[Indiana627]

I am looking for a set of good, basic 5.1 speakers. I'm not looking to buy right away, but in a few months. I've gone to Best Buy & Circuit City but all I saw were huge speakers costing about $200 a piece. This is way more than I need. All I need is a basic set. I'd even consider a receiver/speaker combo set (I already have a DVD player so I don't need the combo to include it). I'm hoping to spend no more than $300 on all the speakers. Is this even possible? Or am I going to have to spend more? Thanks from a newbie.


Mark

 

[SSSound]

The first thing you need to decide is what is your definition of "good". An "acceptable" 5.1 setup will probably start around $450 (5 micro-speakers plus a mini-sub). Something that resembles a "good" system will be closer to $1000 (the Rocket ELT at ********** is a good example).


Once you go beyond "basic", then "good" takes on a whole different meaning. Most of the "good" systems I have heard lately start out at $10,000 and QUICKLY go up from there.


Overall, I would say stay away from Best Buy, Circuit City, etc. You will get more bang for your buck at a Home Theater specialty store (they will also be able to give you lots of good information) or buying on-line.


Best of luck.


Julian

 

[bbusse125]

I do not think you will be able to get much for $300. My suggestion would be to save up until you can afford to spend more. If you can find something YOU like in the $300 range, go for it. I would recommend going to Best Buy and CC and listen to all the speakers you can, although it is a horrible environment to audition speakers. There is too much background noise to hear some of the details in music/movies. Then find a hi-fi specialist and take a listen to some speakers there. I believe you will be able to hear a big difference. Quality speakers can last a long time in a HT setup. I would save up if I were in your shoes but, that's me. Do what makes you happy.

 

[Indiana627]

$10,000! Wow, I'll never pay that. I'll build an actual movie theater in my house for that. This is not something that I'm going to use 24/7, just something that's better than my stereo TV. Guess I'll keep looking. Thanks.

 

[Kendrid]

Quote:

Originally posted by Indiana627 $10,000! Wow, I'll never pay that. I'll build an actual movie theater in my house for that.

You should check out the "Ultra High-End gear ($20,000+) forum sometime. Look at the member's photo galleries and dream...


Just for fun I just add up what my system cost. $7350 not including software.

$2850 for 5.1 speakers (the majority of the money on the front 2 since I am more into music than HT)

$2500 for 55" HDTV (2.5 years ago)

$2000 in electronics


Once you get trapped into this hobby it adds up quickly. I can't imagine what it would be like if I were single (actually, I can ).


You could go the used route and maybe get some of the lower end Paradigms for a decent price. Check out audiogon . com It is an audio-only 'for-sale' site.

 

[indiesound]

don't worry what these guys say. I'd say about $3500 or so will get you a rocking 5.1 system.


i just bought a rocking 2.1 system for $2400


here goes:


HTIP (home theater in a box) $199-$500 or $600


cheap receiver + cheap dvd + decent $799 5.1 system= $1200- $1500



You can get an Axiom Grand Epic Master for about $1500-$1600. But you will need a decent receiver and DVD/ CD player and decent cables.

Combine this with a decent RPTV about $1200-$1500 and we're talking about $5000.


This should serve most people's needs.


Otherwise, get a good RPTV ($1200-$1500) and do the $1200-$1500 system it should suffice, but don't be surprised if you get upgraditis!!!


By the way, I used to live in Carmel (hamilton county) outside Indy.

 

[chirpie]

Quote:

Originally posted by indiesound don't worry what these guys say. I'd say about $3500 or so will get you a rocking 5.1 system.

Erm, might wanna re-read the thread. ^_^;


(that or my saracasm detector has been switched to off...)

 

[Gary Mays]

What about Fluance?


Their AVB-HTB five-piece set usually gets described as a "great value for the money". $200 for five speakers.


Might need a sub, also, though.

 

[thebland]

Quote:

Originally posted by Indiana627 $10,000! Wow, I'll never pay that. I'll build an actual movie theater in my house for that.

.


You are obviously new to HT. Welll you are in the wrong place if you are looking to spend $300 for 5 speakers. Many here will tell you to spend more.


$10,000?........that was just under what I paid the electrician to do my dedicated room....


Had I never found this place (AVS), I certainly would've never known what esoteric HT is and consequently would've spent less.


On the other hand, I would've never owned the reference audio and video system I have.


This place is a double edged sword but I'll keep it.


Go ahead, spend as much as you can and enjoy!!

 

[timfrommass]

I don't think you need to spend 10 grand to get a "good" audio system (that is the type of attitude that drives people away from this hobby), but you also can't build a theater for 10 grand either.


You will not get a lot for $300 in speakers. You can get something that quite a few people would be pretty happy with for $500 or so, but below that you get into the KLH range and you don't want to go there. Go to a hifi shop and see if they can show you some sub/sat systems in that range, and you may be happy with what you hear. It is all about what sounds good to you. You don't have to spend a fortune to enjoy this hobby, you just have to have an idea of where to go and what you are looking for. Search this forum and many others and once you can get a basic understanding of what home theater is and what may be important to you and you will be able to spend your budget (big or small) wiser. Enjoy

 

[ez-v]

C'mon guys!


Have you really been in the hobby so long you can't remember when you had a budget of less than 4 digits? Sorry, but hearing your responses to Mark's innocuous request for some guidance in finding an economical HT system has made me think that some of you have lost touch with the reality that most people will not and cannot spend the sometimes obscene budgets that some frequenters of this forum can.


Not everyone is seeking reference quality sound and most people cannot afford reference quality sound!


Mark,


Since you are near a Circuit City, I would suggest you look at the Onkyo SKS-HT510.

http://www.circuitcity.com/detail.js...&b=g&WT.mc_t=U


With the $50 rebate that they are currently offering, you can get a full 6.1 speaker system for $280. It may not be a "reference" quality system, but it is one of the best in your price range and the one that is oft times recommended to newbies as a good starter system.


Victor

 

[ez-v]

Here's a review for you from CNET on the Onkyo speakers:

http://ecoustics-cnet.com.com/4505-6...ecoustics-cnet


Victor

 

[thebland]

I remember the days when I was penny pinching....


I am still paying for my first piece of high end equipment, 12 years later in my student loans (an Aragon 4004 MMK II amp. ......Ahhh what a wonderful product!

 

[edwardr132]

I have to second the vote on the Onkyo system. For $500 or less at Circuit City, it is a very good system with a very good receiver. The receiver is actually better than the speaker set. You could do much much worse than that system at the same price. Circuit City pretty much has a no hassle return policy. I would buy that system and first chance you get, optional of course, upgrade the subwoofer later. I think at your budget level, you will be pretty happy. I own the system myself, but don't use the speakers anymore. My passion about Home Theater has gone way way up. A lot more than I thought it would..... Actually I still use the surrounds in the system. I am looking at upgrading them right now..... I still use the receiver and don't really see any reason to upgrade from it right now.

 

[minhi]

for speakers, i'd also recommend the athena line at best buy. they're much better then most big box store speakers. and they're reasonable a whole 5.1 set is around $500.


if you don't have a receiver the onkyo combo is a good start. it will be 1-2 years before you outgrow the included speakers.

 

[DMF]

There is goodness here.


At his price point, he won't be questing for Bose.





[ stand back! ]

 

[AGE]

Mark,


If you want some good, useful information, I suggest you start a new thread called "500 dollar budget system?" or something and solicit recommendations within a price range. Because the title of this thread is so open-ended, you are getting a lot of advice that is useless to you here.


I believe that in that thread and even at that budget you will get recommendations for some very good to excellent little systems. Not everyone's standards are critical music listening or reference theater, some people just want a nice clean sound system that delivers, and I think that can definitely be done under 1000 or even 500.


But to get those helpful recommendations you may need to start a more specific thread.


Best of luck.


Aaron


EDIT: There are already a few very good recommendations here, I just think you will get more in a thread with a more specific title...

 

[AGE]

Here is a link to a review of the Athena system that minhi mentioned...

 

[Kendrid]

After thinking about this for a few minutes, I think if I were you I would go with two higher quality speakers instead of a mediocre 5.1 system. That is what I did back in college. I purchased Paradigm 3SEMKII speakers and lower end Yamaha receiver.


You might get more enjoyment out of a pair of $300 Paradigms vs $300 for glorified computer speakers. Then over time you can add a center channel, subwoofer, then surrounds. The best way to know is to go and demo the Paradigms vs a HTIB and see which you would prefer.

 

[Jellyman]

Try the Logitech Z-680's. I got mine for $260.00 off the internet. 500 watts with a "Real Sub" and similar in size to Bose.

I actually use mine as a second 5.1 system in my living room upstairs.



Z-680 Review
http://gear.ign.com/articles/375/375816p1.html


Z-560 Review
http://gear.ign.com/articles/307/307333p1.html