Bose or Build?

[WarMace]

Its time for me to get my first sound system. My problem is I know nothing about Audio Systems, and I am going in circles trying to figure this out.

Currently I have a friend who will get me a Bose Lifestyle V30 for $1400. Normally I wouldent consider Bose, but this price is so far below what stores charge, it is tempting. I have read that review of the Lifestyle system and quite frankely I have a hard time swallowing a review with little creditability, but taking that grain of salt I am led here to ask the knoledgable folks for help.

I would like to see what else I could get for $1400 for someone who needs 5.1 with a (self tuning) reciever and speaker wire. My primary usage is Movies. I have a new 50" panasonic plasma, HDDVD player, and will be purchasing a PS3 and a HTPC in the near future. Future expandability to a 6.2 system would be a plus.

 

[Pyrrho]

A great receiver for you would be the Yamaha RX-V663:

http://www.yamaha.com/yec/products/productdetail.html?CNTID=567571&CTID=5000300

I am told that it can be had for about $400 or maybe even a little less. I, however, have not seen it that inexpensive.

As for speakers, it is probably best for you to go listen to as many different speakers as you can in your price range. The reason for this is that there is no such thing as a perfect speaker, and you must decide what combination of virtues and vices are important to you.

SVS makes great subwoofers, and, I am told, their other speakers are good too, but I have not heard their non-subwoofer speakers. Here, though, is a link to some in your budget (assuming you can get the price that I have been told you can get for the Yamaha above, and not including shipping costs):

http://www.svsound.com/products-sys-sbs_black.cfm

Unfortunately, I doubt you will be able to audition these speakers without ordering them, as SVS is a "factory direct" sort of company.

Again, I recommend that you go audition speakers and buy some that you like.

For speaker wire, you can buy something very inexpensive. Take a look at:

http://www.roger-russell.com/wire/wire.htm

I would not buy the Bose. Not at any price, if I had to keep it and could not sell it.

 

[Seth=L]

The SVS 5.1 system paired with the Yamaha RX-V663 would blow any Bose clean out of the water in every respect other than the small and cute factor (for the record I see nothing cute about Bose, maybe that's my bias).

Since the Yamaha can utilize the HD audio from HD DVD and Blu-ray (Bose cannot) I see no reason to keep yourself in the audio stone age with Bose.

 

[gensler323]

I would go with the rx-v663 still so you can get the HD audio codecs, and for the speakers id go with the Definitive ProCinema 600s. You should be able to find the yamaha for 399.99(online)-499.99(retail) and the speakers for around 799.99.

 

[gensler323]

I apparently didnt have enough posts yet to post the links for them but here they are:

Yamaha RX-V663
www.yamaha.com/yec/products/productdetail.html?CNTID=567571

Definitive ProCinema 600
http://www.definitivetech.com/loudspeakers/procinema/procinema_600.html

 

[flippo]

Mirage

If size matters, The Mirage nanoset 5.1 system for $599 at crutchfield.com.
This system will blow away the Bose.

 

[jcPanny]

HT system

War,
The SVS system is nice and comes with a good sub. Not sure if they are shipping yet, but AH gave Emotiva really good reviews for their new speakers.

Also take a look at the EMP packages with floorstanders for $900 and $1100 shipped.
http://store.audioholics.com/product/1831/1/emp-ef30t-5-1-speaker-system
http://store.audioholics.com/product/1833/1/emp-ef50t-7-1-speaker-system

For HDMI audio processing the Yamaha RX-V663 and Onkyo 605/606 are good options. Unlike Bose any system you buy can be upgraded to 7.2 by adding another pair of speakers for the surround channels and another sub.

Your Bose owning friends don't know what they are missing. They will when they hear your new system.

 

[WarMace]

Size is of no concern, and floor stands are a nice plus.

I am currently hunting down and digesting all the reviews for the noted products above, but being a computer geek, all the terminology is foreign to me and I have to wiki it all.

Thank you all for the suggestions so far, and please keep them coming so I can compare/contrast the different builds.