theatre in a box.... which one for a friend? (1 Viewer)

[Philip_G]

friend of mine has elected me to help find her a theater system and I was wondering which theater in a box you'd reccomend for her. I remember around January one of the JVC's (I think) got a GREAT review, but I can't find the thread with the model #. I've so far steered her away from the sony and the bose, so the battle is half won
thanks for the help!
OH she needs a DVD too, the pioneer DC333 still the best in the low range? or has it been replaced as the best bargain player?
[Edited last by Philip_G on July 23, 2001 at 07:42 PM]

 

[Jeremy Hegna]

Phillip,
You may want to add the Kenwoods to your list.
I started with a Kenwood HTB and it lives at a buddie's house now He's still very happy with it.
They've added a couple of THX select components to their line-up as well as component and S/V switching, DPLII, and multiple input/output options.
jeremy

 

[Philip_G]

Nice, I started out with a kenwood HTB-503 and wasn't too happy with it, the original mains are used as surround speakers, and the kenwood VR-407 now drives acoustic research mains and an AR center channel (the sub has been long replaced with a DIY) I'll look into the newer ones, thanks!

 

[Jeremy Hegna]

Actually, that's pretty much the direction I went with mine. I upgraded my fronts to B&W 602s, moved the HTB fronts to the rears...and the rest is history
IMO, when one buys an HTB and the total price is $400... the reciever represents $379 and the speakers represent the other $21....basically good enough to plug into the receiver, make sure each channel works as it should, and then think about the upgraded speaker route
Now I know that many have HTBs and I'm in now way knocking them...but if you do, try a better set of mains when you get the opportunity. To me, it sounded like an entirely new system. The receiver was incredible, however the speakers that come with it, don't allow it to show it's potential
Jeremy

 

[Philip_G]

that's exactly what my thoughts were, I was going to purchase the kenwood 407 deck anyway (budget constraints.. and it bets the hell out of the low end sony's IMO) and the HTB was only 150$ more with all the speakers, so I used it as it was for awhile, replaced the speakers, and sold off the others for about the difference in cost between the deck and the HTB system, so really I got my rears for free
[Edited last by Philip_G on July 23, 2001 at 08:16 PM]

 

[Abdul Jalib]

I started with a Kenwood HTB-503, replaced the speaker wires with Monster speaker wire (would recommend Home Depot speaker wire instead), replaced the mains with old Sony stereo speakers, replaced the surrounds with the mains, and replaced the center with a nOrh 4.0 marble. I kept the subwoofer, receiver, and the mains (which are now surrounds.) The weakest part of my system now is the old Sony tower speakers, which surprisingly don't go as low as the nOrh 4.0 marble and so fail to meet up with the high end of the subwoofer. Eventually I'll have nOrh 4.0's all around, and finally I'll replace the subwoofer and receiver.
Anyway, upgraditis is wasteful, and so you should encourage your friend to shoot for the moon right off the bat, IMO. You might recommend the nOrh 4.0 ceramic 5.0 package for $800ish and a good receiver like one of the Outlaws, and then later add a quality subwoofer. You pay less that way than starting with a HTB-503 and then slowly replacing everything.
But yeah, I think there is a JVC home-theater-in-a-box that is pretty decent.
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[Philip_G]

sorry, I got off topic there.
the idea is to get something she'll be happy with off the bat, and avoid upgrade-itis entirely. That's why I shy away from the HTB-503 (or newer version of, though they've updated the vr-407 and made a pretty nice unit out of it)

 

[erikk]

I was personally pretty impressed by the htb-503. That is with a HUGE caveat of course; specifically all in a single box (with the associated ease of setup) and at that price point. I've listened to quite a few theaters in a box with various friends trying to cheap out on the HT experience.
So Phillip if you were very unimpressed with the Kenwood I don't know if you are going to be that satisfied with anything at that price point.
Another option at a much higher price point is the polk HTB. I thought it was fairly good. Granted for the price I would put together a different setup of assorted pieces but if you are stuck on HTB...
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Erik K
SV Subwoofers

 

[Philip_G]

I'm not totally against another kenwood HTB for her, I had just remembered reading glowing reviews of the JVC when it came out is all
I agree, for the 440 I spent the HTB503 was great, my biggest complaint was a crappy center channel, which then resulted in a new center, then needing new mains to match, then wanting more bass (though the 8" sub included with the package was fairly good I thought, a little muddy sounding but not bad at all)
it's a very slippery slope

[Edited last by Philip_G on July 23, 2001 at 08:52 PM]

 

[David Lawson]

The JVC review can be found in the Hardware Archive section. I believe it was the DSTP350. Best Buy has the DSTP450 with a free Apex DVD player for $500 this week.
If you'd like to compare, here they are:
http://www.jvc.com/product.jsp?productId=PRD2401000
He obviously misinterpreted what it means to "be bullish."

 

[Philip_G]

dayum. I think we have a winner
thank you!