Need advice on first time Receiver & Speakers. How are these for starters?

[maf2k8]

Hello,

I am looking to buy a decent, low priced home theater setup. I was looking around and spoke with someone selling the following 2 items. She said she would give them both to me for 100.00 ( receiver has a 4yr extended warranty on it from BB also )

Here is the receiver
i cannot post links since i am noob so go to best buy and enter NS-R5101

and the Speakers ( 1 pair only, but i plan on adding more in the future )
Bestbuy website also...NS-B2111

Now my setup is pretty simple. I have 37" HD lCD TV ( no HD cable, just basic cable with coax going straight from wall to the TV ) A PS3 and a Wii.

The PS3 is connected via HDMI, Wii connected via Component and Cable as i said is coax.

Currently i am using these for better sound
cannot post links so, They are creative I-Trigue 2.1 3300's

These are powered so i do not use a receiver. Though the sound seems some what (covered and plain ) they actually have a nice BOOM to them. They are connected via RCA cables to my TV audio out.

Anyways, i know the brand of the receiver isnt the best, but as for specs and what i am using it for and the price, would you say this is a good deal? I know this receiver is not for hardcore people out there, but for my use what would you think?

Also, would the receiver and speakers out perform what i have going now? Will is sound more clear? and just be more alive?

Another thing, I read the receiver has HDMI passthru, so it does not carry audio thru the HDMI, So my plan is just running all HDMI straight to my TV, and then Digital audio out on my tv to digital IN on receiver. Is this the ideal way?

Any help or comments would be great, thanks!

 

[audion3wb]

Yes the setup you are looking at will probably give you better sound than the powered speakers you are currently running. If you want to start considering getting your toes wet in home audio you should consider your budget first. So if $100.00 bucks is your budget then you probably can't do much better than the deal you are considering.

Is trying them out before purchasing an option? That would be my best advice if you aren't sure about the deal. If you don't decide to go with them you can come back and we can give you loads of advice for budget home audio setups.

 

[maf2k8]

well i plan on hitting bestbuy before i go to the womans house so that way i can really test it out and what not.

Is there any real major downside to the HDMI passthru? i guess i really dont understand it. But as i said, since it is passthru and does not do audio, i will avoid the hdmi inputs all together and run my TV digital out to the receiver.

Is there a audio quality difference in using audio thru HDMI as opposed to Digital out?

 

[GlocksRock]

No offense, but that stuff doesn't seem to look that great, but for $100 you really can't beat it for a starter setup. Just save up and when you get the funds get a better receiver with an HDMI repeater, as that one only has passthrough, which means it will not handle your audio over HDMI.

 

[Midcow2]

Here is a much better system.

Hello,

I am looking to buy a decent, low priced home theater setup. I was looking around and spoke with someone selling the following 2 items. She said she would give them both to me for 100.00 ( receiver has a 4yr extended warranty on it from BB also )

Here is the receiver
i cannot post links since i am noob so go to best buy and enter NS-R5101

and the Speakers ( 1 pair only, but i plan on adding more in the future )
Bestbuy website also...NS-B2111

Now my setup is pretty simple. I have 37" HD lCD TV ( no HD cable, just basic cable with coax going straight from wall to the TV ) A PS3 and a Wii.

The PS3 is connected via HDMI, Wii connected via Component and Cable as i said is coax.

Currently i am using these for better sound
cannot post links so, They are creative I-Trigue 2.1 3300's

These are powered so i do not use a receiver. Though the sound seems some what (covered and plain ) they actually have a nice BOOM to them. They are connected via RCA cables to my TV audio out.

Anyways, i know the brand of the receiver isnt the best, but as for specs and what i am using it for and the price, would you say this is a good deal? I know this receiver is not for hardcore people out there, but for my use what would you think?

Also, would the receiver and speakers out perform what i have going now? Will is sound more clear? and just be more alive?

Another thing, I read the receiver has HDMI passthru, so it does not carry audio thru the HDMI, So my plan is just running all HDMI straight to my TV, and then Digital audio out on my tv to digital IN on receiver. Is this the ideal way?

Any help or comments would be great, thanks!

Ballpark you are spending $200 for receiver and $100 for speakers. plus you will pay tax.

Here is a much better receiver of $199 Yamaha RX-V363
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0013ZGOYM/interactiveda8738-20

Here are some very good speakers for $74.95 plus shipping. Sony SS-B3000
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/493591-REG/Sony_SS_B3000_SS_B3000_3_Way_Bookshelf_Speakers.html

Speakers make the most differenc in sound and if you can increas your speaker budget to $219 ( total cost including shipping) you can buy a pair of these small excellnet bookshelf speakers. later. as you upgrade you system these can be reused as rear surrounds. Cambridge Audio S-30
http://spearitsound.amazonwebstore.com/Cambridge-Audio-S30-Speakers-Natural-Oak/M/B00196SJOI.htm?utm_campaign=froogle&utm_medium=organic&utm_source=froogle

The Best Buy Insignia brand not very high quality!

================

I just reread your post and If my recs are too high for your budget of $100 I am sorry.

Later,

MidCow2

 

[audion3wb]

well i plan on hitting bestbuy before i go to the womans house so that way i can really test it out and what not.

Is there any real major downside to the HDMI passthru? i guess i really dont understand it. But as i said, since it is passthru and does not do audio, i will avoid the hdmi inputs all together and run my TV digital out to the receiver.

Is there a audio quality difference in using audio thru HDMI as opposed to Digital out?

Well the downside to HDMI passthru is of course your receiver does not read audio off the HDMI cable. So you would just use an optical cable to connect audio to your receiver from your PS3/Xbox/DVD player ect. instead of using the TV audio outputs to the receiver.

Others have stated that spending a little more money would get you a considerably better starter system but you haven't really stated weather or not $100 is your max budget. That leaves me to assume that $100 is indeed you budget so with that in mind as I stated before, have a listen and see what you think. If you decide they arent that great and you could stand to spend a little more money then come back and we can get the ball rolling on a better system.

If you like the way they sound and you are happy with them then you are a lucky man in my book because you would have spent a tiny fraction of what all of us have to get results that please us

 

[Midcow2]

It only needs to sound good to you!

....
If you like the way they sound and you are happy with them then you are a lucky man in my book because you would have spent a tiny fraction of what all of us have to get results that please us

Audion3wb,

Your words are so true -- so true! I don't even want to think of the $$$ I have spent aready and will undoubtedly spend in the future

Maf2k8,

I forgot to say earlier, WELCOME to the audioholics forum. I hope you enjoy the system you are buying. Remember, if you are happy with your system and the sound thta is all that really counts ( well except for your girlfriend or wife ).

Take care,

MidCow2

 

[lsiberian]

Hello,

I am looking to buy a decent, low priced home theater setup. I was looking around and spoke with someone selling the following 2 items. She said she would give them both to me for 100.00 ( receiver has a 4yr extended warranty on it from BB also )

Here is the receiver
i cannot post links since i am noob so go to best buy and enter NS-R5101

and the Speakers ( 1 pair only, but i plan on adding more in the future )
Bestbuy website also...NS-B2111

Now my setup is pretty simple. I have 37" HD lCD TV ( no HD cable, just basic cable with coax going straight from wall to the TV ) A PS3 and a Wii.

The PS3 is connected via HDMI, Wii connected via Component and Cable as i said is coax.

Currently i am using these for better sound
cannot post links so, They are creative I-Trigue 2.1 3300's

These are powered so i do not use a receiver. Though the sound seems some what (covered and plain ) they actually have a nice BOOM to them. They are connected via RCA cables to my TV audio out.

Anyways, i know the brand of the receiver isnt the best, but as for specs and what i am using it for and the price, would you say this is a good deal? I know this receiver is not for hardcore people out there, but for my use what would you think?

Also, would the receiver and speakers out perform what i have going now? Will is sound more clear? and just be more alive?

Another thing, I read the receiver has HDMI passthru, so it does not carry audio thru the HDMI, So my plan is just running all HDMI straight to my TV, and then Digital audio out on my tv to digital IN on receiver. Is this the ideal way?

Any help or comments would be great, thanks!

Look around on CL. I got 3 of my surrounds for 40 each! Key is to find an angry ex-wife. hehe.