Building an inexpensive setup.. Help?? (1 Viewer)

[AdamS]

Hey guys, I'm currently looking to build an inexpensive home theater setup.. Components I need are a Reciever, DVD player, and surround sound speakers (5 speakers + subwoofer)... im looking to spend between $1000-1200.. I know this isn't much for all these components, but unfortunately all I have to spend.. Any recommendations of the best stuff I can get for this kind of money? thanks alot, appreciate any help.

Adam

 

[KyleRoussel]

Have you considered any home theaters in a box? It's isn't the best way to do things, but it would definetly save you some cash. I heard Yamaha has a nice HTB right now...

 

[BryanZ]

Tough to do here but we shall see.
JBL NSP1 - $275 (www.jandr.com)
Onkyo TX-SR500 - $300 (same place)
Sony NS-500V - $230 (same place)
Adire Audio Rava - $400 (perhaps b-stock or used SVS 25-31PC)
That puts you just over $1,200. You should be able to get a HSU VTF-2 for $450. Feel free to haggle with J and R (i.e. call them ). They should be able to toss in shipping for you. But you will definately want to upgrade the speakers as soon as you can.

 

[AaronMK]

I would not go with an HT in a box setup. I had one of those and the whole time, it only made me want something better. They tend to try to wow people with extensive feature sets, but don't really deliver where it counts.

I recently bought the Onkyo TX-SR500 and the Home Theater Direct Level II 5.1 setup ($525 w/ shipping), about $850 total. I have been pretty happy with this setup. It is not perfect, but I like it better than any other comperably priced setup I tried.

Add $200-250 for good DVD player and $75-125 for quality cables and speaker wire and that would put you at $1025-1125 total.

I would only reccomend going the mail order route if you are very sure of what you want, or if BOTH shipping and return shipping will be covered if you don't like the products and decide to return them (I know Home Theater Direct will cover both for first time customers). Speakers vary quite a bit in how they sound, even within a small price range, and what sounds good to you may sound horrible to someone else. Using the mail order to find your preference could quickly negate any price benefit you may be getting if shipping isn't refundable.

 

[Dustin B]

How about two pair of JBL S26 BookShelves from J&R. Currently $160 with free shipping.

Then the S-Center Series II (unless you can find a series I for less somewhere) for $250.

Say $175 for a Panasonic RV31.

$300 for a Yamaha RX-V520.

Then build an enclosure for a Dayton DVC12" driver and a PE 300-792 plate amp. Shouldn't be any more than $325 total (assuming you have access to some tools and are willing to build).

That's a little over budget, but the extra would be well worth it.

 

[Dustin B]

Now that I think of it, would be cheaper to just by another pair of S26 bookshelves and use one as a center then to get the S-Center. If you can get a receiver with a 6ch of amplification then you could have a center surround as well.

 

[John Garcia]

How exactly would you use an S26 as a center channel? Those things are HUGE, and I am guessing they are not shielded.

4 S26s + S-center - $570
Sony SA-WM40 - ~$150

Marantz SR4200 - $399 - on sale right now at Hifi.com

Panasonic RV32 - $149

Total = ~$1270 plus some cables, wires, taxes & shipping, etc...

Sony NS400 - $199

If you want to save even more $$, the NSP-1 package at J&R is only $250 for 4 N24s and an N-center. Decent, but not exceptional. For that price, you can also replace the mains with either N26s or N38s later, and be ready for a 6.1/7.1 setup.

 

[keir]

200 - cheap receiver
150 - cheap dvd player
400 - 4 paradigm atoms
200 - cc-170 center
150 - sony sa-wm40
______
$1100 total

this is about the exact setup i have (but i have titans in front instead of atoms). it performs extremely well for the price. i wont be upgrading any time soon.

this will beat any HTIB i have heard about.

my receiver is a kenwood vr-407 ($180) and my dvd player is a samsung m101 ($130)

edit: my little addition thing didnt line up correctly :b

 

[Phil Iturralde]

... S26 ... am guessing they are not shielded.

From JBL S26II (& original S26) website ...
- Shielded components allow placement near video monitors.
Phil

 

[John Garcia]

400 - 4 paradigm Atoms

You should be able to get 4 Titans for ~$400.