Total Newbie with $2000 or so to spend

[jemmett]

I am starting with zero... zilch! Nada~

I have about 2 grand to spend, but I can go a bit above it i suppose. I am thinking of buying a 42 inch plasma HDTV. Currently I am looking at the Panasonic TH-42PX60U for about 1400. That leaves me a little under a grand for a sound system. Am I screwed? Should I just settle for a HTIB? Any advice would be appreciated.

PS - I do have a DVD/VHS combo right now, granted I am sure it is average, but it will get the job done i suppose. I do NOT game.

 

[evilkat]

You could probably manage some Axiom M22tis, a VP100 and maybe some surrounds, but of course you won't have a receiver. Can you live the the audio decoding from your DVD player?

 

[jemmett]

Without a receiver? Where does that leave me? And about the DVD, I don't know... can I live with it? I don't know anything about this stuff. What is the cheapest receiver with 5.1 that you guys would ever suggest?

 

[Alex2507]

This is 5.1 but I don't think it even has component capabilities. Very affordable though.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Harman-Kardon-AVR-135-6-1-Surround-Receiver-Dolby-DTS_W0QQitemZ150093608770QQihZ005QQcategoryZ39794QQcmdZViewItem

 

[angstadt530]

You can find that plasma for $100-200 cheaper online (check out pricegrabber.com). As long as your room isn't huge, you can get a nice SVS, Hsu, or Onix surround package (5.1) for under $1000. Then top it off with one of Pioneer's, Onkyo's, or Yamaha's receivers that cost ~$250. Bottom line: if you don't mind increasing your budget by a few hundred dollars, I think you could get a fairly nice system for around $2500.

...If that sounds good, let us know and we can give you some specific model numbers along with websites where you can buy the items at lower prices than in stores.

 

[jemmett]

ok, 2500 would be fine... appreciate the help.

 

[jemmett]

oh, one more thing. I have a toddler, so I am not sure how that factors into the surround system speakers. However, The room is already wired for some ceiling mounts.

 

[Ryan8886]

Welcome to the fun!

How big is the space (cubic feet) you're working with? You want towers or bookshelf speakers? The HTIB systems from Hsu and SVS are well regarded and come with the one thing usually lacking most in that range....a good subwoofer. If you want to keep it "short and sweet" that may be the way to go.
The H/K AVR 135 mentioned above is a solid receiver. However a step up to the AVR 140 will get you component switching from the receiver, making it a hub for your system (i.e. your cable/sat TV box and DVD are run through the receiver and you switch back and forth from there, essentially making your TV a monitor, displaying whatever the receiver sends it). You should be able to pick one up refurbed from H/K with factory warranty for less than $200.

 

[jemmett]

The room is my living room so it isn't a separate room or anything. It is 23x23. As far as towers vs bookshelf, I am not really sure, but I know that I have a toddler that can knock stuff over if it is too close to the ground. I haven't figured out what tv stand (or mount) I am going to get either, but that is a separate purchase and not included in this price. Another question, will this be a good system to listen to music as well, or is it really tailored for TV? Should the back speakers be wall/ceiling mounted?

 

[Davemcc]

Try this.

http://www.ecost.com/ecost/shop/detail.asp?dpno=708955

 

[Ryan8886]

Try this.

http://www.ecost.com/ecost/shop/detail.asp?dpno=708955

Dave,

I've read some really bad things about ecost lately. Just last weekend, I ordered a Belkin PureAV PF60 from them. the website said there were 8 available for a very good price. As soon as i placed the order, it showed as "backordered". I started poking around for reviews on the site and everyone had someting bad to say. I sent an email canceling the order but never got a reply. I called them two days later and got it canceled without a problem, but I get the feeling they may be a "buyer beware" type of outfit. Great prices as long as youdon't need it in a hurry and don't mind some run around. Plus they have a really bad retrun policy. I would advise noobs to stay away from there.

 

[angstadt530]

Here are some more details of some of my earlier recommendations. Please keep in mind that these are just a few of many possibilities...

Plasma:
Panasonic TH-42PX60U or TH-42PX600U (www.pricegrabber.com ...Enter in the model number, then your zipcode for shipping rates! Make sure that the site is an authorized Panasonic retailer, though.)

Speaker Systems:
Onix x-ls/x-cs 5.1 system (http://www.av123.com/products_product.php?section=speakers&product=92.1)
SVS SBS-01 5.1 with PB10-NSD (http://www.svsound.com/products-sys-sbs_black.cfm)
Hsu Performance 1 or 2 (http://www.hsuresearch.com/packages.html)

Receiver (since you're on a tight budget, we aren't going to worry about HDMI switching):
Pioneer VSX-816 (use www.pricegrabber.com like you did with the plasma)
Onkyo TX-SR504 (www.pricegrabber.com)
Denon AVR-587 (www.pricegrabber.com)

If you get a wide enough TV stand, you can put the front speakers on there, that way nothing (like a speaker stand) can get knocked over by your kid--plus you'll save a couple hundred dollars by not buying speaker stands. I would definitely mount the rear channels on the wall, especially since you already have the wires in place.

And yes, music will sound great on this system.

 

[johndoe]

If there's $1K left for sound, why not go with the Audioholics-recommended $1K setup? it has dvd player, receiver and 5.1 speaker system.
the svs and hsu systems look like they can produce a fuller sound, but they're in a different price range than the Athena Micra 6. I'm going to be in the market soon with a similar budget, so if anyone has good advice, it will be appreciated.

 

[jemmett]

The HSU's don't seem to be much more than the Athena's

$565 - 519 + 46 shipping
http://www.hsuresearch.com/products/performance2.html
HSU Performance 2

$421 - 398 + shipping
Athena Micra 6

I am leaning towards the refurbished TX-SR504 for 169 with the HSU Performance 2...

 

[johndoe]

The HSU's don't seem to be much more than the Athena's

$565 - 519 + 46 shipping
http://www.hsuresearch.com/products/performance2.html
HSU Performance 2

$421 - 398 + shipping
Athena Micra 6

I am leaning towards the refurbished TX-SR504 for 169 with the HSU Performance 2...

I've seen the athenas as low as $280 at BB

 

[jemmett]

I will have to check out best buy... for that price maybe I should just get them... anybody have any opinion on how much better the other options are over the Athena Micra 6?

 

[johndoe]

I was just at my local BB and it seems that they dropped the athena brand since there was no sign of it anywhere. the kid who I asked just gave me a blank stare and asked back "athena??" so this is by no means official. If somebody can confirm it... sorry if I misled anyone.

 

[angstadt530]

That is actually the old recommended system. The new one (on gamma.audioholics.com) includes the Onix system I recommended.

 

[jemmett]

So here is what I have decided...

TV - 42PX600U - $1279

AV123 x-ls 5.1 system - $861

Onkyo TX-SR504 - refurbished receiver - $169

cables $100

Total = $2409

No this doesn't include any stands or wall mounts. I still have to figure this out.... hows it look?

 

[billy p]

I was just at my local BB and it seems that they dropped the athena brand since there was no sign of it anywhere. the kid who I asked just gave me a blank stare and asked back "athena??" so this is by no means official. If somebody can confirm it... sorry if I misled anyone.

They may have because Klipsch owns them (API) and may sell there own products there. Athena brand can be found @ www.audioadvisor.com

I would have to say, that the av123 xl-s chosen by jemmett would be hard to look past. Make sure the avr has pre-outs the xl-s I've heard seem to like more power and sound better when driven that way.