Looking to Buy my First home theatre setup.

[zawada]

I am looking to buy a surround sound system to pair up with my Sony 50" A10 that i recently bought. The system will be used for TV, Movies, and Xbox360/PS3. I was looking at a couple systems here

Panasonic 5-Disc 1000 Watts Home Theatre System (SCHT740S)
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LG 1-Disc Home Theatre System With DivX (LH-T9654MB)
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Samsung 5-Disc 1000 Watt Home Theatre System (HT-TQ72)
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Sony Home Theatre System (HT-DDW900)
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Yamaha 1-Disc Home Theatre System (DVXS301S)
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Honestly...i dont really know who the best brand is or anything, But just from looking over the specs i think i am leaning towards the LG one. It has a DTS Encoder, DIVX playback, 2-way speakers (i dont even know if those are necessary at all), and i think it looks pretty nice also. But if any of you can tell me that one of these is superior from the pack than please do.

The other route i can go is to buy the Athena Micra 6 Speaker System for around $360. That leaves maybe $200 for a receiver. Obviously i would shell out more for a receiver if it is worth it. So its either a $500 HTIB or maybe around a $700 Athena + Receiver setup. Thanks.

 

[JaceTheAce]

Go with the one that has 1000 watts! The more watts, the better! *SARCASM*

Avoid any electronics companies who advertise their HTIB's performance based on the "watts/RMS rating". Spend a bit more money on a better system and consider the Athena as a better option.

 

[zawada]

I wasnt really leaning towards the LG just cause it says it has 1000watts. Just by reading the specs on it it sounds like its a nice system. But if i do go the way of the Athena speakersm what would be a good (but hopefully semi-cheap) receiver to pair with it?

 

[fredejo]

maybe something like this http://www.shopping.com/xPO-Onkyo_TX_SR503_Black_7_channel_home_theater_receiver i'm sure u can find something like this or better for your price range.

 

[Sheep]

I'd grab this to go with the Athenas.

http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?logon=&langid=EN&sku_id=0665000FS10073314&catid=

SheepStar

 

[zawada]

Thanks alot sheep. I was thinking about getting that one earlier. I think im gonna go Athena + Pioneer.

 

[Matt34]

If you want HTIB here is supposably the best one out there.(under $300)

Onkyo HT S590

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-lV5BAt36MhR/cgi-bin/prodview.asp?i=580HTS590S

 

[fredejo]

if u actually like home theater u will want to upgrade at one point, so please dont go HTIB, unless u dont care....

 

[JAD2]

I went the all in one at first, big mistake!!!
How did I know I got robbed??
My TV went louder than my 700 watt Sony, thats how!! 25 watt a channel TV blows away a 700 watt receiver combo. Good thing I bought it used and my kid wanted a stereo system.
Then we went this way, budget style and good sound.
Onkyo 303 from J&R music, $106 shipped. Between J&R and other sources like ebay and others, many to choose from under $200 with up to 400 watts of REAL WATTAGE.
Listened to speakers locally, went to ebay and picked up 2 sets of Polk R-15's for $75 shipped each, NEW!
Ebay again for a CS-200 Polk center- $52 shipped.
Ebay again for a cheap powered sub, just for the amp and box, 125 watt. Then off to Parts Express for a Dayton 8 inch sub speaker, why??? Because mid to higher end speaker makers get their stuff from them and one other source and badge them NAMED for alot more!! Total into the sub, $97 shipped.
$404 total and will blow away any all in one system I've heard for less than those go!! Hell of a entry level if you ask me!!!

 

[fredejo]

i know its hard to do but wait as long as you can to buy so that u can listen to as many speakers in your price range as you can. i wish i had waited another month or so... the onkyo/polk system he mentioned would b great, but make sure U like their sound, everyone likes different sounding speakers, keep reading posts & u will c what im talking about

 

[Kai]

I too went the all in one route and came to regret it. Now I have it relegated to a box and soon to my daughter for her tiny apartment. So money out the door with no return.
If $700 is your budget get yourself a nice set of fronts and surrounds...example: Paradigm Titans $220 and Atoms $200, or a similar quality brand, leaving the remainder for a budget receiver in the $300 range-which will be reasonably good sounding.

Some others may suggest spending the $400 into a good pair of fronts, such as Paradigm Mini-Monitors $369, and adding more speakers as funds allow.

Both work fine.

As money allows buy a sub, SVS has a very nice 10" sub on sale for $379 then a center speaker that matches the fronts/surrounds.

Overall you will be much happier, have a much better audio system and save money.

Good luck and keep us informed on your decisions.

 

[zawada]

Thanks everyone. I was wondering what all of your thoughts are on the Athena Micra 6? I've heard nothing but great stuff about it. So i think im gonna go with those speakers + Pioneer 816-k.

 

[t3031999]

There is a review of the Athena System Here

Seems to be a decent budget system, but i've never heard it.

PS. I personally wouldn't get it because my wife would say it was ugly.

 

[zawada]

Well, i thought i had it all decided but i was doing some last minute searching on best buy and i came across this package. http://www.bestbuy.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?sku_id=BDL10000822&logon=&langid=EN.
Does anyone have any information on those speakers? I cant really find anything on them.

 

[Nick250]

My vote goes to buying the best two fronts you can afford right now, a $250 to $300 receiver and then as you can afford it get in this order:

1. sub
2. center
3. rears

Personally I would be pretty impatient doing this drawn out assemblage, but if you can do it, I think you will glad in the long run.

 

[zawada]

Thats the thing, i am pretty impatient .

 

[zawada]

Well...i just decided to go for it. I bought the Athena Micra setup, and i will be buying a Pioneer 816 receiver this week. I have until monday until these arrive, so i will be looking for sales and such. Thanks for the help everyone.