Home Theater System Recommendations

**sagilani** · **09-17-08, 11:15 AM**

Hello

I am Planning to buy my first 5.1 Home Theater but do not know where to start.

Can somebody guide me.

Thanks.

**salvasol** · **09-17-08, 11:30 AM**

Quote:

sagilani wrote:

I am Planning to buy my first 5.1 Home Theater but do not know where to start. Can somebody guide me.

You'll find a lot of help here ... just few questions to start:

1. What is your budget????
2. What is the room dimension where you will install the system???
3. Are you looking for floorstanders, bookshelves or small speakers???
4. What other equipment you have (AVR, TV, DVD, etc.)???
5. Are you planing to use DTS HD and True HD decoders???
6. Do you have something in mind (Onkyo, Yamaha, Pionner, etc)???

This is just to start ...

**Wayne A. Pflughaupt** · **09-17-08, 11:34 AM**

What is your budget? Obviously we would be making different recommendations for a $5000 budget vs. a $500 budget.

Regards,
Wayne

**sagilani** · **09-17-08, 12:28 PM**

Thanks for the replies

My budget is $ 500
I have DVD and also planning for 40 inches LCD or Plasma to connect it with.
It would be floor standing speakers for my living 5 x 8 meters
Digital audio input would be available either electric or optical.
Thanks

**tonyvdb** · **09-17-08, 12:41 PM**

For $500 your almost stuck with A Home Theater in a box system. Onkyo has some nice systems. Stay away for most HTIB systems as they simply dont have the headroom or the quality. You would be able to get some nice speakers for that price but thats about it as a decent receiver with HDMI will run you $300 at the very least.
The Onkyo HT-S4100 is about the best option for that price.

**Toolatecrew** · **09-17-08, 01:00 PM**

I reccomend an inexpensive (sub $300 )avr with sufficient inputs and a pair of used good quality bookshelf speakers for $200. Then save $ to buy front towers and a center and finally save more $ to buy a sub. You can peice togther a nice HT for maybe 1K total if you some used and build up slowly. I am really not a big beliver in HTIB (Although I have a friend who has one of those Onkyo HTIB that isn't that bad). $500 on a HTIB is basically a sunk cost. You really can't upgrade and build around the reciver in a HTIB. But if you buy a decent AVR then you can upgrade your speakers as you grow (and your budget grows). My 2 cents

**sagilani** · **09-17-08, 01:12 PM**

Dear TLC
Thanks for the advice. Its logical. I will think about that.
I need a little research for that.
Thanks

**salvasol** · **09-17-08, 01:43 PM**

Quote:

Toolatecrew wrote:

... I am really not a big beliver in HTIB (Although I have a friend who has one of those Onkyo HTIB that isn't that bad). $500 on a HTIB is basically a sunk cost. You really can't upgrade and build around the reciver in a HTIB...

I agree with you about getting an AVR and a pair of speakers (used can be a cheaper option too)

But, I don't completely agree about the statement that he can't really upgrade the HTIB ... that will depend on what HTIB he gets

... if is one of those like Bose (that uses a single cable or controler I agree); but the onkyo has a separate AVR and speakers ... so he can swap them anytime

Here is the specifications of the Onkyo S5100 and Onkyo s4100 (just look at the picture of the rear to see what I mean)

**salvasol** · **09-17-08, 01:46 PM**

Quote:

tonyvdb wrote:

For $500 your almost stuck with A Home Theater in a box system. Onkyo has some nice systems. Stay away for most HTIB systems as they simply dont have the headroom or the quality... The Onkyo HT-S4100 is about the best option for that price.

I agree with Tony ... I also suggest to take a look at the Onkyo system, here is a price comparison on S5100 system that is a little better than the S4100 and can be had for less than $500

EDIT: This can be a good started system ... even if you get a nice tower, center, sub, AVR, etc. ... you'll be upgrading the system once the upgraditis hit you

... this is a nonstop hobby

**Toolatecrew** · **09-17-08, 01:49 PM**

Quote:

salvasol wrote:

I agree with you about getting an AVR and a pair of speakers (used can be a cheaper option too)

But, I don't completely agree about the statement that he can't really upgrade the HTIB ... that will depend on what HTIB he gets

... if is one of those like Bose (that uses a single cable or controler I agree); but the onkyo has a separate AVR and speakers ... so he can swap them anytime

Here is the specifications of the Onkyo S5100 and Onkyo s4100 (just look at the picture of the rear to see what I mean)

Is should rephrase

For the vast majority of Sub 500 HTIB you can't really upgrade around the AVR. Even in the case of the Onkyp where it has sufficient power etc you still end up with an AVR that has only HDMI pass through and no ability totake advantage of HD codecs etc. its the price you pay for getting all that stuff for under 500 (BTW in Canada you can't buy that stuff under $500 so I might be a bit biased)

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