Chu Gai
Senior HTF Member
- Joined
- Jun 29, 2001
- Messages
- 7,270
First of all, I'm not sure where this post belongs. If the mods feel it belongs elsewhere, please move it.
The Scenario
You've just moved into a new house or an apartment. After taking careful assessment of matters, you and your signficant other have decided that a Home Theater would be a wonderful thing to have. However only $2000 is available. Not a penny more. Not one penny. You wish you had more, but you don't. You've got taxes to worry about, gas prices are going up, commuting costs are more. Not one penny.
What's Given in the Scenario
You've got a TV that accepts either S-Video or Component connections.
You've got an XBox.
You've got a turntable.
You've got a VCR that outputs S-Video.
You've gotten free reign with regards to speakers or receivers or whatever. The signficant other is just happy like hippo getting its tongue cleaned after this move and says go for it honey. In other words, no Spousal Acceptance Factor. You don't have to worry about the size of the speakers or where they go.
You've got a calibration disk.
You've got a Radio Shack SPL meter.
The room is about 20 x 12.
You want to be able to watch movies and listen to music. You also want to be able to listen to either SACD or DVDA.
Don't forget, you've only got $2000 exactly.
The Objective
Assemble a 5.1 system that you can hook everything up to.
What's Required
1) A receiver or separates.
2) The speakers and subwoofer.
3) Speaker wire to hook everything up.
4) Cables to hook everthing up.
5) A surge protector of some sort that will allow ALL devices to be plugged into. That includes the cable or satellite feed.
6) Don't forget, if the electronics don't include a phono input, you better have an external one as part of your list.
Assumptions You Can Make
1) If ordering online, ignore s/h charges for anything.
2) If the receiver or separates are new, assume a 25% discount.
3) If the speakers are new and available from brick and mortar places, assume a 20% discount from list price. If the speakers are only available from one source (example: Rockets) give the actual price.
4) Nothing can be used.
5) Refurbs are allowed but you must list the price and indicate as much. Also, if there is an extended warranty, you must add it to the price.
6) If new but a closeout price, indicate as much.
7) Ignore any taxes
8) You'll pick up any bananas or spades later. The signficant other said all that means is that you'll have to bag your lunch for the week.
Assumptions You Can't Make
You cannot order from a non-authorized dealer. No audiogon or ebay stuff when it comes to electronics or anything else.
Present the list of items in a tabular form. If the item is only available online, indicate the URL. Indicate the list price and the discounted price. Sum it up in a 100 word essay as to why you think this is a good system for $2000. Not a penny more.
What You Can't Do
No slamming or commenting on other people's selections. If they want to spend differently, let them. Let their justification ride on their 100 word summation as yours does. No separate posts that don't address the particulars. Let's all put our heads together and give people looking for information some ideas that they can cherry pick from.
Why Am I Asking for People to Comment
HTF is a pretty nice place. There's a lot of people who have experiences and follow products like a hawk. This is also the real world that we live in. It means that we've got budgets. A lot of people come to HTF looking for advice and insight with their purchases. They also come in with a fixed budget. They want bang for the buck. Show them the different ways this can be done.
The Scenario
You've just moved into a new house or an apartment. After taking careful assessment of matters, you and your signficant other have decided that a Home Theater would be a wonderful thing to have. However only $2000 is available. Not a penny more. Not one penny. You wish you had more, but you don't. You've got taxes to worry about, gas prices are going up, commuting costs are more. Not one penny.
What's Given in the Scenario
You've got a TV that accepts either S-Video or Component connections.
You've got an XBox.
You've got a turntable.
You've got a VCR that outputs S-Video.
You've gotten free reign with regards to speakers or receivers or whatever. The signficant other is just happy like hippo getting its tongue cleaned after this move and says go for it honey. In other words, no Spousal Acceptance Factor. You don't have to worry about the size of the speakers or where they go.
You've got a calibration disk.
You've got a Radio Shack SPL meter.
The room is about 20 x 12.
You want to be able to watch movies and listen to music. You also want to be able to listen to either SACD or DVDA.
Don't forget, you've only got $2000 exactly.
The Objective
Assemble a 5.1 system that you can hook everything up to.
What's Required
1) A receiver or separates.
2) The speakers and subwoofer.
3) Speaker wire to hook everything up.
4) Cables to hook everthing up.
5) A surge protector of some sort that will allow ALL devices to be plugged into. That includes the cable or satellite feed.
6) Don't forget, if the electronics don't include a phono input, you better have an external one as part of your list.
Assumptions You Can Make
1) If ordering online, ignore s/h charges for anything.
2) If the receiver or separates are new, assume a 25% discount.
3) If the speakers are new and available from brick and mortar places, assume a 20% discount from list price. If the speakers are only available from one source (example: Rockets) give the actual price.
4) Nothing can be used.
5) Refurbs are allowed but you must list the price and indicate as much. Also, if there is an extended warranty, you must add it to the price.
6) If new but a closeout price, indicate as much.
7) Ignore any taxes
8) You'll pick up any bananas or spades later. The signficant other said all that means is that you'll have to bag your lunch for the week.
Assumptions You Can't Make
You cannot order from a non-authorized dealer. No audiogon or ebay stuff when it comes to electronics or anything else.
Present the list of items in a tabular form. If the item is only available online, indicate the URL. Indicate the list price and the discounted price. Sum it up in a 100 word essay as to why you think this is a good system for $2000. Not a penny more.
What You Can't Do
No slamming or commenting on other people's selections. If they want to spend differently, let them. Let their justification ride on their 100 word summation as yours does. No separate posts that don't address the particulars. Let's all put our heads together and give people looking for information some ideas that they can cherry pick from.
Why Am I Asking for People to Comment
HTF is a pretty nice place. There's a lot of people who have experiences and follow products like a hawk. This is also the real world that we live in. It means that we've got budgets. A lot of people come to HTF looking for advice and insight with their purchases. They also come in with a fixed budget. They want bang for the buck. Show them the different ways this can be done.
