Need help buying a decent HTIB OR seperate!!!

[chikkutom]

Hi Guys,

I am new to this audio community. I am planning on buying HTIB or separate components. My budget is between $500-$600. I kind of like the ONkyo systems, but I am comfused which one to pick. I dont want a one with a DVD player because I want a oppo dvd player(the best). And I also have a 46" full 1080p HDTV. I have a prety big living room. (Also are any wireless speakers good?)I am more interested in listening to calm music and sometime powerful music. Can someone help me choose the decent system with HDMI inputs and all the other stuff.

 

[j_garcia]

How big is big? A HTiB may not cut it. The Onkyo setups aren't terrible, but the speakers aren't spectacular. With that budget, I'd go with a good 2.1 or possibly even a 3.1 setup and add surrounds later or just use some cheap-o surrounds for a while because you will get more for your money that way.

 

[Alamar]

Have you checked the HTiB systems to see if they're going to do what you want? What systems are these [models]? You mention that you want HDMI processing and I didn't think that any of the HTiB recievers did anything useful with HDMI in the 500$ price category.

From your post I see that music is [very?] important to you. Based on this you may want to just get a decent 2.1 speaker system and then fill in the rest of the speakers later. In my limited experience IF music is important to you then HTiB speakers may not do the trick esp. if you're a picky person that likes to hear a lot of detail in their music.

Your display sounds pretty good [or better than pretty good]. You also want a pretty-good DVD player. Is there a reason that you're "skimping" on receiver + speakers?

 

[chikkutom]

OK.. forget about the HTIB. If i was to buy seperateley, i am looking at Onkyo SKS-HT240 or Onkyo SKS-HT540 for speakers. Onkyo TX-SR674, TX-SR505 ot TX-SR605. Which one of these combinations would you suggest? My room is abot 20X13ft. I dvd player is Oppo DV-980H. It may sound stupid to ask this..but how do u the the performance would be it i connect the HT-240 speakes to the 7.1 channel oppo dvd player? Thanks for the help!!

 

[mazersteven]

Hello chikkutom

Where are you from?

Is the $500-$600 for speakers only or receiver included in the budget?

Receiver

http://www.amazon.com/Onkyo-TX-SR605-Channel-Theater-Receiver/dp/B000OBLARC

http://www.onecall.com/ProductDetails.aspx?id=87018

http://www.jr.com/JRProductPage.process?Product=4166654

Speakers

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

 

[chikkutom]

hi,
I am from arizona. My budget is $500-$700 including the recevier and the speakers. I dont want a really high end system. I just want a meduim sized well performed system. I kind of like the onkyo's too.

 

[Adam]

Hey, chikkutom. With your budget, I'd recommend the Onkyo 505 over the 605. The 505 is a good unit and can be had for about half the price of the 605, so around $200-$250. That'll leave you more for speakers.

 

[rnatalli]

As already suggested, the best thing would be to buy a 2.1 setup and then upgrade as you go. But if you're intent on buying a full 5.1 setup now that includes a receiver and speakers, there are some options. Onkyo and Yamaha have good receivers in the sub $500 range. For speakers, I'd look at Boston Acoustics from Circuit City or onecall.com , Mordaunt-Short Premiere from tsto.com , Mission Cinema m70 from tsto.com , the Ventriloquist VT-12 from hsuresearch.com , Athena Micra 6 from Best Buy. I think a couple of the speakers sets I mentioned are 4 Ohm and I don't think I'd use them with sub $500 receivers so look for that. For a sub, probably a Dayton from partexpress.com

 

[Alamar]

The receivers in your list look OK, esp. the ones that support HDMI. [Seeing that you want HDMI support] Of course these units take up significant chunks of your budget ...

As for the rest of your budget [speakers] I'm torn on what to recommend.

Part of me wants to respect your budget and desire for a full 7.1 system so the best I can do here is to recommend that you listen to the system in-store [and in-home if possible] with a wide variety of YOUR music & DVDs so you know what you're getting.

The other part of me [that doesn't want to sacrifice any speaker quality] wants to recommend that you get the best 2.0 system that you can afford TODAY and then add sub, center, surrounds, back speakers once you save up some more cash. BTW I wouldn't run "cheap" speakers full range as they're not designed for it. Just set things up like you had a sub so you won't be pushing the speakers too much.

Some reading that's good for new people [like me]:
Budgeting your home theatre
Bookshelf speaker shootout

EDIT: As always I'd recommend that you do your homework and get the system that's going to make you the happiest in both the short and long term. I wouldn't necessarily weigh anything that I, someone else, or even a professional reviewer says too highly if it's something that you just don't want to do ....

 

[chikkutom]

What do u mean by 2.0 setup speakers? and also forget about my budget and if i was to but the onkyo 505, what would be a cheapest and a decent speaker? What do u think about Polk Audio RM6750 ,ONKYO SKS-HT240 or SA-FT1H with the onkyo 505?

 

[no. 5]

2.0 = stereo.

Another suggestion would be to buy a 504 rather than a 505, and therefore be able to put more money into the speakers.

I second the Parts Express subwoofer, for speakers, two pairs of these, and this center should be acceptable.

 

[chikkutom]

i dont want any huge speakers. I just some hometheater speakers and I also want a HDMI receiver. My dvd player is oppo 980H. What would you suggest?

 

[no. 5]

i dont want any huge speakers.

Huge as in line array, or as in large bookshelf?

I just some hometheater speakers and I also want a HDMI receiver.

A sub/sat system with a 505 or 604, perhaps?

 

[chikkutom]

Huge as in line array, or as in large bookshelf?


A sub/sat system with a 505 or 604, perhaps?

If i was to get the onkyo HT240 as my speakers, what would be a decent HDMI recevier that would go with it?

also what do u think of this combination SKS-HT240 for speakers, TX SR605 for my recevier and Oppo 980H for my DVD player?

 

[chikkutom]

The receivers in your list look OK, esp. the ones that support HDMI. [Seeing that you want HDMI support] Of course these units take up significant chunks of your budget ...

As for the rest of your budget [speakers] I'm torn on what to recommend.

Part of me wants to respect your budget and desire for a full 7.1 system so the best I can do here is to recommend that you listen to the system in-store [and in-home if possible] with a wide variety of YOUR music & DVDs so you know what you're getting.

The other part of me [that doesn't want to sacrifice any speaker quality] wants to recommend that you get the best 2.0 system that you can afford TODAY and then add sub, center, surrounds, back speakers once you save up some more cash. BTW I wouldn't run "cheap" speakers full range as they're not designed for it. Just set things up like you had a sub so you won't be pushing the speakers too much.

Some reading that's good for new people [like me]:
Budgeting your home theatre
Bookshelf speaker shootout

EDIT: As always I'd recommend that you do your homework and get the system that's going to make you the happiest in both the short and long term. I wouldn't necessarily weigh anything that I, someone else, or even a professional reviewer says too highly if it's something that you just don't want to do ....

Hey..what do u think of this combination SKS-HT240 for speakers, TX SR605 for my recevier and Oppo 980H for my DVD player?

 

[no. 5]

If i was to get the onkyo HT240 as my speakers, what would be a decent HDMI recevier that would go with it?

You'll get better results with these, as for a receiver, since you like Onkyo, depending on what you need the receiver to do, a TX-SR505 could work well.

 

[chikkutom]

You'll get better results with these, as for a receiver, since you like Onkyo, depending on what you need the receiver to do, a TX-SR505 could work well.

do u think the 505 is good with the speakers u said or with ht240??

 

[Davemcc]

If you like the sound of the the Onkyo speakers, buy them. You seem to be pretty fascinated with them. The Athena Micra 6 was very well reviewed by the Audioholics reviewers and may be a better alternative.

Honestly, I don't think with your budget that you need an HDMI receiver. Just run the Oppo's HDMI straight to the TV and run digital audio from the Oppo to the receiver.

There's lot of good advice in this thread already. Personally, I think this suggestion from no. 5 is the best.

Another suggestion would be to buy a 504 rather than a 505, and therefore be able to put more money into the speakers.

I second the Parts Express subwoofer, for speakers, two pairs of these, and this center should be acceptable.