Suggestions for audio system?

[s44haddad]

Hello,

I am finally in a position to purchase a sound system and I do not know where to start. My budget is about $500. Can someone suggest some equipment? I will be attaching, xbox 360, blue ray and cable box. I studied sound in college so I do have a good ear so its critical that I get a system that sounds great...as great as possible with $500 that is. In regards to setup, eq'ing and signal flow I am good at, but I know that the saying, "You get what you pay for" is especially true with audio equipment. Is it in my best interest to pay for a cheaper system, or pay a little more and get something much better? Any suggestions would be appreciated!

Thanks!

 

[jopela]

I think we will need some more information before we can help you.

$500, is that your total budget or is that for the receiver. If you have an ear for audio you will be hard pressed to find a front pair for less than $500 that sound "great"?

What are your goals for the system? (5.1, 7.1, music, video, HDMI switching)

What kind of space is this going in? (Large livingroom, appartment, dorm room?)

 

[s44haddad]

Thanks for the reply.

5.1/music in an apartment that has a pretty small room.

Yah, $500 for everything...but as they say in sales, whatever the budget the customer says, add a couple hundred more than that...

I'm realistic in knowing that george lucas isnt going to come down to listen to my system for what I can afford, but I would like something nice. If purchasing a reciever, and a front speaker and a sub now, and gradually building to a 5.1 is what I should do, then I'm down for that too!

Thanks.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

I would build a system around the Behringer B2030P's. Maybe start out with just 2 and then add a PE sub or DIY one and then add more B2030P's for center and surrounds as you have more money. Look for an inexpensive refurb AVR or one of our old ones that we will sale cheap.

 

[jopela]

I am going to step outside the box and give a recommendation you do not hear to often here. If I were in your situation (and I was 2 years ago) I would buy a decent home theater in-a-box like the Onkyo HT-SR700. 5.1, 90 watts x5, 3 HDMI in 1 out, and less than $400. For the price range you are looking in you are not going to be able to get anything super high end, and in a smaller area like you describe it might be overkill anyway. I would be afraid if you did purchase a better receiver and just some fronts in that price range, when you move to a bigger space you will need to repurchase everything anyway because you will not be happy with it, and you have spent all of this time in your current space with 2.0 sound.

Buy a HT box solution, start saving for when you move, and when you have a bigger house. An HT in a box becomes a great system for an office when you are playing computer games, or in the garage while you are working. (This is where my lasts 2 systems ended up and it is working out great.)

Here is a link to the HT-SR700 on sale for $320, which gives you $180 to start your next system savings fund.

I would also not waste your money on a 7.1 HT in-a-box. Your space is to small to take advantage of it, and not much is coded in 7.1 yet. Save it for your next system.

http://www.crutchfield.com/App/Product/Item/Main.aspx?g=315950&i=580HTS700S&tp=6419


Hope this helps

 

[s44haddad]

thanks!

Great information thanks! Jopela I was kinda thinking along the lines you are, and I think I will get that system! Thanks for your help!

 

[lsiberian]

I got
a couple of beta 20s of Ebay ($125)
a c 250($60)
3 Kef 2001.2s of Craigslist.($120)
a 6.1 Panasonic SA HE100($90)
Plan on adding a Dayton in the ($100) range
I got some white 16 gauge speaker wire from Ant-Online($20)

That all adds up to around 500 and is much better than my old $500 HTIB
It's working really well for my space.

So my suggestion is hit ebay and CL.

 

[Alex2507]

I would build a system around the Behringer B2030P's. Maybe start out with just 2 and then add a PE sub or DIY one and then add more B2030P's for center and surrounds as you have more money. Look for an inexpensive refurb AVR or one of our old ones that we will sale cheap.

I like this idea a lot.
I would thank him for it myself but he laughed at me when I stubbed my toe.

 

[senior]

how do you feel about the Yamaha yht-590

I have heard it and the sound is awesome. This goes for about 500 Has hdmi, dts, etc

 

[jamie2112]

I would build a system around the Behringer B2030P's. Maybe start out with just 2 and then add a PE sub or DIY one and then add more B2030P's for center and surrounds as you have more money. Look for an inexpensive refurb AVR or one of our old ones that we will sale cheap.

Good advice from the Dawg.....