Home Theater, what do you recommend?

[C3ntury]

Hello,

I just built a PC and looking to purchase a home theater system in conjunction with it. I am not sure if I indeed need a sound card or what speaker/receiver componants are recommended so hopefully you can help with this. My system is as follows:

EVGA E758-A1 X58 3-Way SLI
Intel I7-920(DO)
Intel X25-M Mainstream 80GB SSD
Western Digital Caviar Black WD1001FALS 1TB (I have another 1TB, but won't be RAID'ing)
XFX ATI Radeon HD 5870
CORSAIR 850HX
OCZ Platinum 6GB
Prolimatech Megahalems Rev.B CPU Cooler
Pioneer Blu-ray BDR-205BKS
LITE-ON LH-20A1P DVD

1) PC will be used for gaming, movies, music, web browsing, and possibly some photoshop-ish elements.
2) I will eventually OC this rig.
2) I'd like to spend within $500.00 if possible without piece-mailing everything.
3) I am using my Vizio 42" as a screen...and is friggin sweetness!

I hope I provided the necessary information needed and thank you in advance for any recommended speaker setups!

__________________

 

[C3ntury]

Any thoughts, suggestions, remarks? Should I just go to hell?

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

Congrats on your purchase of good gaming rig.
While I usually hesitant suggesting HTIB system, onkyo system aren't bad at all and should fill your requirements: Gaming, Musics and at 3rd place - Music.
Onkyo HT-S7200 7.1
http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/ONKHTS7200/Onkyo/HT-S7200-7.1-channel-Home-Theater-Package-With-Dock-For-Ipod/1.html

Yes, it's refub, but since refub done by Onkyo factory itself and you get same 1 year warranty I see no reason not to get it.

Re sound card - Check if you onboard card/drivers support Dobly Digital (or DTS) Live - it'll make your gaming surround much easier to deal with. If not - get one with support for this like from Asus Xonar series...

 

[its phillip]

I dunno. $500 is a pretty low number.

I'd suggest getting a used receiver (cheap on craigslist) and a pair of speakers and maybe a sub to start with...look at the behringer b2030p for the speakers and perhaps something from elemental designs or hsu for the sub.

 

[stealthrt]

I would suggest Klipsch HD 500 Compact 5.1 Home Theater System (Set of Six, Black): http://www.amazon.com/Klipsch-HD-500-Compact-Theater/dp/B001XURGT4

I've never heard a bad sounding Klipsch setup

David

 

[emaja]

The Onkyo HT-S5300 7.1 is pretty darn hard to beat at its price. Speakers aren't the best, but that receiver is nice and you can always upgrade speakers at any time.

Runs less than $400 at Amazon.

 

[digicidal]

The Onkyo HT-S5300 7.1 is pretty darn hard to beat at its price. Speakers aren't the best, but that receiver is nice and you can always upgrade speakers at any time.

Runs less than $400 at Amazon.

They have it at AC4L too... and although Amazon is an authorized dealer IIRC - I'd make sure it's actually coming from Amazon if you want the 1yr warranty - I know some other dealers link through from time to time on Amazon and they are not authorized.

Here is linky to same on AC4L.

Think you should have a good system now - and if you upgrade the speakers down the road... a great one!

I've never heard a bad sounding Klipsch setup

You've obviously been listening to ones other than the 3 different sets I've owned over the years. Not saying Klipsch isn't any good - but you have to love that sound... I unfortunately spent a couple grand in order to confirm that I am not one of those that does however.

Any thoughts, suggestions, remarks? Should I just go to hell?

Oh and don't go to hell... the acoustics are horrible.

 

[Phil Taylor]

Start small but with the ability to upgrade. IOW future-proof so don't buy a receiver/system that 1 - does not support an external sub = sub pre-out, 2 - does not decode BD/HD audio formats, 3 - is less than 7.1, 4 - has less than 3 HDMI inputs. Your receiver is the "brain" of your system ... and as we've all been told - 'a mind is a terrible thing to waste'.