HTIB's for 500-1000! Whats the best? :) (1 Viewer)

[Steve Boober]

Hey all!

Complete home theater n00b here so I thought I might be best off just getting a HTIB. I've read there's some new 1's coming out in the month of May and early June and from what I can tell, they look very VERY promising in terms of what they have to offer. Sony has their new DAV-C770 and DAV-C990 coming out that both seem to have TONS of great features. And I have read that Kenwood has a couple of new HTIB's this month. I don't plan on buying for another month or so, I plan on spending no more than $1000.00. I know I should wait to see if there are any reviews or whatever on these products before I commit myself to buying any of these. Anyone's thoughts on all of this is greatly appreciated, Thanks

 

[Marc Rochkind]

Don't have real specific advice, but I think you'll find that at $500 there are some HTB packages that give you more than you sould possibly get by buying separately. The Kenwood is an example. As you approach $1000 and beyond, the advantages of an HTB begin to fade. After all, they are nothing but a receiver, maybe a DVD player, and a set of speakers. True, they include the speaker wire, but that's something you'll probably want to upgrade anyway, even with the Kenwood. There are many speaker packages (with powered subwoofers), many receivers, and many DVD players. All just as easy to hook up as an HTB.

 

[Jason F.]

First of all welcome Steve, you will find this forum very helpful and also VERY addictive!! For a anybody looking for an entry HTIB set-up I can't recommend the Kenwood enough. I have one and I love it!!! I am moving into a new house and I am going to upgrade it but i'm keeping the Kenwood for my bedroom system. I don't know what Sony you have heard but my best friend has this set-up: http://www.bestbuy.com/detail.asp?e=...=1552&scat=242 and my Kenwood sounds much better, I have him wishing that he bought the Kenwood. But you should trust your ears, listen to them both and compare.

 

[Masood Ali]

Onkyo makes one, which includes their excellent low-end 494 reciever. You can look at it on CircuitCity.com the model number is HTS650.
Then pick up a Panasonic RP56 or RP91 ($200 or $400 respectively), both are excellent progressive scan DVD players.
I'd avoid buying the Sony HTIB because their DVD players and recievers are integrated, making it impossible to upgrade either component, and making it difficult to upgrade speakers. Besides, the Onkyo reciever is heads and shoulders above whatever amp Sony has in their unit.
Other options include buying all the components separately; this website displays some useful information about that. However, because you need a DVD player as well, I'd pick up a cheaper reciever (Onkyo 494, Denon 1602) and pick up a Panasonic RP56 with the extra money. The JBL NSP1 and Sony 12" sub are very good buys.

 

[Steve Boober]

This is GREAT! I'm overwhelmed at the amount of posts I am recieiving in this and how informative each and every 1 of them is! Thanks all for your help! I was looking at this link here http://web1.archive.org/web/20010608...l?987911136510
And how it has the best possible components to make up an $850.00 system and I have read some other posts at least on how well the JBL NSP1 speakers seem to be very popular. I may just go ahead and look into getting this exact setup in that link. My 1 other question I have though is on the Onkyo TX-DS595 receiver. Does it have alot of the newest features going for it? I don't know what to look for specifically in a new System and I really don't want to buy something that could already be considered outdated :frowning: Thanks again everyone for your help I'm beginning to get worried I may be addicted to home theater already :b

 

[Steve Boober]

Just read another thread about how popular the newer Onkyo SR600 is. I may go with that PLUS the JBL NSP1 Speakers and the Sony SA-WM40 Sub Woofer! W00T! I guess the SR600 has all the latest and greatest things you could want from a receiver so I feel pretty safe in this purchase. I did read that this reciever has 6 channels so I might want to look into getting another speaker? I guess since I might be getting the JBL NSP1 speakers I may want to get another JBL speaker but I don't know for sure. Gotta keep reading all these threads!

 

[Shane Martin]

Whatever you do try to avoid the HTIB stuff and get seperate components.
The Onkyo 600, JBP NSP1, Sony Wam 40 setup would be OK for now until you get your feet wet and the upgrade bug bites.

 

[Steve Boober]

The Onkyo 600, JBP NSP1, Sony Wam 40 setup would be OK for now until you get your feet wet and the upgrade bug bites.

Just a little worried about the part where you say "OK for now" hehe. I want the best I can buy for up to $1000.00 and I don't (at least right now) plan on upgrading for quite sometime. Is this setup I'm looking at the best I can do for $1000.00 (give or take however much dinero the actual price comes out to be)

 

[Masood Ali]

Don't listen to the "okay for now" nonsense. If you properly setup and calibrate your system, it will over-satisfy you for quite some time.

Sometimes people on this forum forget that home theater isn't necessarily a religious experience for everyone.