Jeremy Tebo

My first home theater - Comments please

Ok, folks, here is my situation. I'm less than a year out of college, and it's time to put together my own home theater. (Always had roommates with nice stereos) A few months ago, I spent a lot of money on a TV (Sony 36" HDTV - 36HS500), and now it is time to start on a home theater. I also have an old Aiwa mini system, so I'm basically starting from scratch. I'm on a limited budget (under $1000 total, including new DVD player), so any suggestions are much appreciated. I'll show you what I'm thinking about, tell me what you think.

Reciever:
Sony DE885 (Probably black)
I know Sony doesn't make the best quality audio stuff, but I like the idea of using the same brand as much as possible, and you get quite a bit of bang for your buck. This has HD component in/out, 5.1, and I can pick one up for about $250 + $30 s/h.

Or maybe the DE685, but I don't think I can run HD component through it.

Question: If I run my DVD player w/ component and my cable box w/ s-video both to the reciever, do I need to run both comp AND S from reciever to TV, or just comp?


DVD Player:
Sony DVP-NS755V
I was going to get the NS715, but for about $100 more, this gives me SACD capability. ($210 + $20 s/h) Also, the 755 got better reviews. I'd like to hear what you all think about this, but I figure the Floyd DSOTM album in SACD would be worth it alone. I tried a P-scan Phillips DVD player, but I thought it sucked, and brought it back. Now I'm back to using the PS2.


Speakers:
This is the part where I really need some advice. I want a system that is good with movies and music, probably used more for movies/tv. Keep in mind, this is very budget constrained, I can always upgrade later.

Sony MF550H, CN550H, MB150H.
I know, I know, Sony speakers suck, right? I would agree, but I listened to these at Best Buy, and they sounded really good for the price. I can get a 5-speaker set for under $300. They clam to be for "high resolution audio" for sources like SACD. Is this true or BS? I want some bigger speakers like these, because the little ones I've listened to all sounded hollow and puny. Also, they look cool, which is most important, right?

OR

Fluance AV-HTB
These are really cheap ($200 + $50 s/h) and got good reviews on this board. However, they seem a little small, and I don't get to hear them before I buy. (Not to mention that I've never heard of them before I saw them here) I would go up the next step to the SX-HTB, but that wood grain would look like crap with my Wega TV & stand.

OR

Onkyo SKSHT500
Another entry-level set of speakers, I listened to these at Circuit City. They sounded better than the crappy mini-speakers, but still nothing great. Good price, though, and it comes w/ a sub, however stands would be required for the fronts. ($250)

OR

JBL NSP1
These got good reviews here, but I'm scared of getting itty-bitty speakers that sound itty-bitty. Also, these would require stands for the front speakers. Good price, good brand. ($210)


Subwoofer:
I'm in a 1-bedroom apartment, so unfortunately booming bass isn't an option. (My puny Aiwa system is loud enough to wake the neighbors already) I'm thinking about a sony 8" that I saw for $99, or a 12" for $199, but maybe I'll just hold off on the sub altogether for now.

Thank you for reading my novel, I look forward to constructive criticism and suggestions.

-JT

Aaron Chiandet

well, as far as the speakers go....


I agree with you on the sony's. I was at best buy a few days ago and I didn't hear anything that sounded phenominal. So I had a salesman show me what the best setup they could sell me was. Basicly a slew of JBL speakers. After his demo, I thought "are you joking." So I had him write up a price sheet with model #'s and everything else I needed to know. While he was gone, I wondered over to the little sony display and set up the EXACT speakers that you mentioned above w/o a sub and was blown away compared to the JBL stuff. To top that off, the 5 speakers all together totaled just under 500$ on the net where as his JBL setup was 1400$ at BB.

So to sum things up, everyone will tell you there are better options for the money, which there very well could be. I just havent had the chance to hear anything from companies like AR, or energy etc. Personaly those floorstanding speakers made a good amount of bass that you could get away with somthing like the sw40 for a sub and be totaly set.

This is just my opinion. Ill be honest, I dont know a fraction of what a lot of these guys know. Im just giving you my feedback on what I have heard

Aaron Chiandet

CORRECTION

The speakers I was listening to was the

SSMF750H(main floorstanding)
SSCN550H (Center)
SSMB150H (Rears)

Now you can get the

SSMF650H(floor) at mysony.com for 159$(pair)
SSMB350H(rears)for 75$ at the same place.

now you just need a center channel and sub.

Andre Barros

Jeremy,

I had the same thoughts as you did when I first decide to get into the HT world. I thought it would be interesting to have everything of the same brand (Technics) since I had a Technics stereo set-up I liked and I thought I would keep some of the old stuff. I'm glad I changed my mind about that before I started purchasing stuff. It's not that you can't get a nice set-up in one single brand but because I think it limits you psicologicaly and you end up not paying atention to other brands when you are out shopping. That happened to me a couple of times and was enough to drive me away from the single brand idea. I ended up buying different brands of components and keeping some of my Technics comkponents. Now I'm very happy, considering I couldn't spend as much as I wanted. The result?

Pioneer Receiver
Pioneer DVD
Panasonic VHS
Technics CD player (purchased previously)
Technics Cassete deck (purchased previously)
Sony TV
JBL Speakers

Jeremy Tebo

Thanks for the input, guys. Has anyone else heard Sony's new speakers? I'd like to hear some more opinions on which speakers you'd recommend, Sony or other.

Danny Tse

Jeremy,

I found a good deal for a refurbished Onkyo TX-SR500 for $150.00. Check it out. I ordered one for less that $170.00, including shipping from the East Coast to the West Coast.

As for the Sony speakers, I heard them briefly and I like them a lot. If you like how they sound, then go for them. I still have a pair of Sony speakers from 20 years ago that works perfectly, despite much abuse from my sister singing karaoke on them at ear-splitting levels.

Ted Lee

don't be fooled into buying the same brand for convenience sake. it's a falacy. get the best gear you can...regardless of who makes it.

receivers
i'm not a big fan of sony receivers (except for the ES series). i've had a couple and they're just too "gimmicky" for me. i can't help but feel that all the extra bells and whistles cost me in the sonics department.

check out some other brands if you can. i like onkyo (great bang for the buck), but take a look at denon, hk, and yamaha too. sorry i'm not up on prices but if it costs you a little more it'll definitely be worth it. depends on the receiver, but i think at this stage most will convert composite and s-video to component.

speakers
this one is too subjective to call. you'll really have to just listen to them and decide which ones YOU like. after all, you're the ones who will be listening to them, so get what sounds good to go. generally speaking, dedicated speaker manufactuers do a better job designing their speakers, but i wouldn't call it a hard-fast rule. the jbl's are pretty well regarded here. again, just listen and decide what sounds good to you.

also, if you're on a budget, think about buying your speakers in phases. that way you'll get the speakers you want. it may take you a little longer but consider that speakers rarely change - you'll probably keep your same speakers for quite some time.

make sure you read the beginner's primer too...lots of good info there about this stuff.

good luck!

this is my dvd collection. there are many like it, but this is my own ...

Jeremy Tebo

Ted, thanks for the input. When you answered my question about component/s-video switching, you said, "most will convert over to s-video." Did you mean that the receiver will convert s-video to component? This way I can run only component to my TV, even though I have s-video going to my reciever, right?
Thanks,
JT

Ted Lee

doh! yeah, sorry about that. i still get composite and component confused sometimes. i'll edit my original post so i don't cofuse anyone else.

so..yes, some receivers have the ability to convert composite and s-video to component. but it's usually the higher end models. also, you may need to run another video signal for the receiver's on-screen menus.

this is my dvd collection. there are many like it, but this is my own ...

Myo K

the sony speakers plugged my ears, my friend told me that its probably because the the speakers had crappy crossovers..

either way, i know one thing and it would damage my hearing overtime, i mean if they plug my ears after listening to them for 2 minutes..

the jbls over there never plugged my ears, so i already know the jbls have to be better then the sonys for obvious reasons. how my ears not plugging is a good indication
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regarding jbl at bb, Best Buy is not necessarily the Best Buy, they charge you pretty steep prices for anything audio, look aorund, you can probably find jbl speakers significantly cheaper online.