Home Theater in a Box vs. seperate components and speakers??

[drew4392]

My apologies if this has been asked before, but I did search around and couldn't find anything that was specific enough.

For the last five years or so, I have purchased the Home Theaters in a Box type of systems. I just bought my first house, and am getting the A/V itch! I currently have a Panasonic home theater in a box setup in my apartment, but am thinking it might not suffice for a true, quality (to some degree) audio environment.

I am also buying a 50" LCD TV to start things off, so I must do the audio portion right.

Are these home theater systems for $299/$399/$499/$599 sufficient for quality audio that I am striving for? If so, great! I know nothing else so I come to you all for assistance. Or, are these speakers truly junk, the receiver/dvd combo things crap, and I should spring for separates (individual DVD player, receiver, and speakers)??

I am all ears, and appreciate any guidance you can provide!


Thank you,

Andrew

 

[dkane360]

it really depends on how much your willing to spend and what kind of quality your looking for. there are some good htib's out there, but they'll cost about the same as separates would.

 

[AVRat]

Yes, you're going to want better gear. Especially a good quality sub. You're going to have a bigger picture, you want a larger soundstage to match. Let us know your room volume & budget and we can start looking at your options.

Oh yeah, welcome to the site!

 

[Nomo]

You do get what you pay for.

Most important is the budget.

 

[drew4392]

Thanks so much for helping me out!

The room is 21' long and 15' wide. The ceilings are high, though. Vaulted, I think.

I'd love to spend right around what a typical HTIB would cost-- about $400. But, I figure that wouldnt be possible if we went for a component seperate speaker system. So, my budget is around $600-ish??? is that possible?!

Thanks again! much appreciated!

 

[Robof83]

I wouldn't say that they are junk, but I would definitely say you can get much better sound for you money starting at about $500.

$600 is a workable budget. You can look into offerings from The Speaker Comany, they make very good cheap speakers.

If your wan't to buy separates, I think the two best options for $500 are a behringer setup and an infinity beta setup

You can get 5 infinity beta 20s for about $250-$300 on ebay if you time it right. Add a dayton sub 100 or 120 + a Yamaha HTR 6140 should put you under $600.

 

[drew4392]

Glad I have options outside the HTIB!

The two systems you mentioned are going to be significantly better sounding that an equivalently priced HTIB? Or is this like the cusp or threshold of where they start separating??

Also, I heard Onkyo is a good speak, if I was to go 'seperates'. Is this true?


thanks again!

 

[Robof83]

I wouldn't say Onkyo makes speakers that most non audiophiles would think sound bad...but, I definitely think you could get more for your money.

Onkyo is more known for their receivers.

And yes, you will likely get quite a bit of a performance boost over the HTIB solutions you are looking at with the two set-ups I recommended.

 

[drew4392]

Great advice! The budget seems to be possible with these solutions.

ok... here is the golden question.....

I looked into The Speaker Company and it seems they have great stuff! Their seperates are bundled and sold in their own versions of 'HTIB's. Would a $600 ish system from them be on par with a infinty beta/dayton/yamaha setup?? Or better?

Thanks,

Andrew

 

[Pyrrho]

it really depends on how much your willing to spend and what kind of quality your looking for. there are some good htib's out there, but they'll cost about the same as separates would.

And that means, unless space is at a premium (e.g., one lives in a tiny studio apartment, etc.), one should go with separate components. The reason is, with separate components, it will be easier to upgrade later, and if one part fails, you don't have to replace the whole thing.

 

[Robof83]

Great advice! The budget seems to be possible with these solutions.

ok... here is the golden question.....

I looked into The Speaker Company and it seems they have great stuff! Their seperates are bundled and sold in their own versions of 'HTIB's. Would a $600 ish system from them be on par with a infinty beta/dayton/yamaha setup?? Or better?

Thanks,

Andrew

Umm... honestly I really couldn't say. I have never heard the HTIB from The Speaker Company. One thing to keep in mind is that the infinity beta series was part of their "High End" line of speakers when they were released in 2004. Now that they have been discontinued, they are going for cheaper(on ebay) than their value line of speakers(Primus Line). The reason they were discontinued is because they are big at 8.9 in x 13 in x 13.8 in.

 

[drew4392]

Got it. Well, if I could get yesterday's high-end speaker at a discounted price... I am all for it.

I did a quick search on this and didn't see anything...... how does one mount this semi-behemoth beta 20 so its at the proper level?? Generic speaker stands?

Plus, I need to mount them in the rear. I'm assuming there is some kind of ceiling mount for this larger speaker?


Thanks!

 

[Robof83]

Well I made my own stands via this design http://www.tnt-audio.com/clinica/stubby_e.html and it cost me very little, but there are many speaker stands out there that would do the job if you don't wan't to DIY.

 

[drew4392]

Well, I'm sold on the Beta 20 setup. It is less expensive than The Speaker Company TST2 package and will probably sound even better.


But...... these beta 20's are big! I'll take your advise and get a pair of speaker stands, but what do I do about the rear speakers and the front, center speaker?? I think it might be a bit too big to hang from the ceiling. Maybe I can wall mount the rears?

I attached a picture of the room its going in. it's the bottom level (living room). I made a couple of notes on it. Do you think this is a possible layout?

 

[lsiberian]

Well, I'm sold on the Beta 20 setup. It is less expensive than The Speaker Company TST2 package and will probably sound even better.


But...... these beta 20's are big! I'll take your advise and get a pair of speaker stands, but what do I do about the rear speakers and the front, center speaker?? I think it might be a bit too big to hang from the ceiling. Maybe I can wall mount the rears?

I attached a picture of the room its going in. it's the bottom level (living room). I made a couple of notes on it. Do you think this is a possible layout?

The Beta 20s are nice speakers. I used them before I built my own speakers.

For surrounds I suggest you try to score a pair of KEF 2001.2s they match the beta 20s very well. Plus they are great surrounds in general and can have great staying power.

However if you are anywhere close to CraigV snatch up his Kef iQ7s. He's selling a pair for 400. Trust me a pair of great speakers is the best way to start this hobby.

You can add other speakers as the funds and desires come.

So start strong. Get the best pair of speakers you can on your budget. If you must have a center channel then get the best front setup you can on your budget.

For a receiver start used or refurb. For poor folks like us I suggest the HK AVR 254 of an Ebay auction. It gives you expandibility and a solid amp section. HK severly underrates their receivers so ignore the wattage ratings.

Pair that with the best 2 speakers you can afford and leave the rest for later or never. The reality is 2 great speakers are better than 5 ok ones any day of the week.

You might even find yourself listening to far more music.

 

[Robof83]

The Beta 20s are nice speakers. I used them before I built my own speakers.

For surrounds I suggest you try to score a pair of KEF 2001.2s they match the beta 20s very well. Plus they are great surrounds in general and can have great staying power.

However if you are anywhere close to CraigV snatch up his Kef iQ7s. He's selling a pair for 400. Trust me a pair of great speakers is the best way to start this hobby.

You can add other speakers as the funds and desires come.

So start strong. Get the best pair of speakers you can on your budget. If you must have a center channel then get the best front setup you can on your budget.

For a receiver start used or refurb. For poor folks like us I suggest the HK AVR 254 of an Ebay auction. It gives you expandibility and a solid amp section. HK severly underrates their receivers so ignore the wattage ratings.

Pair that with the best 2 speakers you can afford and leave the rest for later or never. The reality is 2 great speakers are better than 5 ok ones any day of the week.

You might even find yourself listening to far more music.

I see you've changed your avatar. I think this one. more fitting of your name.