Fok

I'm budgeting around $300 - $400. I have have both an HD TV and Blu-ray player. Anyone good ones that stand out or ones I should avoid?

Sdallnct

What speakers do you have?

Jane2001

Be specific...ie
5.1
Make, Model

Are you planning to add additional speakers? ie from a 5.1 to 7.2

Sdallnct

Meh...you ask what you want to ask, I'll ask what I want...

Just knowing his current speakers will very likely enable me to give a reasonable recommendation or two. And Its not because I'm just "that good". But knowing the speakers will provide a lot of information.

Jane2001

He sort of have to be somewhat specific...you wouldn't be able to give a recommendation off a brand. If you asked me what speakers I have and I replied Klipsch...would you be able to make a recommendation? doubt it since you don't know if they are computer speakers or floorstanding. You need to know how many speakers they have and what their goals are in order to make a suggestion. All this to say the more you know the better the recommendation.

Fok

Hi Folks, fair enough. I don't have any speakers right now as I'm new to this all. I guess I'll need speakers as well which would be on top of my budget.

CRM114

I'm going withe the Pioneer VSX-1020 I think. I used to buy all Denon stuff but I'm leery now that they are selling $199 units in Best Buy.

Jane2001

Are you wanting a home theater in a box (HTIB)? This is a simple way of getting a receiver and speakers. Or are you wanting to put your system together yourself by selecting speakers and receiver separately? Are you looking for floorstanding, bookshelf, in-wall or all mount speakers? I particularily like floor standing, don't know why their is just something about them.

I am an Onkyo fan because of all the bells and whistles you get with their recievers at a lower price point than Marantz or Denon. An Onkyo TX-SR608 is within your price range at just under $400 and should have all the connections you want.

http://www.onecall.com/product/Onkyo...ver/_/R-103930
http://www.vanns.com/shop/servlet/it...8?&SSAID=58537

Sdallnct

Yes. Yes I would.

But depending on his answer, I might have asked additional questions. But many a time, wouldn't need to.

Sdallnct

What is your budget for speakers?

Spiky

You only have to be leery of the $199 units.

Jane2001

No you wouldn't be able to make a recommendation you would have to ask additional questions.

From another thread:
Contradiction??? Then why not make it clear upfront what information you need.

Sdallnct

1. Video is not the same as audio. And I explained why the added info was nice in that post.
2. We will never know if I could have offered a recommendation since he didn't give a reply with a type of speaker. But...meh, I'll stick to what I said. And the added questions you suggested, I would not have asked nor do I think they are all that helpful for why I recommend most things, but especially audio.

Fok

I think my budget for speakers would be around $200 - $300. I'm not looking for tall speakers due to space limitations. I should have specified this earlier.

Sdallnct

For that total budget I'd go something like this, if all are available....

Onkyo Receiver $169

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Onkyo-HT-R...er=lw9MynSeamY

KEF Speakers @ $500

http://www.amazon.com/KEF-KHT1005-2G...5020317&sr=8-4

Or

KEF Speakers at $400
http://www.amazon.com/KEF-C1SYSTEM-S...5020433&sr=8-5

or

The Energy Speakers for $400
http://www.amazon.com/Energy-Classic...5020474&sr=1-1

or

If you can swing a little more...the Mirage for $600 (I know that is your total budget alone. Just throwing out there - and you might be able to find cheaper with careful shopping)

http://www.crutchfield.com/s_653NANO...display=Mirage

And yes, I would strongly suggest reversing your budget and putting more in your speakers than receiver. Nothing will impact the sound of your system like speakers (well lets set aside acoustic treatments). Plus in 2 years you will want to upgrade your receiver for the latest and greatest, regardless of what you had spent. Where as good sounding speakers never go out of style.

Tho the receiver I linked has it, If you want something else or that's not available, don't worry about lossless or HDMI or anything else. Get a quality receiver not a lot of bells and whistles. In your budget that is more important...

Jane2001

I agree speakers should be the majority of your budget. Though depending on how much you are willing to spend on equipment over the next however long, 6 months, year(s).

If you do plan on spending a bit more in the future:
I would not recommend getting a receiver every couple years. Sdallnct and and I (and many others here) have had our equipment for around 10years without upgrading. The set up below will be a couple hundred more than what you budgeted for. So I would get the reciever, the sub, center, and a pair of bookshelf for just under $750. Then add another set later down the road.

This is the same reciever as I posted before though Amazon seems to be a bit more expensive. You should be able to find this for under $400
http://www.amazon.com/Onkyo-TX-SR608...5023187&sr=1-1

The total of these speakers is in the $500 range.

This sub has many great reviews not just on amazon. For sub $100 it is a great sub for the price.
http://www.amazon.com/Polk-Audio-10-...5022143&sr=1-1

You will need two sets of these at $150 for a pair.
http://www.amazon.com/Polk-Audio-Per...022200&sr=1-14

The next two items are center speakers. The price difference is $20. One of them is just under $100 and the other is $120.
http://www.amazon.com/Polk-Audio-Cen...022419&sr=1-35

http://www.amazon.com/Polk-Audio-Cen.../ref=pd_cp_e_0

Jane2001

Here are a couple of Infinity Speakers that you may also want to consider. These are sold individually instead of in pairs. I like keeping my speakers within the same family so here is the Infinity set:

This speaker is $75, this is virtually the same price as the Polk I listed above.
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_108P152...52.html?tp=186

This speaker is $85
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_108P162...le.html?tp=186

With these I would get this center speaker $150 (I think you can find this for a little bit less if you shop around).
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_108PC25...le.html?tp=189

Fok

Thanks Team

Sdallnct

Seems like a good deal...(stolen from slickdeals)

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...IJLpwkmIJNmSGA

CRM114

Well, I think I just ruled out the Pioneer VSX-1020. It doesn't have a phono jack nor does it have multichannel analog inputs. Lame.

Spiky

The multichannel analog really is a killer feature. Basically future proofs the machine. I highly recommend it.

Dan

to the KEF recommendations.
I, personally, went a bit more expensive, and bought the iQ7's and iQ60c in early 2010 and the iQ10's this month. All I need is a decent sub, and my upgraded 5.1 system will be complete.
I don't regret going with KEF at all. They're fantastic.

Sdallnct

SVS or HSU

CRM114

Both of my receivers have it. It's the only way to connect a DVD-A or SACD player. I don't get it. And then receivers I find that do have them don't have a phono jack.

Spiky

There are finally ways to do DVD-A and SACD over HDMI. Now, after both formats are basically dead.