[CheeseMoney]

I am building a 5.1 home theater setup for primarily blu-ray movies/Xbox 360 with a tiny bit of music (XM was the reason I think I will go to the Pioneer VSX-1018AH-K Receiver over the Onkyo TX-SR606B). This system will be used for 90% movies/tv/xbox and 10% music/xm radio/ipod. It will be for a smallish-medium sized living room in my 3 bedroom 1600 sqft condo.


THE CATCH - Everything must be ordered from www.onecall.com . I have a $1000 gift certificate and can get a few $200 gift certificates if I need to run a little over budget. Onecall's speaker selection is not the greatest. They have very few complete home theater systems (5 speakers + 1 sub) available, so I may have to put it together piece by piece, which is fine. I don't mind if speakers aren't tiny.


Thanks for any help you can provide. It seems like most advice for a budget system involves brands that aren't available from Onecall, which is why I've felt the need to start my own thread.


My receiver: http://www.onecall.com/ProductDetails.aspx?id=92871

Worth $100 more to go with Onkyo TX-SR706B? http://www.onecall.com/ProductDetails.aspx?id=91171


The speakers...

By brand, they have...

Brand (# of speakers for sale) - I've included a few links

Audioengine (7)

Bose (31)

Boston Acoustics (80) - Home theater system CS2310B here http://www.onecall.com/ProductDetails.aspx?id=92871

Definitive Technology (63)

Infinity (38) - http://www.onecall.com/ProductSearch...=p_CartPrice|0

KEF (78) - http://www.onecall.com/ProductSearch...=p_CartPrice|0

Klipsch (86) - http://www.onecall.com/ProductSearch...=p_CartPrice|0

Mirage (25)

NHT (19)

Niles (71)

Polk Audio (95) - Polk Home Theater Systems http://www.onecall.com/ProductSearch.aspx?N=380+1161


I don't know if I should go with a set of 5 speakers (adding a sub if not included) or get something like 2 open box floorstanding speakers (ea $239.97 + $25 shipping Polk Audio RM40T) and then add the other parts as $$$ permits. http://www.onecall.com/ProductDetails.aspx?id=88360


I realize that for this limited budget may would say just shop used craigslist, but since I can get the gift certificates relatively easily, it seems dumb not to try to use them.


Onecall's Receivers ($300-$600) http://www.onecall.com/ProductSearch...=p_CartPrice|0 Finally, I realize that it's a different forum but I'd take any advice regarding my receiver as well.


Appreciate any suggestions.

 

[sterankoman]

You are in an unusual position. If my choices were limited to those brands I would look at the Boston 5.1 speakers system and your choice of Pioneer Receiver. Onecall does not carry the best subwoofers available so your choice of sub is limited.


Good luck

 

[CheeseMoney]

Thanks. I get the impression that most of the brands available from Onecall are the brands that people in this forum list as top-end circuit city and should be avoided. The Boston 5.1 speaker system includes a sub, I believe, though it is probably crappy. I'm curious if you or anyone else thinks I could put together by parts a much better system if I ramp my budget up to 1k, still using only parts available from onecall. I don't mind if I have to pay a little cash for a used sub or something (or get it from someone other than onecall). I'm mostly trying to maximize the $1000 gift certificate.


Front Speakers http://www.onecall.com/ProductSearch...=p_CartPrice|0

(Brands: Bose (7) Boston Acoustics (30) Definitive Technology (30) Infinity (21) JBL (1) KEF (47) Klipsch (42) Mirage (10) NHT (9) Polk Audio (38)

Wall Speakers - http://www.onecall.com/ProductSearch...=p_CartPrice|0

Center - http://www.onecall.com/ProductSearch...=p_CartPrice|0