Darren Maxion

Help a newbie out. What is the best setup I can get for $500?

Hello,

I am really into Car Audio but now I want a good Home Theater System for my new Condo. The setup will need to fill up a medium/large room and I really want a DVD player along side with a receiver.

Any recommendations?

Darren Maxion

Also, with this type of budget, I would be very willing to go for a 2.1 setup with nice floor standing speakers and a sub. Is this a good idea? What are my options?

Lew Crippen

Personally I think beginning with a 2-channel or 2.1 system is a good idea for anyone with a reasonably small budget. You can even begin without a sub, adding that later as well.

Are you set on floor standing speakers or would you consider bookshelves as well. I think that in your budget there are some good bookshelf buys—the floor standing models tend to be a bit more of a compromise.

¡Time is not my master!

John S

I would vote for going for it with 6.1 myself...

Onkyo 6.1 SR501 ($185)
Sony SA WM500 12" Sub ($135)
Yamaha NS-6490 speakers ($70 a pair, you need three pair)

This gets you into the game serious enough, so you can decide where you need upgrades in the future.

At those prices you wouldn't even lose to much money if you sold some of it off, and bought better.

Best of luck with it all.

Dan_Whip

http://www.fluance.com/fluanceavhtb.html

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http://www.6ave.com/product.jsp?x=VR6050

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http://www.6ave.com/product.jsp?x=DVDS25K

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$454

You'd still need to add a sub somewhere down the road, but for under $500 it would be a decent setup.

Andrew O'Brien

Get the Dayton 10 inch sub from www.partsexpress.com for $128, I got a free shipping deal.

Andy.

Andrew O'Brien

Here it is

Andy.

Greg-ST

The Dayton sub and the JBL NSP1II speaker package should also be a very nice combo.

Like I stated in another thread, I'm going to be ordering the Dayton sub as soon as I get paid. I live 40 miles from the Parts Express Springboro, OH showroom so technically I could just drive up there and get it. I think I'm too lazy though....

todd<>C

Darren
Here is some things I found from reading around, not sure on the best set up or if any of them are that good of a deal. None of them have a DVD player either.
Receivers:
* Harman Kardon AVR 325 – 6.1 $369 –
* Dennon AVR 1804 – less than $300
* Panasonic VSX-D912K - $280.
* Harman Kardon AVR 225 - $223 –
* Dennon AVR 1803 - $230
* Onkyo SR501 - $185.

Speakers
* Veladyne SPL523 - $360. 5.1 Do not know much about these.
* JBL NSPi II - $205 - $275. No SUB. 5.1. Suppose to be good entry level speakers. Small speakers.
* Harman Kardon HK TS12 - $300. Includes SUB. Unique design. 5.1. Small speakers. Ranked by CNET.com as one of the best buys.
* Onkyo SKS-HT510 - $180 - $300. Includes SUB. Large Fronts. 6.1. Sub is large and can be load in small rooms. Also ranked as a good buy on CNET.
* Fluance AV-HTB. $200 + shipping. Full size fronts. 5.1. No SUB.

Subs
* Dayton - $150
* Sony SAWM500 - $121

TosH

At this price range, I think you're really shortchanging yourself by tring to go with a complete 5.1 setup or any setup that involves floorstanding speakers. Focusing on two quality bookshelf speakers will net you much better sound than trying to spread that money to cover 5 speakers. Here's one setup to consider

Receiver - Panasonic SA-XR25 $210 shipped
Speakers - JBL S26 $140 shipped
Sub - Dayton 10" $125 shipped

These are all very good components for the money and have a history of favorable reviews. Depending on your listening preferences, you may also want to look at a pair of Wharfedale Diamond 8.1 speakers instead of the JBL pair. This should leave you enough money to cover the cost of speaker wire, interconnects, etc. Inexpensive DVD players are a dime a dozen so pick whatever suits you.