Budget Home Theatre (1 Viewer)

I'm looking at starting an entry level home theatre for about $600. After doing a bit of research I'm looking at getting the Pioneer VSX-D912K reciever and the Onkyo SKS-HT510 6.1 speaker package. From the reviews I read at cnet this sounds like my best option at this price range. I was wondering whether you guys could give some input on my choice?

It depends on how serious you would like to get about Home Theater. If you plan on trying to build a nice one, then I would just buy a receiver and two very good front speakers and then slowly add on from there.

Well at the moment I'm in high school, so I won't be able to afford a real home theatre for a while. This system is just meant for my bedroom and will primarily be used for videogames and movies.

the pioneer is a sweet machine. really do some research on the fluance htb systems for speakers. they rock. you wont be sorry!

Craig, if you just want the surround sound/bass effects for your room Walmart has a system for $300. A $600 budget will now go far in this industry, but the above system will at least give you the effects to get you started.

From what I've read HTIB's are basically just cheap toys with bad sound quality. I'd prefer to spend $300 more to get a quality system then something cheap from walmart with poor sound.

Look at the Energy Take 5.2 system. Great sound and they are small. Nice looking too and a great price.

The Onkyos are very satisfactory speakers and do - at least I think - sound better than their price range would suggest. They do lack crisp highs and deep lows, but do provide sufficent highs and enjoyable, if not remarkable, bass.

They're the kind of speakers that sound fine for the time being, but you will likely want to upgrade piece-by-piece as the months pass. The other suggestions brand-wise that are a little more expensive, but offer greater quality, would be JBL or Wharfedale.

Maybe you could reconfigure your plans for a less expensive receiver (the Panasonic SAHE100, maybe - which is about 70w x 6 or the Pioneer 812 - both can be found for about $230 online) and get more expensive speakers, such as one of the JBL, Klipsch or Wharfedale packages. Just another option.

Or you could go with the current plan and upgrade piece-by-piece (new fronts one month, new center another month).

It's pretty sad a grocery store is selling HT these days. I failed to mention that you will not get recording-studio sound from that system. It is just a cheap starter system that will offer surround sound effects, a dedicated center channel and a little bass.

I too wanted a home theatre for my bedroom after my 21" Hitachi TV died. I bought the following:

APEX 27" Stero TV - 179.95 @ WalMart

Zenith DVD/VCR Combo - 159.95 @ Best Buy

Sherwood 6108 A/V DTS DD 500w receiver - 79.95 @ Outpost.com (Fry's)

Audio Source 5.1 Speaker System w/active subwoofer - $122.99 @ Best Buy

I opted to get the components separately because I wanted a separate A/V receiver. I already had the quality cables for the system. The entire thing was $542.80 without tax. With tax it was $585.00 Let me tell you, for the small bedroom my system sounds excellent. The Sherwood receiver is excellent for the price and just the ticket for a second HT system in small places such as a bedroom. Check it out.

Well I think I'm definitely getting the Pioneer VSX-912K, and for speakers I've narrowed it down to either the Fluance SX_HTB with the JBL PB10 subwoofer or the Onkyo HT510 6.1 speaker system.

the fluance system with the jbl pb 10 would be a sweet combo system. that with the pioneer 912, you will have a beautiful sounding setup!

Go for something like the Onkyo SR500 and the Energy Take 5.2's.