System for friend, best buy only

[alexwakelin]

A friend of mine has asked for advice on what to buy for his new home theater system. Budget is $500 to $750. He wants to take advantage of the financing Bust Buy is offering, so no online purchases. I am having a hard time recommending anything that BB sells, they don't seem to have very many good deals atm. Here's what I have suggested to him so far.

Receiver: Sony STR DG520 or Yamaha RX-V363 both ~$200

Center channel: Polk CS10 $179
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8826149&type=product&id=1207352529064

Mains: Polk TSI100 $199
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8825444&type=product&id=1207352527254

Surrounds: Reused from old HTiB

Sub: Dayton Sub120 $155

Total: $733

OK, I cheated on the subwoofer. The Dayton just seems to be a better choice then anything in it's price range that best buy sells. Also, it appears that the polks I linked use the same drivers, so they should be timbre matched, can anyone confirm?

 

[Adam]

Just as some info for your friend, Amazon (and I'm guessing other places) also has financing available. Add in that there isn't any tax, and it might be a good option.

 

[lsiberian]

Does best buy sell the primus series?

Anyway. You can get finacing via amazon.com. Or a new credit card for like 6 months free if you have good credit. best buy is only pushing there credit card, but any card will usually have a 6 months no interest introductory period.

I personally think he would be better served waiting 6 months and saving the payment each month. Then he could buy whatever he wants instead of wasting his money and time in Best Buy. If he doesn't have the money to buy a system now. He shouldn't. Credit is ok for a House, an Education and maybe a car, but a bad idea for buying anything else. What happens if he loses his job?

If he wants a real system at that price. He has really only two options. Ebay and Craiglist.

Ebay is simple. Just pick up 4 Beta 20s and a Beta 250 add a Dayton 12 inch and Panasonic HE100 Those are all the best bang for buck items in their categories at that price. The total cost of that system will come to about 450. Leaving 100 for a couple pairs of stands for the Beta 20s if he so chooses.

Sometimes we need to be honest with our friends. Now is the time for you to be honest with them. If you follow the above suggestions you will have a very good system period. And for the money it's just sick.

I would give you a HTIB suggestion, but I feel that would betray wisdom in this circumstance.

 

[alexwakelin]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I think my friend is going to reuse his old receiver, it still works and he doesn't need hdmi switching, so that is $200 less that he is spending. I think I recall him saying that he recently paid off his truck, so some of the money he was spending on that will probably go towards paying off the BB card. BB is currently offering 18 months of no interest financing, which is a pretty good deal. He already bought a new tv from BB, so would probably like to keep the whole HT system on the same credit line.

 

[lsiberian]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I think my friend is going to reuse his old receiver, it still works and he doesn't need hdmi switching, so that is $200 less that he is spending. I think I recall him saying that he recently paid off his truck, so some of the money he was spending on that will probably go towards paying off the BB card. BB is currently offering 18 months of no interest financing, which is a pretty good deal. He already bought a new tv from BB, so would probably like to keep the whole HT system on the same credit line.

The problem is I don't see any real options at best buy. They have a very limited selection. If he only needs a front sound stage. Then he can get much better elsewhere.

 

[alexwakelin]

No opinions on those Polks? Yeah, they're probably not the best speakers for the price, but a lot of people seem to like polk speakers.

 

[R-Carpenter]

Is DIY for speakers an option?

 

[alexwakelin]

Is DIY for speakers an option?

Probably not, he's up to his ears with a house remodel (the livingroom is done, hence the new HT), he wants an easy solution.

 

[mudrummer99]

I have the TSi100's. I like them but they are speakers hooked to my computer, not the mains of my HT system. I haven't tried, nor have I had the inkling to hook them up and see how they would perform. If I did, I'm sure I wouldn't be too impressed by them at all. Is there any chance you cant talk him into using the $200 from the receiver and add it to his budget for the speakers? If he would do that, that would open up quite a few more possibilities. Try that and see how that goes over.

Mike

 

[Nomo]

No opinions on those Polks? Yeah, they're probably not the best speakers for the price, but a lot of people seem to like polk speakers.

Given the limited parameters you have the Polks are a decent choice.
Yes, that is the correct center to match those mains.

I'd take the Yamaha over the Sony.

That budget doesn't buy much, every one has to start somewhere.

 

[wis_fishing_guy]

I just replaced my bose with the CS10 center and TSI100s as my fronts.They are some great sounding speakes for the price.He will really enjoy them.You cant go wrong with those when you only have so much money to work with.