To HTiB or not to HTiB...

[ahusername]

That is the question... I have a room 13x16 that I will primarily be using for music (hooked to my computer via optical), but would also like to watch movies too. I am looking at a couple HTiB... (just paste these into google and the amazon listing should be on top)

Onkyo-HT-S3500-5-1-Channel-Theater-Receiver amazon

or

Onkyo-HT-S5400-7-1-Channel-Theater-System amazon

I actually have the onkyo 7.1 HTiB downstairs, and I am pretty happy with it (I am still using the crappy wires that came with it, and the woofer rattles sometimes, but other than that it sounds good). I THOUGHT onkyo was a great brand, but some of my friends are claiming I will be able to tell a huge difference with a more 'quality' brand, so I am also considering something like this...

Polk-Audio-RM705-Theater-System amazon

Are these polk speakers THAT much better than onkyo? It just seems like a shame to spend 250 + 100 (at least) for a reciever, when I could get a 7.1 onkyo setup for the same price.

I would like to keep my budget in the 200-300 range (350 tops), any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

 

[ACsGreens]

Don't think so...

I honestly do not think you will see a big difference between the two of them, or much better than what you have, imo. The common advice given by many on here is that you can do much better by piecing together a quality system with larger, better builty quality speakers. Sattelites have vary small drivers, and that limits what they can do, so moving from one to another shouldn't give you an "ah ha" moment. Are you willing to slowly put together a system that will EVENTUALLY be very good?

 

[shadyJ]

I honestly do not think you will see a big difference between the two of them, or much better than what you have, imo. The common advice given by many on here is that you can do much better by piecing together a quality system with larger, better builty quality speakers. Sattelites have vary small drivers, and that limits what they can do, so moving from one to another shouldn't give you an "ah ha" moment. Are you willing to slowly put together a system that will EVENTUALLY be very good?

+1 this.

Those systems are better than your TV speakers but do not compete with real speakers. I would get a used receiver and a couple solid bookshelf speakers on your budget. Set a budget and then ask for advice in the speakers section.

 

[ImcLoud]

$350 is a tough budget...
DENON AVR-890 avr $250 {accesories4less.com} {this is a good deal, I see them used on ebay for $350 MSRP was like $900}
Then a set of SBS-02 bookshelfs $150 {these are 50% off, I heard them in a 5.1 setup, but never listened to them alone, the 5.1 was 4 of these and the matching center with a BIC F12 sub, sounded awesome}...
puts you at $400... But I think that would be a good start...
If you cant stretch the extra $50 they have Denon 1612 for $190 too...

But if you want a complete 5.1 system for $350, I think your best bet would be in a box... But for $350 you can get much better than the 3400, here is the 7400 with the ipod dock for $329-
Onkyo HT-S7400 5.1 Network Home Theater Package w/ipod dock | Accessories4less

Good luck... Maybe start building a nicer system with a pair of book shelfs, and see where that gets you...

 

[ahusername]

Hmm is the Onkyo HT-S7400 5.1 really going to outperform the Onkyo-HT-S5400-7-1-Channel-Theater-System? They are about the same price... *and just noticed the S7400 you linked is refurbished...

And it doesnt sound like you guys are too impressed with that Polk-Audio-RM705-Theater-System? Compared to those onkyos at least?

"Are you willing to slowly put together a system that will EVENTUALLY be very good?"

What did you have in mind?

 

[ImcLoud]

Hmm is the Onkyo HT-S7400 5.1 really going to outperform the Onkyo-HT-S5400-7-1-Channel-Theater-System? They are about the same price... *and just noticed the S7400 you linked is refurbished...

And it doesnt sound like you guys are too impressed with that Polk-Audio-RM705-Theater-System? Compared to those onkyos at least?



What did you have in mind?

Yes the 7400 is better, it is actually a 509 receiver that is 7.1 you just dont get the extra 2 $20 speakers, I am not a fan of 7.1, it is hardley supported, confuses the surround sound situation, doesnt work in many rooms {you need a few feet behind your seating which most rooms dont have since couches go against walls. and 5.1 sounds better to me...
The real steal is the 7409 refurbed for $400 that comes with a 609 receiver... If you can stretch your budget thats the way to go for htib...

Also the 7400 and 7409 come with a better sub, my son has that sub in his room on his ps3 and its decent for what it is...

And dont be scared of refurbed, you still get warranty, and I havent heard of any problems, my sons refurbed system was brand new never opened overstock, which is usually the case...

If you want to wait and start a nice system start by buying a nice receiver with preouts so you can add amps later if you wanted, and a set of bookshelf speakers that you can use as rear later when you get better fronts... I know a few people that built sytems that way, start with a $200 set of speakers and a $400 receiver, then add a nice front stage {the FR, C, FL} for $6 to 700, then a nice sub for $3 to 500, then an amp for your front stage for $3 to 700 before you know it you have a decent entry audiophile system that will smoke any HTIB on the market...

 

[zieglj01]

To start, I would look at >
Pioneer towers
Newegg.com - Pioneer SP-FS51-LR Floorstanding Speakers Pair

Pioneer center
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882117404

Notice - look at the Pioneer promo codes in green

Denon 1612 receiver
http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/DENAVR1612/DENON-AVR-1612-5.1-Channel-A/V-Home-Theater-Receiver/1.html

 

[BMXTRIX]

The Onkyo HTiB kits are excellent for the money. Really, you aren't making a bad choice when you pick something like that as it is a decent receiver and some cheap speakers.

The speakers are the bad part, but you aren't going to get a huge jump in quality without spending a fair bit of coin to do so. I had a Kenwood version when I started out, and after a year or so I replaced the speakers with some Definitive Technology BP30 speakers. The jump in audio quality was amazing. I almost didn't replace the A/V receiver because the quality jump was so significant.

But, I was jumping from the included speakers to speakers which costs a few hundred bucks a piece. I think I spent about $1,000 on Def Tech speakers at 1/3 the normal price (worked for a dealer). So, MSRP $3,000 worth of speakers SHOULD sound better.

$300 speakers vs. $100 speakers? You aren't likely to hear much of a difference.

Find $1,000 worth of speakers for $300 and you should expect to hear a fairly significant difference.

As always, brand, build quality, and everything else with speakers matters, so do your homework.

 

[ahusername]

Can you elaborate a bit on the whole 509/609 receiver thing? Is the receiver in the onkyo 5.1 htib really that bad?

 

[ImcLoud]

Can you elaborate a bit on the whole 509/609 receiver thing? Is the receiver in the onkyo 5.1 htib really that bad?

The 609 has a more powerful Amplifier Stage since it meets THX Select2 Plus Certification. The 609 draws 6.2 Amps and the 509 draws 3.9 Amps.
Home Theater Magazine tested the 609 and rated it very well especially for the price. Plus with Marvell Qdeo Video Processing and THX Post Processing the 509 is not nearly as nice.

The 609 has more power better built in equipment, its simply worth double the price...

Here is the thing, you are on a audiophile type website asking which system to buy, so most of your answers are going to be from people serious about sound or at least aspiring to be... With your budget it is tough to buy a complete system, for your money a HTIB is best, unless you want to start with a receiver and set of Book shelfs, but even at that you are going to get an OK receiver {probably wont have preouts} and need to find a used or clearance set of book shelfs...

I say either spend the $400 on the 7409, or pick a $200 AVR and buy a set of $150 book shelfs... If you cant stretch your budget the extra 50, than a HTIB is definitely in your future I say the 7400, I like the 5.1 and it has a better sub.....