[tensider]

Hello,


I'd like to get our living room set up with good sound before our baby arrives (after which we'll have no such fun money in the near future). Here's our current set-up:


32" Westinghouse HDTV - 1 HDMI, Component

XBox 360


The room is about 15 deep by 18 wide, with the tv in one corner.


The Xbox will act as our dvd player. If I can keep my budget down, I can also afford a HD-DVD add on, which will also act to upscale.


So I need a home theater system, but not the dvd -- just the speakers and receiver. And I need to keep my cost at $300 or below.


I've looked at the Sony DDW700 at Best Buy -- it's $199 w/o sale and has that microphone room adjustor thing. On the down side, the speaker cable is not swappable. Also at BB was the Yamaha YHT-270. Good features, but the speakers seemed huge. They didn't have the Sony DDW900 when I visited, though it looks like they're back in stock online. I don't have to shop at BB, though. That's just the first place I've looked. There's also a Circuit City nearby, and Amazon is always an option.


Thanks in advance for your input on this. I figured that I'd go to the experts.


-tensider

 

[flags]

The HT-S590 or the HT-S 680 at Vanns, Amazon, Pricegrabber.

 

[tensider]

Thanks, flags! The S590 looks to be within my price range -- and even leaves some extra cash for better speaker wire.


Any additional opinions?

 

[jerkin]

Couple guys were picking up the sony ddw900 for $200 or less at wally world

 

[Jakeman02]



Quote:
Originally Posted by tensider /forum/post/0


Thanks, flags! The S590 looks to be within my price range -- and even leaves some extra cash for better speaker wire.


Any additional opinions?

The Onkyo S590 is going to be your best bet at the price point. If you don't mind going refurb shoponkyo has an excellent deal right now with full waranty and free shipping. $149 with the sale and $10 credit after signing up with the website.

http://www.shoponkyo.com/detail.cfm?...il=1&ext_war=1

 

[flags]

Consumer Reports rates these two as best buys.


Great values:


Samsung HT-Q45 , $295, CR Best Buy

Panasonic SC-HT740 , $335, CR Best Buy


Check out pricegrabber.com for best pricing.



Both have very good sound quality, are easy to use, and are wireless-ready. Both include integrated, five-disc DVD/CD changers. The Panasonic system has an HDMI output. The Samsung system has the smallest satellites. It has an XM tuner, but (like its sibling, the Samsung HT-Q80) it lacks the AM tuner you'd get with the other systems.

 

[tensider]



Quote:
Originally Posted by Jakeman02 /forum/post/0


The Onkyo S590 is going to be your best bet at the price point. If you don't mind going refurb shoponkyo has an excellent deal right now with full waranty and free shipping. $149 with the sale and $10 credit after signing up with the website.

Nice deal. How's Onkyo's track record with refurb units?

 

[Ladic]

I bought both the sony ddw900 and the onkyo S590, and frankly the onkyo sounded like crap, and the subwoofer was pretty much none existant.


on the other hand I am very happy with the sony system, its loud and good subwoofer.


the sony I got at walmart for $150, but i think they are regularly priecd at $198 right now. And if you want some form of service plan, they have it at walmart for $17.99 for 2 year service plan.

 

[asgking]

bestbuy has the yamaha yht-370 for $299 this week...i'm going to go check it out because there is a reward zone copoun that ends today which will get you an extra 10%-12% off.


I'm looking into the yamaha and the onkyo.

 

[Jakeman02]



Quote:
Originally Posted by tensider /forum/post/0


Nice deal. How's Onkyo's track record with refurb units?

Depending on your pov some people consider them more reliable than new because they have been through QC twice. IMO there is no difference reliability wise. They come with 1 year waranty and you can add 2 years to make it a 3 year total for $40 which is still only $189 shipped.

 

[tensider]

Thanks, Jakeman02 -- I'll go to circuit city, to listen to onkyo systems. If they sound good, then I'll probably go with the refurb.


Cheers!

 

[snuba]

if you have not got the onkyo yet...the yamaha yht-370 can be had for 299 this week at BB. just an option. check it out in this week's advertisement flyer thing.

 

[flags]

Is the Yamaha just as good as the ht-s790 for movies and TV viewing?

 

[flags]

Has anyone compared the two soundwise?

 

[Jakeman02]



Quote:
Originally Posted by flags /forum/post/0


Is the Yamaha just as good as the ht-s790 for movies and TV viewing?

Both are good systems, the 790 comes with a powered sub, the 370 comes with a passive sub. The 790 is a 7.1 system with more digital inputs and connection options, the 370 is a 5.1 system. These two really aren't comparable. The 370 should really be compaired with the onkyo ht-s590 and considering you can get the 590 right now for $149 shipped from shoponkyo, it's a no brainer. Both are good systems but the price makes the onkyo a much better value, you could buy 2 onkyo sysems to 1 yamaha.

 

[Jakeman02]



Quote:
Originally Posted by flags /forum/post/0


Has anyone compared the two soundwise?

Soundwise would be comparable and preference. Both have substandard speaker systems and subwoofers as most HTIB systems do. Both come with quality receivers. Some say the yamaha receivers are a little brighter in overall sound than onkyos, so again that would be preference.

 

[RetRoe]



Quote:
Originally Posted by Ladic /forum/post/0


I bought both the sony ddw900 and the onkyo S590, and frankly the onkyo sounded like crap, and the subwoofer was pretty much none existant.


on the other hand I am very happy with the sony system, its loud and good subwoofer.

Just curious, why would you buy two HTIB systems from different manufacturers? Did you buy them both at the same time to do side-by-side comparisons or did you buy the onkyo and return it and then got the sony?