I need help buying a system for under $200

[Pcmaker]

I bought a 5.1 speaker system at Target for $250. I was happy with it, but it got stolen. Now, I need a 2.1 speaker system since I didnt have a place to put the rear speakers on the system that got stolen anyway. I have a $200 budget. Can't afford anything over that. I play my Xbox 360, watch DVDs and TV.

I know people will recommend me expensive stuff, but I"m not an audiophile. That Sony system I had was good enough for me... but I wanna get a different one. Hopefully something with more bang for the buck.

 

[Adam]

Welcome to the forum!

How far away from the speakers would you be sitting? I'm wondering if PC speakers would be a good choice for you. You might want to search this forum for recommendations on those speakers, as some people have given their recommendations on powered monitors that might work well for you. I'll get the ball rolling by mentioning the Logitech Z-2300 system that costs $116 at Amazon. It only has analog inputs (no digital inputs or decoders), and it only has one set of analog inputs - so you'd probably want to get a switch box for the audio connection (something like this would work, but there are several other options).

Just an idea to start things off.

 

[ChunkyDark]

Tight budget. I'd take a look a craigslist or perhaps pawn shop ect. Sometimes you can score a decent receiver at the goodwill.
Or what about a mini-system?

 

[Lordoftherings]

Easy search.

Ask in the family, close relatives or friends if they don't have one to spare.
I'm sure that someone close to you has one that they don't even use.

Free!, that beats $200!

 

[fast1]

yup or get the free one and sell it. add that to your budget and get a better one! like the Logitech Z-2300 system as adam mentioned. not bad

 

[Pcmaker]

I sit about 5 feet away from the TV. Also, I wouldn't wanna keep switching when I go from TV to DVD to Xbox 360.

 

[Adam]

I sit about 5 feet away from the TV. Also, I wouldn't wanna keep switching when I go from TV to DVD to Xbox 360.

That distance probably isn't bad for those Logitechs. If you were to buy a regular receiver or home theater system, you'd still need to switch inputs when you went from one component to another one. You can get switch boxes that have remotes (like this one from Monoprice.com).

I'm not pushing the Logitechs. Just saying that you'll need to switch no matter what.

 

[Pcmaker]

Damn.. but my old Sony had didn't have this problem. Wahtever sound comes out of the TV, comes out of the Sony system. all I had to do was use a different remote to control the volume.

 

[Adam]

Damn.. but my old Sony had didn't have this problem. Wahtever sound comes out of the TV, comes out of the Sony system. all I had to do was use a different remote to control the volume.

Oops, I missed something. You probably have everything plugged into your TV right now? If so, you'd just need to run the audio from the TV to whatever system you get (either PC speakers or something else) - so no need for a switch box. Sorry about that. I'm so used to routing all of the audio through my receiver that I wasn't thinking correctly about your set-up. You'd need to select the correct input on the TV, but you wouldn't need anything else to switch the audio.

 

[Pcmaker]

Thanks, now I need somethign with a remote. I don't wanna go to the TV to set the volume every time I think it's too high or too low.

 

[Adam]

So, you can't control the volume on the TV using the TV remote?

 

[Pcmaker]

So, you can't control the volume on the TV using the TV remote?

I had that problem with the Sony I had. I had to use the sony remote to control the volume. When I used the TV remote, it increased the volume of the TV, not the sound system.

 

[Adam]

I see. That's probably due to the audio output on the TV not being controlled by the volume on the TV, but it also might be something that could be set in the TV's menu system. If you haven't checked that already and have questions about it, just let us know what model of TV that you have so that we can look it up.

 

[Seth=L]

I've pieced together great systems for around that budget. Shop used, shop often. Piece it together and you'll appreciate the savings, the hunt, and the sound.

Goodwill
Salvation Army
Misc thrift stores
Pawn shops
Craigslist
eBay
Garage sales

You can do it, I've done it so many times over it's ridiculous how many times I have done it.

 

[Lordoftherings]

Add family, relatives and friends to that list. ^

Oups! My mistake, push the wrong key.

Real post is just below.

Sorry about that.

LOTR

 

[Lordoftherings]

Add family, relatives and friends to that list above. ^

+1 for the post just above, by Seth=L.

LOTR

 

[Sounds Good]

I"m not an audiophile.

you must show some interest in audio/video gear or you wouldnt be here...

anyhow you didnt mention what tv you have, on the rear of my JVC rear projector it gives me the option of adding 2 speakers and using the tvs speaker as a center ch...

maybe you could go that route?

 

[bandphan]

http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?intatran&1248819962&/Yamaha-A-1000

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/321847-REG/Behringer_B2030P_B2030P_2_Way_Passive.html

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2360522&CAWELAID=107599125

40 over budget

 

[Patrick_Wolf]

The Klipsch Promedia 2.1 has a single 3.5mm plug that I plugged into my TV's (LN32A450) headphone jack and I could control the Klipsch speaker's volume using my TV's remote.

 

[Sounds Good]

The Klipsch Promedia 2.1 has a single 3.5mm plug that I plugged into my TV's (LN32A450) headphone jack and I could control the Klipsch speaker's volume using my TV's remote.

great idea....