How about these speakers?

[EddieG]

Infinity TSS-450 complete home theater speaker system or the
Harman Kardon 5.1 Home Cinema Theater Speaker System.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Infinity TSS-450 complete home theater speaker system or the
Harman Kardon 5.1 Home Cinema Theater Speaker System.

I would take the HKTS 15 over the TSS-450. Both are from the same parent company Harman International, but when it comes to lower price products, I trust HK more than Infinity.

 

[Seth=L]

I would take the HKTS 15 over the TSS-450. Both are from the same parent company Harman International, but when it comes to lower price products, I trust HK more than Infinity.

What, why? What is wrong with Infinity?

The H/K seems to cost more everywhere I have looked (over $300). You can get the Infinity system for around $200 total.

 

[EddieG]

What, why? What is wrong with Infinity?

The H/K seems to cost more everywhere I have looked (over $300). You can get the Infinity system for around $200 total.

I found them both on Ebay...if I can get them for the same price, which would you recommend?

 

[Seth=L]

I found them both on Ebay...if I can get them for the same price, which would you recommend?

I am partial to Infinity, as an Infinity owner myself. I would bet either would yield good results.

 

[EddieG]

I am partial to Infinity, as an Infinity owner myself. I would bet either would yield good results.

But the HK cost more...doesn't that mean it's better??

 

[Seth=L]

But the HK cost more...doesn't that mean it's better??

Simply put, no. It probably costs more because it is a newer model and has 6 speakers and a subwoofer instead of the Infinity's 5 speakers and subwoofer.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Without knowing how they actually sound & just based on their frequency responses, I would pick the HK.

HK-14: 25-20,000 Hz (+/- 6dB)
Infinity: 39-20,000 Hz (+/-3 dB)

 

[avaserfi]

Without knowing how they actually sound & just based on their frequency responses, I would pick the HK.

HK-14: 25-20,000 Hz (+/- 6dB)
Infinity: 39-20,000 Hz (+/-3 dB)

I wouldn't just go by those responses but if I was forced I would rather have the Infinities. Just because the HK can go lower does not make it better. The (+/- 6dB) could be anywhere in the response which is a pretty big change and could make the system sound like crap which btw it does! One of my friends has the seven channel version of this sound system and man I can't stand it.

Even movies sound bad with the HK system plus the sub is boomy and full of distortion when it hits those lows.

My money would go towards the Infinity's simply because of how much I disliked the HK system. Also, if you are looking for a pretty good HTiB I would look at some offerings that have possible upgradability such as offerings from Denon, Yamaha or Onkyo as those actually come with pretty good receivers that you could use later if you choose to upgrade the speakers.

 

[j_garcia]

Why don't we start with your budget and what exactly you want to achieve? Is this for movies only? Music? Large livingroom, dedicated theater or bedroom?

 

[fmw]

Would it make sense to start out with better speakers and just buy something to get started like a center channel if you want movies or a main pair if music is the main thing? Then you could add speakers in the future as the buget allowed.

 

[jcPanny]

Bookshelf speakers

I would recommend a $200 pair of booshelf speakers vs. a 5.1 HTIB system with small satellite speakers.

 

[mtrycrafts]

I found them both on Ebay...if I can get them for the same price, which would you recommend?

Buy them both, it is not much at all, it seems, not when you are talking speakers. Then, you can compare keep the better one and either relegate the second to a second location, give it to children or sell it. A win all around.

 

[mtrycrafts]

Without knowing how they actually sound & just based on their frequency responses, I would pick the HK.

HK-14: 25-20,000 Hz (+/- 6dB)
Infinity: 39-20,000 Hz (+/-3 dB)

Yes, but one is rated to the +/-6 dB response and the other is +/-3 dB. In reality, they could have very close response if both are rated equally.

 

[EddieG]

Why don't we start with your budget and what exactly you want to achieve? Is this for movies only? Music? Large livingroom, dedicated theater or bedroom?

My budget is quite low ($150 max), and it is for home theater. I will most likely get the HK 147 receiver (I'm watching an auction on ebay now) as it is a refurbished model and meets my budget on receivers.

I currently have an old pair of Panasonic speakers from the early 90's (when they were big boxes) and a set of cheap panasonic surround speakers (2 satellites and a center) and a polk sub woofer. The surround and sub woofer were a gift so I do not know how good they are, or how much was spent, but for me the system sounds fine. Even for music the system is "good enough" for me, but I know squat about good sound anyway.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

My budget is quite low ($150 max), and it is for home theater. I will most likely get the HK 147 receiver (I'm watching an auction on ebay now) as it is a refurbished model and meets my budget on receivers.

I currently have an old pair of Panasonic speakers from the early 90's (when they were big boxes) and a set of cheap panasonic surround speakers (2 satellites and a center) and a polk sub woofer. The surround and sub woofer were a gift so I do not know how good they are, or how much was spent, but for me the system sounds fine. Even for music the system is "good enough" for me, but I know squat about good sound anyway.

I would get the HK-147 receiver & the HK-14 speaker system. Perfect for you. You will be happy! I like Harman Kardon a lot. They make great products. I trust them. So get the HK receiver & speaker system!

 

[no. 5]

Without knowing how they actually sound & just based on their frequency responses, I would pick the HK.

HK-14: 25-20,000 Hz (+/- 6dB)
Infinity: 39-20,000 Hz (+/-3 dB)

+/- 6dB eek that means some frequencies have a 12dB level difference between them. Perhaps H/K chose +/- 6dB rather than +/- 3dB to have an impressive sounding 25Hz extension? Perhaps they have the same bandwidth?

Interestingly, the HKTS-15 I looked up on Amazon.com was rated as "35Hz - 20kHz frequency response (-6dB)".

But back to EddieG, jcPanny has a very good sujgestion... unless you don't want to wait that long for a new 5.1 system.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Interestingly, the HKTS-15 I looked up on Amazon.com was rated as "35Hz - 20kHz frequency response (-6dB)".

I think the HKTS-15 is a 10" subwoofer, but the HKTS-14 is a 14" subwoofer.

 

[Seth=L]

I think the HKTS-15 is a 10" subwoofer, but the HKTS-14 is a 14" subwoofer.

The HKTS-15 is a newer model that does feature a 10" woofer plus a sixth rear center speaker for 6.1 surround sound.

The HKTS-14 has a 12" subwoofer. I have yet to see a 14" home audio subwoofer, if they have them out there they are not common.

 

[Seth=L]

+/- 6dB eek that means some frequencies have a 12dB level difference between them. Perhaps H/K chose +/- 6dB rather than +/- 3dB to have an impressive sounding 25Hz extension? Perhaps they have the same bandwidth?

Interestingly, the HKTS-15 I looked up on Amazon.com was rated as "35Hz - 20kHz frequency response (-6dB)".

But back to EddieG, jcPanny has a very good sujgestion... unless you don't want to wait that long for a new 5.1 system.

The HKTS-15 has a smaller subwoofer, hence the extension to 35Hz. The HKTS-14 has a larger 200 watt subwoofer (12") and can go down to 25Hz, and this spec is listed on Amazon.

If the deal on Ebay is for the HKTS-14 I would go for that one just for the subwoofer. If it is the HKTS-15 (not likely, but since we don't know) then I am torn. I have no idea which would sound better at that point. I do think the HKTS-14 would pack a better punch that the Infinity system or the HKTS-15, and for the money it is a great choice. Just think if the OP was trying to get Bose that didn't sound half as good for 10 times the money.