inexpensive (CHEAP!) 5.1 system for shared apartment

[alternapop]

I live in a 2 bedroom apartment in San Francisco. I'm buying a new audio system for my bedroom, which is where I listen to most of my music. For that I'm picking up a Denon receiver and the Onix speakers.

I don't want to "invest" in anything just yet and will be more than satisfied with the above system as a bedroom system for years to come.

For the shared living room I'd like to get a very inexpensive surround sound system. Something to improve the sound of the built in speakers on my Panasonic plasma. I don't want to spend hardly any money. I know that the 'home theater in a box' sets are generally garbage. I've seen some for sale on ebay for very cheap. Under $200. Would it improve the hidef and audio experience for me to pick up one of these systems? Can someone recommend one that is worth the money and won't break in 6 months?

We have a PS3 and use that for dvd's so we don't need one that includes a dvd player.

Our living room is rather small... I'm guessing 12 x 14 give or take a couple feet.

Thanks!

 

[agarwalro]

Whats your budget like?

IMHO, If you have analog outs available, 5.1 computer speakers like Logitech Z-5500 may be the way to to. This specific Logitech model can do DD and DTS decoding via Optic or Coax inputs. I cannot comment on if it will give you the volume to fill the room. Look into Klipsch and Creative for alternatives.

If you need DD, DTS, DVD-A, SACD decoding and dont want to go with computer speakers, you will have to go HTIB. There are some pretty decent option from Denon and Onkyo but they run around $600 - $800. A decent HTIB should easily best any computer speaker 5.1 setup.

 

[jcPanny]

Cheap surround sound.

I saw a set of the AV123 ELT speakers in the classified section for about $300. They are compact bookshelf speakers and should be better than your average HTIB. Add an inexpensive receiver $1-200. and you should be set.

Another option would be a quality 2.1 system like your Onix X-LS and X-sub vs. a HTIB surround sound system.

 

[alternapop]

Whats your budget like?

IMHO, If you have analog outs available, 5.1 computer speakers like Logitech Z-5500 may be the way to to. This specific Logitech model can do DD and DTS decoding via Optic or Coax inputs. I cannot comment on if it will give you the volume to fill the room. Look into Klipsch and Creative for alternatives.

If you need DD, DTS, DVD-A, SACD decoding and dont want to go with computer speakers, you will have to go HTIB. There are some pretty decent option from Denon and Onkyo but they run around $600 - $800. A decent HTIB should easily best any computer speaker 5.1 setup.

I don't know that I "need" anything specific... I'm still pretty ignorant on the different technologies (DD, DTS, etc)... I should read up on them obviously.

How about buying a discounted Yamaha YSP-800, sound projecting speaker (or similar technology)? along with an inexpensive receiver? Would I be better off getting a true 5.1 surround system? Ideally I don't want to spend more than $500 for the living room. Just would like a decent sounding temporary system that is cheap but reliable that will improve the sound from the built in tv speakers. I don't want nor need to spend that much for the living room at this time. Sometime later when I have my own place and am more permanently situated perhaps.

I've commited to spending about $1000-1200 for my bedroom system.
I have a Mac with an EyeTV USB video card (both standard and hidef) and watch tv on my 23 inch monitor but mostly will use the bedroom system for music. High quality mp3s (greater than 192kb at the least) or streaming 128kb radio nearly 100% of the time. I have a mild hearing loss (high ends) so I won't personally notice the small difference between some setups that an audiophile would.