Looking for a 2nd HT system - for about $600. Any recommendations? (1 Viewer)

[aldamon]

Frank_M, can you tell me how big your basement is? Our living room is ~ 20 x 15 and this is the primary setup I'm contemplating right now:

* HTB-505

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Total = ~$500 with new wiring

OR

* JBL NSP1 (Did you see the NSP1 IIs? I see no difference in specs between the series I and series II, but there is a substantial difference in price)

Price: $240 shipped at Buy.com with $10 off coupon

* Pioneer VSX-D711 (5 x 100W / DPLII / DD / DTS)

* Sony SA-WM40 12", 120 Watt Sub (will probably stuff it with poly fill)

Price: The receiver and sub are a combined $420.89 shipped at Etronics.com

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Total: $660.89 + wiring = ~$750

Can the "value" of any solution be influenced by room size? With such a small living room, will I REALLY notice a difference between the separates and the HTB-505? The difference in cost between the solutions is a whopping 50%!

 

[Frank_M]

Our basement is.... I think, about 12x14? Not sure.

A few things for you, though. The Sony SA-WM40 is a 10" sub, not a 12".

As for me, regarding the sub I'm deciding between:

JBL PB10

CSW Basscube 10

I can get the Bassecube for $170 shipped off of hifi.com's e-bay store. I've dealt with refurbished stuff from CSW before, and I have no doubts whatsoever in them.

With the PB10... Seems i'm going to have to lay out $200 or more, with shipping. Not sure if there's a $30 difference between the two subs.

I saw the refurbs at harmanaudio.com but they were for the line previous to the PB10... and even those were about $170 shipped.

Opinions, anyone?

 

[Frank_M]

Was able to get the CSW Basscube 12" for $180 shipped, so I jumped on it! It was off of hifi.com's e-bay store.

So... on the the receiver. Thanks for everyone's help.

 

[Miklsan K]

As Greg s pointed out above, that new Onkyo HTS650 is pretty hard to beat for home theater on a budget. It is configured a lot like the old Kenwood HTB-504, but it seems to sound a little better. The receiver is similar to the new TX-SR500 (maybe even a little better!) and the subwoofer is more than decent. At that price, I'd take a listen if I were you. Happy hunting!

 

[Frank_M]

Well, I just popped for the Onkyo TX-SR500 from bestpriceaudiovideo.com for $269 shipped!

Thanks for the great recommendations everyone.

So my final tally:

JBL1 speakers from J&R - $250 shipped

Basscube 12" powered sub from hifi.com - $180 shipped

Onkyo TX-SR500 from bestpriceaudiovideo.com - $270 shipped

= $700!

Funny, because we had been considering a package at Cambridge SoundWorks for $700 (plus $35 tax!) that had speakers that were worse or at best equivalent to the JBL1s, an 8" sub, and a low-end Sony reciever.

So I'm really psyched!

Thanks again!

P.S. Shoot. Just remembered, I still need to track down another DirecTivo unit to go with that system. Damn this hobby!!!!