Can someone recommend a good Home theater in a box?
#1
DVD Talk Special Edition
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,369
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Can someone recommend a good Home theater in a box?
Hey guys,
Now that I have an HDTV, I'm looking for some good surround sound. i don't know much about home theater so excuse my ignorance. I'm looking to spend $500.00 or less.
I would like something with at least 2 HDMI inputs (so I can hook up my DVD player and PS3 - Would I also hook up my cable box through the Home theater system or can I not do that?) and some component inputs.
5.1 is fine for me....I don't even know where the other 2 speakers would go for 7.1
I know some will recommend I get a receiver and speakers seperate but i can't find anything that will get me the receiver with the inputs I want AND speakers for around $500
and if possible I would like it to have HDMI cross conversion (i think it's called) so I can hook up all my devices but only have to connect 1 HDMI wire from the receiver to my TV.
Anyone have any recommendations? And sorry for the ignorance, I'm just starting to get into this stuff.
Now that I have an HDTV, I'm looking for some good surround sound. i don't know much about home theater so excuse my ignorance. I'm looking to spend $500.00 or less.
I would like something with at least 2 HDMI inputs (so I can hook up my DVD player and PS3 - Would I also hook up my cable box through the Home theater system or can I not do that?) and some component inputs.
5.1 is fine for me....I don't even know where the other 2 speakers would go for 7.1
I know some will recommend I get a receiver and speakers seperate but i can't find anything that will get me the receiver with the inputs I want AND speakers for around $500
and if possible I would like it to have HDMI cross conversion (i think it's called) so I can hook up all my devices but only have to connect 1 HDMI wire from the receiver to my TV.
Anyone have any recommendations? And sorry for the ignorance, I'm just starting to get into this stuff.
#2
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Minding the precious things in the Local Shop
Posts: 4,106
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Recommending a "good HTB" is like recommending a good pair of cheap shoes...something of any oxymoron. The Best of this type I have found are the JBL/JVC units. They sound OK and will give you a little bit of a kick. Not a great set up but, not the worst either. You can find them at Costco/Sam's BB or CC. And the price point is generally anywhere from $700-1K
#5
DVD Talk Legend
Originally Posted by firteen88
Besides a HTIB can anyone recommend a reciever & speakers that come out to around $500.00 (i'll be willing to pay a bit more if need be)
If you are talking about a receiver and 5 speakers and a sub for $500.00, a HTIB is the best way to go.
#6
DVD Talk Hero
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: Hail to the Redskins!
Posts: 25,295
Likes: 0
Received 49 Likes
on
38 Posts
Originally Posted by firteen88
Besides a HTIB can anyone recommend a reciever & speakers that come out to around $500.00 (i'll be willing to pay a bit more if need be)
#8
DVD Talk Special Edition
here's a combination that you could consider:
onkyo 605 receiver ($400 at amazon)
yambeka Audio 5 speaker audio system ($194 shipped, www.yambekaaudio.com)
Total price: right under $600, including shipping. The 605 receiver is pretty much the top low end receiver with HDMI, etc.; I have heard very good reviews of those Yambeka speakers, but never heard them myself. Nevertheless, pretty sure that most would agree this will sound/perform better than HTIB.
Note that the yambeka speakers do not include a subwoofer, but that could be something you add on later as you get some cash.
onkyo 605 receiver ($400 at amazon)
yambeka Audio 5 speaker audio system ($194 shipped, www.yambekaaudio.com)
Total price: right under $600, including shipping. The 605 receiver is pretty much the top low end receiver with HDMI, etc.; I have heard very good reviews of those Yambeka speakers, but never heard them myself. Nevertheless, pretty sure that most would agree this will sound/perform better than HTIB.
Note that the yambeka speakers do not include a subwoofer, but that could be something you add on later as you get some cash.
Last edited by cgray; 08-02-07 at 02:39 PM.
#9
DVD Talk Hero
Originally Posted by cgray
here's a combination that you could consider:
onkyo 605 receiver ($400 at amazon)
yambeka Audio 5 speaker audio system ($194 shipped, www.yambekaaudio.com)
Total price: right under $600, including shipping. The 605 receiver is pretty much the top low end receiver with HDMI, etc.; I have heard very good reviews of those Yambeka speakers, but never heard them myself. Nevertheless, pretty sure that most would agree this will sound/perform better than HTIB.
Note that the yambeka speakers do not include a subwoofer, but that could be something you add on later as you get some cash.
onkyo 605 receiver ($400 at amazon)
yambeka Audio 5 speaker audio system ($194 shipped, www.yambekaaudio.com)
Total price: right under $600, including shipping. The 605 receiver is pretty much the top low end receiver with HDMI, etc.; I have heard very good reviews of those Yambeka speakers, but never heard them myself. Nevertheless, pretty sure that most would agree this will sound/perform better than HTIB.
Note that the yambeka speakers do not include a subwoofer, but that could be something you add on later as you get some cash.
http://www.accessories4less.com/cgi-bin/item/KEFONKPACK
#11
DVD Talk Special Edition
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,369
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Cgray, thanks for the link, I'm gonna look into that.
Sdallnct, you can hook up a HDMI splitter (like the 4 way splitter) to a receiver? and it will work well?
Sdallnct, you can hook up a HDMI splitter (like the 4 way splitter) to a receiver? and it will work well?
#12
DVD Talk Hero
Originally Posted by firteen88
Cgray, thanks for the link, I'm gonna look into that.
Sdallnct, you can hook up a HDMI splitter (like the 4 way splitter) to a receiver? and it will work well?
Sdallnct, you can hook up a HDMI splitter (like the 4 way splitter) to a receiver? and it will work well?
Nothing you are looking at in your price range will process the audio over HDMI anyway.
Then just use optical/coaxial from your dvd player, ps3 whatever directly to your receiver.
#13
DVD Talk Special Edition
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,369
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ohhh so what your saying is....I can hook up my PS3 directly to the TV using HDMI, and then hook up a digital audio wire from the PS3 to the receiver? I will get surround sound this way?
#14
DVD Talk Hero
Originally Posted by firteen88
Ohhh so what your saying is....I can hook up my PS3 directly to the TV using HDMI, and then hook up a digital audio wire from the PS3 to the receiver? I will get surround sound this way?
I have
Voom HD OTA reciever
PS3
Upconverting DVD player
They all are HDMI. I have a projector that only has one HDMI input. So I bought a HDMI switcher and plug the three above into it. Then output that to my projector. This takes care of the VIDEO
Then each of the three has either optical or coaxial to carry the AUDIO. So each of these go directly to my receiver for digital surround sound.
I like my receiver but it is several years old, so it doesn't have any HDMI inputs.
#16
DVD Talk Legend
Sorry to semi-hijack your thread firteen88. Might as well ask the question here instead of making entirely new thread.
Concerning the HTIB, if my setup is:
Philips 727 (Component)
Xbox 360/HD-DVD add-on (Component)
PS3 (HDMI)
Would I need to just get the HTIB and all the separate audio cables? Would I need a separate audio input on the receiver for each connection?
Concerning the HTIB, if my setup is:
Philips 727 (Component)
Xbox 360/HD-DVD add-on (Component)
PS3 (HDMI)
Would I need to just get the HTIB and all the separate audio cables? Would I need a separate audio input on the receiver for each connection?
#17
DVD Talk Special Edition
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,369
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I would think you would need a seperate audio input on the receiver for each connection but I'm not positive. Also, I'm not sure how you would connect an XBOX 360 since the component cable for it has the read & white audio inputs attached right? i don't think there's any digital audio output on the 360, but I could be wrong.
#18
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Mpls, MN
Posts: 6,830
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Yes, separate inputs. Or, another switcher separate from the receiver to provide more inputs. But if you buy the right receiver, you won't need the switcher. So shop for what you need, at least 3 digital inputs.
#19
DVD Talk Legend
Originally Posted by Spiky
Yes, separate inputs. Or, another switcher separate from the receiver to provide more inputs. But if you buy the right receiver, you won't need the switcher. So shop for what you need, at least 3 digital inputs.