Best starter system under $500??

[DerrickArmour]

Hello all, new member first time posting! I'm looking for input on what you guys would start out building your home theater system with. I'm looking for a sound receiver & two front speakers to start. I'd like to stay under $500 for them & add on as the money becomes available (Fiance is wedding planning so who knows when that'll be haha). We recently purchased this Amazon.com: Onkyo HT-S5400 7.1-Channel Home Theater System: Electronics but took it back tonight because it just didn't do it for me. The bass wasn't crisp at all and the rear speakers had terrible distortion. We exchanged for this one Amazon.com: Samsung HT-E6500W 5.1 Channel 1000-Watt 3D Blu-Ray Home Theater System: Electronics and were extremely disappointed within 5 minutes of hooking it up. We've realized that no theater in a box in our price range right now will satisfy, so we've decided to build our own. What are your suggestions?

 

[shadyJ]

Here is a $500 system that will get you started:
2 x Infinity Primus p153: $130 shipped
Yamaha RX-V573 or Pioneer VSX-1122

It won't have much bass, but unlike your previous system, there is room to grow. You can get better fronts latter and move those p153 speakers to surround speakers. Other speakers you might check out are the Pioneer SP speakers, they are affordable and have a good reputation. Something else you can do is get a cheap old receiver off of ebay or craigslist, and get some tower speakers like these if you want a fuller, richer sound right away. You can upgrade to a modern receiver later. I see lots of older receivers on ebay and craigslist for $100 or less, they won't have HDMI or anything like that, but they can still sound good. Something else you can do is just skip the receiver and get a pair of active speakers, like these Mackie Monitors, they will have a very high quality sound. Later you would want to add a preprocessor or a receiver with pre-outs to expand out to 5.1.

 

[DerrickArmour]

Alot of options here. I like the looks of the Pioneer over the Yamaha, but I'm going for quality here not looks... Would you say that these two receivers are completely equal or is there one thats just a little ahead of the other? In the end the two biggest concerns for me is crisp clear POUNDING bass with little to no distortion, and also I MUST HAVE GOOD LOUD SOUND COMING FROM MY REARS!!! That Samsung HTiB I bought sounded about the equivalent of turning my T.V to full blast, with the rear speakers sitting about 3ft before my head even cranked to the max... all of the sound was coming from in front of me! Couldn't even tell they were back there!!! With that being said I think I could honestly pull off the receiver and 2 of the towers you mentioned above on the first purchase. Anyone else with input please feel free. And thanks ShadyJ!!!

 

[Jeff R.]

It appears you are expecting to much from a $500 budget. I would recommend saving some money and increasing closer to $1000 then you will be able to have a 5.1 system that will be delivering closer to your expectations.

Surf your local Craigslist postings also. You can likely find something there that sold originally for $1000-1200 new that you could get for $500.

 

[jp_over]

Good advice so far, here's a suggestion:

$139.00 (used) Behringer B2030P Passive Studio Monitors (Pair) </SPAN>
$239.00 (new) STF-2 Subwoofer</SPAN>
$122.00 (used) AVR of your choice with the features you want</SPAN>
Total: $500 + shipping</SPAN>

Don’t be afraid to go used with your first system. You can experiment quite a bit more and you can usually buy great stuff for 50% of retail. </SPAN>

 

[DerrickArmour]

I think you may have misread.. $500 is what I have to GET STARTED... I am looking to buy a receiver and two front speakers to start off with. $500 is my CURRENT budget, over time my overall budget will be roughly $1,500 just not all at once. Read a little more careful next time please, thank you.

 

[afterlife2]

Those all in one systems are not recommended.

These are amazing speakers for the price: Amazon.com: Nxg Pro 4.1 Satellite Speaker: Electronics I had the Infinity 162(big bro of 153's), but sold them. I found something missing. I find these much better and use them as my main speakers. I'm stunned at the SQ and I am amazed everythime I hear them. The big + is they are a beauty in person. Give them a try they won't disappoint.

Sub: http://www.outdoorspeakerdepot.com/10-inch-premium-powered-subwoofer-ps10.html
Read Jim Wilson's(Jman member here) review.

Reciever: http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/ONKTXNR609/Onkyo-TX-NR609-7.2-Channel-3-D-Ready-Network-A/V-Receiver/1.html

A little over you budget $525ish shipped, but you can always get the sub later. The NXG's actually have pretty nice bass to hold you over till you get a sub.

 

[Soccerkid830]

These Infinity Primus 363's are pretty well regarded here for being cheap, good-great sounding speakers. They're sitting at $234 for a pair, plus shipping. That'll put you around $300 for the speakers roughly. Leaving $200 or so for a receiver.

Depending on shipping, here are a couple decent receivers from accessories4less...

Onkyo 515, $249
Denon 1613, $229

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

I think you may have misread.. $500 is what I have to GET STARTED... I am looking to buy a receiver and two front speakers to start off with. $500 is my CURRENT budget, over time my overall budget will be roughly $1,500 just not all at once. Read a little more careful next time please, thank you.

I would disregard most infinity suggestions in favor of pair of Pioneer SP-FS52-LR towers ($125 each) and these are great value and an amazing speaker for the money.
towers and mid-range like this one : DENON AVR-990 7.1ch Networking A/V Theater Surround Receiver | Accessories4less
Reason I don't recommend cheaper models is 990 has pre-outs for all 7.1 channels which could allow later on to add external amplifier if needed

I know this is above budget, but this will be a good building blocks. I also highly recommend not to delay and get a matching center as soon as possible - Amazon.com: Pioneer SP-FS52-LR Andrew Jones Designed Floor standing Loudspeaker (each): Electronics

Next year these will harder to find, year after next to impossible in new market

 

[DerrickArmour]

Yes if you look at the first reply, I was leaning towards the Infinity Primus 363's with either the yamaha or Pioneer Receiver, spending an extra 100 over budget but worth it for the quality of spending 100 less.

 

[DerrickArmour]

Okay lets take a POLL anyone chiming in on this thread who has experience with either of these towers please post a vote

A simple Infinity or Denon answer will do, unless you have personal listening experiences with both towers and have any pros/cons for either/or. thanks guys and gals!!

 

[KEW]

Do you mean Infinity or Pioneer?
If so, I have listened to both, side by side and level matched. The Pioneer gets my vote. Among the posts I have seen here where people have listened to both, I have yet to see someone prefer the Infinity, though the Infinity's are ubdeniably good speakers for the price.

 

[Jeff R.]

[QUOTE In the end the two biggest concerns for me is crisp clear POUNDING bass with little to no distortion, and also I MUST HAVE GOOD LOUD SOUND COMING FROM MY REARS!!! [/QUOTE]

For me this is where I got lost in your end goal!!!! I will still keep my statement that you will likely not get crisp clear POUNDING bass in your price range. I think you will be able to assemble a very capable system that will give good bass response for $1500. If bass is your true short term goal spend most of your money on your sub and get a small set of bookshelf speakers in the short term them move the bookshelf speakers to rears in the long run.

Just my 2 cents.....btw I will try to bring my reading and comprehension standards up so as to not misinterpret your very well detailed description of your goals and budgets!!!!

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

In the end the two biggest concerns for me is crisp clear POUNDING bass with little to no distortion, and also I MUST HAVE GOOD LOUD SOUND COMING FROM MY REARS!!!

I missed this gem, but then again reading comprehension wasn't one of my strong suits. To OP: Prepare to spend at least $1000 on a subwoofer alone to get near this target. DIY might help you to save some $ and get to same target.

 

[shadyJ]

Alot of options here. I like the looks of the Pioneer over the Yamaha, but I'm going for quality here not looks... Would you say that these two receivers are completely equal or is there one thats just a little ahead of the other? In the end the two biggest concerns for me is crisp clear POUNDING bass with little to no distortion, and also I MUST HAVE GOOD LOUD SOUND COMING FROM MY REARS!!! That Samsung HTiB I bought sounded about the equivalent of turning my T.V to full blast, with the rear speakers sitting about 3ft before my head even cranked to the max... all of the sound was coming from in front of me! Couldn't even tell they were back there!!! With that being said I think I could honestly pull off the receiver and 2 of the towers you mentioned above on the first purchase. Anyone else with input please feel free. And thanks ShadyJ!!!

First of all, you do not want your surrounds to draw attention to themselves. I know how that sounds, as many would ask, "what's the point of speakers you can't even tell if they are there?", but the point of surrounds is to add ambience and occasionally some effects like bullets whizzing by. They just don't do very much, and most soundtracks don't even have very much sound going on back there at all. So my advice is not to worry about surround speakers, they will only ever kick on in certain movie soundtracks. The only other way you are ever going to hear them is if you turn your receiver to all channel stereo or all channel mono.

Crisp pounding bass will set you back some serious dough, so my advice is to start saving for that now. Decent subs start at over $600 and go up from there. Those Infinity towers have OK bass, but no budget tower speaker is going to give you mind-blowing bass, you will need to turn to subs for that.

 

[DerrickArmour]

It appears you are expecting to much from a $500 budget.

So you're saying that first sentence right up there ^^^ didn't mean that you assumed my entire budget for a 5.1 or 7.1 surround setup with receiver was $500

My goals were not clear enough? Really?? Could I have made it any more simple... Let me break it down a little more. I want loud crisp bass with as little distortion as possible for my budget, and I want my rear speakers to make loud noises.

 

[DerrickArmour]

First of all, you do not want your surrounds to draw attention to themselves. I know how that sounds, as many would ask, "what's the point of speakers you can't even tell if they are there?", but the point of surrounds is to add ambience and occasionally some effects like bullets whizzing by. They just don't do very much, and most soundtracks don't even have very much sound going on back there at all. So my advice is not to worry about surround speakers, they will only ever kick on in certain movie soundtracks. The only other way you are ever going to hear them is if you turn your receiver to all channel stereo or all channel mono.

Crisp pounding bass will set you back some serious dough, so my advice is to start saving for that now. Decent subs start at over $600 and go up from there. Those Infinity towers have OK bass, but no budget tower speaker is going to give you mind-blowing bass, you will need to turn to subs for that.

I understand that, and this is the reason why I am going piece by piece... I would not mind spending $600 - $1,000 on a sub but that will be one of my last editions which brings me back to my original post... all I actually asked about thus far has been a receiver and main speakers. I have not asked a word about surrounds, subs, rears, or anything else because that is all down the road. To get to the point I have ROUGHLY $500 to get started with a receiver and main speakers... but that is out of the way now because I went with the Pioneer Receiver and the Pioneer Andrew Jones Towers.

My speakers will mainly be used for music, which is why I want all speakers to be loud and fill our small 2 bedroom duplex. Secondary would be gaming, lastly would be movies/tv shows. Maybe I should have mentioned that earlier.

 

[Jeff R.]

It appears you are expecting to much from a $500 budget.

So you're saying that first sentence right up there ^^^ didn't mean that you assumed my entire budget for a 5.1 or 7.1 surround setup with receiver was $500

My goals were not clear enough? Really?? Could I have made it any more simple... Let me break it down a little more. I want loud crisp bass with as little distortion as possible for my budget, and I want my rear speakers to make loud noises.

Dude I think you need to take a pill or have a drink..... My only point was we as a team are trying to give you advice for FREE!!!! And you have stated your expectations and never aluded to a budget max or how much equipment you expected to get with $500. Now you have a budget of $1500. Do you still need a BD Player with in that budget? Do you need cables and speaker wires with in that budget. My guess is YES since you are looking into HTIB options how can we give you good advice if you have not explained your PLAN. And with out a PLAN you will not be succesful in your endeavor.

My real point was if you treat people like S*** you won't get any help!!!!

And I still stand my my statement you can not get what you want with your budget!!!!! You need a minimum of $600 for a sub likely closer $1000 to get the bass you are looking for, just because you do not want to hear the truth you get all defensive.

 

[DerrickArmour]

Dude I think you need to take a pill or have a drink..... My only point was we as a team are trying to give you advice for FREE!!!! And you have stated your expectations and never aluded to a budget max or how much equipment you expected to get with $500. Now you have a budget of $1500. Do you still need a BD Player with in that budget? Do you need cables and speaker wires with in that budget. My guess is YES since you are looking into HTIB options how can we give you good advice if you have not explained your PLAN. And with out a PLAN you will not be succesful in your endeavor.

My real point was if you treat people like S*** you won't get any help!!!!

And I still stand my my statement you can not get what you want with your budget!!!!! You need a minimum of $600 for a sub likely closer $1000 to get the bass you are looking for, just because you do not want to hear the truth you get all defensive.

I have no real budget for the entire surround system. I have $500 right now to start it up with, the great part is I can always upgrade later. Yes I did venture into HTiB options, returned two so I am off of the HTiB option completely. Sorry if I came off as an *** but your original statement was misleading, making me think that YOU thought I could only spend $500 on 5 speakers a sub and a receiver plus all extras and expect something even close to pleasing. That is why I am taking the $592.97 I invested in a HTiB and only getting a good receiver and decent-good main speakers because I would much rather something pleasing over a period of time than a "well I guess I can live with it" all at once. Also my budget is not $1500. I just threw a number out there to let you know HEY it does not have to be an entire system for $500. If I have to choose between getting a decent pair of surrounds for $400 or buying one at a time for $400 if the quality is that much better I would much rather buy one at a time.

" I'm looking for a sound receiver & two front speakers to start. I'd like to stay under $500 for them" < From my original post stating how much I would LIKE to spend and how much equipment I expected to get.

 

[afterlife2]

I still stand with what I recommended within your budget, which you didn't acknowledge. The Pioneers 52's(Tigerdirect.com has sales on them for $100 each shipped) are fantastic and work great with Music and HT I owned them for 3 weeks until well...read my sig.