What's new

$400 help a newbie out (1 Viewer)

kris

Auditioning
Joined
Oct 25, 2003
Messages
9
ok...i need a new home theater/sterio. I will mostly be playing techno/rap on it. But once iin a while i will be playing some movies. What system would you guys reccomend for $400bux??

thanks,
kris
 

GrahamT

Supporting Actor
Joined
Sep 13, 2003
Messages
556
Well 400 bucks will not get you very much. Maybe home theater in a box is your best bet. By the way it was probably just a mistake but it is stereo not sterio.
 

ChrisLazarko

Supporting Actor
Joined
Aug 13, 2003
Messages
867
$400 is only gonna get you a HTIB at the most, and it will be just OK. If you can find a way to shell out about $700 then you can go for a devent HT.
 

kris

Auditioning
Joined
Oct 25, 2003
Messages
9
what htib would u guys reccomend???? plz help me im a newbie at this:frowning:
 

GrahamT

Supporting Actor
Joined
Sep 13, 2003
Messages
556
Well you probably wont get many recomendations around here for HTIB. We generally dont think highly of them and often try to talk others out of buying them. Some people are completely satisfied with them but most are not. If you think that there might be even the smallest chance of upgrading later then I suggest you get a decent stereo only system to start with and then build onto it as you wish. A decent 5.1 receiver ($200-300), 2 speakers ($200-300) and a dvd player ($100-200) are all you need to start.
 

kris

Auditioning
Joined
Oct 25, 2003
Messages
9
ok i found 2 htib....

HT-1800DP DVD home theater system

Kenwood HTB-506 Home Theater System


witch one would u choose...btw im only 14 i dont have $$to burn:D Ive been saving up for a really long time:D
 

GrahamT

Supporting Actor
Joined
Sep 13, 2003
Messages
556
Of the two I would get the sony, mainly because I am more familiar with it and because the receiver and dvd player are seperate . But I expect that you will probably replace the speakers and sub some day.

The receiver and dvd player are fine, I suggest getting them alone and adding a pair of bookshelf speakers. maybe polk audio R series, athena or JBL. Surround sound is only really good when you have really good speakers and equipment. A decent stereo is way better than HTIB. Also you wont have to get rid of the bookshelf speakers if you decide to upgrade one day. You could move them back as surrounds.
 

kris

Auditioning
Joined
Oct 25, 2003
Messages
9
hmm...what if i got the sony will the sound suck that bad?? also were can i buy the reciver and dvd player seperate??
 

GrahamT

Supporting Actor
Joined
Sep 13, 2003
Messages
556
THose little cheap speakers will probably sound bad, especially the center channel. YOu can get similar receivers, dvd players and speakers from best buy, circuit city etc. Two decent speakers will sound better than 5 or six cheap speakers for the same price.
 

GrahamT

Supporting Actor
Joined
Sep 13, 2003
Messages
556
Not really since I have never been to one. They are rare in Canada. Again, a 5.1 receiver, a dvd player and pair of bookshelf speakers are my recommendation. Go and have a listen and get what sounds good to you. BTW remember that it is stereo not sterio.;)
 

Bill_Wil

Stunt Coordinator
Joined
May 26, 2003
Messages
165
Hey Kris,
For $400 you can get a decent Onkyo system but it wont include the DVD player. :frowning:
You can check them out at Circuit City. Heres an example of the system from the Onkyo site.
http://www.shoponkyo.com/catalog_det...&p=i&ext_war=1

For complete systems including the DVD player for under $400 maybe you should check out this system at Best Buy...
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....oryId=cat03010

or this one....
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....oryId=cat03010

I think the Onkyo system would be the best but it doesnt include the DVD player. You could always pick up the Onkyo system and then get a DVD player for an early Christmas gift. :D
Head down to Circuit City and Best Buy to see if you like the sound of any of the systems. Good luck!!
 

Tim K

Second Unit
Joined
Jul 7, 1999
Messages
402
Kris, if you are going to be listening mostly to music, and you said rap/techno, I think you should stay away from the HTIB's. As mentioned, you get those tiny speakers in the HTB packages. For the type of music you are looking at, I think you'll want something that can at least produce a little bass. Personally, I would say get a decent receiver that is DD/DTS (5.1) capable, a DVD player, and a pair of decent bookshelf stereo speakers. A 2 speaker stereo system will do you just fine for the occasional movie, don't worry about 5.1 surround yet, wait till you save some more money. By going this route, you can add speakers as you get money. You could ask for more speakers for christmas or birthdays. Just make sure you get the same or similar speakers as your first two. Your receiver will already support DD/DTS (5.1), so as you can afford it, you can build your system.

You asked about Best Buy, so here is what I recommend
(I assume this stuff is going in your room):

Kenwood VR-705-S - $169.99 PLUS $30 rebate = $139.99
(DD & DTS, 5x100w)

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....oryId=cat03031

Panasonic DVD-S25S - $79.99
(plays DVD's, CD's, and MP3 CD's which is NICE)

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....oryId=cat03013

For speakers, it depends on your room. If you can have floorstanding speakers, they will have larger woofers and give you better base. If you need smaller speakers, get a nice pair of bookshelf speakers with 4" or 6" woofers. If you can, ask someone to take you to best buy to listen to some speakers. Bring your favorite CD and see how it sounds. Then buy what you like in your price range.

Floorstanding:
Sony SSMF550H - $159.98

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....oryId=cat03044

Bookshelf:
Wharfdale Zaldek 300 - $179.99

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....oryId=cat03043

FINALLY,
You may want to ask your mom or dad if they will order this stuff online for you. That way you can save sales tax and maybe get free shipping. I don't know where you live, but where I live sales tax is 6% which would mean with $400 you can only spend $377 before taxes. If you can get this stuff online with free shipping you can spend the whole $400.
 

kris

Auditioning
Joined
Oct 25, 2003
Messages
9
thanks yea these speakers will be going in my (chillin) room..its basicly a basement werer all my friends comover and we hang out. But i need some good base... so thankks for the suggestions ppl

edit***

i found these speakers at cc Pioneer Floorstanding DVD-A/SACD-Ready Speaker

sorry no link not enough posts :frowning: but any way are these good?
 

Drew_W

Screenwriter
Joined
Jul 2, 2003
Messages
1,718
I'm baffled by what a "DVD-A/SACD-Ready Speaker" is.

Anyways, demo the speakers, if you like the sound, you'll enjoy them. Simple enough. Bring your own music with you and let your ears be the judge.
 

Tim K

Second Unit
Joined
Jul 7, 1999
Messages
402
Those should be fine....if you like them. Like a few of us have recommended, go listen to them and take your own music with you. If you like the way they sound, buy them. Speakers are truly a personal opinion.

DVD-A/SACD ready is apparently their way of saying it is a full range speaker that would be nice to use for a surround sound system.
 

AllanN

Supporting Actor
Joined
Mar 15, 2002
Messages
950
If you can swing the extra cash look at

Speakers JBL N2 http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....oryId=cat03043

Reciever Yamaha HTR-5630 http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....oryId=cat03031

Looking online you will probiably find better prices, also look for a Dennon 1603 Receiver.

1st (because music seems to be a priority) Upgrade a SUB for $125 online you can still find the Sony SA-WM40. Do a search here for the polyfill mod.

2nd Upgrade a JBL N-Center

3rd Upgrade another set of N28's for surrounds.
 

Users who are viewing this thread

Latest Articles

Forum statistics

Threads
356,814
Messages
5,123,747
Members
144,184
Latest member
H-508
Recent bookmarks
0
Top