Pioneer Elite / Paradigm : Pimp my pad 4 $1K

[Roger]

Welcome to a new blog category called "Pimp my pad 4 $1K". If you're from the generation who think Snoop Dog is a comic strip beagle, just keep reading.

This is where I'll hook you up with a high quality complete home theater system for as close to $1000 US dollars as possible. That's about the cost of a Home Theater in a Box. The purpose here is to recommend rockin' systems in the HTIB price range. Each recommended system will consist of a receiver capable of Dolby Digital, a DVD player, and a complete 5.1 speaker system.

My aim here is not sell products so much as keep you from making the mistake of buying a Home Theater in a Box.

Snoop says: HTIB ain't no way to pimp yo pad.


What's wrong with HTIB?
One word: Upgrade. HTIB systems mean you're reliant on one complete system. The system won't let you upgrade one component at a time. You're stuck with one DVD/CD player, receiver and one set of speakers. Upgrade it all or keep it all. Forget about resale value. The only thing worse than a brand new HTIB is a used HTIB. HTIB systems can cost over a grand, but I'm going save you from that mistake by recommending a stylin' system that will Pimp Your Pad 4 $1K

Let's hear it for the hi-fi shops

I don't sell anything and, as a small website, I have limited resources. There is a retailer in my area that has the complete system described in this installment of PMP 4 $1K and they allowed me to hear it for myself. The following is a recommendation you'll read all over the web: always look for smaller hi-fi shops in your area. Try to avoid large retailers like Best Buy, Future Shop and Circuit City. Find specialty shops where the staff is knowledgeable and will save you money. Shop around, give the local hi-fi shop a chance to beat a price if you see a desired product sold elsewhere at a lower price.

The latest data from Consumer Reports say specialty shops blow away the big box stores for complete customer satisfaction. Contrary to popular belief, the cost between the hi-fi shop and big box stores is negligible. In other words, you're not really saving money by going to Best Buy!

Natural Sound in Kitchener, Ontario specializes in Pioneer Elite and Paradigm speakers. Like most specialty shops, they'll be glad to let you listen to any complete system in a natural environment that's as close as possible to a real living space.

We've blown the lid off the $1K budget for this system and will take it all the way up to $1329 US dollars. The prices are listed as retail and have been collected from sources on the web. But, in the real world, you can do better. For instance, because it's spring and new product lines are due out any month now Natural Sound had stacks of receivers priced at around $500 Canadian dollars. Hi-fi shops need to move old models to make way for the new. It's not hard to find bargains if you're patient and shop around at the right time of year.

Here is a quick view of the system we have lined up for this installment of PMP 4 $1K


Paradigm Cinema 110 CT 5.1 - $640 US
Pioneer Elite VSX-52TX - $550 US
Pioneer DV-588A-S - $129 US
$1329 US dollars



Tomorrow, we'll delve into the gory details of this fine example of acoustic micro-brew on a 40oz malt liquor budget.

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