craigslist.com etc.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=809777

A used example: I have a currently unused system that I just never got around to selling as follows:

- 5.1 Receiver: harman/kardon AVR147
- Polk Audio New MiniMonitor speakers x4
- Polk Audio CS245i center channel speaker x1
- Polk Audio PSW150 subwoofer

The cost of those items used today would be about $150 + 175 + 75 + 75. Total is $475 with the subwoofer, or $400 without. You would have something totally convincing with this modest setup, that would far outperform any HTiB. There are even some older surround receivers from ten years ago, that retailed then for $1,000, but would only cost $90 today (unfortunately, I also own one of those!). They would not have all the bells and whistles, but they would give you amazing surround sound for a tiny investment. There are lots of great options IMO. With $500 you can really have some fun!

Good luck!
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post #3 of 4
2/5/09 at 6:41pm
^^+1 Good advice
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post #4 of 4
2/5/09 at 7:14pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by samsurd2 View Post

^^+1 Good advice

Love the sig. samsurd! Very funny ... I'm always thinking the same thing!
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