Replacing receiver for Panasonic SA-HT40

[L_D_G]

So I've had this HTiaB since like 2008. A few years ago, the display went out, but I had everything set, I just needed to hit input enough times to get where I wanted.

Recently, I've started to get a bit of an echo on from voices off screen. It's disorienting in video games and weird on movies and TV.

The speakers for this things are 3ohm and continue to work just as well as I think they did when I unboxed them.

My priority is getting a replacement receiver that supports HDMI, but I have seen similar posts with replies advocating that 3ohm suck and to get something new....I'm just trying to save a couple bucks and allow a simple swap of equipment. Redoing the speaker set up would be more tedious than difficult.

My goal is to keep the price tag around $350....hoping to catch something on sale for Black Friday.

 

[TLS Guy]

So I've had this HTiaB since like 2008. A few years ago, the display went out, but I had everything set, I just needed to hit input enough times to get where I wanted.

Recently, I've started to get a bit of an echo on from voices off screen. It's disorienting in video games and weird on movies and TV.

The speakers for this things are 3ohm and continue to work just as well as I think they did when I unboxed them.

My priority is getting a replacement receiver that supports HDMI, but I have seen similar posts with replies advocating that 3ohm suck and to get something new....I'm just trying to save a couple bucks and allow a simple swap of equipment. Redoing the speaker set up would be more tedious than difficult.

My goal is to keep the price tag around $350....hoping to catch something on sale for Black Friday.

Unfortunately HTIB systems when they fail have to be totally replaced. Three ohm speakers will spell death to a new receiver, which are not designed for that low an impedance. In addition HTIBs do not generally have powered sub woofers. So I'm afraid you are in for a significant expense, if you want to replace an HTIB with an AV receiver. You will need to replace all the speakers, and get a powered sub, in addition to purchasing a receiver.

I would avoid another HTIB as they are all horrible, unreliable and proprietary. So if you want something better it is going to mean a much larger outlay than $350.00. We get posts like yours with significant frequency so this problem is not new to us. You have to face the fact, that those speakers are now useless to you, or anyone else.
I found the manual for that system, and the sub is not powered, and so that is also useless. Subs now contain there own amps, and receivers do not contain an amp to power a sub, but a high impedance RCA connection to send the sub signal to the subwoofer.

 

[L_D_G]

So...for someone in my situation, what is a set up that is I guess good, but affordable?

I was pretty satisfied with this system and the only update I'm looking for is some hdmi ports, so I'm not sure where that would land.

 

[BMXTRIX]

Check out Accessories4Less. They have complete packaged systems, with proper traditional wiring and setup, from about $450 delivered to your home.

YAMAHA YHT-4950U 5.1-Ch Home Theater System

Yamaha Factory Refurbished

www.accessories4less.com

You could also buy the receiver separately...

Accessories4less: High End Audio at Low End Prices!

www.accessories4less.com

Then hit up Craigslist or other local markets and get some cheap speakers to go with it. For my theater setup, when I needed cheap speakers, I got a 5 pack (left/right/center/surrounds) for $50 on Accessories4Less, but those are long gone. Still, things often pop up locally. Just look for 8 ohm speakers if possible.
You also should be looking for a powered subwoofer as that is industry standard.

Monoprice also can deliver on speakers with a 5.1 package at $100.

Monoprice 5.1 Channel Home Theater Satellite Speakers and Subwoofer, Black - Monoprice.com

*** NEWS FLASH! *** C|net, one of the most prestigious sites for consumer electronics reviews and information, has honored us by declaring this 5.1 speaker kit as one of th

www.monoprice.com

 

[TLS Guy]

So...for someone in my situation, what is a set up that is I guess good, but affordable?

I was pretty satisfied with this system and the only update I'm looking for is some hdmi ports, so I'm not sure where that would land.

The problem with HTIBs is what you have found out, that they are proprietary. So if anything fails, you have to chuck the whole system away, which is their intent.
They tend not to be reliable and are likely worse than when you bought yours. None of us recommend HTIBs

This is an entry level receiver.

Here are your options for fronts left and right and surrounds.

Here are your options for the center speaker.

Here are some sub options.

Affordable is all relative. I would caution against gear at the bottom of the market, as cheap gear which fails prematurely tend to be the most expensive purchases in the long run.

 

[Trebdp83]

Affordable can be relative but then there are real budget constraints. Bargains can be had but require some hunting down. A $350.00 budget for a receiver and speakers will require some serious bargain hunting. Information about the devices and TV that will be connected to any new receiver will be helpful as they will dictate the kind of receiver needed for optimal performance.

 

[TLS Guy]

Affordable can be relative but then there are real budget constraints. Bargains can be had but require some hunting down. A $350.00 budget for a receiver and speakers will require some serious bargain hunting. Information about the devices and TV that will be connected to any new receiver will be helpful as they will dictate the kind of receiver needed for optimal performance.

That Yamaha RXV-485 seems an incredible value. I highly doubt he can do better than that for a receiver.

The monoprice 5.1 speaker package will get him started and he can add better speakers as funds permit. With that package he ends up $50.00 over budget. However I think his $350.00 is unrealistic, and he risks getting junk that will soon fail. I don't see how he will meet $350 without going to the used market, which is risky, especially the electronics. If you have a tight budget, then risk is even riskier.

 

[lovinthehd]

If the sub with your htib is passive (no amp of its own) then a modern avr won't work with it.

 

[TLS Guy]

If the sub with your htib is passive (no amp of its own) then a modern avr won't work with it.

It is a passive sub, so he has been advised he needs a new sub.

The sub in that Monoprice rig is a powered sub. I don't understand how they can provide all that for $100.00, but as I said he can upgrade the speakers piece by piece, as that receiver warrants better speakers.

 

[lovinthehd]

It is a passive sub, so he has been advised he needs a new sub.

The sub in that Monoprice rig is a powered sub. I don't understand how they can provide all that for $100.00, but as I said he can upgrade the speakers piece by piece, as that receiver warrants better speakers.

I saw you post that it likely was, but nothing definitive....

The Dayton SUB1200 is another good bargain sub also fairly well considered like some of the Monoprice subs....

 

[Trebdp83]

No, a $350.00 budget is not going to get a new receiver and new speakers of reasonable quality. Used items can be found but no guarantees. Costco has the Denon S760H at $399 right now. That is a great price for a very capable receiver but runs over budget by about fifty bucks before even considering speakers.

 

[L_D_G]

So I ended up buying the Yamaha RXV and Monoprice recommendations as listed by BMXTRIX. My $350 price point was just a concrete number to provide that I was hopeful for. As also mentioned above, affordable is relative and in a conversation like this, there is always a question of "how much do you want to spend". Always a possibility that that answer is unrealistic, but you have to start somewhere.

I'm also reading the mono speakers should at some point get upgraded...what is a worthy upgrade that is on the lower end of the cost scale? Doesn't matter what that price is, I'm just interested in knowing it and the speaker set I'd be looking at. That's really for my own (future) knowledge.

 

[L_D_G]

Oh God, neither showed up with speaker wire!

(They both probably say so on their product pages and I just totally ignored).

Off to ACE...

 

[TLS Guy]

Oh God, neither showed up with speaker wire!

(They both probably say so on their product pages and I just totally ignored).

Off to ACE...

Only HTIBs show up with speaker wire. No one can guess how long you need each run to be.

 

[lovinthehd]

Don't forget a subwoofer cable, too. Altho speaker wire can work with that sub, it's better to use an rca cable.

 

[L_D_G]

Don't forget a subwoofer cable, too. Altho speaker wire can work with that sub, it's better to use an rca cable.

Funny you mention that. The speakers came with that very rca cable, but the receiver has a singular "pre out sub" plug. What cord should I buy to connect these?

 

[TLS Guy]

Funny you mention that. The speakers came with that very rca cable, but the receiver has a singular "pre out sub" plug. What cord should I buy to connect these?

Are you looking at the correct plug? From the pictures that socket sure looks like an RCA out to me. I have never heard of any different subwoofer out on any receiver.

 

[L_D_G]

Are you looking at the correct plug? From the pictures that socket sure looks like an RCA out to me. I have never heard of any different subwoofer out on any receiver.

On the Yamaha rx? I know where the rca goes on the sub.

 

[TLS Guy]

On the Yamaha rx? I know where the rca goes on the sub.

Yes, on the Yamaha. The pictures I look at clearly show a subwoofer RCA out.

 

[L_D_G]

Yes, on the Yamaha. The pictures I look at clearly show a subwoofer RCA out.

But just a single port?

Edit:
Mono simply sent me the wrong cord for this particular set up. They sent me a cord with four male heads. I need to look for something local to either adapt or just a long m/m/m cord.

Because the receiver had a single sub port and the sub itself had two (and I was provided a cord with four heads), I was confused.