Newbie looking to start simple...

[rjcombo]

So the girlfriend and I just purchased a new HDTV and are looking to supplement it with some surround sound audio. In the last couple days of research I've been bombarded with information and terminology associated with home theater audio, and I must say it's a larger world than I previously imagined.

Anyway, here are the criteria for what I'd like to purchase:

- Must support most of the major digital surround sound formats.
- Must have pedestal mounted rear channel speakers, and preferably pedestal mounted front channels as well.
- Must be at least somewhat aesthetically appealing.
- Does not neccesarily need to include a DVD player.
- Does not neccesarily need to have more than one input for component video or optical audio (I have a Pelican System Selector Pro for this).
- Total cost must not exceed $1000.

I happened upon the Sony DAV-FR9 at a recent visit to Costco. In addition to meeting all the criteria, the combination of a very reasonable price tag, ease of setup and configuration, sexy aesthetic look, and positive online reviews of the system made it seem like a good solution.

Then I started asking friends about home theater audio. Most of them suggested I not purchase a HTIB, and should instead get a good receiver and build a home theater system from there. I certainly see the advantages of this route -- higher quality components, deeper configuration options, and flexibility for future upgrades. I liken it to building your own PC (a hobby I'm much more familiar with). The problem is, like building your own PC, there are many pitfalls for somebody who doesn't understand the intricacies of various components and how they relate to each other. I'm hoping to avoid these pitfalls, one way or another.

So I'm wondering what you audiophiles think of the Sony solution I mentioned. If you believe I would be unhappy with the results, please feel free to explain why. I read the $1000 Buying Guide article, but the speakers do not match the criteria I already listed. If you can recommend a setup that would match the criteria, I'm all ears.

Thanks!

 

[CaliHwyPatrol]

Sony is ****e.

HTIB is good because everything you need to get sound out is included. For someone just starting out this is what I usually recommend. Yes, you are right about having better components when building it yourself, but with that comes a higher price tag.

You might want to look at the Onkyo HTS-870. It is a complete HTIB that is THX certified and is under $1k. A pretty decent deal methinks! You can get pretty much any kind of speaker stand, that is completely up to you.

Here is a link to that set:
<a href=http://www.onkyousa.com/model.cfm?m=HT-S870&class=Systems&p=i>Clicky Clicky</a>

Happy hunting!

~Chuck

 

[krzywica]

Ok, I don't (and I don't think anyone here) would recomend a HTIB because it will piss you off down the road when you become aquainted with a good H/T system and are struck by the uprade bug.

I don't understand your second line of "criteria". You said pedistal mounted? Maybe you mean floorstanding or Tower speakers. The Micra 6 system are all bookshelf or satelite speakers. The Micra 6 is awesome for the price, very hard to beat. Another great system is the Energy ACT6 system.

http://www.garrett-smarthome.com/proddetail.php?prod=ACT6

Both these systems will send that sony down to Davey Jones locker.

As far as a reciever goes you should be more than happy with one of these.

http://brandnamez.com/merchant.ihtml?pid=15017&lastcatid=88&step=4&AffNo=492452167

 

[CaliHwyPatrol]

Both these systems will send that sony down to Davey Jones locker.

LMAO. <img src=http://forums.tccoa.com/images/smilies/rofl.gif>

~Chuck

 

[rjcombo]

I don't understand your second line of "criteria". You said pedistal mounted? Maybe you mean floorstanding or Tower speakers.

Correct. I guess those are the standard terms. I've also seen the term Tall Boy speakers, but not sure if that is a brand specific thing.

The Onkyo system Chuck linked looks pretty good, though it lacks speaker stands. Is there a standard for stands as far as mounting goes? Do you have recommendations?

 

[BMXTRIX]

I would definitely love to see a sub $1,000 5.1/7.1 shootout of some sort.

The biggest issue I would encourage people to get over is aesthetics. Are you willing to give up actual sound quality so your speaker will be pretty? If you are, then that is important to note that you really, really don't care about the sound quality - it just has to be pretty.

Since most people say they want both (duh) you really are stuck in a bad place. Your budget doesn't allow for both really. It allows for halfway decent sound from fairly traditional speakers, or it allows for pretty. To get both a nice looking speaker and one that sounds good, like some Definitive Technology Mythos series (or similar) simply is more than you can afford.

What you will likely get from users here is a lot of practical advice on equipment that sounds good and is a good value for your money.

A receiver like the sub $500 Pioneer 1015TX paired with a 5.1 package will give you a good upgrade path. I might even be of the mindset to recommend a lesser expensive setup if you think you might be upgrading down the road. That is, get a sub $400.00 Onkyo HTS-770 type system which allows for upgrades, then in a year get some $1,200 front speakers (floor standing) and then a year later, get a $600.00 subwoofer. Then a year after that, replace the receiver with whatever flavor Yamenon has out for us to love.

I personally went (kind of) that route and think it is a good way to go. If you can't have a really good system, why not get a budget system that allows for upgradability if you are going to upgrade.

If you aren't planning on upgrading, then definitely ask in several forums (including speakers) for sub $1K 5.1/7.1 setup recommendations. I'm horrible with knowing the best speakers for the job and there are many very good options available to you.

 

[CaliHwyPatrol]

Correct. I guess those are the standard terms. I've also seen the term Tall Boy speakers, but not sure if that is a brand specific thing.

The Onkyo system Chuck linked looks pretty good, though it lacks speaker stands. Is there a standard for stands as far as mounting goes? Do you have recommendations?

Here are the ones I use for our display at work.

They look pretty good together and the stand is a pretty clean build.

<a href=http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/OmniMount-24-Speaker-Stands-COSMIC24-/sem/rpsm/oid/75289/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do>Omni Mount</a>

There is also a 31" model too, but 24" is pretty tall when you get the speaker on there.

The Onkyo HTS-870 has a lot of options for upgrading too. You can change pretty much anything about it whenever you want. That is why I like it so much. That Sony you were looking at for example, has absolutely no room for changes. The speaker wire takes special clips so you can only use Sony stuff and the system sounds nowhere near as good as the Onkyo set.

~Chuck

 

[rjcombo]

I noticed there is a refurb Onkyo HTS-870 available for under $400 on eCost.com, with a 2-year product replacement plan for $77 more. Are refurbs bad news in home theater audio? If not, this seems like a really good deal.