~$300 Htib

[Joban]

Sorry to ask as it is a bit embarrassing but a colleague is moving into her first apartment and is interested in getting a super budget system.

She doesn't want to spend much more than $300 CDN and would like the speakers to "look nice" which, from what I gather, means small (which shouldn't be a problem with that budget). Standard music and HT use in a standard size apt. livingroom.

So the question is, do any systems stand out from the many others in that price range? She doesn't expect (or even care really) great sound or anything like that. I think she would like at least 5.1.

Any ideas?

Cheers,

Jordan

 

[Sheep]

for that money, I've always liked the Yamaha HTIBs. Good subwoofers, and decent overall sound. Plus, they have a real amp.

I take it she has a DVD player?

SheepStar

 

[InTheIndustry]

If 5.1 isn't a must....

You might be able to put together a nice little 2 channel set up. On average, she would get a lot better sound for her money.

 

[mustang_steve]

for $300 CDN, I would say yamaha HTiB if you MUST have surround.

Otherwise, go the two channel route.

I forgot the conversion, but let's just sayin $250 us.


--2 channel
You can land a DVD player for $30us, that can put out a decent image and sound. (Magnavox was the one I had...the mechanics inside of it were physically noisy, but once there was sound, you don't really hear it).

So from there, you have about 220 to go. At this point I would drop $150 on an entry level surround reciever or used surround reciever, and drop $50 on a pair of speakers. The final few bucks can buy basic shielded interconnects and speaker wire (16ga is a good best, no thinner)

That way she has good sound for little buck, but has enough upgradability that she can merely buy a surround speaker set later and enjoy true *quality* surround sound.

 

[Joban]

Maybe I was on the right track then. I thought that if I went the 5.1 HTIB route then Yamaha would be the way to go.

I was also thinking about the 2 channel route with an entry level receiver. I wasn't sure what was better for her as I couldn't really think of anything that great in the 2 channel route for $300.

I like the ability to upgrade this way but it is likely she will not upgrade until this purchase stops working for whatever reason.

Cheers,

J

 

[georgep]

Hi,

For the money: Athena Micra 6 Speaker System

A little higher than your budget but on sale at the moment.

http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?sku_id=0665000FS10035824&catid=14700&logon=&langid=EN