Please help me out guys, having lots of problems with a HTIB, looking to change it

[saosinengaged]

I foolishly purchased the Samsung BD1250 1000 watt HTIB, wanting to avoid the hassle of a full fledged theater and I'm now regretting it.

The center speaker has massive, tinny distortion that actually is more of a screech. I googled it and found out it's a design flaw in the speaker, and replacing it won't help.

My father has a relatively new Yamaha center speaker at his house that he offered to give me, can I just hook this up and use it? It's definitely much more powerful/cleaner.

My second problem is; I cannot get 5.1 surround to play during DVD playback, only on Blu Rays. I have NO idea why this is. The HTIB is hooked up to the TV via HDMI, and as I said, the actual system sounds very good on a blu ray, but horrendous on a DVD as sound only comes through the messed up center speaker. I can't resolve this.

At this point, should I just return the system, or pick up new front speakers to compliment the new center speaker I'm getting from my father? The power of the system is perfect, and setting it too high really blares. I'm not sure what you guys think I should do.

Main two problems restated:

1) Is replacing the HORRENDOUS center speaker with the Yamaha center a good idea? Will it work?

2) How can I resolve the issue of ONLY hearing sound from the CENTER speaker while playing DVDs, even while the receiver is set to surround?

 

[saosinengaged]

I know HTIB's are ridiculously frowned upon by you guys, but I'm not really an audio nut. I just want a working system.

I had an old Panasonic HTIB that worked perfectly fine, and it was a lot less powerful. But the center speaker had NO distortion like this POS.

At some point, I will convert to a full fledged theater. If I can get away with just buying the speakers first, hooking it up to the HTIB I have, replacing the stock ones, then buying a real receiver later, I'd rather go that route.

 

[sholling]

The three front speakers need to be timbre matched which usually requires coming from the same brand and product line. Upgrading what you have a piece at a time is a legitimate approach but I'm not familiar with your HTIB so I can't even tell you if it's compatible with other speakers. If it is then I'd replace the front three.

Since I just answered a similar question I'll post a link.
http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=65017

 

[Seth=L]

Return the system, DO NOT tell them you had the Yamaha center speaker connected to it or your option for return or warranty may be void.

Connecting other separate speakers to that system is a BAD idea. Those systems are very low power (regardless of their specified ratings) and they are designed to work only with the provided speakers. Connecting other speakers to the unit risks damage to your speakers or the unit.

My advise is to start over. Best Buy sells receivers for as little as $200 with all the modern HDMI features (even HDMI 1.4 for 3D support). I'd take a look at Pioneer's entry level receiver - click here to view receiver. It's going to have more features than the Samsung unit (minus the Blu-ray player) and connectivity. It will also have more power and flexibility with other speakers. Best Buy also sells a decent speaker package under their in house brand Insignia - click here to see speaker package. I have listened to this system and I do think it's a nice sub/sat system for the money. The cabinets are dense resin type plastic molded and have durable binding posts instead of speaker clips. The subwoofer is modest, yet packs a decent punch. I've seen subwoofers with worse looks and worse sound sell for more than this entire system is being sold for. It's not the best system by far, but for the buck it's good and it sounds better to me than Bose or most any other HTIAB system speakers. Just my opinion, but pick up your average HTIAB system satellite speaker then pick up the Insignia ones from the package I recommend and you can feel that they Insignias are more solid speakers.

Then I would suggest picking up a Blu-ray player in the $150-200 range. The stand alone players offer a lot more than the ones built into HTIAB systems such as network connectivity and other web based services including youtube and netflix.

The speaker package is $155, the receiver is $229 (soon to arrive in stores) and assume you spend around $150 on a Blu-ray player and you are actually spending the around the same as you would on the HTIAB system. In the end you'll have better sound and more flexibility. The only down sides are that the components won't necessarily cosmetically match (although the glossy finish on the Insignia speakers does look nice with the Pioneer receiver and most Blu-ray players have a similar finish) and the components will take up more room.

 

[pzaur]

Take Seth's advice. I had a little Sony HTiB and a carpenter we had over asked me if I was selling it. I told him that I could not sell it to him in good conscious as the sound quality was crap.

-pat

 

[BMXTRIX]

If you spent about $500 or so on that setup, then there are some good options you have to make your own HTiB system from scratch for around the same price. The HTiB systems generally come from strong electronics manufacturers who happen to be lousy speaker manufacturers, so you can get a lot more quality for similar cash outlay by building it yourself. Especially if you shop hard and pick up a piece of gear which is refurbished.

Here's an interesting thread on some setup possibilities:
http://forums.highdefdigest.com/home-theater-gear/79806-build-your-own-htib-400-800-a.html

For example - Receiver ($230)
http://www.jr.com/pioneer/pe/PIO_VSX520K/

Polk 5.1 speaker set ($230)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882290066

Panasonic BD player ($155)
http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-DMP-BD65-Blu-Ray-Player-Black/dp/B0038KN114/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1272296618&sr=8-4

Cabling (various - about $50 or so)
http://www.monoprice.com

So for about $600 total, you get a versatile system which allows for individual component upgrades should you need them at any point along with the option of versatility which you don't have at all right now.

I mean, if your BD player fails - your entire system no longer works while it is out for repair! A true separate system like the one above the forum members will help you setup completely if you need it and will provide far more value and enjoyment for almost the exact same amount of money you spent on the cheap HTiB system.

Don't confuse your ability to get some decent quality with it necessarily being a lot more expensive.