Help!! Best system for around $2,000?

[sjbtmc]

I already have a good screen that was given to me so I basically need everything else. Room size is appr. 27 x 18, pre-wired for 7.1 and pretty dark. I need a 1080p projector, receiver, blu-ray, speakers, and sub. Any thoughts?

Thanks!

 

[its phillip]

All of that for $2000? That's very unrealistic.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I already have a good screen that was given to me so I basically need everything else. Room size is appr. 27 x 18, pre-wired for 7.1 and pretty dark. I need a 1080p projector, receiver, blu-ray, speakers, and sub. Any thoughts?

Thanks!

First of all, you don't need 7.1 period.

It's nice and all that, but 5.1 is more than enough, especially for a home environment.

Speakers:
NHT SuperZero x 5 = $500: http://www.amazon.com/NHT-SuperZero-2-0-Monitor-Speaker/dp/B0049FA1TM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1296057195&sr=8-1

NHT Subwoofer = $350: http://www.amazon.com/NHT-Super-110-Watt-Powered-Subwoofer/dp/B0049FGP7O/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1296057255&sr=1-2

BenQ W1000 1080p DLP projector = $1,000: http://www.amazon.com/BenQ-W1000-Plus-Cinema-Projector/dp/B0045YP7M8/ref=sr_1_5?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1296057296&sr=1-5

Harman Kardon AVR = $280: http://www.amazon.com/Harman-Kardon-AVR1600-Performance-7-1-Channel/dp/B002IKKFTQ/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1296058314&sr=1-3

LG Blu-ray Player = $99: http://www.amazon.com/LG-BD530-Network-Blu-ray-Player/dp/B00400NL02/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1296057579&sr=1-3

Total = $2,229

And amazon is AWESOME when it comes to customer service and return policy.

 

[HexOmega]

This should just about have you covered. The reason for the 5 channel set is that it proves to be the least expensive way to get you up and running, by providing the center, 4 surrounds, and the sub in one shot. everything of course, is subject to upgrades later, but for the budget given, this is IMHO a pretty good place to start.

I just graduated from those Polk speakers (after less than a month of use) and while they are a decent starter set, the center channel and sub are going to be virtually useless in the OP's 27x18 room.

AcuDefTechGuy's recommendation looks pretty solid so long as that H/K receiver is not from the model year/s that were buggy. Is there a better center channel option for ~$100 though?

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I must confess to not understanding the love for NHT. Those I have heard did nothing for me, despite the specs. The idea behind my recommendations was to provide a pleasing experience now, as well as provide a foundation upon which the OP could build upon over time, and be on budget...

And what could the budget Polk speakers do for you that the NHT SuperZero could not?

HTM recently reviewed the NHT Absolute Zero and the frequency response was awesome: 5-point average on & off-axis +/- 15 degrees from 200Hz - 10kHz was around +/- 0.93dB. That is accurate.

Stated specs is one thing, but actual measured specs confirmed by 3rd party is more meaningful.

Let the subwoofer handle all the bass, which MOST speakers will lack.

With an NHT system, the OP can certainly keep this system for 10 yrs. There is no need to build upon it unless he just has an itch in this wallet.

And buying directly from amazon is safe. If anything is sub-par and not as advertised, he can return them to amazon with free UPS shipping label.

 

[KEW]

I already have a good screen that was given to me so I basically need everything else. Room size is appr. 27 x 18, pre-wired for 7.1 and pretty dark. I need a 1080p projector, receiver, blu-ray, speakers, and sub. Any thoughts?

Thanks!

How important is audio to you? Will you also listen to much music on this system?

One option, if you are so inclined is to spend the $2K on the video/sources and buy better quality 2.1 speakers. Then you can add the other speakers as budget allows. Just let us know which way you'd like to do it!

 

[sjbtmc]

Thanks for the great ideas everyone.....keep them coming. I've learned quite a bit from this forum. For the most part, I'll only be watching movies on my system. I originally thought 7.1 because the room is fairly large. That, and I figured if my old 5.1 Yamaha boxed set sounds decent upstairs, so a 7.1 must sound that much better......I guess not. I think I'd like to get a good center, two decent towers up front and fill the back with whatever......

 

[GranteedEV]

Thanks for the great ideas everyone.....keep them coming. I've learned quite a bit from this forum. For the most part, I'll only be watching movies on my system. I originally thought 7.1 because the room is fairly large. That, and I figured if my old 5.1 Yamaha boxed set sounds decent upstairs, so a 7.1 must sound that much better......I guess not. I think I'd like to get a good center, two decent towers up front and fill the back with whatever......

What I've found is that having speakers that can get loud without dynamic compression is more valuable than surround sound, even for movies. So I ditto what KEW said about testing the 2.1 waters. You of course want more than just "loud speakers" but I mean that a good pair of speakers will likely do that better than a mediocre set of five or seven.

Remember, most of the content you'll hear in a movie will be voices, gunshots, explosions, and symphonic music. Often the only surround effect in an entire movie will be Crickets Chirping. Is that really worth sacrificing the fidelity of the aformentioned stuff?

Here's a really good thread at HTS regarding surround sound with input from a studio engineer:

http://www.hometheatershack.com/forums/audio-processing/36269-has-surround-sound-been-forgotten.html



I would recommend the Ascend CMT-340 SE's http://www.ascendacoustics.com/pages/products/speakers/cmt340m/cmt340m.html or perhaps the lesser HTM-200s or CMT-170s

Get them crossed over to a decent ported sub (for that room mind you.. nothing is wrong with sealed) like the ones offered by SVS, EMP Tek, Outlaw, Funkywaves, HSU, Rythmik, Dayton, and Lavasub,

 

[psbfan9]

PSB - Image B5 - front L/R Speakers - $400.00 pr.

PSB - Image B4 - L/R Surround's - $300.00 pr.

PSB - Image C5- Center Channel Speaker - $375.00

PSB - Sub Series 5i - Sub Woofer - $549.00

Sony BDP S570 Blue ray player - as low as $139.00