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  1. David Dhaus

    Need to replace 36" proscan

    My 36" tv just died. I need another 36 inch. While I would like a bigger one, the wife doesn't. This will be used for playstation, dvds and analogue cable. Movies on dvd, due to work and reality, won't be much more than 25% of the time. The rest is, sigh, network and playstation for the kids...
  2. David Dhaus

    Which Cheap Surround in a box would you get?

    I have to agree with the HT-S650. I had it for 4 months and my neighbors and I thought it was amazing for the price. I never realized I had an LFE problem, it sounded that good. Once I learned of the problem, I tested it, found I had the problem, took it to a service center and 24 hours later...
  3. David Dhaus

    Why is the Onkyo ht-s650 better than the Kenwood HTB-505. Features or sound?

    You really need to listen to each system for yourself. I was set on the 505, until, like you, I read about the Onkyo. I was able to listen to both. The 505 sounded very weak overall. The bass was almost non-existent and the midrange and highs were almost muffled. I wondered if I shouldn't save...
  4. David Dhaus

    Is "Monster" speaker wire worth the extra $$$??

    When I finished my basement, I ran monster cable for all speakers except 1 surround, where I went short the night before the dry wall guys were coming in. I quick went to Home Depot for in-wall cable, same gauge as the monster. I cannot tell the difference, other than I could have wired the rest...
  5. David Dhaus

    $500 budget

    I'm one who has the Onkyo HT-S650. I got it at CC for $458. I think someone online has it for $439. Watched Simon & Garfunkel in central Park last night (PBA beg-a-thon on TV). Sounded great to me. LOTR is unbelievable. In this price range, it is a fantastic system.
  6. David Dhaus

    Movies/Scenes to Showcase your Home Theater

    FOTR - Bridge at Khazad-dum. Showed it to one guy and he raved about it to another neighbor days later. And I have a budget system. (Onkyo HT-S650, PS2 for dvd, and 10 year old rca 36"proscan.)
  7. David Dhaus

    $500 Budget for HT-in-Box

    The Onkyo 650 box is huge. About 3 feet high, 3 feet long and 2 to 2 and 1/2 feet wide. The full box weighs 107 pounds.
  8. David Dhaus

    Which to get? Newbie Needs help!

    The Kenwood certainly has gotten good reviews. If it were not for your size concern, however, I would urge you to get the Onkyo. Yes, the speakers are bigger, but no more so than most of the systems that were being puchased when I was in college - of course, there were only two speakers then...
  9. David Dhaus

    Onkyo S650 Problems..... Any similar experiences?

    My 650 is working fine, sub and all.
  10. David Dhaus

    Which to get? Newbie Needs help!

    Have a listen to the Onkyo HT-S650 - I thought it sounded better than the Kenwood 505, and every Sony and Yamaha HTIB I listened to. I bought it and still love it. There is also a new Pioneer HTIB out, but I am not sure at which price point. I think the receiver ends with "811". I would listen...
  11. David Dhaus

    Home Theater in a Box - ideas?

    I love my onkyo 650. (although one poster has had problems with Dolby 2 or Dolby surround sources, I have not heard the problems on mine.) The 650 does not have a dvd. The speakers are pretty good - the fronts have two 5" woofers and a tweeter, the center has two 4" woofers and a tweeter, and...
  12. David Dhaus

    HT In A Box Suggestions

    If I were shopping now, I would certainly want to give that pioneer a listen. It wasn't out when I got the 650. It would be interesting to see how those two match up. The receiver has more features (including 6.1 and component switching) than the Onkyo. Does anyone know if that 100W is over all...
  13. David Dhaus

    Questions about Onkyo HT-S650

    Yes, I had analog cables (RCA) from my ps2 to the receiver, and still do from vcr to receiver. I did stand by the rear speakers initially, while in PLII mode, and no crackling. I do NOT have the snow white disk on which you first noticed the problem, and I'm not sure if the VHS tapes have dolby...
  14. David Dhaus

    Questions about Onkyo HT-S650

    Michael M, I have seen your posts and my receiver works just fine. Before I got the optical cable, I watched dd material in DPLII from dvds and had no problem. I was amazed at the sound, which only got better when I could get dd and dts plugged in. Further, I have watched my kids' Disney VHS...
  15. David Dhaus

    Questions about Onkyo HT-S650

    I have the 650 and love it. I can't tell you which optical cable to get - I got mine at walmart and it works. Yes, the 650 will run dd and dts when you hook up the cable - IF your dvd player is set up properly. I run my ps2 as my dvd player and I had to set the optical cable out to "on" AND get...
  16. David Dhaus

    Onkyo HT-S650 or Kenwood HTB-505?

    I'm one who really likes the Onkyo - of course, I'm also one who bought it so I confess I may be biased. My bias comes from having listened to numerous systems in the stores. The difficulty with that comparison is even the best system can sound mediocre or worse depending on the in store set up...
  17. David Dhaus

    I am sorry I did it anyway (plus ?)

    Now I see. You got the onkyo speaker package, not the full receiver/speaker package. If you have a home depot nearby, check them out for speaker wire. I think you may want to go down a bit from the 18 ga. I have 16 ga. and it certainly seems to be sufficient for me. You will probably want to...
  18. David Dhaus

    Opinions on the Onkyo HT-S650

    I have the Onkyo HT-S650 and really enjoy it. I am not an audiophile and I don't have $1k to throw at a receiver and speakers. Within those limits, I don't think you can go wrong with the Onkyo. The sub is powerful and the fronts and surrounds do the job nicely. I have watched LOTR over and over...
  19. David Dhaus

    HT In A Box Suggestions

    The Onkyo I mentioned has a 150W self powered sub. The speaker channels are adjustable, so he can crank up the center, if necessary. In terms of the receiver, I recommend you give it a listen. The denon was not available for me to listen to when I was buying, so I do not know how they compare...
  20. David Dhaus

    $500 Budget for HT-in-Box

    Have a listen to the Onkyo HT-S650. At Circuit City for $499. I thought it beat out all HTIBs, including Kenwood 505, and some more expensive ones (including Bose). I bought it and am very happy with it.
  21. David Dhaus

    HT In A Box Suggestions

    If you don't need the dvd player, the Onkyo HT-S650 is great. If you do, there are Onkyo HTIBs coming this month (?) that have an Onkyo dvd with the 650. The 650 is $499 at Circuit City, and beat every HTIB I listened to at Best Buy, including Yamaha, Kenwood, Sony and, yes, Bose. Your mileage...
  22. David Dhaus

    I am sorry I did it anyway (plus ?)

    Why would you be sorry??!? I too came here for advice. Due to my very limited budget and future considerations (braces for youngest, college for oldest, food, etc., etc.) I determined that HTIB was the way to go - for me. And the Onkyo 650 was, for me, the best of the HTIBs in my price range...
  23. David Dhaus

    HT in a box

    Try the Onkyo HT-S650 at Circuit City for $499. The Kenwood HTIBs (505 and 544) are also thought of as good for HTIBs. Listen to them and make a choice. I auditioned a lot of HTIBs at $900 and below, including sony, bose, kenwood, and yamaha. The 650 was the best for me. The sub at 150 watts is...
  24. David Dhaus

    Whats a good frequency response for speakers?

    I have the HT-S650, which uses your speaker setup with the Onkyo HR500 receiver. For the price, this is a great system. BTW, it does have a 150 W powered amp, with an 8" long throw woofer in it. Mine shakes the house during LOTR and TPM. The speakers sound great for both HT and Music. Good luck...
  25. David Dhaus

    Onkyo TX-SR500 vs. HT-R500 (HT-S650)

    Be careful of comparing the wattage on the two receivers. I have read that the receiver in the 650 is the same as the other one to which you refer. I have the 650 and while the advertisements specify 100 Watts x 5, look at the specs in the manual that comes with the system. The HT-S650 receiver...
  26. David Dhaus

    All in one HT setup

    I answer on the basics forum - try out the Onkyo HT-S650. You really need to listen to it. The sub is very good in this price range and the sound is very clean, and, to my ears, very real. On LOTR, it shakes the house. I auditioned everything Best Buy and Circuit City had available before...
  27. David Dhaus

    HTIB questions?

    I agree on the Onkyo 650. Mine handled LOTR very well. The 150 watt sub shakes the house. For the money, it is a great system. Onkyo is putting out two new systems with the 650 as a base, but adding a dvd player. I think the next one up from the 650 will retail at around $699. The highest price...
  28. David Dhaus

    What's a good HTiB?

    I have the Onkyo HTS-650 and am amazed at the sound. The sub is fine for my purposes. Really ran rings around the other HTIBs I listened to. I honestly believe I would have to spend twice as much - which is money I did not have - for separates to get any better sound. While the comments about...
  29. David Dhaus

    Kenwood HTB 405 or 505?

    I listened to both the Kenwood 505 and the Onkyo 650 before choosing the Onkyo. It may have been the set up of the Kenwood in Best Buy vs. the way the Onkyo was set up in Circuit City, but the Onkyo sounded much - MUCH - better. It was not close. I did not really believe the rave reviews it got...
  30. David Dhaus

    Sony STR-DE885?

    I've been looking at the Onkyo HT-S650 HTIB as I have a low budget for home theater. My neighbor just told me he can get a VERY good deal on the Sony STR-DE885 receiver, if I were interested. (He is military and can get to the px - $220) Is one "better" than the other? Sony products seem to get...
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