Recommendations for full HT setup with $2,000 cap.

[saint0]

This would only include the receiver, the speakers with stands, dvd/vhs and cd player.

I really don't know if it's better to get decent speakers and have a 5.1 setup, or less decent speakers and do a 6.1 or even 7.1. I am very new to this.

 

[zumbo]

receiver around $464.00 with shipping: http://www.onecall.com/ProductDetail...=true&id=26741

center $250.00 shipped: http://www.accessories4less.com/cgi-.../MORDAV905CMPL

one pair shipped $500.00: http://www.accessories4less.com/cgi-...m/MORDMS914MPL

last pair shipped $380.00: http://www.wildwestelectronics.net/moshmsclseau.html

dvd/cd universal player around $136.00 shipped: http://www.onecall.com/ProductDetail...=true&id=27949

$1730 total. $1850 if you miss the deal on that last pair from WW. That should leave you with enough to pick-up a vhs player from somewhere.

added sub for $200.00: http://www.accessories4less.com/cgi-bin/item/MORDMS907BL

Total $1930 or $2050.
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[jonnythan]

And get all your cables from cablesforless.com and monoprice.com

 

[zumbo]

I forgot about cables. I would get AR PROII from here: http://www.accessories4less.com/cgi-bin/category.cgi

 

[df4801]

Good job Zumbo. Great speaker setup.

Although he still needs a sub.

 

[zumbo]

Good job Zumbo. Great speaker setup.

Although he still needs a sub.

Got it! OOPS!

 

[jonnythan]

$2000 system using a $200 sub? Psh.

How about this:
http://www.axiomaudio.com/epicmaster_350main.html $1577
http://www.ubid.com/actn/opn/getpage.asp?AuctionId=10629312&refLoc=searchall $279
http://www.onecall.com/ProductDetails.aspx?sHist=12-53&menu=true&id=27949 $130

Total $1986

 

[zumbo]

$2000 system using a $200 sub? Psh.

That's 10% of the budget. That's inline.

Audioholics $5000 system uses a $500 sub. 10%
http://www.audioholics.com/showcase/systemguide/5KRecommendedhometheater.php

Audioholics $12000 system uses a $1000 Mordaunt Short sub. 9%
http://www.audioholics.com/showcase/systemguide/12KRecommended-HTSystem.html

Notice the 5k system uses Axiom, while the 12k system uses Mordaunt Short.

 

[jonnythan]

And the $3000 system that includes a $1000 TV (leaving $2000 for speakers/receiver/DVD player) uses a $300 sub.

A $500 sub is adequate for a home theater... but a sub with a 10" woofer and 100W amp that doesn't go below 35Hz isn't gonna cut it.

 

[saint0]

Thanks guys for all the suggestions. One question, should I shell out a bit more and do 6.1 or 7.1, or is the difference between those and a 5.1 not all that much? Also, the receiver needs to be able to have a switchable power supply so it can accept 220volts. Otherwise I am going to have to put a step-down transformer behind it (220v -> 110v), however I don't think that will be good in the long run...
Does Onkyo, Denon, Yamaha, etc. make receivers that can accept 220v and have distributors in the USA with them?

And why the hell are cables so expensive? A good 5 ft. component cable is like $50.00?!?!

 

[jaxvon]

There's no need to spend that much on a component video cable. Check out Parts Express part #181-672.

 

[jonnythan]

Component cables:
http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10235&cs_id=1023502&p_id=960&seq=1&format=2&style=
$3.95 for 6 feet. 22 gauge conductors with 120% shielding. Will work as well as anything.

 

[Sheep]

Thanks guys for all the suggestions. One question, should I shell out a bit more and do 6.1 or 7.1, or is the difference between those and a 5.1 not all that much? Also, the receiver needs to be able to have a switchable power supply so it can accept 220volts. Otherwise I am going to have to put a step-down transformer behind it (220v -> 110v), however I don't think that will be good in the long run...
Does Onkyo, Denon, Yamaha, etc. make receivers that can accept 220v and have distributors in the USA with them?

And why the hell are cables so expensive? A good 5 ft. component cable is like $50.00?!?!

Well, these are cables that will never need replacing. Nothing will outperform them.

www.bluejeanscable.com

get your cable here.

SheepStar

 

[zumbo]

And the $3000 system that includes a $1000 TV (leaving $2000 for speakers/receiver/DVD player) uses a $300 sub.

You make a very good point. I didn't look at the 3k system. $300 of $3000. That's 10%.

A $500 sub is adequate for a home theater... but a sub with a 10" woofer and 100W amp that doesn't go below 35Hz isn't gonna cut it.

The sub you mention in the 3k system is 8" that goes down to 32Hz. So, what's your point?

A $5000 set of wheels on a $2000 car shows the ignorance of the driver. I am not saying you are ignorant, but you have to put things into perspective. I would love to be able to build a 2k system with the best sub made, but it's a 2k system for heavens sake.

 

[jonnythan]

You make a very good point. I didn't look at the 3k system. $300 of $3000. That's 10%.

It's $300 of $2000, giving you 15%.

The sub you mention in the 3k system is 8" that goes down to 32Hz. So, what's your point?

I'd also say that it borders on inadequate for HT usage, but I haven't heard that particular sub

A $5000 set of wheels on a $2000 car shows the ignorance of the driver. I am not saying you are ignorant, but you have to put things into perspective. I would love to be able to build a 2k system that shook the house, but it's a 2k system for gods sake.

My personal HT audio system clocks in at a whopping $1000 paid, and roughly 35% of that is for the sub..... and it will be well worth it.

We just have different opinions. I think that for a home theater, floor-rattling bass is a necessity, and I wouldn't want to get by with a small sub.

 

[zumbo]

It's $300 of $2000, giving you 15%.

OK. 15% of $2000. That's $300. That will get the same sub I listed in maple instead of black. Or, it will get the sub you listed in the 3k system. I would choose the Mordaunt.
http://www.accessories4less.com/cgi-bin/item/MORDMS907MPL

Do you have a link to this magical sub for a 2k system?

 

[zumbo]

My personal HT audio system clocks in at a whopping $1000 paid, and roughly 35% of that is for the sub..... and it will be well worth it.

I am intrigued. What is this killer $350 sub? Why haven't you recommended it?

 

[jonnythan]

It's a DIY sonosub.

Here's another system:

Ascend 340s (front/left, center) + 127s (surround) + STF-2 - $1508
Plus the stuff from my first post is still under $2k.

 

[zumbo]

It's a DIY sonosub.

Here's another system:

Ascend 340s (front/left, center) + 127s (surround) + STF-2 - $1508
Plus the stuff from my first post is still under $2k.

The above system forgot the cost of stands, shipping, receiver, and cd/dvd player.

Your first system forgot the cost of stands and shipping. And, you couldn't give me Axiom surrounds with 4" woofers. LOL. They look like wheel choks. http://www.axiomaudio.com/qs4_main.html

 

[saint0]

OK, let's make it around $3,000 including stands, cables, shipping.

So what's wrong with getting something like this:

The Axiom Epic Master 350 6.1 setup here $1777:
http://www.axiomaudio.com/epicmaster_350main.html

I am new to this, so I could be wrong. But isn't it better to buy all of the speakers and sub from the same place instead of buying them from different manufacturers? I imagine that if they are made by the same manufacturer they work better together... ?

And then for receiver any of these:
Yamaha RX-V1600 for ~$650
Onkyo TX-SR703 for ~$600
Denon AVR-2106 for ~$500
Pioneer VSX-1015TX for ~$400

I don't understand how there could be such a big difference in price when they all seem to have about the same features...

And the rest for stands, cd/dvd player, cables, and shipping.