Help on new Home Theater build (I know so little!) :) (1 Viewer)

Hi guys!

I'm new to this forum, and I'm in the market for a budget HT system with 2 or 3 speakers. I'm basically just trying to setup something that will sound good for movie watching on my tv (Samsung 46FS5000). I *think* I found some great deals to make it work and I really wanted to get some expert input, since I don't know much at all about this issue.
These are the setups I was considering:

Setup 1 (budget choice):
[color=rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif;font-size:13px;background-color:rgb(245,245,245);]1 X Pioneer SP-FS51-LR Floorstanding Loudspeakers (pair) - Amazon $139[/color]

OR

[color=rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif;font-size:13px;background-color:rgb(245,245,245);]2 X JBL 180 Floorstanding speakers - newegg $158 together[/color]
(these speakers seem to be better quality, but I'm not really sure. They are slightly weird looking).

AND

[color=rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif;font-size:13px;background-color:rgb(245,245,245);]1 X Yamaha Natural Sound Stereo Receiver (R-S201BL) - Amazon $149[/color]

Setup 2 (more expensive choice)

Here I'm really not sure what to pick from what I found.
This will include either of the two tower speakers from before.
I saw some receivers which all looked comparable:
[color=rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif;font-size:13px;background-color:rgb(245,245,245);]Onkyo-TX-SR313 - Amazon $179[/color]
[color=rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif;font-size:13px;background-color:rgb(245,245,245);]Denon AVR-E300 - Amazon $249[/color]
[color=rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif;font-size:13px;background-color:rgb(245,245,245);]Yamaha RX-V377 - Amazon $249[/color]

And thought about adding a subwoofer or a center speaker (not sure which one works best with 2 tower speakers):
[color=rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif;font-size:13px;background-color:rgb(245,245,245);]Subwoofer: Polk Audio PSW10 - Amazon $91[/color]
[color=rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif;font-size:13px;background-color:rgb(245,245,245);]Center: Polk CSR BLACK 2-way black center - Amazon $99[/color]

So, finally, my question is: Can I make do with the budget setup for my purposes? Or should I upgrade using one of these items? Or are there any other items in this price range that could work better?
Side question: I may be moving to europe and I was wondering if there would be any compatibility issues besides electricity, which is pretty easy to solve w/transformer.

Thanks alot!!

Thoughts

[*]The yamaha unit from options 1 will only give you a 2.0 or 2.1 setup as it's a stereo receiver. It also doesn't do any kind of video switching like an AVR (option2) will for you. There's nothing wrong with that just making you aware.
[*]Pio's are supposed to be good...I've never heard these towers but the books don't sound bad to me considering the price. I've never heard the JBL's but from the look of them they should work. I would probably lean toward the JBL's
[*]The options 2 AVR do give you video switching which would be nice if you have multiple sources you want to put into the HT system.
[*]AVR's will give you the option to move toward a 5.1 in the future.
[*]Option one will not support the center channel but either one will support a sub.
[*]You might not need the sub right away if you get towers. I would almost want to take the extra money and get better towers over getting the Polk sub. I've heard mixed reviews on that model.
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What is your overall budget?

Hi! thanks for the input
My max budget would probably be $600. But what I'm really trying to do is buy the minimum amount of gear for what I need, which is to add some nice sound to my movie watching experience. From what you said it seems to me that I can make do with the yamaha receiver and 2 towers.

Also - from the reading I've done it would be problematic to move a US AV receiver to europe because of video frequency issues.

So, my questions are:
1. Would there be any problem using the yamaha stereo receiver in europe?
2. Which better tower speakers would you recommend? (preferably under $250)
3. How could the yamaha support a sub? (where would i connect it?)

thanks again!

Shop at Bombay electronics. They sell already modded equipment for those who travel.There are other sites. Bombay, for me, is familiar as they have a store in Chicago.

idos said:

So, my questions are:
1. Would there be any problem using the yamaha stereo receiver in europe?
2. Which better tower speakers would you recommend? (preferably under $250)
3. How could the yamaha support a sub? (where would i connect it?)

thanks again!

Click to expand...

[*]I'm not sure if you would have any issues I've never been overseas. However, it seems like if you got the right power adapter you should be ok as the speakers are just powered off the receiver.
[*]You picked decent towers from what I can tell but if you wanted other options I would look here and here.
[*]Yes you could get a powered sub with high level inputs and outputs. However, if you got towers you probably wouldn't need a sub right away. Most towers will go low enough you should be alright. I think that if you're going to go with a sub for sure you might be better off with smaller speakers for ease of transport.
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Hey ArmSc - thanks for the reply!

I think I'll go with one of your recommendations for the towers and also forgo the sub if there is no real need for it.

The issue with the compatibility is really worrying me though - and I can't purchase anything until I know for sure if its solvable or not.
I know that moving TVs to europe is a big problem due to the 50hz/60hz issue (the power issue can, as you said, be solved with a power adapter).
Do you know of any way I can make sure that a power adapter solves the issue for the speakers?
More specifically - would two US tower speakers, hooked up to a US stereo receiver, which is connected to an EU power adapter work OK with an EU tv?

Thanks again!

Hey Idos I'm glad to try to help out. Just to clarify I'm not saying you don't need a sub just that it's less likely you're going to need one with towers that can reach into the lower frequencies. It comes down to personal preference and how much bass you like in your music. I think for your setup it's either a set of towers or a set of books with a sub. I don't think that you need a sub with towers right away especially if you're moving. Either way you go it will sound so much better than just TV speakers.

Now as far as power is concerned I wish I could help you out more. I'm just not familiar with the different ways to adapt power for each country. That being said you shouldn't have an issue with your speakers at all. If you can power the receiver up correctly then you're covered. The speakers will be powered from the receiver. As far as working with an EU tv it should as there are industry wide standards.

I think the biggest thing you have to worry about is the lack of an hdmi or optical input on that receiver. You'll going to need some kind of adapter as most modern TV only have an optical output for sound. The other way around this is to pull sound off of the set top box and go into the receiver if it has stereo analog outs. If not you're back to an adapter.

If you know you're getting a new EU TV you might want to get an AVR to save from having that adapter as something else to power. That way you will have stereo, optical, digital coax, and HDMI inputs to work with.

Alright, good to know about the speaker power not being an issue.

The only reason I'm thinking of avoiding a US AVR is that i'm worried that all of its 'video' functionality wont work with an EU tv (on 50hz). For instance, if I connect an EU cable box to my 60hz-AVR will it have a conflict with my 50hz TV?

The reason I'm stuck on this is because EU prices for this gear are at least double - I can only afford it if I buy now in the US

And if you don't buy worldwide use product...Power off the wall...is your least concern.