yellowperil

I want to upgrade my Yamaha TSS-1 speakers. They were good as computer speakers (5.1 setup with DD5.1/DTS) but I need something with a bit more mustard for watching DVD's. I would like your comments on this setup:

KLH HT-9900 at Amazon ~$85 shipped after coupon

Aiwa 400W DD5.1/DTS AV-D58 receiver ~$195 after tax at Best Buy

I'm not expecting any miracles on this, just something for an apartment living room. Any experiences with this? Thanks in advance.

nizzo

Stay away from KLH! They are not worth the box they come in. Get a smaller speaker from JBL, Cervin Vega and the like.

You can get a complete HT system for around $400 with the Kenwood HTB. (someone bought one recently for $375). Much better sound for the money. Otherwise, just buy a pair of bookshelves that ARE NOT KLH. Good lucl.

Scott

Advice:

Don't buy anything you can't audition. Listen to it in a store near you. Better yet, ask the store if you can try it out in YOUR apartment.

Don't buy online unless you're absolutely sure you can return it or you know absolutely what you're buying (you've auditioned it already).

Research by doing just what you're doing. Ask on forums. Check for reviews. Look at the company's web site.

I personally do all of my research online, look at it in several stores, then go ask my favorite a/v store what they think. I might pay a bit more for it, but I know I can trust them to do right by me. But then, I don't always follow my own advice.

yellowperil

Thanks for the advice. Is the Aiwa receiver OK? Price is my biggest concern at the moment.

Off to check out the Kenwood HTB.

yellowperil

Talk about serendipity. After I posted my last message I checked out audioreview.com for the Kenwood HTB, and found good reviews on the HTB-503/504. I noticed some people got good deals on refurbed 503's through uBid.com, so I checked it out and there was an auction closing for the 503! I managed to get in at $209 + ~$105 shipping, and there's a $20 mail-in rebate for your first uBid auction win. After I sell half of my possessions I think I can clear enough money for this . Thanks for your help guys.

skar

I really don't like Aiwa receivers. Try to find a good deal on the Denon 1601 or the Onkyo 494. Both can be found for around $250.

Use www.pricescan.com to find the best online deals.

M i c h a e l

FYI, most reviewers of mid-fi gear at audioreview.com just went out
and bought what they are reviewing, so the reviews are hardly
critical. For example, you'll hardly hear: "I just bought X system
and it stinks, man am I stupid for buying this."

This is just my observation from reading many reviews; not
all are fluff, but a great many are. The higher end reviews are
slightly more balanced, but the same problems exist there as
well...

Try http://www.stereo411.com or similar review sites with
experienced reveiwers having less bias (i.e., they don't own
the gear they are reviewing).

As always, YMMV!

Scott

I used to have a Kenwood 209 receiver that I liked for a long time. Actually a pretty good starter. (I've also had good luck with uBid, but that's another story.) Now you can start dreaming of replacement components.