(Part 2) Top products from r/hometheater

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We found 479 product mentions on r/hometheater. We ranked the 4,284 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the products ranked 21-40. You can also go back to the previous section.

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Top comments that mention products on r/hometheater:

u/homeboi808 · 3 pointsr/hometheater

The Yamaha would need a separate 2ch amp ($100-$200) to be able to do 7.2.4, it can only do 5.2.4/7.2.2 on its own.

The Denon X6300 is a better reciever and can do 7.2.4 on its own, but it is $200 more.

The Denon X4300 is a better receiver and has the same speaker specs as the Yamaha, also a $100-$200 external amp is need, but it’s only $1500.

____

To answer your questions in the other thread:

> Is it worth it to go for martin logans motion40s or some real high quality front 2 speakers, subs, and center speaker, and then go average (~250) on rest of the 3.0.4?

That is a good route, surrounds and heights should be the cheapest part of your setup for home theater, the center and sub are way more important.

> Is 4k enhancement projector gimmick or worth the extra money?

It will give some reasonably noticeable boost in clarity. Not a must have, but welcomed.

> For 3k speaker budget (no receiver) what speakers would you recommend? I saw the buying guide from this subreddit, but was surprised to see so many unknown brands. I was wondering if PSA MT110 are really that good as they say? (even better than motion 40s and klipsch premium speakers?)

Can't help you compare to the MartinLogan, but they would be better than the RP one of Klipsch speakers.

Now, assuming you don't DIY your subs for under $1000 (or DIY speakers), here's what I'm thinking for $3K;

  • Firstly, even if doing only an LCR of the PSA MT110/110C, that would be over $2K, not leaving a whole lot of room for great subs, so I don't know how I feel about this option.

    Main option:

  • 3.1 package of HSU CCB-8's and VTF-2 MK5 for $1730 shipped.

  • Second VTF-2 MK5. Gets well past 20Hz @ -3dB, and does so loud (over 100dB at 16Hz).

  • Fluance Signature bookshelves, $400 for side and rear surrounds. Are you doing a raised second row of seating? If so, then you want dipole speakers for the side surrounds, in which I would get the FLuance XLBP, which is normally $200 but on sale for $120, so $340 total with the bookshelves as rears. If you don't want the mahogany color, just paint it.

  • That leaves $265 for the heights on a $3K budget, but since the X4300 plus amp saves you a good amount, that bumps it up to over $500. Around $100 a speaker is what I recommend max for in-cielings used as heights. There are many options, but I like HTD as a company, so I would look to their 8" in-cielings for almost $400 shipped.

    If you DIY your subwoofers for say $800 max doing the VBSS like that other user, that would add about $200 to the budget (much less of a bundle deal with the HSU speakers). If you are worried about DIY'ing, just get the HSU 3.1 bundle plus second sub. THE VBSS sub is much better, but the HSU is already a great sub.

    I can put together other options, but unless I'm forgetting some options, those would likely be the best.

    ____

    Don't forget room treatment (even adding a rug to a non-carted floor can help a lot).

    The cheap way to go about it is to use foam panels. You can DIY panels made from Roxul, not sure the cost, but much cheaper than buying fiberglass panels or similar online. the roxul/fiberglass panels will be better, but more expensive. For foam, you can get 2 orders of 48pk of 12"x12"x3" wedge foam for about $200 and then a 4pk of corner bass traps for $50. This user spent about $300 (red is more expensive than black). The user who posted his setup hours ago used the GIK Gatsby Arches which look classy as hell, and ran him <$250 for the 4 pack of 2" narrow panels, I would consider looking the 4" ones though. SO that's actually not that bad of a price difference, but that is for 4 panels, you may want some foam behind the speaker like in the user photo I linked (mainly behind the port of the speakers). Their bass traps are expensive though, you could just use the foam ones for those, as the foam bass traps quite well.

    While it's a very echoey room to start with, here's a before/after sound test. No matter how good your speakers are, if the room has a noticeable echo, a treated room with cheaper speaker will sound better.
u/mikeTRON250LM · 2 pointsr/hometheater

Let me give a bit of background. I had a 5.0 (plus another sub) from Pioneer (Andrew Jones) that I liked for about 2yrs. It was good but I struggled to hear dialogue (which is a common issue with the center speaker). Luckily/unluckily my kid knocked over a tower and damaged a tweeter so I upgraded to speakers that retail for substantially more (I bought them used with warranty if that matters). I can hear details that simply didnt exist with the old speakers. Again I didnt dislike the older speakers but if I compared them side by side there is no way I would ever want the old ones back. Sometimes me and my family or friends will literally just sit in my room listening to music until 2am on a weeknight just because it's fun to re-experience the music.

Your test may be flawed as you might be playing lower quality content. Some of it may just be your lack of time with both speakers. I would think a week with one pair then a week with the other pair will help you hear the differences. This does NOT mean you will like the more expensive ones more, or even if you do they are worth the price increase to YOU. With that being said we use my home audio setup for 6+ hours a day, and even my wife can tell a difference with my upgrades (especially the subs lol).

After re-reading your comment YouTube audio is not very good. If you want something free you can use a blueray you already have, or get a free account to spotify (which is not as good as the premium $10/month account). Pick a song and play it on youtube, then immediately play the song on spotify. I did this recently when I told my buddy I try to avoid audio on YouTube now. He liked the song on Youtube, saying it sounded good. Then when I put spotify on he was able to immediately hear the difference. This is not an audiophile or someone with a home theater even, and he could tell the difference and said it was drastic (and this was with the free account).

The best thing for you to do is go listen to a few different types of speakers. Klipsh, Definitive Technology, B&W and Martin Logans are all at Best Buys with the Magnolia room, and all have different sound signatures. If you are interested you can check AVSForum for people near you that are willing to let you hear their setup. I did that with quiet a few people before I decided on my speakers. Ultimately what I decided was for Home Theater you want a good center channel and a great subwoofer. I heard Atmos and it was neat, but for ME I would rather have speakers that do better with music and not have the Atmos.

This isnt much different than picking a car. Not all cars are bad, even cheap ones, but they all serve different purposes. Defining your purpose goes a LONG way to figuring out which one(s) would work for you.


Also with all of that being said, I would likely DIY my next 5.1 if I was doing it all over again. LoL

I use my home audio/theater a LOT, so the marginal increase in cost was more justified for me, as I have since added dual 18" subwoofers and the more expensive LCR. I will be replacing the surrounds soon, but they really dont add much to the whole experience as long as they arent distorting.

u/drnick5 · 1 pointr/hometheater

Generally speaking, "all in one" packages (AKA, Home Theater in a Box) are less quality than buying the pieces yourself. The Phillips unit you linked seems to be a pretty low end package. with everything being powered by the all in one receiver/bluray player. I can promise you, this isn't pushing anywhere close to 1000 watts.

Don't concern yourself with the power rating. In most cases, its nothing more than an advertizing number for these All in one packages. They are likely quoting the max power handing of each speaker, and adding them together, which is unlikely to ever actually be hit.

My suggestion, check out a place like Accessories4less.com and buy a refurbished receiver (I highly recommend Denon, but if you like Yamaha, thats fine as well) you can save a decent amount by going with a refurb, and it carries the same warranty. I've had 2 refurb Denon's and they've been rock solid for me.

For speakers, you want to spend the bulk of your money on the front 3 (Left, Center and Right) as thats where the majority of your sound is coming from. You want to make sure all 3 speakers match.

If you get a good subwoofer, you usually don't need floorstanding speakers. You can save a dcent amount of money by going with bookshelf speakers for the fronts, and just getting cheap speaker stands on amazon for $50 or so.

As an example, many people love the HTD level 3 speakers, the bookshelf version are $379 for the pair, the floorstanding version is $800 for the pair. (quite the difference!) I've listened to the Bookshelf versions, and they are plenty loud, and sound fantastic in my opinion.

For subwoofers, I like to reference the Subwoofer Guide from /r/Zeos Pick the best one your budget and space allow.

To put together a quick system.
$250 for this Denon refurb receiver
$379 for the HTD level 3 speakers
$229 for the HTD L3 matching center
$299 for and the Bic Subwoofer
Total price: $1157
Add in another $100 for speaker stands, a roll of speaker wire and HDMI cables, and you're around $1200 for a pretty decent home theater setup, that I guarantee will blow your current setup out of the water.

u/-RicFlair · 2 pointsr/hometheater

Obviously there is a lot to this so here are just a few suggestions/preferences:

  1. Consider using this projector, it's great and half the price. The Epson isnt twice the projector. If you havent used projectors before, then do not underestimate the amount of heat they generate. They are wonderful but you will feel the heat
    https://www.amazon.com/BenQ-DLP-1080p-Projector-W1070/dp/B00A2T6X0K

  2. If you can, use the same speaker for your right/left and center. Place them at the same height with the right/left distance creating an equilateral triangle with your primary listening position
  3. Save money, dont buy a screen, use the wall and white paint. Internet search this topic to find more info. Obviously if you have matching LCR speakers at the same height then youll have to account for the center speaker's height. Again this is the ideal situation. Whatever works best for your room works best for your room
  4. I know Denon is name brand but Ive read a number of mix reviews. My preference is Yamaha, lots of happy Yamaha receiver customers including me
  5. Consider buying a used speaker system to get the best speakers possible. Speakers and subs are really what make your system come alive. Also consider getting two subs instead of one. Use the savings suggested above to invest in the best possible sound system
u/m1kepro · 2 pointsr/hometheater

I ended up tightening my budget quite a bit on this new home theater, so some of my choices aren't as nice as what I had before, but I'm very happy with what I got in the end. I want to thank everyone who gave me advice in my last post here. It was all very helpful!

I went with a 65" Samsung 120Hz smart TV. I decided against getting the 240Hz because I couldn't see a difference between the two when looking at it, and the 3D makes my wife sick in any case. That saved me almost $500.

For the receiver, I took everyone's advice and opted away from the all-in-one set I'd been looking at. Instead, I got a great price on a Pioneer VSX-824 that I've been very happy with.

I know the Denon reciever is what everyone recommended, and it's what I bought at first, but strangely enough my PS3 didn't work with it. It worked just fine connected to the TV directly, and other devices worked with that HDMI cable and port, but the PS3 just told me to go fuck myself. A quick google search told me that it's a flaw in the way the HDMI handshake works with Denon receivers, so back it went.

I went with Pioneer speakers as well, hooking up a
pair of tower speakers for front left and right, a pair of matching bookshelf speakers for the rear, and the matching center speaker.

The subwoofer will have to wait, for now, but the plan is to purchase the matching subwoofer when we're ready.

Instead of the Harmony Ultimate, which didn't seem to get any good remarks, I opted for the much cheaper Harmony 650, which has made my wife very happy. No more frayed tempers about what button does what on which remote. I'm even buying my parents one for Christmas.

I'm hugely pleased with the upgrade over my previous setup, even if it's not everything it could have been. What do you all think?

u/BudgetAudiophile · 3 pointsr/hometheater

I haven't really heard much about Sony receivers so I can't really comment on that aspect of it but generally Denon or other manufactures are recommended around here. Might be worth looking into something like the Denon x1300 on acessories4less. It's a little more expensive but you get audyssey room correction which can be really helpful.

I'd skip the center channel for now and maybe even the subwoofer and go with some higher end speakers. Something in the $300 range would probably do you much better than skimping on the speakers and getting the center channel right now. The Elac Debut B6's are highly recommended (haven't heard them myself but have heard a lot of praise):

https://www.amazon.com/Debut-Bookshelf-Speakers-Andrew-Jones/dp/B014GSEQ06/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1519671824&sr=8-3&keywords=elac+debut+b6&dpID=41zNEwhnFGL&preST=_SY300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch

They're also about to announce the 2018 model lineup and they are front ported which is cool. Maybe some others can chime in on some good speakers in the $300 price range as well.

So the Denon receiver plus a pair of the Elac's would run you about $600, you could save the $100 and put it towards a nicer subwoofer. Something like an HSU, Rythmik, or SVS. I think you'd be MUCH happier going this route than skimping on the components now just to get started and then having to spend more money later on when you realize how much of a difference a quality setup will sound. I skimped out when starting my setup and I definitely have regretted it and spent more money than I otherwise would have had I just spent the money upfront.

u/Brown_Menace · 11 pointsr/hometheater

If you're willing to stretch your budget just a bit more, the BenQ w1070 is raved for it's price range and will compete with many pricier projectors. It's selling for $585 on amazon at the time of this post. There are newer models of it, but it was the gold standard <$1k projector when I was shopping around a year ago. Otherwise, the Optoma HD142X is also well received, athough again $48 over your price range. I personally purchased an Acer H5380BD a year ago around $400, with a factory refurb currently selling on amazon for $280 (steal price!!). If you're buying new though, I'd recommend stretching out for the w1070, or newer BenQ generation if you can save up to the $700 mark. The w1070 is worth the extra cash compared to my Acer, but I do enjoy my Acer quite a bit and would jump on that refurb if you're comfortable purchasing a refurb. Things have changed in the past year though, so might help to do a quick search on wire cutter or other sources for newer tech.

ninja edit: if the BenQ was <$600 when I got my Acer, would have purchased without a doubt. It was around $750 when I was holding out for it but got too impatient.

double edit: Acer 5382 is a brigher version of the 5380 for $420. These are 720p though and I'd still recommend the BenQ. As someone else mentioned, H6510BD is a solid projector as well, but the BenQ w1070 was repeatedly named best value for a reason.

u/sharkamino · 3 pointsr/hometheater

The KEF Q100 $250 closeout at kefdirect.com is sold out. KEF does not have any more. Amazon dropped the price of what they had in stock to match. Now that they are sold out at KEF, the amazon algorithm raised them back up to $550 MSRP. Unless anyone else has any to sell, and I don't think anyone else has them, then I doubt Amazon is going to lower the price again unless they want to close them out.

To me these sound at least as good and maybe better than the Q100s I demoed. Wavecrest Audio HVL-1, order on sale here at Ascend $80 each + shipping.

If going 2.0 without a subwoofer, Philharmonic AAPM $290 + shipping. 14 day in home trial. They have a newly upgraded tweeter and have one of the best low ends of 6.5" speakers in the price range and don't necessarily need a subwoofer for music or right away for home theater.

Others, best with a subwoofer:

Ascend CBM-170 $300 + $30 shipping. Neutral sound with a flat frequency response. Best budget audiophile and home theater speakers I have found and own for 50/50 music and movies under $500. Great highs, mids and lows. Nothing missing, nothing overly accentuated. Much better than the Q100s.

Chane A Series $340 + $25 shipping. Flat planar tweeters.

On sale: Polk Audio Signature S20 $245.

DIY: Classix II MT Bookshelf Speaker Kit with Knock-Down Cabinet $232 a pair. Or Helix Dome MTs.

Receiver:

Budget: Denon AVR-S530BT $160 refurbished 5.2 with HDCP 2.2 and HDMI 2.0B for 4k switching.

Recommended: Denon AVRX1400 $300 refurbished 7.2/5.2.2 with Audyssey MultEQ.

Budget subwoofers: Dayton Sub1200 $140, BIC F12 $200, Bic-Acoustech-PL-200 $300.

Better subwoofers: 10" HSU VTF-1 MK3 is $455 shipped or an open box SVS PB1000 is $420 shipped.12" HSU VTF-2 MK5 $580 shipped on sale. Or a 12" Rythmik LV12F front ported, $550 shipped, when it becomes available in December (currently shown is the older rear ported version).

Guides: How to Set Up a Basic Home Theater System - Lifewire, r/HTBuyingGuides FAQ, How to Set Up Your Home Theater Receiver

Speaker Placement: Stereo Music Listening, Home Theater

​

>If I do move to an apartment down the road, would they be too loud even without a sub?

No, just turn down the volume.

>are two speakers such as these really a significant improvement over something like a recent Samsung or Vizio soundbar -- enough to justify the cost differential?

Yes, definitely for home theater, even more so for music.

Also consider a center speaker.

u/Mephiska · 1 pointr/hometheater

Yes, optical is S/PDIF. S/PDIF can actually use a coaxial connection as well, doesn't always have to be the toslink cable.

You're right, the kit you linked doesn't have optical in, so you'd need a DAC. Thankfully they're not very expensive. You can find them for even less than that but I'm a fan of FiiO, they make good stuff in the entry level.

That said, hopefully you can find that soundbar kit cheaper than that. When you consider $150 + $25 for DAC you're at $175. At that price you could make yourself a pretty good sounding 2.1 system like this:

u/dark_tex · 3 pointsr/hometheater

I'm like you, OP. I also am philosophically opposed to spending more on audio than on screen. That being said, good speakers do last for a very long time: if new formats ever come out, you can always upgrade the receiver and you can keep your speakers forever.

I did a lot of searching and I ended up with a good compromise that allowed me to have a LG OLED 65 together with a set of solid speakers.

​

Here's what you need to know:

​

- The latest OLED TVs are pretty much the same as last year's. LG B7, C7, B8 or C8 are all the same TV pretty much. Get the cheapest you can find. I bought mine on greentoe.com. I offered 1900$ for a 65' B7 this past April and my offer got accepted. You can even try to price match it with your credit card, I think (search in this sub). This may save you a few dollars more. Bottom line is: you should be able to snatch a 65 OLED for ~1500-1900.

- You can order a refurbished sub for a fraction of the price. I have the Denon X1400H that u/robotdinofight recommended, and I also bought it from accessories4less.

- Atmos speakers are mostly marketing BS. There isn't much sound that comes from above you in movies. That Denon is compatible anyway, so you can always add them later. Before you do that, just go watch a movie in Atmos at a theater.

- Sorround speakers are not that important either. Your dialogue is coming from the center speaker, and music etc will be on the front channels, with just some in your sorrounds more for ambiance than anything else. You can go with *very cheap* speakers here. Source: Zeos's guide here. I ended up buying the cheapest speakers Zeos recommended: Micca Covo-s for 40$ the pair (a factor in my decision was also that I had the speaker stands I was using for the cheap Logitech 5.1 PC system I had. Speaker stands are expensive too so factor in that cost too). These speakers are honestly not great: I tried using a pair of ELAC B6 and yes, sorround was much better. But I like HDR and perfect blacks way more than better sorround, so I ended up returning the ELACs and kept the Miccas as my rear. Maybe I'll upgrade some other time.

- If you are like me and have neighbors and a wife who's not into loud explosion, you really don't need a crazy sub. I have the Elac S10 and that's *more* than enough for us, my wife wants me to keep it down. Get a cheap one! Mine was only about 100$. See Zeos's guide here: https://www.reddit.com/comments/5b1u99

- Invest in good fronts. I have the ELAC B6.2 and while I don't think they sound like the crazy expensive speakers that some friends have, they sound *much* better than a soundbar/integrated TV sound and are great for movies! Important: whatever you buy, you must buy a center channel that matches the left/right speakers. I have the ELAC Debut 2.0 C6.2 center, with the ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 Bookshelf Speakers as my L/R channels.

- Buy cheap speaker wire and strip it yourself!! I'm so bad with practical stuff that I was a bit intimidated by it, but honestly it's ridiculously simple. The guide that I liked before has a section on wires, read it. The sub has its own cable, remember to buy it (I bought the Amazon one).

- Buy cheap HDMI cables from AmazonBasics.

- I have these stands for my fronts: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001PYV7LQ/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

​

Compared to u/robotdinofight's guide, you lose some sound quality, but only where it matters least and you should save some 700$, enough money to go from the TCL to a LG OLED. Hope it helped!

u/faithdies · 1 pointr/hometheater

Ok. So you don't need to push a ton of wattage through your mains and a decent, but not insane, sub will do.

My, personal opinion, recommendations.

Receiver(In no order. These are just brands I respect with good enough features and wattage):

  1. Harmon Kardon. $329.00 . http://www.amazon.com/Harman-Kardon-AVR-1700-Network-Connected/dp/B009HB2USI/ref=sr_1_5?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1383147455&sr=1-5&keywords=harmon+kardon

  2. Denon. $259.00. http://www.amazon.com/Denon-AVR-1613-Channel-Receiver-Networking/dp/B007R8U5QW/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1383164105&sr=1-3&keywords=denon

  3. Onkyo. $259.00. http://www.amazon.com/Onkyo-TX-8050-Network-Stereo-Receiver/dp/B004UR486G/ref=sr_1_9?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1383163556&sr=1-9&keywords=onkyo

    I have always had good to great experiences with the above brands. If looking stylish is at all important, do the Harmon Kardon. Also, in my experience, HK power is very very clean. All of these include wireless networking and HDMI switching. I would buy the denon personally. But, I'm biased towards denon.

    Subs:

  4. Velodyne. $399.00 http://www.amazon.com/Velodyne-Impact-10-10-Inch-Powered-Subwoofer/dp/B001GON5AG/ref=sr_1_4?s=aht&ie=UTF8&qid=1383163718&sr=1-4&keywords=subwoofer

  5. Klipsch. $399.95. http://www.amazon.com/Klipsch-Synergy-Sub-10-Subwoofer-Black/dp/B00D65QYMO/ref=sr_1_23?s=aht&ie=UTF8&qid=1383163849&sr=1-23&keywords=subwoofer

    When it comes to these two subs, it's a crap shoot deciding which to get. Velodyne and Klipsch subs are both fantastic. I'm leaning, personally, towards the Velodyne. But that's just me.

    So, in conclusion, you had a budget of $800 dollars. If you did the Denon or Onkyo and one of these subs that puts you at 650. As a bonus, here's a used KEF center channel for 150 bucks on Ebay. It would give you 3.1 channel.

    http://www.ebay.com/itm/KEF-HTS3001-Piano-gloss-Black-2-Way-Uni-Q-3000-Series-center-channel-Speaker-/281195898826?pt=Speakers_Subwoofers&hash=item417894e7ca

    Also, do yourself a favor and get something similiar to this:
    http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Harmony-Remote-Control-Silver/dp/B004OVECU0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1383164516&sr=8-1&keywords=harmony+remote

    It will replace all the remotes in your system and make switching from TV->Games->DVD much easier with Macros.
u/jvorn · 3 pointsr/hometheater

No worries, this just means a 2.1 or 3.1 is perfect for now, and then you can add on later.

Option 1:

2x RSL CG3 Bookshelf @ $135 = $270

1x RSL Speedwoofer 10s (sold out until Oct) @ $400

1x Denon AVR-X3500H 7.2-Ch x 105 Watts A/V Receiver from Accessories4Less @ $500

Total: $1170

Less of a budget stretcher, giving up a bit of performance. That receiver is realistically future proof (supports 7.2, 4k) and wouldn't need to upgrade for quite some time. More clear upgrade path however. In this scenario, when you want to upgrade, you get 3x RSL CG23s to be your new front speakers and move the CG3 you already own to the sides as your surrounds.

Option 2:

2x ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 Bookshelf Speakers @ $300 (comes in a pair)

1x Bic Acoustech PL-200 II Subwoofer @ $300

1x Denon AVR-X3500H 7.2-Ch x 105 Watts A/V Receiver from Accessories4Less @ $500

Total: $1100

About the same as option 1, and would come down to preference to RSL vs Elac (if you can demo Elac at a store, please do, RSL is internet direct only but does have in home trail). Similarly easy upgrade path, you'd just fill it out with the rest of the Elac Debut 2.0 B6.2 lineup (ie center, they even have some on walls for surrounds).

Option 3:

2x RSL CG23 @ $200 = $400

1x RSL Speedwoofer 10s (sold out until Oct) @ $400

1x Denon AVR-X3500H 7.2-Ch x 105 Watts A/V Receiver from Accessories4Less @ $500

Total: $1300

This requires a budget stretch, but gets you great stereo performance with a clear upgrade path. For speaker upgrade, you add the 3rd RSL CG23 for your center (these can be used horizontally or vertically FYI), and then whatever you want for surrounds (either the RSL CG3 or an on wall, ect)

Based on these numbers you can see you have about $300 for the speakers, so any speakers you can get for $150 each would work here. Other options are Fluance Signature Series HiFi ($200 for pair), Jamo S 803 ($160 for pair), or Q Acoustics 3020i Bookshelf ($300 for pair). I haven't heard any of these, but they get good reviews (particularly the Q Acoustics).

You could always go less on the receiver, but then you might have to buy a new one later. Would be nearly impossible to go lower on the subwoofer, the BIC and the RSL Speedwoofer are about as good as it gets for that price.

Finally, since you are primarily music focused, you could always axe the subwoofer altogether (add it later) and spend ~$600 on 2 kickass (maybe tower) speakers as music doesn't need as much super low bass as movies do. Let me know if you want to see what that looks like.

u/TyGamer125 · 1 pointr/hometheater

Here's the problem $500 is a tight budget to start with and Dell doesn't have a great way to view their site (had a $200 gift card with my TV) nor are the prices great. For example we usually recommended refurbished receivers for people on a budget and in order to get Atmos an Atmos receiver from Dell you need to get this for $500 whereas the v583 (older model) is $250 and the exact same model is $330 so not being able to take use of a massive discount doesn't help. The other issue is the only passive bookshelf speakers that aren't crappy computer speakers is the Sony core bookshelfSony core bookshelf $120 and tower speakers or subwoofer (which is it? Idk) then they also sell the subwoofer (so maybe the other is the towers?). The core bookshelf speakers are actually pretty good however the subwoofer is worse than others in it's price bracket. However I still think it's your best bet and it's probably a lot better than any of the sound bar subs in your price range since Dell doesn't sell a better sub for the money.

This is my recommendation:

  • Sony core bookshelf (ss-cs5) $120 @ Dell

  • Sony core subwoofer (sa-cs9) $158 @ Dell

  • Denon s730h (2017 model year) $220 @ accessories4less

  • Speaker wire 16awg oxygen free pure copper or prebuilt speaker wire with banana plugs @ anywhere

  • subwoofer cable @ anywhere

  • Optionally: speaker stands or wall mounts @ anywhere

    Future upgrades:

  • Sony core center channel $120

  • Atmos speakers which can be either: in ceiling speaker like this or slim speakers mounted on the ceiling like this or Sony's matching core Atmos speakers that will sound significantly worse than the other 2 options

  • Side speakers which don't need to be anything special and Micca MB42X or the Polk owm3 are popular options. Don't do wireless for these and your best bet is getting flat speaker wire and either wiring it around or behind your mouldings, under a rug to behind the couch or running the wires in the walls or the floor (what I did). Side speakers are 90-110 degrees from your center channel from your main listening position.

    If you have any other questions let me know.

    Edit: Also If you're doubting that a 2.1 is a better experience than the others you listed go to Best buy and some of the stores will allow you to demo speakers (or sound bars). It should be immediately obvious that those Sony speakers are in a different league seeing as though the main woofer on the Sony bookshelf is 5" and the Vizio subwoofer is 6" and the Sony subwoofer is 10" and the Vizio doesn't have a single tweeter so are going to be dull and harder to hear dialog in movies.
u/Armsc · 2 pointsr/hometheater

Here are your options as I see it.

  1. Soundbar - Keep what you have and add in a small subwoofer. Something like the ML Dynamo 300 $120, Dayton Sub 800 $100, Dayton Sub 650 $110, or a Polk PSW111 $185 and a sub cable. You would be surprised what a sub can add to the overall experience.

  2. 2.1 setup - You would need an AVR $230 refurb $190 and a set of speakers $90 and one of the subs above. This will give you a great entry level setup that can grow in the future. You should be able to fit the speakers on either side of the TV as they are pretty small. If you can then you can put them below the TV on a shelf.

  3. Passive soundbar - KEF HTF7003 refurb $300 pair this with the AVR and sub of your choice from above. It's a soundbar but not really you'll need the AVR to power it as it's passive and just really three speakers in one package. Mount it below the TV.

  4. 5.1 set - Yamaha Set $135 with an AVR. I would hook up only the front to or three for now. These speakers are certainly small enough to mount on either side of the TV and you can put the center either on the wall of a shelf below the TV. The sub is small and should fit on that front wall as well. While lesser quality speakers the ability to mount them on either side of the TV is a huge plus. The larger separation will make them sound better than just cramming everything under the TV. * An upgrade from this would be to get this Boston 5.0 set $200 and a sub linked above. They should fit on either side of the TV as the are small and should sound way better than the Yamaha sats.

    I would forget the rears for now unless you rearrange the room. I stayed with entry/budget gear since there was not budget given. If you have a large budget everything can change.
u/MMfuryroad · 1 pointr/hometheater

I wanted to give you some links about the cables I recommended as they got "bashed" a bit here which is fine if it's true but I researched them pretty well when I bought them so I went back to take a second look to see if I messed up. I don't believe I did and here's why. Below is a link to Amazon and my specific cables with over 2,900 reviews and a 4.8 out of 5 overall rating. Out of almost 3,000 people who bought them the rating was that high. The other cables suggested to you I also clicked on to maybe get them but I shop on Amazon mostly not vendor specific websites so I can check pricing and look for reviews. There are 0 reviews on the other cable in 50 ft. on Amazon and in AVS forums there is a forum discussing subwoofer specific cable that mentions issues with using 22 awg wire on a long subwoofer run let alone 24 awg . Not trying to tell you to get the cables I linked you to because in the end it doesn't affect me one way or another. Just telling you to look a little deeper before you buy one or the other. "(Good) information is power"

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B003FVYXY0#Ask

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00GOBCV0G/ref=mp_s_a_1_5?qid=1453978470&sr=8-5&pi=SL75_QL70&keywords=knukonceptz+subwoofer+cable

Also a link to AVS forums.com with the specific quote about the guage wire and the run

The only thing that matters is the resistance of the cable and how much voltage drop (signal attenuation) occurs over the length of run from the equipment to the sub (or other speakers). In other words, don't use 22AWG wire for 30ft runs.

Finally a link to this forum and the discussion.

http://www.avsforum.com/forum/113-subwoofers-bass-transducers/1412557-difference-subwoofer-cables-brand-vs-brand-model-vs-model.html

I would write more about it, but I think Roger Russel has written it quite well: http://www.roger-russell.com/wire/wire.htm He used to work at McIntosh Lab many years ago.

For comparison sake these are one of the highest rated subwoofer cables on the market in a 50 foot run ( blue jeans). See which one is the biggest seller below it. Just saying.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B005979KVY/ref=mp_s_a_1_8?qid=1453979800&sr=8-8&pi=SL75_QL70&keywords=blue+jeans+subwoofer+cable

Monoprice also has a 97% oxygen free copper 50 ft. sub cable that's rated at 18 awg. Much better guage for that long of a run and they are highly touted for it's performance on A.V. forums as well. Another option to choose from and a great value for the money.

http://www.monoprice.com/mobile/product/details/2684?maincategoryid=102&categoryid=10236&subcategoryid=1023603&cpncd=

u/yojimbo124 · 8 pointsr/hometheater

Yes, the general consensus among audiophiles is that Bose is overpriced and soundbars are very underwhelming. "Real 5.1 sound" cannot (yet) be achieved without a real 5.1 setup. Most HTIB (Home Theatres in a Box) will give you better sound than a soundbar.

I own this 5.1 Pioneer speaker setup found here and I highly recommend it to anyone that is looking for a good entry level home theater setup. Shop around and you can get a fantastic deal on the whole setup. I got the 5.0 setup for less than $300 and then upgraded to a $200 BIC 12 sub to get the 0.1.

You will then of course need a decent reciever (about $250) and cables and you will blow any speaker bar out of the water. I am not certain if this is within your budget since you only quoted "cheaper than bose" but I have seen this exact setup recommend many times before and I feel it is one of the best values for the price.

Edit: I was way under your budget. You could definitely do better than this setup at your price range.

u/MettaWorldWarTwo · 1 pointr/hometheater

The best "non-smart TV" will probably be a projector but the best ones, much like the Ferrari discussion below, are tailored because they know people are getting just the display.

I think the reason you're getting flak is that you're asking, effectively, "I want a car in the Camry price range that is tailored to the way I drive." TV producers, and Camry producers, are going to make something that caters to the highest number of people not something that fits the pro-sumer market. Pro-sumer TVs just don't exist. They will never fit the use case of enough people to be justified. The closest thing out there are the commercial displays, but those are for digital signage (again, suited to the use case) and far beyond your price range.

If you've got a good home theater setup with surrounds and etc, get a projector. Here's a good one for $730. Then get a 120" entry level motorized screen and for $840, you no longer have a Smart TV, and have a 120" display (or there about).

u/Yoyodyne_Propulsion_ · 1 pointr/hometheater

I am also building slowly to 5.1. I don't know how quickly you want to get there or what you want the final tally to be, but I would opt for less, but better equipment, to start. I'd get a cheaper receiver and subwoofer to get my foot in the door, but I'd buy better speakers.

I'd go with something like this:

Receiver - $169.99 http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/yamhtr3067bl/yamaha-htr-3067-5.1-ch-x-70-watts-a/v-receiver-same-as-rx-v377/1.html

Front L/R - $279.99 https://www.amazon.com/Debut-Bookshelf-Speakers-Andrew-Jones/dp/B014GSEQ06/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1473895480&sr=1-1&keywords=elac

This comes in at $449.98 This will be 100% better, and absolutely replace your soundbar, which is what you need right now. It also puts you $80 dollars from the matching center, or $113 from a nice subwoofer. You could spend $500 on a subwoofer now, like was posted above, but it would outclass your fronts by a large margin. I prefer better dialogue/sound overall. This sub is 85% of what a subwoofer double it's price gives. I started with 2.1 and I don't regret going slowly.

Center - $179.99 https://www.amazon.com/Debut-Center-Speaker-Andrew-Jones/dp/B014GSEQWE/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1473895660&sr=1-1&keywords=elac+center

Subwoofer - $213 https://www.amazon.com/BIC-America-F12-475-Watt-Subwoofer/dp/B0015A8Y5M

u/umdivx · 2 pointsr/hometheater

This is tricky, when you're willing to spend more than $200 but less than $500, I'd either say drop down to the $200 range and pick up two BIC F12's $400 and change or or a single BIC PL 200 II $300 and change, or save up and for one SVS PB 1000 for $500 shipped or one HSU VTF2 $568 shipped

As always there are pro's and con's to each choice here. The HSU being the best subwoofer under $600, SVS PB 1000 next best, and so on.

Both the HSU and SVS will play down to 20hz with authority, again the slight advantage to the HSU, then the BIC PL 200 II is a dang good sub for $300 but doesn't get anywhere close to 20hz or as loud as the other two options.

Finally dual F12's isn't a bad choice either but again even two F12's can't touch a single SVS/HSU option.

u/gurueuey · 2 pointsr/hometheater

You can get the same receiver you listed from Accessories4Less for $169. So that saves you $90

I would also take a look at the Dayton SUB-1200 or SUB-1500. Both are well reviewed, and several redditors have used them in budget systems lately, with very good results. Say you go with the 1500, that saves you $40.

Are tower speakers essential? If so, I'd personally recommend the Infinity Primus p363 for your L/R. Much higher rated than the BIC, with fewer build quality issues. There are reports of the BIC speakers being top heavy, poorly fitting vinyl veneer, and rattling grills. In addition, horn speakers tend to be a "love it or leave it" sound. Even at the higher price the p363's are at, is still a superior speaker, or you could wait to see if they go on sale again. There are two Infinity center channel speakers, one for $199.95 and one for $149.95. With the savings from the other components, you could get either one.

If bookshelf speakers are an option, that opens up a whole lot of speakers that are superior to the BIC, especially if you're crossing over to a sub. The Emp Tek r5bi at $225/pr new or $182/pr Scratch and Dent has a rabid following here, and very favorable reviews just about everywhere. The matching r5ci is also highly recommended. There are alternatives from Chane (currently backordered), Home Theater Direct, and plenty of other Internet Direct and Brick and Mortar options.

If you have to have horn speakers, but bookshelves are an option, I'd take a look at the Hsu Research HB-1 at $159 ea. Or Klipsch bookshelves.

Craigslist tends to be hit-or-miss depending on the area you're in. I'm in the Plains states (SE IA) and don't really see much on the used market. Someone closer or in major metro areas (Chicago, Seattle, LA, etc.) will have better luck. However, I'd stick to speakers unless you or a buddy knows electronics repair. You don't get any warranties buying used, so caveat emptor.

Last thing, I personally wouldn't buy Pyle products even if you held a gun to my head. I'd take a look at Dayton Audio, Monoprice, Home Theater Direct, or even Polk before I'd buy Pyle. The other option is to sink that money into the fronts for now, and buy the surrounds later. It's not like the holes are going to fill themselves in. The other thing to look at is Dolby Atmos. You could set up a 5.1.4 system using the in-ceiling positions, and use bookshelf speakers for the rear channel.

Now, this isn't a huge knock against BIC speakers. Many people have them and like them. I just think that there are better solutions out there, especially if you can use bookshelf speakers.

u/The_Correctionist · 1 pointr/hometheater

Awesome. Thank you for your help. The more and more I look into it, i'm starting to like the Pioneer SP-PK52FS setup. The reviews seem to be great, and i like how everything is included. What are some of the drawbacks of going with a pre-packaged system like that instead of purchasing everything separately? Could i find a better system for the same, or even less money if i was to put it together piece by piece? Thanks again!

u/iamneothe1 · 1 pointr/hometheater

So I've been thinking about my situation some more, and being cognizant of the fact that the sound quality will be inferior in a prepackaged system, I think getting one makes the most sense for me due to budgetary constraints and overall convenience. I like the idea of building a system over time, but I don't think I'll be able to commit resources to building it up like that. I probably won't ever get around to upgrading anything. Also, as a bit of perspective for me, I've been using a basic stereo system (5 CD changer kind of deal) for the last 13 or 14 years... so I think a prepackaged system would still present a pretty significant upgrade for me...

With all this in mind, and resigning myself to the disadvantages of a prepackaged system, which of these seems like the best option?

The aforementioned Sony system?

This Onkyo system?

Or this other Sony system?

Thanks so much for your help!

u/boostnma · 2 pointsr/hometheater

To be direct - the speakers are junk, but in all seriousness if you like them that is all that matters.

Most people have never heard good surround sound, so most things will sound better than an internal TV speaker.

A good setup will cost you about $750 - $1000. Which is less than a good TV. Audio is just as important as picture to most of us.

For a receiver I recommend a Denon x2200 - $500
Denon AVR-X2200W 7.2 Channel Full 4K Ultra HD A/V Receiver with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ZPTBNXY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_KwWxyb03K5H3H

If you want to stay with the same size speakers, I recommend the Monoprice 5.1 - $250
Monoprice 10565 Premium 5.1 Channel Home Theater System with Subwoofer https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EOZFUYI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_2tWxybG13S019

If you want slightly bigger speaker I recommend the Pioneer Andrew Jones 5.1 - $450
Pioneer SP-PK52FS Andrew Jones 5.1 Home Theater Speaker Package https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IK8I9K2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_svWxybHZANTBT

u/The_Taco_Bob · 5 pointsr/hometheater

I recently purchased a town house, after renting a room for several years. Didn't have any furniture other than the bedroom essentials, so I had a pretty blank slate to work with.

I realize the layout isn't ideal, given the lighting and open floor layout (opens up to the dining room and kitchen), but I was more concerned with having a good hangout environment than having the prefect viewing experience. The only other option was an above ground basement, which would have had the same lighting issue, though better acoustics.

The lighting isn't as bad as it appears in the picture, imo. I've never really had a problem with it, though I do spend most of my time relaxing in the evenings when there is no direct sunlight coming from those windows. Even then, the Samsung seems to handle it well.


EDIT:
Additional pictures of the cable management.

https://i.imgur.com/iPxbpNz.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/6pkdjpH.jpg

For the wall I used some 1/4" shaped wiremold from Home Depot. Sanded and spray painted it to match the existing 1/4" Round. For the rest of the power cables and such, I modified the middle drawer of an Ikea cabinet to hide them away and give me easy access. I'm still not quite sure what to do about the remaining outlet wires, but other than that there aren't any other visible cables.


EDIT 2:
Since I've been asked about pretty much every piece short of the coffee table, I figured I would update this post to consolidate that info. Most of these items I bought used or on sale.

TV - Samsung KS8500 65"

Reciever - Denon AVR-S720W

Speakers - ELAC UB5/UC5/UB5, Surrounds - B4

Subwoofer - Bic Acoustech PL-200 12"

Entertainment Center - Modified BESTÅ from Ikea

Speaker Stands - Sanus SF30 Steel Series

Couch - Corey Sectional from Havertys

Art - Patent Collections from Displate

Rug - [Safavieh Glacier from Overstock](https://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Safavieh-Glacier-Contemporary-Abstract-Blue-Multi-
Area-Rug-6-7-x-9-67-x-9/14248766/product.html)

Bookshelves - Parthenia Etagere Bookcase from Wayfair

Coffee Table - Baxton Studio Wood/Metal End Table

u/highroller038 · 1 pointr/hometheater

I see lots of commenters recommending high-end stuff which is understandable since you are building your own house and having a large dedicated space for a banging HT. A good 7 channel receiver plus a subwoofer powerful enough for your large room will add up to $1000 pretty quick. Heck, I'd reccomend two subwoofers for a space that large. I will probably get downvoted, but let me help you find some more budget friendly choices.

Receiver $300 - DENON
AVR-X1400H


Subwoofer $300 - Bic Acoustech PL-200 II

Front LR $200 - Fluance Signature Series

* Matching Center - $150

Surround and Rear Surrounds - Micca MB42X 2x$80

This puts you just slightly over budget. also factor in speaker mounts / shelves / stands, cables, etc.... There's obviously lots of options and everyone has their own opinions. Have fun researching, I hope this helps!

u/thecustodian · 1 pointr/hometheater

Hey yo, I've been doing my fair share of research these past couple of days and this sub as well as /r/Zeos have been a huge help. That budget can definitely get you started with something nice.


These suggestions are all from reading this sub, avsforums, amazon reviews, you name it.. I really have no on-hand experience as I'm saving up for a build myself. (Here is my post in case you're interested)


  • Pioneer SP-FS52 - These puppies seem to be a huge favorite everywhere. I did see someone post they were cheaper a couple of weeks back so it's up to you if you want to wait. They are also Pioneer as you mentioned you wanted to stick with that.


  • Denon S500 - This brand is very reputable here, as well as the site. Don't be discouraged by the "Refurbished". I'm planning on getting a receiver from this brand and site and jumping on maybe 1 or 2 years of Extended Warranty just for giggles. It has integrated bluetooth as you mentioned that was important. Like someone above mentioned, you can always go a different route and purchase a receiver without bluetooth technology and get a Google Chromecast (~$25-$30) or Bluetooth dongle. (Be aware you will loose quality when you go wireless)


  • As for a sub, someone needs to chime in, but these two are held in nice regard: Martin Logan Dynamo 300 and Dayton 1000


    That should keep you around your budget and have some spare for cables and any other expenses that might come up along the way. Maybe some cable management or whatever.


    Good luck
u/moopos · 1 pointr/hometheater

3.5mm output.
can make connection without touching anything but your phone/ipad.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009OBCAW2/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1


HomeSpot NFC-Enabled Bluetooth Audio Receiver for Sound System
by HomeSpot
3,087 customer reviews
| 538 answered questions

Sale: $27.99 Free Shipping for Prime Members
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In Stock.
Sold by Mogeeks and Ful

filled by Amazon. Gift-wrap available.
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Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR; Support A2DP profile; Store 8 paired devices
Superior wireless performance; Transmit up to 66 feet away with line of sight
Tap-and-pair and tap-and-connect the receiver with NFC-equipped Android, Windows 8 and Nokia phones
Plug the receiver into any A/V receiver, stereo system, or speaker through standard RCA or 3.5 mm jack; UL-plug AC adapter included
Play music wirelessly from your Bluetooth-capable smartphone, iPod Touch, iPhone, iPad, Android.

u/bigpolar70 · 2 pointsr/hometheater

First, since everything is already wired, you need to make sure you get a model that works with your screen size and mounting distance.

I like this calculator: http://www.projectorcentral.com/projection-calculator-pro.cfm

Good luck!

Next, most reviews say the best entry-level DLP projector is the BenQ W1070 or the updated W1075. If you watch for a sale you can get them very close to your price range.

https://amzn.com/B00A2T6X0K

https://amzn.com/B00LTMPOUO


The main reason they are so well reviewed is they are one of the few entry level projectors that have a true RGBRGB color wheel. This results in a lower listed brightness (because they don't have a clear segment to cheat the test), but a greater perceived brightness during actual use. They also have better color balance without calibration right out of the box.

In a blacked out room they should be more than bright enough.

u/glahtiguy · 1 pointr/hometheater

You can get an x2300 for $400 but personally I would spend the $100 to get the x3300 to get the more power, better room calibration, and if you play retro game consoles, the analog to hdmi conversion. I have an x3100 and I love it. Additionally the extra $38 is worth it to go to the Bic PL 200 II. It's not the loudest or most accurate sub out there, at that price what do you want, but for movies it reaches deep comfortably even at moderate volume. The F12 in my experience doesn't hit the explosion rumble unless you crank it.

u/Sharohachi · 2 pointsr/hometheater

Frys often has good sales on Jamo speakers, but I'm not sure what's available in Europe. I've seen the S809 HCS 5 speaker set go as low as $399, so maybe you could get a good black Friday deal. The 803 set with bookshelf speakers is $269 right now, might be a decent option.

The Pioneer AJ set got some good initial reviews as a solid budget set, but I have seen some people complaining about it online after getting the set. The center channel in particular seems to be pretty lackluster based on user feedback.

The Sony Core series speakers get good reviews as a budget option. I've seen the bookshelf SSCS5 speakers go as low as $73 a pair and with black Friday coming up there might be some good deals on them.

For a decent sub you'll probably need to up your budget a little bit or wait until you can save a little more. The Bic PL200ii is a good sub for the price and often goes on sale for $250.

With black Friday deals maybe you could get the Jamo 803 set with a PL200ii sub within your budget or 4 Sony core bookshelf speakers and the matching SSCS8 center channel instead of the Jamos.

u/concentus7 · 1 pointr/hometheater

You can certainly go the super budget route and get something like that Pioneer set, but there are two main reasons I would advise against that:

  • With a set like that, you're pretty much limited to what the set offers for the entire duration that you own that system. The minute you want to upgrade, you'll likely find that you want to start from scratch.
  • Budget sets that come with a companion subwoofer don't typically offer a great subwoofer (usually pretty mediocre or otherwise terrible).

    And, to be honest, a little patience and some research will usually yield a longer lasting, quality system that you will be less likely to want to upgrade sooner. (One of the few exceptions to this would be the SVS Prime Bookshelf Surround set, which is highly regarded.)

    If you're gonna start with L/C/R, here are my suggestions around (and slightly above) $500:

  • Polk S20 + S30 ($460)
  • Q Acoustics 3020i + 3090Ci ($490)
  • Elac B6.2 + C6.2 ($560)
  • HTD Level Three Bookshelf + Center ($580)
  • Chane A1.5 + A2.5 ($630)
u/kghyr8 · 1 pointr/hometheater

Most people will say you're better off with a real receiver. They're right. I've been through this scenario you are describing. The problem is that the bluray player is your "receiver". At the same time, it has no HDMI inputs. So all your components (Xbox, whatever else) have to plug into the TV, and then the sound is sent out to the bluray receiver through the optical.

Can it be done? Yes. But most TVs do not passthrough 5.1 via optical, which means your TV will likely spit the signal out as stereo. Your bluray will probably take a stereo signal and split it artificially into 5.1, but it's not the true surround you had coming out of the Xbox. The only time you will get true surround is when watching a bluray.

The other issue is the speakers. Most of these systems have a proprietary connector on the receiver that prevents you from easily connecting new speakers. That means when you outgrow the system or want to upgrade you have to completely replace the system. Mine was donated to a friend.


You're better off with a real receiver. Even this system would be better, since it has a real receiver and the speakers could be upgraded.

Onkyo HT-S3500 660 Watt 5.1-Channel Home Theater Speaker/Receiver Package https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0077V88V8/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_xnJ-ub0XM6VGY
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0077V88V8/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_xnJ-ub0XM6VGY

u/psycholis · 3 pointsr/hometheater

For that budget here is what I would recommend:
Denon X-1500H - Stepping up to the X series gets you Audyssey XT room correction which is the 2nd best available. IMO this is a big step up.

Klipsch RP-150m - This is where most of the subreddit is divided. I personally think the Klipsch RP are some of the best value home theater speakers available and this particular pair is discounted for being outgoing and a less popular color.

BIC PL-200 II - This is my least favorite of the 3 pieces picked and IMO if you can budget enough to step up to the entry HSU, Rythmik or SVS, I'd rather go down that route. This is not to say that the BIC sub is bad but it would definitely be the first on the list to get upgraded when funds allow.

If you decide to save up or stick to your budget, stepping up to a receiver that can do full atmos or getting better or different sounding speakers are an option but it can get confusing fast. I'll let others come up with their recommendations and you can decide.

u/creason08 · 5 pointsr/hometheater

LR: Elac Debut 2.0 6.2 bookshelfs

C: Elac Debut 2.0 6.2 center

Sub: Bic America F12 or Dayton Audio Sub-1200

AVR: Something here. Whatever fits your budget and has the features you need. Make sure that if you're going to be streaming music to get one that is at least wifi compatible or networking (ethernet jack). I personally can recommend the Yamaha RX-V483. If that Yamaha is too expensive then go with a Denon with comparable features.

Stands: (If you don't already have a surface to put your LR on) Monoprice monoliths (24inch or 28inch, depending on ear height at listening/watching position) or Monoprice glass

If the price comes out to be too much then go with the Dayton sub and a cheaper AVR.
You'll also need some speaker wire, a wire cutter, and possibly some silicone hemispheres


That is a 3.1 to start. I think you'll be very happy and impressed with it. Given some time and some saving you'll be ready to upgrade to some surrounds. Delayed gratification is always worth it in this game :)

u/whiprush · 11 pointsr/hometheater

I'm a fan of a Yamaha with Pioneer Andrew Jones speakers, great value all around, this is what I recommend to people who are starting out:

u/000Destruct0 · 3 pointsr/hometheater

With $600 your best bet would be to purchase a nice 2.1 system and then add to it as your budget recovers.

If you must do 5.1 from the beginning this is how I'd do it:

Receiver $200: http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/yamrxv379bl/yamaha-rx-v379-5.1-ch-x-70-watts-bluetooth-a/v-receiver/1.html

5.0 Speaker system $250: http://www.fluance.com/home-theater-systems/classic-series-home-theater/avhtb-surround-sound-home-theater-5-speaker-system

Subwoofer $148: http://www.parts-express.com/dayton-audio-sub-1200-12-120-watt-powered-subwoofer--300-629

If you are willing to go quality over instant gratification I'd do this with $600:

Same receiver paired with these speakers $364: http://smile.amazon.com/Infinity-Primus-Three-way-Floorstanding-Speaker/dp/B0046A8R3M/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1462204617&sr=8-3&keywords=infinity+primus

When your budget recovers get the matching center at $115. If you are willing to go quality I'd get the outstanding Hsu STF-2 subwoofer ($405 shipped) but if that is out of your comfort zone then just get the Dayton I linked to above as it's a good value in the under $400 market.

u/Unspoken_Myth · 1 pointr/hometheater

I decided to buy some speakers off of an old friend. Less than a hundred hours of use, the Infinity Primus P363 towers pair, and an Infinity Primus PC351 center for a grand total of 270 bucks. Pretty sweet deal IMO.

Anyways, I live in an apartment, room size is probably 12' by 14'. I'll be playing music probably thirty percent of the time, and the other seventy percent will consist of a pretty even split of gaming and movies. Going to connect my Polk audio 10 sub (I think, still debating) to the system. All connected to a Yamaha stereo. Will be using a projector for my TV, and that will complete my home theater.

u/DZCreeper · 2 pointsr/hometheater

Yes, the S540BT is a good choice.

The mismatching centre should still perform better than not having one at all.

When/if your parents would like to upgrade the L/R, the ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 for $230 are great value.

https://www.amazon.com/ELAC-Debut-Bookshelf-Speakers-Black/dp/B07B4Q5587

u/Cirenondrog · 8 pointsr/hometheater

Nice! First thing i noticed was 3 remotes. When i first started my very first setup one thing that changed my life was this remote right here: https://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Harmony-Infrared-Universal-Programmable/dp/B004OVECU0/ref=sr_1_19?crid=2EXCQYES8ZHGZ&keywords=logitech+remote&qid=1565108225&s=gateway&sprefix=logitech+r%2Caps%2C206&sr=8-19

It was inexpensive on black Friday @ BB for about $20-25 some years ago. It controls 8 devices including, at the time a bought it, the PS3 ( needed an $10 adapter though). Really easy to set up and they still work perfect. Been almost 10 years.

​

But a really nice clean set up.

u/SpartanG087 · 3 pointsr/hometheater

L/R: ELAC B6

Center: ELAC C5

Sub: BIC F12

Receiver: Denon S510BT

Speaker placement can be hard to figure out, but that all depends on the space. 3.1 is fairly easy even in small areas. I had a small living room and this worked out great for me.

When a better idea of the space you have, I could give you a build on what I'd do based on your budget.

u/NashvilleDude · 2 pointsr/hometheater

Without a lot of info, but assuming you want to keep it all pretty basic, this is my best shot. Before taxes you're at $687, but you could downgrade the sub to the Sub-1000, or skip the rear channels altogether for now. You'll need some speaker stands for the front, mounts for the rear, speaker wire, etc. So, not a perfect list, but here we go:

u/ntlord · 1 pointr/hometheater

For the office. You just need this:
Yea, I know its dedicated, but it seems like you have the extra wiring. If not, then HDBaseT is your option

Regarding your second monitor, all you need is this:

https://www.amazon.com/J-Tech-Digital-Premium-Extractor-Converter/dp/B00BIQER0E

Regarding the double switching, you could do that. Personally, I would just spend the money to do it right. But, It's not my money :) I bought my 6x6 Gefen off of ebay for like $1100 bucks, but it was admittedly a pretty good deal.

u/Teknofiliak · 1 pointr/hometheater

First off. Hurray for a fellow Steelers fan!

Second off, we need a budget for you. /r/Zeos is a great place to start and I am completely following his advise. I can try to help you out. I posted this in another thread, but I think it may be relevant for you.

This is my plan. (As a disclaimer, I am fairly new and a student of /r/Zeos.)

This Receiver

Front Speakers

Center Speaker

With a room that small, you could go with this subwoofer.

All that will be under $500.

If you're doing surround, I'd throw in a pair of these.

Don't forget some good quality speaker wire and banana plugs make life easier.


Also, I see you're looking used. I think that's a good idea. You can get older receivers for fairly cheap. Stick to the names listed in Zeos's post about 5.1 systems.

u/shadyinternets · 2 pointsr/hometheater

piecing together the right way is much better than buying a crappy htib system for cheap.

and a 2.1 (2 speakers 1 sub) is more than enough for most things, especially listening to music or normal volume tv/movies in my opinion.

andrew jones moved to ELAC after Pioneer too, and brought his years of expertise to their lower price point too. it is a bit above pioneers, but still very cheap for how good it is supposed to be. i havent heard any of the elac ones yet, but they get a whole lot of great reviews and do look a bit higher quality. they are about twice as expensive though, some pieces a bit more. but, considering how low the AJ pioneers are priced it is still overall pretty low prices as far as speakers can go.

http://elac.com/product-category/debut/

the AJ ELAC Debut center is $180 for example
https://www.amazon.com/Debut-Center-Speaker-Andrew-Jones/dp/B014GSEQWE/ref=pd_bxgy_23_2/161-3108273-0990538

also, i just noticed the AJ Pioneer Towers are on sale for $90 again. just in case you were considering new fronts too... i have 4 of these now (2 still boxed up waiting to be my rear surrounds after i finish reno on my other living room) and have given another 4 away as presents over the years. these are what really sold me on the AJ speakers. for the price difference i am as happy with them as my larger and far more expensive Paradigms.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008NCD2S4/ref=psdc_12097481011_t3_B014GSEQWE

u/schmidty850 · 1 pointr/hometheater

Would you recommend going with the 2.1 system with these:

Elac B6's and the BIC F12

OR

WharfDale Diamond 10.1's and the BIC F12

or the 5.1 system with:

Fluance AV5HTB's and the BIC F12.

Thanks

EDIT: Added the WharfDale's since they are of comparable price to the Elac B6's and I've heard they are supposed to be pretty great

u/Deadleggg · 1 pointr/hometheater

For the apartment set up i'd do something like this and save a few bucks.

Receiver:Denon E-400 280

Speakers: I'm more of a fan of Klipsch than I am of Polk. These guys are on sale this week and they sound as great as they look. Klipsch KB-15 150each

Center: Klipsch KC-25 150

Subwoofer: Apartment subs are the hardest thing to buy depending on your neighbors. Personally something small and compact that isn't going to cost and arm and a leg until you get a proper one for a house that just rounds things out is recommended. Something like this from Martin Logan for 130.

860 for everything here compared to the 1180 you posted for similar quality items. If you are looking to grab some towers in the future and like the sound of the 5.1 you may be looking at something like this Klipsch Reference RF-62II

If you wanted to upgrade the receiver a bit this is a few hundred more but is a better overall pieceDenon AVR-X3000

u/riley212 · 8 pointsr/hometheater

SVS PB2000 sub -$800

Marantz SR5009 $420

Infinity primus center $200

Infinity primus towers $300 for the pair

Infinity primus bookshelfs $190 for a pair add another pair for 7.1

add another big subwoofer later for more oompf. the primus series represents pretty good value and they will play quite impactfully

then figure in another grand for a projector and screen

u/ZeosPantera · 1 pointr/hometheater

You won't be able to use the bose dock without it having some sort of standard input.

I wouldn't worry much as you can do better than the bose for very little cash. And TV speakers are always going to be worse than just about anything.

Assuming you have only an optical out on your TV you may need to buy this FiiO D3 OR if you have a cable box that might have some sort of Analog out.

I don't know your budget but this little setup will certainly best the tv's built in speakers and properly placed sound better than the bose ipod dock.

u/MrTorres · 1 pointr/hometheater

Looks like that soundbar has inputs for RCA, 1 optical, 1 digital coaxial and 3.5mm plus Bluetooth. And that TV only has optical audio out... so not a lot of options there. If it had RCA output like some other TVs it'd be easier.

What you COULD do is buy an optical to RCA converter such as this one www.amazon.com/dp/B005K2TXMO/ and use splitters to split it between your sound bar RCA input and the RCA input of a subwoofer. I recommend this one https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002KVQBA/

The whole shabang would cost you about 120 plus tax and would sound pretty decent.

EDIT: I just noticed the fiio converter has RCA AND 3.5mm line out. So maybe you don't even need a splitter! You could just have the soundbar connected via 3.5mm to 3.5mm aux and have the RCA going to the subwoofer. That would be less clutter and you won't have to worry about losing signal power from using splitters :)

u/sk9592 · 1 pointr/hometheater

To be honest, it's going to be tough to get a decent project, screen, and speakers for that price.

If it was my money, I would feel like it's better spent on a TV and speakers instead.

Vizio P-series:

55-inch is $800, 65-inch is $1200

The Pioneer Andrew Jones 5.1 speaker bundle is an excellent audio experience for $600.

If you pair pair those speakers with that TV and an AV receiver you will be very well setup for a home movie experience in the $1500 range.

u/ripkenkid8 · 7 pointsr/hometheater

Purchase List:

Optoma HD27 1080p 3D DLP Home Theater Projector - amazing image quality and extremely bright - can almost watch the screen with all the lights on: https://www.amazon.com/Optoma-HD27-1080p-Theater-Projector/dp/B01JR7G672

Homegear 100” HD Motorized 16:9 Projector Screen W/ Remote Control - works very well, packaged and arrived in great condition: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00J22TNRI

Yamaha RX-V379BL 5.1-Channel A/V Receiver with Bluetooth: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00V5VJ3TM

2 ELAC B6 Debut Series 6.5" L & R Speakers by Andrew Jones: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B014GSEQ06

1 ELAC C5 Debut Series 5.25" Center Speaker by Andrew Jones: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B014GSEQWE

AmazonBasics High-Speed HDMI Cable: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B014I8TC4E

Monoprice Affinity Premium 14AWG Braided Speaker Wire: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B015YN6G9G

VideoSecu 2 Heavy duty PA DJ Club Adjustable Height Satellite Speaker Stand Mount: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000VRREPG

Projector Mount - VideoSecu LCD/DLP Projector Ceiling Mount Bracket: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000IDC0K2

2x LED Lighting for Bar/Couch: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00V27VX7E

u/DrDarkProphet · 3 pointsr/hometheater

I would go with this speaker set:

http://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-SP-PK52FS-Theater-Speaker-Package/dp/B00IK8I9K2/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1414003003&sr=8-4&keywords=pioneer+andrew+jones+speakers

and then add any receiver you want that is under your budget. I like this one:
http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/denavrx2000/denon-avr-x2000-7.1-ch-4k-ultra-hd-networking-receiver-airplay/1.html

Although the monoprice system is highly rated (I love monoprice BTW) I don't think there is any way they can be as good as the pioneers. The pioneer system is one of the most highly rated systems any where near its price point, taking on full size systems that cost much more. Infact, I have a full Klipsch setup that was over $2000 and it sounds just about as good.

u/scottymoze · 2 pointsr/hometheater

OK for that budget, here's what we can do.

$500 now = front three speakers + new sub(s)

Let's say we can ebay the current front three speakers plus sub.

SELL THE FOLLOWING:

Yama Sub = $50-100 depending on model

Para V2s = $100 (found two pair selling now for that price)

Sony center = $50-100 depending on model

So now we are at say $750ish to spend for the front three + sub.

SUB

BIC F12 $200ish

https://www.amazon.com/BIC-America-F12-475-Watt-Subwoofer/dp/B0015A8Y5M

Alternate sub options aplenty out there.

FRONT L/R/C

Pioneer Andrew Jones line, cost $200-400 total

Towers = $140 each

https://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-SP-FS52-Designed-standing-Loudspeaker/dp/B008NCD2S4

Bookshelves = $100 pair (if towers are not an option)

https://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-SP-BS22-LR-Designed-Bookshelf-Loudspeakers/dp/B008NCD2LG

Center = $80

https://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-SP-C22-Designed-Channel-Speaker/dp/B008NCD2EI

I own these Pioneer Andrew Jones speakers and they sound great and are extremely popular on Amazon. Awesome entry-level line of speakers. Just one recommendation out of many more you could get.

So now if you got the towers + center + sub and you sold the old stuff on ebay for decent prices, you are still within your $500ish budget, with room for cables/speaker wire/universal remote (if you don't have one) etc etc.

If towers are not an option, you can get a whole speaker line that is higher up, Klipsch for example will run you $450 for R15 front bookshelves + R-25 center. Still within budget + sub if you sell the old stuff.

https://www.amazon.com/Klipsch-R-15M-Bookshelf-Speaker-Pair/dp/B00LMF41IY

https://www.amazon.com/Klipsch-R-25C-Center-Channel-Speaker/dp/B00LMFYRIS

LATER = $500 more

Rears + Atmos

If you got the Andrew Jones speakers, you can now grab another bookshelf pair for $100.

Meanwhile another Klipsch rear matching R-15 pair will be $200.

For Atmos, pick your poison on in-ceiling speakers. Say we went with these 8" Polks for $130 pair (leaning a little more expensive on these since they are gonna be stuck in there and can't easily be swapped out like a bookshelf speaker):

https://www.amazon.com/Polk-Audio-RC80i-Ceiling-Speakers/dp/B00006BMQT

EDIT: also check out these Miccas for in-ceiling, $40 each:

https://www.amazon.com/Micca-M-8C-Ceiling-Speaker-Pivoting/dp/B002YPS6T6

Finally, add the second sub if you haven't already, another $200.

So $100 pioneer (or $200 klipsch) bookshelves + $130 ceiling polks + $200 F12 sub is also right around budget at $450-550.

Some random thoughts from me here. :)

EDIT 2: and if the full size bookshelves don't fit as rears, grab the Polk OWM 3's for $100 pair (or consider the OWM 5's for $300/pair) as mentioned in another comment for crazy versatility options and wall mounting.

u/SeafoodDuder · 2 pointsr/hometheater

Yeah, there are quite a few like the Optoma HD141X, the Optoma HD26, the Epson 1040 and misc refurbished higher tier projectors such as the BenQ W1070 for $527 when it retails for $700.

IMO, I think projectors are much better and more flexible than TVs. You can save quite a bit of money and get a much bigger screen by going refurbished. Projectors are less common and require more initial setup and research but I love them.

u/[deleted] · 3 pointsr/hometheater

I would advise you that buying a sound bar is a waste of your money. You're much better off setting that money aside and saving for a better system.

Speakers are the most important part of a sound system, more important than the receiver (just to put it simply. Obviously there are caveats).

If you're really desperate to make the leap now, there are many Home Theater In a Box (HITB) setups in your price range. Consider purchasing one of these, with an eye on upgrading your speakers.

Personally, I like my Onkyo a lot, and you might consider this unit on Amazon. I do not own it myself, but it is well reviewed. I recommend searching for units in your range, and then google that model along with key words "AVS forum" - you'll likely find a ton of user feedback.

A few key points I would mention - don't worry about 7.1 systems unless your TV viewing area is cavernous. If you are watching Blu-rays, do focus on something with HDMI inputs, to maximize your options for hi-def audio. My opinion is that Sony gear tends to be overpriced, because of the brand name. Consider looking into a well reviewed HITB from lesser known brands.

u/WaffleTail · 1 pointr/hometheater

If you just want a pair of speaker's for "everything", those Sony's should be adequate enough. If you have the patience, these sometimes go for about $105 on Amazon from time to time. The last time i saw them like that was about a month ago. Keep in mind it's for one speaker, so two will be just about $210.

That will net you a good stereo 2.0 set up. In fact, the SR805 was quite well regarded back when it came out. Unfortunately, its prone to breaking down from it's own heat. So either sell it if you don't want it, or keep a running fan on top of it to cool it down. Just to be safe.

Getting a good 5.1 setup under $300 is a bit tricky. You could get four $50 speakers an a $100 center, but not only is that lacking a subwoofer its also not going to be as good sounding as a 2.0 system i described above. ymmv.

u/Portable_Calculator · 3 pointsr/hometheater

Benq w1070 Projector

Denon-1713 receiver

Jamo S426 Speakers

BIC F12 Subwoofer

3D TV Corp Glasses

Sony BDP-5100


edit: If anyone is wondering, 89" fixed screen. Picture doesn't really do it justice.

I absolutely love it. Could not be happier. Feel free to ask any questions.

u/SirMaster · 1 pointr/hometheater

Well I've got a Panasonic PT-AE8000U. Was $2500 back when I got it. You can now get it for about $2100.

Here is my setup if interested:
http://imgur.com/a/xmFbo#0

Though you can get a pretty solid 1080p 3D projector for under a grand as well. Check out the BenQ W1070.

http://www.amazon.com/BenQ-W1070-Theater-Projector-Silver/dp/B00A2T6X0K

With the cheapest possible 1080p 3D down to $700 these days:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt=Viewsonic%20Pjd7820&N=0&InitialSearch=yes

u/Alabaster13 · 1 pointr/hometheater

I thought about that ....lol.

Yes his recommendation was 1 or 2 8' subs. Way too small.

Regarding wiring will this be ok for the sub and for the speakers?
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B006LW0W5Y/ref=ox_sc_act_image_3?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B003FVYXY0/ref=ox_sc_act_image_5?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A1DCPNQKKEISZB

Do you know the best place that I could try and sell my soundbar other then eBay or craigslist. I would love to get this system going.

u/grendelone · 2 pointsr/hometheater

A number of possible solutions. Your TV has optical sound out. So you will need something to convert the optical digital sound signal to an analog signal (DAC). Then you will need something to amplify the analog signal to drive a speaker (amp). Then of course the speaker itself.

Here are some possible solutions:

u/deputydon · 1 pointr/hometheater

This is the HTIB I previously owned. So the speakers are from that.

But recently I think I've decided to up the budget a little bit. I think I'm going to go with the Denon x1300w off of A4L for $299, and then get a pair of Micca MB42X and the MB42X-C for now until I can upgrade my rear speakers and sub.

I was considering just settling for the Denon AVR-S530BT, but for $299 it's hard to pass up such a significant improvement as well as a leaving me a bit of room to gradually improve to a 7.1.2 set up for Atmos.

u/elbarto_pmd · 2 pointsr/hometheater

Since you have a macbook, we use a bluetooth receiver connected to our preamp link.
It is not good if you want to do some critical listening, but it serves us well. Our HT is mainly for movies, not music, so we do not mind the slight reduction in quality. Plus it is super easy and convenient.

u/ShinyTile · 3 pointsr/hometheater

This and these would be a start to a great system, or you could do the same receiver + these fronts and this center and these surrounds. The second set is my setup, actually. That's napkin math to $1k, and it's freaking solid. slightly not as good as the UB5s, but for home theater usage, that's less of a deal. If you want top end music performance too, I'd vote get the UB5s. I'm extremely happy with my B6s/matching center / surrounds.

u/Jmunnny · 2 pointsr/hometheater

I've been really happy with this one. Haven't tried 3-D, don't care about it either, but the picture is very nice, I have 245 hours on the lamp, and it's going strong.

Optoma HD141X 1080p 3D DLP Home Theater Projector https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MK39P92/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_0BzJwbZX48AKM

u/Rpd444 · 1 pointr/hometheater

Yeah, I hear that. I don't blame you, especially because $200 can otherwise be spent on better speakers, or something. How is your audio setup?
I went to Amazon.com and found that they're selling the BenQ W1070 for $519.

Here are some other options, if your budget is in that $500-$700 range:

Optoma HD 142X

Optoma GT1080p

The one I picked up was the Epson Home Cinema 2045 (which I bought from Best Buy actually)

u/kkobbss · 2 pointsr/hometheater

Bluetooth reciever: http://www.amazon.com/HomeSpot-NFC-Enabled-Bluetooth-Receiver-System/dp/B009OBCAW2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1420275276&sr=8-1&keywords=bluetooth+receiver
Wifi reciever: http://www.amazon.com/Linksys-WES610N-Dual-Band-Entertainment-Refurbished/dp/B00FX38A56/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1420275315&sr=8-3&keywords=linksys+bridge
With these two you can make any reciever wifi and bluetooth capable for around $60
Amazon Fire tv stick has spotify connect on it and that's only $39
Good luck!
Quick edit: I'd go for a pretty featureless receiver and let your Apple TV do all the streaming.

u/redialed · 1 pointr/hometheater

to stay in a budget, but with the requirement of 1080p i think the best retail deal is the benq w1070

and as for drop down screens, elite screens are supposed to be good but you would need to measure to figure out what size works for you


but going to /r/projectors will serve you a lot better than a one off comment from me, gl

i think your main frustration will be that most setups focus on multiple inputs with one output. here you need multiple outputs. that might mean using built in sound for the two 50s with a speaker setup for the projector, or it might mean some sort of switcher.

u/thunder_struck85 · 1 pointr/hometheater

budget is a little on the low side ... but having said that I just bought this for my parents for Xmas, and they do like it quite a bit. For the price, im impressed at the sound quality myself as well.

http://www.amazon.com/Onkyo-HT-S3500-5-1-Channel-Theater-Receiver/dp/B0077V88V8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1419883783&sr=8-1&keywords=onkyo+ht-s3500

Note: i paid $100 less than this in November. I'm sure it will drop down in price again. Actually, the price went UP just before cyber monday by $100. Wonder how many people paid an extra $100 thinking they were still getting a cyber monday deal.

u/Pheelip · 3 pointsr/hometheater

https://www.amazon.com/BenQ-DLP-1080p-Projector-W1070/dp/B00A2T6X0K

Ive got it and its a fantastic bargain. Full 1080, good lumens and high contrast. Plus supports 3d if thats your thing.

u/portezbie · 2 pointsr/hometheater

Receiver ($110): http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/denavr1513/denon-avr-1513-5.1ch-home-theater-receiver-3d-ready/1.html

Receiver - 2nd option: http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/denavre300/denon-avr-e300-5.1-3d-networking-receiver-airplay/1.html

-Could be good for future upgrades. Has some networking functionality and a lot more wattage.

Stereo Speakers ($80): http://www.amazon.com/Micca-MB42X-Bookshelf-Speakers-Tweeter/dp/B00E7H8GG2

Sub ($130): http://www.amazon.com/MartinLogan-Dynamo-300-Theater-Subwoofer/dp/B004LRPXAU/

Wire ($18): http://www.amazon.com/Monoprice-50-Feet-High-Purity-Oxygen-Free-Speaker/dp/B001UNLTVK/

With tax and shipping though, that is a bit over your budget, should be around $350-400. It should sound really good, plus leave you the option to add a center channel and surround if he ever wants it.

If you want to cut the initial cost, you could forego the sub until a later date and it would still sound very good and that would get you back into budget. You could also forego the sub to purchase the more expensive receiver if that appeals to you. The nice thing about a receiver is it gives you lots of options for future upgrades.

u/HarmvE · 1 pointr/hometheater

Thanks for the replies.

I've seen some recommendations and have been looking all day for the Polk Audio RC60i but they don't seem to ship to my country.

I strumbled across a site that listed some other recommendations (besides the Polk Audio one), and these are some options that actually do ship to my country:

- Pyle PD1C60 https://www.amazon.com/Pyle-PDIC60-Ceiling-6-5-Inch-Speaker/dp/B00LRTLYIA

- Micca M8-C https://www.amazon.com/Micca-M-8C-Ceiling-Speaker-Pivoting/dp/B002YPS6T6/ref=sr_1_1?s=industrial&ie=UTF8&qid=1525551460&sr=8-1&keywords=Micca+M-8C

- Klipsch R-1650

Anyone experiences with these? Which one would be the best for Atmos?

u/kmarq · 1 pointr/hometheater

I just did something similar, added some bookshelf speakers to a small room setup. However, the ones I added were un-powered and my TV did not have a variable output. I had to find a little amp that would also take IR to control volume Kentiger V10 Bluetooth Hi-Fi Stereo

Everything is controlled from a Harmony remote which makes it all still nice for anyone to use.

First advice, confirm what outputs your TV has to see if you will need something that can manage the volume or not.

2nd, consider adding a Harmony remote to simplify the setup if you need to add additional hardware that can handle the volume and won't work with the existing remote. This guy is very affordable and works well Harmony 650

u/wdouglass · 2 pointsr/hometheater

I have a yamaha RX-v781, and I love it. The RX-V381 should be similar, with a few missing features (and less channels)

If you're on a budget, but you want 5.1 right away, here's what I suggest you do. Get a receiver (I would go with the yamaha, the denon ones are good too), and get a cheap 5.1 package like this one:

https://www.monoprice.com/Product?p_id=10565&gclid=CjwKCAjwk4vMBRAgEiwA4ftLs3U_3omcZfIjWIXw1qOV9wsm4jF34_KqDB6plRu7X1NTaKTdTknuoBoCMjcQAvD_BwE

or this one (which is nicer):

https://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-SP-PK52FS-Theater-Speaker-Package/dp/B00IK8I9K2

That way, you can replace speakers as you go and still have a complete system. And a year or two down the line, when you've completely swapped out the monoprice system, you'll only be out $150 instead of having to scrap a HTIB that could be $1000.

u/white_s2k · 1 pointr/hometheater

Thank you for the recommendations, greatly appreciated. Question - is there a reason why you wouldn't go with a ML sub such as this one? Is the $580 price tag for the VTF going to be that much better vs. the ML for $150?

http://smile.amazon.com/MartinLogan-Dynamo-300-Theater-Subwoofer/dp/B004LRPXAU/ref=pd_bxgy_23_img_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=14V7BNF7GZKQNCY3VKMN

u/CommanderRikersBeard · 3 pointsr/hometheater

always been a fan of infinity speakers myself, having an old set of studio monitors from the 90's for my stereo setup.

i have a full set of the Primus line, and they're affordable with a good sound (and i think they look better than the pioneer speakers). also, amazon has them on crazy discount right now, though you can usually pick them up for $200/ea.

some people don't like that infinity is now owned by harmon and is a shadow of what it once was, but these speakers have served me well until i have the funds to throw $3000 on a set of something better.

u/HulksInvinciblePants · 5 pointsr/hometheater

Here's an option:

L/R: https://www.amazon.ca/Debut-Bookshelf-Speakers-Andrew-Jones/dp/B014GSEQ06/ ($332.20)

Center: https://www.amazon.ca/Debut-Center-Speaker-Andrew-Jones/dp/B014GSEQWE/ ($222)

Rears: https://www.amazon.ca/gp/offer-listing/B01DKDJRH0 ($256)

Dual Subs: https://www.amazon.ca/gp/offer-listing/B00SU63LUW/ ($1300)

Dual Subs: https://www.svsound.com/collections/dual-subwoofers#dual-1000-series ($1184.87)

About $100 over your budget, but I only sourced from Amazon.ca. You can probably get it where you need to be by shopping around. Component wise, ELAC bookshelfs are very solid for a mixture of movies and music. You could drop to one sub and free up extra money, for better speakers, but timber matching the whole set (within your budget) could become more difficult. Plus, dual subs is a real difference maker when it comes to consistent performance around the room.

u/da5id1 · 1 pointr/hometheater

Subwoofer – $249

Front L-R - $750 pr BIC Acoustech PL-980L-PL-980R

Center Speaker – $199 BIC Acoustech PL-28II Center Speaker

Surrounds — $239 pr BIC Acoustech PL-66 Surround Speakers


Best Buy does sell BIC America – just the crappy ones. See if they will order these and price match Amazon. I haven't done the calculations but I think that brings you right in at 1200+ the sub. Or see if you can sell your Best Buy GC. All the speakers have 5-7 your warranties and should last you 15+ years. IMHO

u/TheCompleteCyclePath · 3 pointsr/hometheater

Like others said I'd go with a sub. If you've got a tight budget look into the Dynamo 300.

I also have the Fluance SX6s paired with the Dynamo 300 and I've been really impressed. Although you'll want something bigger if it's a pretty big/open space you're working with, my setup is in my room (like 12x12ft).

u/asasargent · 5 pointsr/hometheater

Optoma HD141X - $599.99 http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00MK39P92?pc_redir=1412721600&robot_redir=1

Just bought one 3 weeks ago, absolutely love it. I had an acer hd5360, this is leaps and bounds above the acer, and I loved that projector.

u/WhyGod-Why · 5 pointsr/hometheater

Not sure what your sub budget is but you can do way better than that Onkyo sub if you increase your budget.
for $200: https://www.parts-express.com/dayton-audio-sub-1500-15-150-watt-powered-subwoofer--300-634.
for $250: https://www.amazon.com/Bic-Acoustech-PL-200-II-Subwoofer/dp/B074131NKS/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1521495264&sr=8-2&keywords=bic+subwoofer.
EDIT: the Bic apparently increased in price. I remember it being $250 at some point .

u/e60deluxe · 1 pointr/hometheater

yes, the pioneers are better, but they cost 4x as much.

you will get pandora and all with bluetooth. if your receiver does not have blue tooth, you can easily add it with something like this:

http://www.amazon.com/HomeSpot-NFC-enabled-Bluetooth-Receiver-System/dp/B009OBCAW2/ref=pd_cp_e_0

u/PlaydoughDinosaur · 1 pointr/hometheater




I think I like your plan the best, so just to make sure, this is the set you are talking about correct?

u/lnvis · 1 pointr/hometheater

So I'm just looking for a DAC then, that's a lot cheaper than a receiver or bar. Might not be the place to ask, but would my 598s power properly without an amp? I've had good experiences with FiiO in the past and this looks nice.

u/LivingTheDr3am · 3 pointsr/hometheater

Also seeing this Benq projector getting good reviews and it appears to have multi-channel audio out compared to the previous projector I linked. Price goes up, but it seems to be a pretty solid contender.

u/Omerbaturay · 1 pointr/hometheater

Alrighty I looked at the Zeos buying guide. The media room is 11x10 with 9ft ceilings. Here's what I've picked out and it looks like I'll be able to be beat or match Sonos' pricing.

Receiver - AVRS530BT (https://www.amazon.ca/Denon-Audio-Component-Receiver-AVRS530BT/dp/B06XYD1RZ3/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1512081630&sr=8-1&keywords=denon+receiver)

On the above, it looks like 4K passthrough and HDR 2.2 is fine as well. Just want to make sure.

Left / Right - ELAC B6 6.5" (https://www.amazon.ca/Debut-Bookshelf-Speakers-Andrew-Jones/dp/B014GSEQ06/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1512081995&sr=8-2&keywords=elac%2Bb5&th=1)

On the above, I'm not sure about sizing. What would be difference between 4", 5" and 6.5"?

Center - ELAC C5 (https://www.amazon.ca/Debut-Center-Speaker-Andrew-Jones/dp/B014GSEQWE/ref=sr_1_4?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1512082107&sr=1-4&keywords=elac+debut)

Rear - Fluance XLBP (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KAIHDRY/ref=as_li_ss_tl?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&linkCode=sl1&tag=zeos-20&linkId=4686b99594dc842920ce5b0af24c749c)

On the above, do I need 1 or 2 of these? I'm not sure if I'll be mounting or keeping it on stands.

Sub - BIC America F12 12" (https://www.amazon.com/BIC-America-F12-475-Watt-Subwoofer/dp/B0015A8Y5M/ref=as_li_ss_tl?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1462201214&sr=1-26&keywords=subwoofer&linkCode=sl1&tag=zeos-20&linkId=12c7dd989108e560a1c31e4716134e84)

Unsure about sizing / power of this sub and whether it necessitates 2? I'm not a HUGE sub person (been living in a condo for a while but now in a single detached) but I do like "feeling" the booms, crashes etc. Second, can you confirm receiver will be able to power this?

Should be it! Let me know!

u/lasttycoon · 1 pointr/hometheater

Sure.
Elac Debut Series Bundle with (4) B6 Bookshelf Speakers, (1) C5 Center Channel Speaker, and (1) S10 Subwoofer https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MXMUPFK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_1jgIybR5DQCPS
Or if you have a smaller budget Pioneer SP-PK52FS Andrew Jones 5.1 Home Theater Speaker Package https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IK8I9K2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_KngIybSXETXB3
Or Fluance AVHTB Surround Sound Home Theater 5.0 Channel Speaker System including Three-way Floorstanding Towers, Center and Rear Speakers https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00064JWSG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_4kgIybV1FTSEH
Paired with Denon AVR-S510BT 5.2 Channel Full 4K Ultra HD AV Receiver with Bluetooth https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00YAO43YG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_MlgIybKTT9H8C
A better subwoofer like this can be used as well SVS SB12-NSD - 12", 400-watt DSP Controlled, Sealed Box Subwoofer (Black Ash) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009F8Y7SO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_qmgIybESBHY14
Separate parts can be used as needed.
Here is an example of a wireless kit Rocketfish Universal Wireless Rear Speaker Kit RF-WHTIB-A https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000VEP3XO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_UogIyb89XNFYN

u/EcksTeaSea · 10 pointsr/hometheater

So yeah, I'm sure my placement is trash and everything is overkill for my tiny apartment, but it sounds amazing and I couldn't be happier.

u/Excrucibo · 3 pointsr/hometheater

My brother-in-law got one of these for Christmas last year. I haven't used it much personally, but he likes it, says it's reliable, and has good range.

u/celece · 2 pointsr/hometheater

Making sure I get the parts right:

4x http://www.amazon.com/Infinity-Primus-Three-way-Floorstanding-Speaker/dp/B0046A8R3M

1x http://www.amazon.com/Denon-AVR-X1000-5-1-Channel-Networking-Receiver/dp/B00CALM2JY

1x http://www.amazon.com/Dayton-Audio-SUB-1200-12-Inch-Subwoofer/dp/B00669L3HS

Any complaints or thoughts about the setup?

Is the receiver easy to use? My wife is a bit tech impaired when it comes to things like receivers.

It says you can "wirelessly stream music from iTunes on your PC or Mac or from your iPod touch, iPhone, or iPad via your home network" but I see no wireless specs. Would I need to run network cable to the router for those features to work?

Sorry for the bombardment of questions, thanks for your help!

u/_Dozier_ · 1 pointr/hometheater

I'd stick to this Denon S540BT - $150 and put more money in the speakers.

Option 1:HSU 3.1 - $879

Your room is 2650 cu ft. That sub might be enough (if there ever really is) and those are great front 3. Doesn't get 5.1, but surrounds are cheap(less than $100)

Option 2:VTF2-MK5 - $540

and Fluance Sig Series LR - $200 + Fluance Center - $150

or Wavecrest HVL-1 x3 - $273

Option 2 goes big on the sub, which is always good, but limits your mains around $300.

Budget Surround Options:

Dayton B452-AIR - $45

Micca MB42X - $80

u/everlong44 · 6 pointsr/hometheater

You will have to get a receiver and with that budget, you will have to buy a refurbished receiver to get anything for your money. Amazon is selling a good yamaha 5.1 receiver below:

http://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-HTR-3066-R-5-1-Channel-Refurbished-Receiver/dp/B00IWURW6U/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1404937723&sr=8-10&keywords=yamaha+receiver

Then you can get a pair of bookshelf speakers to start:

http://www.amazon.com/Micca-MB42X-Bookshelf-Speakers-Tweeter/dp/B00E7H8GG2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1404937847&sr=8-1&keywords=micca+speakers

This would be a pretty decent 2.0 setup. Over time you can purchase a subwoofer:

http://www.amazon.com/MartinLogan-Dynamo-300-Theater-Subwoofer/dp/B004LRPXAU/ref=sr_1_16?ie=UTF8&qid=1404938019&sr=8-16&keywords=subwoofer

This whole setup can be expanded to a 3.1, 4.1, or 5.1 setup by purchasing another set (or 2 sets) of bookshelf speakers.

u/aarodynamic · 1 pointr/hometheater

If you’re on a tight budget then this is an excellent sub for the money: https://www.amazon.com/Bic-Acoustech-PL-200-II-Subwoofer/dp/B074131NKS

2 of them would be fantastic.

If you’re willing to spend more than that then look at SVS, Rythmik, Monolith, and REL

u/poo706 · 1 pointr/hometheater

Ok, I think I might be on the right track now. What if I used something like this to convert the audio from digital to analog, and then used something like this to amplify the audio and send it to speakers? Would I need to be concerned with audio/video sync with this type of setup?

u/FranknStein7 · 1 pointr/hometheater

The KRP-500M has no audio function at all unless the optional speakers are installed. Do you have speakers on your KRP-500M? Also how are you sending audio to your sound system? HDMI or optical?

With a device like a Roku, ideally what you do is plug HDMI from Roku to audio receiver, and then send video to the KRP-500M via the video out on the audio receiver.

Edit: Does the HT-J4500 even have an HDMI in? I guess it's a blu-ray player with HDMI out only? That's part of your problem. I don't think you're going to be able to get sound from the Roku. I don't think the KRP-500M has any audio outs either, only audio in. You might be able to get things to work with an HDMI splitter like this: https://www.amazon.com/J-Tech-Digital-Extractor-Converter-JTDAT5CH/dp/B00BIQER0E/ref=sxin_2_ac_d_rm?ac_md=1-1-aGRtaSBhdWRpbyBleHRyYWN0b3I%3D-ac_d_rm&keywords=hdmi+optical+splitter&pd_rd_i=B00BIQER0E&pd_rd_r=a59ec333-434b-477c-a3e8-7b642999f681&pd_rd_w=GQ4Hh&pd_rd_wg=leitC&pf_rd_p=39892eb5-25ed-41d8-aff1-b659c9b73760&pf_rd_r=XGWE6EPHMDYA5EXJY33R&psc=1&qid=1572482045. You would plug the Roku into that, send video to your KRP-500M using HDMI, and audio to your sound system using analog or optical.

In the longterm I would recommend investing in a traditional audio receiver with passive speakers.

u/A_Bag_Full_of_Poops · 2 pointsr/hometheater

I would make the following changes:

  • Do not spend $280 on that Klipsch subwoofer! It only goes down to 32Hz. For $30 less, get a BIC PL200, which goes down to 22Hz and has a more powerful amplifier.

  • If you buy the Denon S710W from Accessories4Less, you can save $75 and get a refurbished model.

  • You're spending too much on your ceiling speakers, they're almost the same price as your mains. I wouldn't spend more than $150 on a pair of in-ceilings.

  • You didn't mention a screen, it will improve your image quality. The Wirecutter recommends Silver Tickets' screens for budget-oriented setups.

    I'm assuming you are aware of Klipsch's unique sound signature and are okay with the cranked-up treble. If not, you should demo some of their speakers before buying them. For your budget, I would get something from an internet-direct company like the Emotiva Airmotiv 5ch Bundle, but that's a personal preference.
u/FULL_METAL_HOODIE · 1 pointr/hometheater

My concern with bipoles(and especially dipoles) on the walls there would be a potential phasing issue with a reflection off of the back wall. There would also be an associated gain from the rearward facing speakers of the bipole firing into corners.

Since it doesn't seem like you're opposed to wall mounting speakers, you could go for something like the Polk OWM3 which have a variety of mounting options and could even be mounted in the back corners firing into your room or these JBL Studio 210's firing in towards your couch. These Fluance Signature Series bookshelves are front ported and come with a place to wall mount them as well. Good luck

u/jupiterkansas · 1 pointr/hometheater

yes, the projector has to have 1080p, and even then read reviews.

I have this $655 one and it's terrific, but you won't find a decent projector for less than $400. Not for movie/TV watching anyway. Cheaper projectors are only good for watching PowerPoint.

u/fpsfreak · 2 pointsr/hometheater

You can get a 2.1 amp such as SMSL Q5 Pro. It comes with a remote and has a subwoofer output. A used-like-new is available at amazon for $85.



Pick up a Dayton sub 12 from parts express for $138.

Pick up Elec debut 6.2's for around $228 from amazon since you mentioned you like them.

All of this comes to around $450.

This of course means forfeiting any chances of future expansion and you won't be able to control volume through your TV remote.

However you can go with an s530BT avr from A4L for $140 and keep your chances of future expansion alive while still being close to your $500 budget.

u/Vinnces · 0 pointsr/hometheater

If you have a Frys near you I would recommend this at $99 each (when they are on sale in-store only):

http://www.amazon.com/Infinity-Primus-Three-way-Floorstanding-Speaker/dp/B0046A8R3M/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1425357232&sr=8-1&keywords=infinity+primus

If you don't live near a Frys, Amazon sometimes will pricematch it with free shipping so you can look out for that.

There is also a list here for speakers if your on a budget.

http://www.reddit.com/r/AverageJoeAudiophile/

u/theholyllama · 1 pointr/hometheater

Thanks, very helpful. $180 for that pair is doable, I think. Camelcamelcamel says the bookshelf ones you linked earlier were in stock last in June... Not sure if I want to bank on it being in stock anytime soon.

The receiver you linked before is out of stock... what do you think of this as a substitute? http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/denavre200/denon-avr-e200-5.1-channel-3d-home-theater-receiver/1.html

Also, opinion on this subwoofer instead of the Dayton? Does it depend on intended usage? http://smile.amazon.com/MartinLogan-Dynamo-300-Theater-Subwoofer/dp/B004LRPXAU?sa-no-redirect=1

So in all, I guess I'm looking at

Receiver $200

Center speaker $60

Sub $110

Floor speakers $180

TOTAL $350 + tax/shipping + receiver price