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Budget Sound System for Big Room

#1
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8/9/08 at 10:22am
  • Joined: August 2008
  • Location: Mankato, MN
  • Post Count: 2
I'm new to HT and to be honest, I'm a little overwhelmed when it comes to the sound system end of things. I ordered an Optoma HD27 and I'm now looking for something decent to run sound through.

I know HTIBs aren't looked highly upon here, but anything decent as far as separates seems to be out of my range.

My living room in the new apartment I'm moving into is 15x24 and my budget is around $500 (+/- $100). I also want HDMI outs if possible.

What am I looking at for a sound system in this range?
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#2
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8/9/08 at 10:53am
  • Joined: December 2006
  • Post Count: 57

Re: Budget Sound System for Big Room

I just picked up a clearance Samsung HT-X40 for $110. All in one, speakers etc... retail approx. $250.

I had the Onkyo, towers years ago etc...several remotes etc...no more, had enough.

this cheap little Samsung is 1080i upconvert and sounds great for our home and is so easy to use. HDMI cable and thats it!

the more powerful systems would probably be better if your wanting your neighbors to hear it.

I think this is last years so you may want to try the new models. I don't know where you live but around here in Tx there's a lot of deals right now,Samsung DVD-R 1080i $69 clearance..must be the new wave coming out for Christmas or a slow economy...or both.

I just saw a SONY Bravia all-in -one for $200 clearancing out, seemed to be the same "family" of Home Theater systems.

If your going for Hi End.......B&W speakers are great.
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#3
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8/9/08 at 5:14pm
  • Joined: November 2006
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Re: Budget Sound System for Big Room

this is the only one i would get for your budget and room Onkyo HT-S5100B Black - In Stock at OneCall.com
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#4
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8/10/08 at 1:03am
  • Joined: August 2008
  • Location: Mankato, MN
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Re: Budget Sound System for Big Room

Quote:
Originally Posted by hodedofome
this is the only one i would get for your budget and room Onkyo HT-S5100B Black - In Stock at OneCall.com

Only problem is that has HDMI passthrough and therefore only HDMI through video and not audio.
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#5
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8/10/08 at 6:53am
  • Joined: November 2006
  • Post Count: 236

Re: Budget Sound System for Big Room

Quote:
Originally Posted by Audious
Only problem is that has HDMI passthrough and therefore only HDMI through video and not audio.

And yet because the speakers and receiver are 100 times better than any Sony/Samsung/Pioneer/Panasonic HTiB, it will still be the best one under $500 you're going to get. Trust me, I've heard them all (not just in the store, but in the home as well). The Onkyo is the only one with 'big' speakers for the front and sub, and therefore can actually make real sound below 40hz, as well has having a midrange. The Sony/Samsung/Pioneer/Panasonic HTiB use small speakers and a horrible subwoofer, sure they create 'sound' but it's nothing I enjoy listening to.
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#6
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8/12/08 at 6:56am
  • Joined: August 2008
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Re: Budget Sound System for Big Room

Quote:
Originally Posted by Audious
Only problem is that has HDMI passthrough and therefore only HDMI through video and not audio.

I'm a complete home theater noob and looking at these Onkyo HTiBs as well. Can someone explain exactly what this means? It is just that I'll have to hook up the audio from my blu-ray directly to the TV or something like that? Or does it mean I won't get certain sound quality that I would from a system that has the through audio? I've seen reviews of this system that are excellent, but criticsize this feature, but dont' say exactly what it means in lay mans terms. Thanks!
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#7
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8/12/08 at 7:06am
  • Joined: November 2006
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Re: Budget Sound System for Big Room

Quote:
Originally Posted by jeff5
I'm a complete home theater noob and looking at these Onkyo HTiBs as well. Can someone explain exactly what this means? It is just that I'll have to hook up the audio from my blu-ray directly to the TV or something like that? Or does it mean I won't get certain sound quality that I would from a system that has the through audio? I've seen reviews of this system that are excellent, but criticsize this feature, but dont' say exactly what it means in lay mans terms. Thanks!

The newest audio codecs from blu-ray are uncompressed PCM, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, and DTS-MasterAudio. A normal optical or coax digital cable doesn't have the bandwidth for the new audio codecs (which is what you'll have to use with the Onkyo HTiB I suggested). You have to use HDMI or 5.1/7.1 analog cables to get those. So you'll only get normal Dolby Digital or DTS instead of the new stuff. However, when compared with the other offerings in the price range, the better receiver and speakers in the Onkyo unit will more than make up for the fact that it's using the older audio technologies.

You will not hook up the blu-ray player directly to your tv for audio, you'll use an optical or coax digital cable from the player to the Onkyo receiver.
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#8
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8/12/08 at 11:46am
  • Joined: April 2004
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Re: Budget Sound System for Big Room

In n00b-speak, the above alphabet soup means that the audio you get will need to be carried by a cable other than your HDMI cable ( you will use a separate optical cable or "orange" coax). It also means that you will not be listening to the highest sound quality that Bluray is capable of giving you. You'll be listening to sound that is similar to the quality you get from a DVD. It's not that big a deal; a budget always means compromises.

--ignore the man behind the curtain

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#9
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8/18/08 at 11:43am
  • Joined: January 2007
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Re: Budget Sound System for Big Room

Quote:
Originally Posted by Audious
Only problem is that has HDMI passthrough and therefore only HDMI through video and not audio.
Quote:
Originally Posted by hodedofome
And yet because the speakers and receiver are 100 times better than any Sony/Samsung/Pioneer/Panasonic HTiB, it will still be the best one under $500 you're going to get. Trust me, I've heard them all (not just in the store, but in the home as well). The Onkyo is the only one with 'big' speakers for the front and sub, and therefore can actually make real sound below 40hz, as well has having a midrange. The Sony/Samsung/Pioneer/Panasonic HTiB use small speakers and a horrible subwoofer, sure they create 'sound' but it's nothing I enjoy listening to.
Since the above comment is simply one person's opinion, here's another one. The Sony HT-7200DH 5.1 system includes a receiver that actually handles audio over HDMI (including multichannel PCM decoded by a Blu-ray player). Like I said, JMO
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