Need a New Sound System 5.1 or 7.1

[OmegaNemesis28]

I need a new sound system. I've been a big movie 'enthusiast' lately but I have a problem.
Turns out, soundcards in a PC can't accept surround sound through Optical Input. It's impossible, no matter the card (wasted my money on an Asus D2X -.-). The only speaker setup I have for my little 'theater' here runs through my computer.
So, all of my games and movies I play on my PS3 are only 2 channel unless I get a receiver instead of connecting it through my PC via optical. Big bummer for me.

My only option is to buy a new speaker system with a home theater receiver.
Does anyone have any suggestions on a receiver like Onkyo that is really good or better yet - a complete home theater system like this one?
I don't want to go above $1,000.

This is what I'm tossed up between:
Onkyo + 5.1 Speakers = $910
Cheaper Onkyo + Same 5.1 = $850
Pioneer + same 5.1 = $980
Onkyo Set = $850

These speakers look nice too but they're very expensive. And silver too - not quite sure how they'll look with my generally dark/blue setup here.

 

[bandphan]

http://www.svsound.com/products-sys-sbs_black.cfm

and the AVR that meets your needs....

 

[OmegaNemesis28]

http://www.svsound.com/products-sys-sbs_black.cfm

and the AVR that meets your needs....

$800 is a bit much
a receiver would easily put me over $1.1k

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

I approve the SVS suggestion , but out of your selection i'd pick the $850 Onkyo set as good value for a buck.
But in general, if you don't have WAF factor you can get even better sound (more reference like) with less money.
Just pickup 3 pairs of Behringers 2030p and Dayton 12" sub, Onkyo refub - (507 will do) receiver from acc4less

 

[bandphan]

$800 is a bit much
a receiver would easily put me over $1.1k

ya 10% over budget is high

however i understand. Since we are getting a little deeper, how large is your room? How far from the front sound stage do you sit? Would 2.1 or 3.1 be an option?

 

[ikeyes]

Omega I just went through a similar phase...

Big PC gamer, nice 5.1 / X-Fi setup on my desktop, but have been enjoying more time on the couch away from my desk due to the nature of my work (Net. Admin)

If you don't want to spend more than $1,000- it will be tough, but can be done but I personally would hate to see you go with great speakers and a cheap *** AVR or vice versa just to meet this budget.

If you really can't swing the additional cost maybe going with a solid AVR and then just picking up some great fronts/center and a pair of cheap surrounds would do the trick until you can put down some more $?

I ended up going with an all Polk setup from Newegg and am very happy for the $ I spent on this setup. However I am driving it with a TX-SR707, which will outlast these speakers for when I am ready to step it up down the road.

I know Polk Monitor speakers are nothing to brag about especially in a forum like this, but I'm extremely happy which is all that matters.

Good luck with your search!

 

[sholling]

I assume you are watching TV through a TV and not your computer monitor. If this is correct then I agree with the others and suggest spending the extra $100+ on the SVS and a decent receiver or starting with a quality 3.1 system and adding the surrounds when you have extra money. We also have no idea how big the room is so it's impossible to know how much sub you'll need. But something to keep in mine is long term value. The SVS bundle that someone suggested is a 10+ year investment. If you grow into a bigger home with a bigger room you can keep the speakers and just add a second subwoofer to fill the larger space. On the other hand I think most people with a good ear outgrow a HTIB in a couple of years.

But let's take a whack at seeing where we can save some money. Note that these next two ideas will work as either a living room system or killer PC speaker system. You can pick up a factory refurbished Onkyo TX-SR606 for $300 plus shipping. I bought this exact refurbished receiver for my master bedroom and it's pretty slick and comes with a one year factory warranty.

Option I:
I'll channel JerryLove and suggest 2-3 pair (for 3.1 or 5.1 and keep the extra as a spare) of Behringer B2030P studio monitors for $130/pr shipped from Amazon. Jerry convinced me to try them for my home-office and I like them. So that's $260-390 for left, right, center and perhaps surrounds. But they will need a subwoofer. Low cost bookshelf speaker comparison.

Assuming your room is less than 3000 cubic feet you can pick up a Hsu Research STF-2 subwoofer for $350 plus shipping. Hsu makes great subs and that gives you a quality 3.1 system for $900 plus shipping. Then add the surrounds later. Or some DIYers on here may suggest a Dayton subwoofer or Dayton kit but never having heard one I'll refrain.

Option II:
If that just doesn't work for you then you can look into a set of open box 5.0 Klipsch Quintet III micro satellite speakers for $225. That leaves you about $450 for a good subwoofer (Hsu Research ) and shipping charges. I like the Behringers better but these little satellites rock when combined with a good sub and set them up as a 5.1 system correctly. The Onkyo TX-SR606 will make that easy.

 

[sholling]

I'll add that the Energy Take Classic 5.1 system you listed isn't bad for a small satellite speaker system and would be fine for say a small living room or medium sized bedroom. But I think it would run out of steam at high volume in a larger space. The bright side is that you could always recycle it into a fine bedroom system when you out grow it as a main system. Audioholics Review I would run to a store and try to do an A/B comparison with the little Klipsch. I like the Klipsch but you may like the Energies better.

As far as receivers I think the best bang for the buck is an Onkyo TX-SR607 or last year's 606.

 

[OmegaNemesis28]

Ok well Im ccertainly not going to downgrade from my current 5.1 logitech speaker setup to 3.1.
Nor is buying a new sound card even an option. Its impossible with Windows to pass through a surround sound external device apparently to my understanding, at least without getting some supped up soundcard that is like $2k alone. Auzuntech and Asus said it had to do with the decoding hardware and how Windows handles it or some crap.

My room is pretty large but the space where I sit is confined. Its about only arma length to the TV which I use as my computer screen. I know home theater people frown on this but its my only option and honestly worka great for me. Especially the surround sound when I actually have real 5.1 from a game on the PC. As of late Im doing more with the PS3's Bluray and In order for me to get the surround sound I need to seperately connect to a reciever. A new reciever will require me to buy new speakers. I cant buy just a reciever and wait for speakers - otherwise Ill be without sound.

Ill take a look at the suggestions toward speakers and the different recievers when I get home.

 

[bandphan]

Ok well Im ccertainly not going to downgrade from my current 5.1 logitech speaker setup to 3.1.

Ill stop you there ....2.1 or 3.1 can make a HUGE difference over the logitech, period. Just because you have "more" speakers, doesnt mean better sound

4 of these

1 of these

1 of these

$900

 

[sholling]

Ok well Im ccertainly not going to downgrade from my current 5.1 logitech speaker setup to 3.1.

It's only a "downgrade" if the new 3.1 speakers don't flat blow the doors of the logitechs. Perhaps you could use two of the logitech satellites as your surrounds until you save up more. I did that when I first upgraded from a Klipsch Promedia 5.1 speaker system.

 

[OmegaNemesis28]

It's only a "downgrade" if the new 3.1 speakers don't blow the doors of the logitechs. Perhaps you could use two of the logitech satellites as your surrounds until you save up more.

Can't.
They wouldn't work with the receiver. They use the analog plugs that go into the sound card. I haven't looked too deep into it, but I haven't found a way to convert them into an output that the receiver would use. Otherwise, I'd actually keep my speakers and just get a receiver and wait until I can afford amazing "blow your socks off" speakers.

Another forum where I asked the same question recommended this setup:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882290015 Fronts
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882290022 Center
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882290130 sub
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882290094 surrounds

How would that compares to the SVS that was suggested earlier considering it adds up to about the same price?

Ill stop you there ....2.1 or 3.1 can make a HUGE difference over the logitech, period. Just because you have "more" speakers, doesnt mean better sound

4 of these

1 of these

1 of these

$900

That's not exactly what I meant about downgrade. Most speakers that are made for home theater regardless of how many channels will slaughter the Logitech speakers. I know that
But I meant surround sound wise. I enjoy having my rear speakers and center. That's the whole point of having a surround sound system. 3.1 to me is a complete step down. 2.1 is going back to square one completely no matter how amazing the speakers are. If I wanted to go backwards - I think I'd just dish out $200 and buy myself a kickass pair of cans.

 

[Adam]

Can't.
They wouldn't work with the receiver. They use the analog plugs that go into the sound card. I haven't looked too deep into it, but I haven't found a way to convert them into an output that the receiver would use. Otherwise, I'd actually keep my speakers and just get a receiver and wait until I can afford amazing "blow your socks off" speakers.

You can use those speakers with any receiver that has pre-amp outputs, if they are like the speakers that I'm familiar with. Do they plug into three 1/8" stereo minijacks on the computer? If so, you can use pre-amp outputs, no problem. You'd just get three cables like these.

 

[sholling]

Can't.
They wouldn't work with the receiver. They use the analog plugs that go into the sound card. I haven't looked too deep into it, but I haven't found a way to convert them into an output that the receiver would use. Otherwise, I'd actually keep my speakers and just get a receiver and wait until I can afford amazing "blow your socks off" speakers.

BTW, no promises but you might be able to run those logitechs from the preouts of an Onkyo HT-RC180. The 607 doesn't have them. Just something to investigate. I can't promise it would work but it might. Then start replacing the logitechs a peice at a time.

 

[OmegaNemesis28]

You can use those speakers with any receiver that has pre-amp outputs, if they are like the speakers that I'm familiar with. Do they plug into three 1/8" stereo minijacks on the computer? If so, you can use pre-amp outputs, no problem. You'd just get three cables like these.

ah you see - I saw that before too but it didn't have the same plug. Like instead of female it was male and would plug from the sound card to the reciever. I didn't know they had a female version. Cool!
Then I may just end up doing that - buy a receiver and wait till I can afford one of those more high-end speaker systems.

BTW, no promises but you might be able to run those logitechs from the preouts of an Onkyo HT-RC180. The 607 doesn't have them. Just something to investigate. I can't promise it would work but it might.

Yeah I'm looking at that now. But how would the center channel work?

 

[Adam]

BTW, no promises but you might be able to run those logitechs from the preouts of an Onkyo HT-RC180. The 607 doesn't have them. Just something to investigate. I can't promise it would work but it might.

I'd suggest the Onkyo 707 for less money (and it's only $470 at 6th Avenue).

I'm not an Onkyo fan anymore, but if you're going Onkyo - that's the one that I'd pick.

 

[sholling]

You can use those speakers with any receiver that has pre-amp outputs, if they are like the speakers that I'm familiar with. Do they plug into three 1/8" stereo minijacks on the computer? If so, you can use pre-amp outputs, no problem. You'd just get three cables like these.

Adam you are good. The Onko 60x series doesn't have preouts but the 70x series does.

 

[Adam]

Adam you are good. The Onko 60x series doesn't have preouts but the 70x series does.

Thanks!

I had to check it to make sure, but it's the AH receiver of the year, so I figured that it was worth a look.

 

[OmegaNemesis28]

Wow guys - sure are quick to help! Thanks a ton.

So now we have it down to (speakers aside)
Onkyo HT-RC180 = $629.00
Onkyo TX-SR707 = $499.00

The SR707 is a steal with $400 off. That may just be the receiver!

But out of curiosity:

I'm not an Onkyo fan anymore, but if you're going Onkyo - that's the one that I'd pick.

Why? What other brands do you like aside from Onkyo?
I just have previous experience from my parent's theater setup and their Onkyo. The guys they hired did a slap dash job of setting it up, so I - out of my own little curiosity - went in there and tweaked it. Learned alot from doing that hands on. That's why I kinda look primarily at Onkyo. I haven't had alot of experience with other receivers.

 

[Adam]

Oh, Onkyo isn't a bad brand or anything. I figure that it wouldn't make Gene's pick for receiver of the year if it was. There are two primary reasons that I personally am not a fan: (1) they run hot, and (2) I don't like how they look. That's all.

I like Pioneer Elite receivers. I used to like the 1000-series Pioneer receivers, but starting with this year's 1019, they seem to have stepped those down in quality.

I don't know if you saw my edit in the other post, but the 707 is $470 at 6th Avenue Electronics.