HT on the cheap/ What's Hot and What's Not

[gyusher]

I'm interested in HT systems done on the cheap. . . Not everyone has money to throw at this yet want it anyway.

I'd like to talk about what's necessary and what you can live without. I'm not interested in hearing how surround sound is distracting or how much you don't like it. If you can't add something positive to the thread just don't post to it. I would like this to be a discussion about how to not how not to.


I stopped spending big bucks on audio gear a few years ago. One because I no longer had it to spend and two things change so fast I was tired of having to redo everything every few years.

Because of these changes you can now buy those high dollar pieces for pennies on the dollar plus there are new products out there priced right.

I'll start by listing what I think is 'necessary' for a HT setup.

1)- Display (32in up)
2)- DD/DTS Receiver
3)- DD/DTS Source (Cable/DVD/OTA/DTV etc.)
4)- 5 speakers (5.1)
5)- Subwoofer


To me HT is audio and video. Although you can get something with only 2 speakers or 3 speakers (front/center) in my mind you need at least 5 sattelites and one subwoofer.

We will get into how much or how little it costs later.

[Duane]

It is a bit hard to offer up suggestions without knowing how much you're willing to spend.That being said, there are a lot of HT receivers out there going for a song because people keep upgrading to the latest audio and video options.

Decent, used receivers like Denon and Onkyo are not that expensive.

On the TV side, this mighy be harder to suggest due to the fact that in '09, analog NTSC come to a hault.If you have cable, then you'll need some kind of box to take the HD and convert to SD( standard def.) if you don't use an HD tv.If this is of no concern, then there are analog CRT TVs all over the place for cheap.Otherwise, you would need to check out HD capable sets.Again, CRT sets are showing up on the used market by the truckloads. Everyone seems to believe that the thin,hang on the wall sets are the thing to have.
I'm in the CRT camp, so what I'd suggest would be a tube set. IMO, some of the best looking CRT sets were made by Proton. They produce some of the best looking images I've personally ever seen on a non HD set.Here's one ,in case you've never heard of Proton.It's not widescreen.
http://cgi.videogon.com/cgi-bin/cl.pl?telitube&1187795946&class&3&4&
They do take up a lot of space and are heavy.

Speakers are another hard to suggest component. Small, bookshelf type speakers can work faily well as long as a sub is used. NHT,Paradigm are a couple I've heard and don't do a bad job.

If you don't really care what the quality of sound you get for HT, There's always those little HTIB systems.

Good luck in your search.

[thedelihaus]

I picked up an Onkyo (502 or 503) for under $300. They can be had for $269 or less now. New, small 8" CSW subwoofer (can be had as low as $100 plus shipping). Minimus 7s for surrounds, but may go for Boston Acoustics A-40s later. $40 a pair usually. Good front speakers can be had, vintage, for $50 to $100. A good center channel $50-$100. shopping around can land you a VCR & DVD (separates, or combo) for $100 or so.

With shipping thrown in and a fistful of cables (I get brand name quality pieces overstock at Ocean State Job Lot for $3 to $12), one could end up spending $600 to $750 and have a very nice system.

Post- TV, that is.

Not a "be all, end all" system, but one that's enjoyable to watch, and gets the job done well.

My onkyo never strains, and sounds great. Or, to my preferences, good enough to make enjoyable.


I run a CRT 32" display, and am happy with it. So's my wallet.

I agree DD/DTS is important, and 5.1 is ideal. Mine's 6.1, but few movies are done in 6.1, so I've disconnected the rear back speaker. The 7.1 units, although nice, are overkill for my application.

The only issue with my BOTL Onkyo is no "on screen display" menu. Now that my room is bigger, I would like that option. At the time I got it, with my small living space, it was not needed.

[gyusher]

I'm the kind of person who will make do with whatever I can if necessary but I'm going to have my HT system regardless.

Right now I have been going through some tough times with my wife's illness. We sold our 'decent' gear, anything that was worth selling. . .

I bought an entry level Yamaha HTR 5940 for 229.99 at Best Buy, used vintage full range speakers at all positions with no sub. Fortunatly my fronts (Pioneer CS-701A I think) are 12in 3ways with strong bass.

I kept the Sony 55in LCD display added a DVR (cheaper than renting movies) and had a pleasant experience although 90% of what we watched was recorded TV with a few HBO exceptions.

I searched Craigslist and found an entry level SVS PC2531 powered cylinder for 75 bucks (what a buy) put her to work and then I had HT just about as good as some of the high dollar systems that we had prior.

I guess my point is to make everyone think. . . Money shouldn't stop you from having the sound system you 'need'. "Want" is another matter. . .

Since I bought my little Yamaha I fell into my current receiver a Pioneer VSX-9300TX which is the exact same receiver as the Elite VSX-56TXi only without the Elite name. I paid $273.00 delivered, sold the Yamaha for $250.00.

Sold the SVS 2531 for $500.00 and bought a new SVS PB12NSD2 dual 12in 600 watt monster and now my HT system sounds better than it has ever sounded. . .Plus I'm in it less than $400 bucks total (less TV of course.)

[gyusher]

I guess what I'm interested in is how can you get the best bang for your buck??

What are some of your personal experiences with a budget system??

How did you put it together and how does it compare to more expensive systems that you have owned and most important "Did you learn anything in the process??

I learned that in reality I could get along just fine with lower line gear instead of what I thought I had to have. I also learned that for the most part 'timbre' matched speakers are not necessary. The only thing that is real important is that all 5 be fairly equal as far as effeciency goes. The same brand is not important, desirable maybe but not important. . .

To me the single most important item is your speakers including the subwoofer. You can make do with a lot but for HT a sub is a key piece to have. . .

[gyusher]

Good front speakers can be had, vintage, for $50 to $100. A good center channel $50-$100.
.


Exactly. . .I would think most every member here has scoodles of vintage speakers crying out to be used for something. . .

In my case my Display is LCD so no shielding needed for center. . . Opens things up a lot.

[gyusher]

If you don't really care what the quality of sound you get for HT, There's always those little HTIB systems.

Good luck in your search.


There's HTIB and then there's HTIB or if you really want it there's HTIB

Like everything else shopping is the key. Many smaller rooms do well with HTIB.

[gyusher]

On the TV side, this mighy be harder to suggest due to the fact that in '09, analog NTSC come to a hault.If you have cable, then you'll need some kind of box to take the HD and convert to SD( standard def.) if you don't use an HD tv.If this is of no concern, then there are analog CRT TVs all over the place for cheap.Otherwise, you would need to check out HD capable sets.Again, CRT sets are showing up on the used market by the truckloads..

There is one item that is sure to be in every household regardless and that is a Television of some sort. I know with a little imagination all could be used for both HT and regular TV duties.

There are some killer deals on CRT even HDTV CRT deals especially widescreens such as Mitsubishi's RPTVs. . . Pennies on the dollar. . .

btw. . .I am very familiar with Proton gear TVs included. In the early to mid 80s that was a huge name in audio and video.. . I've watched a many Miami Vice shows on Proton gear.

[Zeromancer]

My Yamaha Receiver wouldn't make the cheap list lol.

[fishface]

This might be sacrilege around these parts...but check out the review of the Spherex Xbox 5.1 system (http://theaudiocritic.com/blog/index.php?op=ViewArticle&articleId=37&blogId=1)
I've heard it in games, HDDVDs and a couple DVD-A discs even, and it's really good, even in a really strangely shaped medium-sized room. Plus, the speakers are truly tiny, and you can put them on shelves/side-tables/the edge of the bar etc.

A huge plus is if you can find it on sale, or know someone that works at BestBuy or Futureshop, my friend got his set for $149 - tax in.

[gyusher]

Spherex Xbox 5.1 system[/URL]
I've heard it in games, HDDVDs and a couple DVD-A discs even, and it's really good, even in a really strangely shaped medium-sized room. Plus, the speakers are truly tiny, and you can put them on shelves/side-tables/the edge of the bar etc.

A huge plus is if you can find it on sale, or know someone that works at BestBuy or Futureshop, my friend got his set for $149 - tax in.

I've got a 5.1 Logitech system (40 bucks NIB)on my computer. . .Nearfield it will blow you away. . . I have watched a few movies right here and really enjoyed it. . .

This is exactly what I'm talking about. . . options to spending big bucks.

Besides making something from nothing is great fun too. . .

I guess my point is this; regardless of your budget if you truly want it you will have it just that simple.

Not long ago I put together a real budget system using a hand me down DIY sub (passive) found a older high dollar ProLogic receiver (about 1100 new) for 20 bucks. I had several sets of Thrift Store speakers so I put together a (what turned out to be very nice) system for less than 50 bucks.

I used the receivers crossover and I had a yard sale stereo amp that had one channel blown but it was still a 200 watt Adcom that I got for hauling it off. I used that system for quite awhile and even though it was not 5.1 but ProLogic it sounded pretty darn good. Most of the time it sounded just about as good as my 'big system'.

Not a thing wrong with stereo actually I prefer it for music especially old Rock and Roll but. . . There is something I like about a surround sound system that is setup right for movies. . .