First receiver/speaker purchase advice

[gir]

(This seems to be long n00b post week... sorry for adding my own massive post!)

After many years of envying my friend's home theater systems, I'm finally in the process of assembling my own. Now, I am, for all intents and purposes, still a poor college student even though I've (finally!) graduated and am gainfully employed, thanks to student loans. Therefore, I'm looking at getting the best system possible for less than $800. My requirements are as follows:

• 5.1 or better
• Dolby Digital, Pro Logic II and DTS decoding support
• 2 or more optical audio inputs
• 2 or more component inputs
• Component video out
• At least 5 AV inputs total
  • Ideally the remaining inputs will be Component/S-Video and Optical/Coax digital audio input but composite video and analog audio in are acceptable to get the total AV inputs to 5 minimum.
• The audio inputs should be assignable to the video inputs

Now, I realize that the more attractive options in my price range tend to be the HITB systems. However, I have looked at many of these and haven't found any that provide the number of AV inputs I need. I could get away with 2 total AV inputs if the HITB system had a built-in DVD player since I just need to hook up my Xbox and Playstation (I love me the video games!) and, as long as one of those inputs is optical/component and the system was cheap, I would consider an HITB system with only 2 inputs. I haven't found any but I haven't looked too hard.

Because of my input requirements I've been looking at AV receivers in the $3-400 range. Right now I am considering the following:

• Sony
  • STR-DE697 ($300)
  • STR-DE897 ($340 silver)
• Yamaha
  • HTR-5740 ($300)
  • HTR-5750 ($400)
• Onkyo
  • TX-SR502 ($300)
  • TX-SR602 ($500)
• Kenwood
  • VR-806 ($170 silver, $180 black)
  • VR-8050 ($300)

I'd imagine some of you are cringing at my choices, but I think they're the best I can get for my price point and input requirements. Right now I'm leaning towards the Sony STR-DE897 because it's on sale at Best Buy if you buy the silver version and it has every I/O I think I could ever need. However, I just discovered the Kenwood systems and both appear to be great deals, esp the VR-8050. The problem is, however, that I'm trying to go for quality in addition to I/O. I don't care about all of the latest fancy features (like DTS:Neo6, Pro Logic IIx, 7.1 output), I just want as many component/s-video/optical/digital coax inputs as possible (for up to 5 devices) and good quality. So, if I look at my options from that perspective, the Onkyo's look like good options (esp the TX-SR502 and the 602 is even better on all points except price).

Then there's the matter of speakers to complement the systems. The more I spend on the receiver, the less I can spend on the speakers. I would like to have 5.1 right off of the bat, which is forcing me to look at bundles like the Sony SA-VE367T ($300), Yamaha NS-BP4500 ($250) and NS-P436 ($300) and Onkyo SKS-HT520 ($300) sets. These are 6.1 or 7.1 sets but they are sets that I can afford.

So, on to the questions:

• Does anyone have any experience with these receivers? Can anyone recommend one over the other?
• What about the speakers? Anyone have any experience? Is it better to pair brands (e.*. Onkyo speakers with an Onkyo receiver) for the best quality?
• Is it better to buy more expensive speakers or a more expensive receiver if I'm looking to upgrade in a couple of years when I can afford to buy much better equipment? Would it be safe to buy the $500 Onkyo receiver that should last me 5-10 years and get a $300 speaker set?
• Would cables make *any* discernible difference at this price range? I doubt it since I'm not an audiophile and I'm not at the high end of equipment.
• Are there any receivers or speaker sets that I'm missing and should be considering?
• Should I just go for the bare minimum of features and save my money, waiting for the day when I can buy a "real" system?
• What about power? The Sony and Kenwood systems appear to be more power for the same cost. Is this marketing BS or "more power, less quality" issue? Will the (apparently) less powerful Onkyo and Yamaha receivers be able to power reasonably good quality and expensive speakers if I upgrade in a couple of years?

The real kicker: it's a plus if the equipment people recommend is available at Best Buy. As much as they may be disparaged in these threads for crappy selection, they are the most affordable retailer for a poor person such as myself... I'm buying a TV to compliment this audio system and will get 18 mo w/ no interest financing on everything else I buy with it. This basically means that the more I can get a Best Buy, the better (unfortunately). But, I am very willing to consider brands not at Best Buy, as evidenced by the Onkyo options I'm considering.

This is my first major AV purchase and I want to do it right. I was confident in my abilities to buy correctly before I started researching on the web and reading up on the technical information and the reviews out there. I'm a geek, unfortunately, which means I'm distracted by shiny features. I need you guys to keep me on the level. ;-)

 

[gregz]

Hi gir, I know this isn't what you want to hear, but on your budget you'd be better off doing what I did as a poor college student: I looked at my budget, looked at what was out there, and realized I couldn't afford a decent home theatre system (based on speaker costs alone).

I still have my stereo setup, but when I upgrade to home theatre, it will be an easy transition and I won't have to throw away anything.

I have no problems with $300-$400 receivers, as that's what I'll add to my current stereo setup to bring my system up to a home theatre. But five speakers plus a subwoofer for $300? Ouch! When you're ready to upgrade, the only thing you'll be able to keep will be your receiver. Speakers are the most variable, weakest link on just about any system.

If instead you buy the receiver you were planning on, then spend the rest of the money on two really good bookshelf spkeakers, you can add a pair of speakers next year and have rear surrounds, then a center speaker the year after, and then maybe a subwoofer the year after that. And your system will kick butt!

Best Buy is a mostly a miserable experience because you can't put your own music in to listen to it. They have that horrible pre-fab interface on each system. Circuit City at least has more flexibility that way, as do department stores. Still, if you're going to go with cheap, bad service, the most bang for your buck is often mail order (etronics, J&R Music World, etc.).

Happy hunting, and make sure you get the most bang for your buck. They're hard to come by as a starving college student!

 

[markw]

Greg makes sense.

You're gonna really have to lower your expectations to work within that bubget constraint. As far as bext buy goes, the best budget speakers you're gonna find are Athena Auditions. I'd take a goodly portion of your $$ and go for a pair of the F1's or F2's. ...or even the B2's will rock better than any of those HTiB speaker systems. Than, take the rest and go for a Yammie, preferably a two channel if you can find one.

Rest assured that by the time you graduate, HT receivers will offer a heckuva lot more bang for the buck than they do today. You'll probably want to replace it anyway.

 

[Goybar]

You can get real good deals if you look around on-line

shopping.com
cnet.com
streetprices.com

Keep looking as prices seem to change daily, sometimes hourly!

Another option... A friend of mine is going to work seasonally at Best Buy, for the next 90 days. 10-12 hours a week. You can then make purchase at cost +5%

Not a bad way to go to get a deal on equipment.

Chris

 

[jotham]

Additional suggestions for HTIB systems

I'm doing the same thing for a friend of mine, trying to spec out a system that would fulfill the budget and still be solid quality.

As far as I can tell, the best deal for speakers are currently the Athena ones.

Personally, I would follow some of the previous advice and get a pair of solid bookshelf or tower speakers and a receiver. Basically create a good stereo system that you can upgrade as time goes on. It will play louder and cleaner than a cheaper 5.1 system.

The Athena AS-F2 or AS-B2 look like solid choices to me.

However, if you are set on having surround sound, this deal at OneCall seems to be the best thing going and it's what my friend is purchasing.

Get a Sony receiver for about $200. Or you could spend more, I believe OneCall is competitive.

Then get this HT speaker system. It's clearance and looks like a great deal. Low stock however.
http://www.onecall.com/PID_23123.htm

I've had very good luck ordering from OneCall in the past. Bought speakers from them for my brother and receivers for myself. No problems (knock on wood).

good luck,

Jotham

 

[gir]

I've pretty much settled on the Onkyo 502 (refurbished it's only $200), but speakers are still up in the air. Having >= 5.1 right off the start would be nice but that will take a sacrifice on quality at my price point. We'll see. I'm thinking it might be a good idea to get a lower quality speaker set right now and then upgrade to some more expensive speakers in a year or two...

 

[thomsoad]

Its true you can get some great deals

But you gotta be realistic. Your budget is not going to carry you very far whatsoever. I would REALLY recommend you save a little more money with the inputs and sound you want. If you need something now, then the more money you spend on a receiver the better you will be. With what you have left over I would look in the paper or maybe a pawn shop. If you want quality sound with your budget, your going to have to take some risk (hence the paper and pawn shops).

Oh by the way, go into BB to look around. But buy is SOMEWHERE ELSE! BB's a freakin rip!!

 

[Leprkon]

an option

I favor your plan to put more into your speakers than into the receiver. Receives right now are in a very high state of flux (6.1, 7.1, SACD, DVD-A), etc, so it would make sense to invest in something that will give you the 5.1 at a decent price. Hopefully, two years from now, maybe when you get ready to step up, the receivers will be a little more settled down and your good money will get something less uncertain. With your plan, you can get some decent speakers and still have some quality performance by getting a well-made 5.1 receiver than one that has lots more features, but maybe at the expense of the sound quality.

The bottom line is that speakers last years and years, but the receiver technology is changing to fast right now. It's like your computer.. Take it out of the box and there's something newer and faster out there.

you might check out accessories4less.com. They have complete 5.1 speaker systems from Fosgate for $ 540 and $ 650. They also have some great stuff from Mordaunt-Short for about $ 100 more. Any of these would match up well with your Onkyo.

I don't know much about the sound quality of Fosgate, but it might be worth looking into. They systems look quite a bit more sturdy than most HTIB-type stuff out there.

 

[LoBridge]

Hey guys,

I am looking to build a HT on the cheap also. My question is:

I have a pair of Bose 201 Series 3 Bookshelf speakers that I use as my mains right now. The other speakers are from a RCA HT in a Box system that I got a number of years back.

Would it be a good idea to get a reciever and a decent Sub (mine is from the HT and is not powered) right now and use my existing speakers to fill out the 6.1 or 7.1 sound? If I do that, which speakers should I look at replacing next? Are my Bose good enough to keep or should they go too?

Thanks in advance!