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12-02-2004, 09:54 AM
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#2 of 25 
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Member
Join Date: Sep 2002
Local Time: 03:23 PM
Local Date: 09-05-2008
Posts: 2,010
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Talk to the good doctor at Plasmadocs (see ad banner and sticky notes above); they might be able to set you up with a nice combo system that is small and discrete while still sounding great.
There are in-wall speaks out there, but they are a bit more work to install. Good looking speaks mounted on classy stands or wall mounts can make a fashion statement without being visually intimidating.
Polk Audio is doing some nice things with speaker systems designed to compliment thin TVs (like plasma) and be very discrete and fashionable in the living space while still offering high performance sound; check them out at www.polkaudio.com.
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12-02-2004, 11:25 AM
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#3 of 25
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Member
Join Date: Jun 1999
Local Time: 12:23 PM
Local Date: 09-05-2008
Posts: 21,275
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Check out the Energy Take 5.2 system, and look for a decent woofer (Synergy, or some other brand). Total: Around $1,100 or so. Sound is quite good.
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12-02-2004, 12:44 PM
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#4 of 25
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Member
Join Date: Nov 2004
Local Time: 07:23 PM
Local Date: 09-05-2008
Posts: 74
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Take a look at the B&W Natulist speakers they are kinda small and funky looking....and sound amazing.
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12-02-2004, 04:46 PM
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#6 of 25
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Member
Join Date: Nov 2003
Local Time: 12:23 PM
Local Date: 09-05-2008
Posts: 966
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If you like the size of the Bose speakers you might want to also look at Orb Audio systems. http://www.orbaudio.com/
I've never heard these personally, but every review by owners is very positive. The price is sure attractive...especially compared to Bose.
Mort |
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12-02-2004, 04:59 PM
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#7 of 25
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Member
Location: PA, Reinholds
Join Date: Mar 2003
Local Time: 03:23 PM
Local Date: 09-05-2008
Posts: 92
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B&W, Energy, Polk, Paradigm, (others)... all are IMO a better return on your hard earned dollar than Bose. Just go to a stereo store and give them a listen. Chances are you will find something you like that sounds great for under 3 grand.
Blade Runner Voted the best Sci-Fi movie ever made. Now when do we get the new edition?
My DVD List
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12-02-2004, 05:13 PM
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#8 of 25
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Member
Join Date: Dec 2003
Local Time: 07:23 PM
Local Date: 09-05-2008
Posts: 112
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Find a Best Buy or Circuit City and audition some of their speakers. They may or may not offer the best price so take notes of what you like and what you don't. Then either buy one of those Home Theaters in a Box units or put together your own system. Onkyo has some nice HTIB packages.
Generally you'll get what you pay for but you are welcome to post what you auditioned and get responses from people here.
Its not that hard to put one together yourself. You'll need a receiver, a good dvd player, a great subwoofer and at least five speakers (one of which will be your center channel). That will give you a 5.1 system. (five speakers, one sub)
Bose sounds good to many people but you don't get the highs or the lows. Try asking Bose for their speaker ranges sometime. They won't tell you.
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12-02-2004, 08:32 PM
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#9 of 25
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Member
Join Date: Nov 2004
Local Time: 07:23 PM
Local Date: 09-05-2008
Posts: 74
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Your not going to hear anything that sounds great at Circuit City or Bestbuy but you are welcome to look. I sold more crap to people at circuit city than you would ever guess. So yeah go to a good audio store where they have real nice speakers.
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12-03-2004, 10:32 AM
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#10 of 25
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Plasmadocs
Join Date: Aug 2004
Local Time: 02:23 PM
Local Date: 09-05-2008
Posts: 189
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People who have never heard truly high fidelity don't know what they are missing. Most who frequent the Circuit Cities and the Best Buy's of the world are looking for just any old thing that looks good and is convenient. If it sounds half good they buy it, if it has a Cerwin Vega name it must mean quality. That Sony sub must be quality if it has the name....oh so not true. Home theaters in a box should be called cheap speakers in a box. Some I would compare to the sound you get out of a Coby, Audiovox, Apex, Soundesign, and others of questionable quality. Most band-in-a-box type setups use the cheapest of components and the first thing to go is the speakers with little paper whizzer cones and poor frequency responses that you get from a cheap radio. Most systems 5.1 systems are extremely anemic and in desperate need of CPR.
There are many decent home theater systems out there. You can look at Polk like Ed said. My brother has one of their setups and it does sound very nice. Their subs are decent as well. Look also at the Northridge systems from JBL at circuit city. They are expensive for a cheaper system but the accuracy is better and a little closer to high end if you want to buy from a chain store. They don't last very long (mine disintegrated in the surrounds in 5 yrs) but are fairly accurate speakers. Also look at Paradigm and Pinnacle who make good setups fairly cheap. Also look at Athena, Yamaha, Klipsh, KEF, ADS & Infinity. They make all mainstream stuff but are decent. Bose I would pass as they bloat the hell out of their systems. They sound OK but are priced twice to three times as they should in my estimation. They are not as good of quality as people think but they have innovative engineering.
We sell 5 audiophile systems of high quality that may be up your alley and are inexpensive.
1) The Onix Rocket Tyke 5.1 systems in black and white $399
2) The 5.1 Onix Rocket system that we have for sale in Cherry (not as tiny as the bose in a bookshelf setup) for $699 (free speaker wire or sub cable with purchase for HTF people)
3) Our 5.1 SVS/Onix combo for $950 with the state of the art SVS PB10-ISD subwoofer(HTF members get $25 gift certificate)
4) The 5.1 Dalhquist Orbit speaker system (tiniest of all systems with 2 1/2" woofers and dome tweeters) for $399
(I can throw in some wire for free)
5)Our Ascend Acoustics/SVS Combo HTM-200 system with SVS sub for $1014(with HTF discount).
We also have been talking to http://www.Orbaudio.com based here in New York and they look just like the Bose and sound better and $699 for a 5.1 MOD1 system is nice. We wanted to get them on board soon to sell with us. Tell Ethan I said HI if you call 
The SVS/Ascends and the SVS/Onix are by far our best values and nobody has them but us.
All of the above are state of the art in home theater sound and very good values but are NOT in the chain stores. We took what we saw as the best components and mated them in some of these systems with incredible value that would cost twice to three times as much money as most other systems.
We also have new systems from Advent Heritage and Acoustech BIC America that we haven't put up yet that are more mainstream. They are not as good in our eyes but we selected some brands that were more popular to sell.
BTW we also sell in walls but that is going to be way more expensive just due to all the work you would either have to pay for or do yourself. We have like 5 different in wall manufacturers including in wall subs but you have to run wire in the walls and it’s a pain for the do it yourself-er. A properly set up system (the key to good HT) you shouldn't be able to tell where the speakers are but be able to create a sound stage where things sound like they are coming from places the speakers are not. That is proper level setting and choosing quality speakers. I often ask people when they get their system to set it up as we describe and then put on some movie or song they normally watch or listen to, close their eyes and just listen. Most are amazed at all the detail that they lost for years without a good system. Once you go hifi you never go back. Its like driving a BMW then buying a Yugo (no offence to Yugo owners ) it just is not the same. We have converted many people to the dark side over the years  .
Anthony Rosalia
VP
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