[Metallica]

I'm looking to get a new home theater system. I watch so many movies, I think it's time I invest into a decent sound system.

I'm looking at different pre-made systems on Newegg, which I hear are decent(not the best), and they have awesome prices. Then I'll slowly upgrade the speakers as I go. So what it comes down to, is the receiver. I've heard a lot of good things about the Onkyo receivers, so I'm leaning toward them.

Here are the Onkyo choices:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...d=1&name=Onkyo

So my question is, which one of these would you go with? Are the receivers in these setups the same as the ones you can buy separately? Which would give me headroom to expand to better speakers later on?

Let me know if I'm mislead here.

[Theocnoob]

[Convicted1]

LMAO @ ^^^

So true though... When I built my HT setup I got on a couple AV forums.

Those guys are the worst form of internet snobs.

[Adragontattoo]

Metallica.

Honestly, if you can, avoid HTIB and buy a BETTER receiver and then upgrade the speakers later on.
http://www.overclockers.com/forums/s...d.php?t=553082

I bought a Refurb from Onkyo in 08 and the only reason I upgraded to the Denon AVR 1912 was due to the HDMI pass through, it is great for video but Audio requires an additional cable...

I am looking now at buying another Onkyo Receiver (possibly their comparable to the AVR 1912) for the upstairs.


WHen I started out I scavenged Best Buy, craigslist, friends, dumpsters and so much more to get speakers. Currently I am running 7.1 in the living room. I have to do some moving around of furniture to finish up but I am running all Monoprice in ceilings for the rears (and rear surrounds) and intend to run the fronts and centers off their in walls.

The bedroom will end up with the same setup as well but possibly only 5.1

Parts Express
Monoprice
Craigslist
shopOnkyo

The four sites I will raid

Ill check Amazon too but typically I dont worry about it.

[Rafjr00]

Also check out accessories4less. I got my from them and have had no problems. Watch going with an all in one type system, it can limit your speaker upgrades. I got an HT-rc180 because it was the cheapest one rated for 4ohm speakers. I have a pair of infinity RS III.

[Metallica]

Thanks for the input guys. After doing some more research, I decided to take you're advice and go with a receiver and a nice set of speakers, instead of HTIB.

Deciding between these two receivers. I've read great things about both, so I'm pretty undecided.
ONKYO TX-NR509
Or
YAMAHA RX-V371

As far as speakers, these seem like the best bang/buck speakers atm. My buddy as them and loves them, and I've heard them as well and I like them. They also have great reviews everywhere.

Energy Take Classic 5.1

Newegg has a combo for the Yamaha receiver and the energy speakers for $550, and it comes with a BR player which I don't need. But either way i'd save about $100 going the Yamaha route, and get a free BR player. I'll have to keep reading between the two and see which one will work best for me.

Anyone have any knowledge of these two receivers?

[Rafjr00]

http://www.accessories4less.com/make...eceiver/1.html

They have 509
I bought Energy speakers for my dad, they sound good.
Also check out avsforum for good info on receivers.

[Rafjr00]

Woot has a pair of Pioneer bookshelfs today.

[Conumdrum]

One thing to consider. I have a cheap Denon and a good denon reciever. The good one will take component video and convert it to HDMI out to the TV, or any mix of the sort. The receiver itself was $1000

My other one will not convert. The out to the TV MUST be Composite because my cable box is ccomponent out. No other choice. I can't mix and match component, HDMI, regular video like from an old VCR. The speakers and receiver was $750

So beware.

[Pinky]

I'm in the market finally. Like other sin the thread, I have an old refurb Onkyo and love it. Unfortunately the lack of hdmi has me looking into an upgrade. Thankfully the speakers are good enough I can keep them.

The limited knowledge I've gained in researching is that Yamaha is a good choice, but the price point for their decent stuff is $300-400. Anything less supposedly uses inferior internal components and is limited (similar to the Denon explanation above).

Like with many electronics today, it's tough to sort through all the brand and models to find the perfect cost/performance solution. Homework is the key, or as in my case, having a friend who knows about audio equipment to save you a bunch of time.

[Pinky]

So my audiophile friend suggested the Pioneer VSX521K. It's about $200. Buy.com currently has it for $188 shipped.

He's currently using a "high end Onkyo" receiver (I didn't ask the model). He suggests the Pioneer as a bang-for-the-buck deal, best in that price range. Each price range has different makes/models supposedly.

[Metallica]

Originally Posted by Pinky

So my audiophile friend suggested the Pioneer VSX521K. It's about $200. Buy.com currently has it for $188 shipped.

He's currently using a "high end Onkyo" receiver (I didn't ask the model). He suggests the Pioneer as a bang-for-the-buck deal, best in that price range. Each price range has different makes/models supposedly.

Thanks for asking!

My friend also uses a pioneer 1021 .. it's like $600 or so. He says the Pioneers have the most features/buck, but said the Onkyo's sound a little better.

I'm also debating 7.1 vs 5.1. I don't think I'll ever have enough room space to utilize 7.1 .. but who knows.

[Theocnoob]

For the love of crackers. Please. Go to an AV forum. People who ALL have 10,000 dollars or more of stereo equipment will give you better advice.

There's ONE guy on here who knows stereo equipment inside out and he's never online.
Would you ask for advice on watercooling your CPU on a pet hamster forum?
They can help you with Fluffy's chewing problem but they're probably going to destroy your computer.

Stereo equipment is like buying.. er.. .. tea. You can pay X amount for a big bag of tea, or the same amount from someone else, and the second person's tea is way way way better and it was the same price.

One $500 amp/receiver/2.0 combo may sound 2 or 3x better to you than another. Sound is subjective and delicate and absolutely requires professional guidance.
Do you like wam sound? Do you want a clinical, absolutely uncolored, perfectly flat EQ? Do you want an open sound or a more directed sound? Does the soundstage matter more than the dynamic range? etc etc etc.

Going to an AV forum is a lot like going to the proctologist. They are very anal people. Just bend over and take it and you'll come out better on the other end, if a little sore and possibly immasculated.

[Metallica]

Originally Posted by Theocnoob

For the love of crackers. Please. Go to an AV forum. People who ALL have 10,000 dollars or more of stereo equipment will give you better advice.

There's ONE guy on here who knows stereo equipment inside out and he's never online.
Would you ask for advice on watercooling your CPU on a pet hamster forum?
They can help you with Fluffy's chewing problem but they're probably going to destroy your computer.

Stereo equipment is like buying.. er.. .. tea. You can pay X amount for a big bag of tea, or the same amount from someone else, and the second person's tea is way way way better and it was the same price.

One $500 amp/receiver/2.0 combo may sound 2 or 3x better to you than another. Sound is subjective and delicate and absolutely requires professional guidance.
Do you like wam sound? Do you want a clinical, absolutely uncolored, perfectly flat EQ? Do you want an open sound or a more directed sound? Does the soundstage matter more than the dynamic range? etc etc etc.

Going to an AV forum is a lot like going to the proctologist. They are very anal people. Just bend over and take it and you'll come out better on the other end, if a little sore and possibly immasculated.

Are you done?

I've gotten good feedback in this thread so far, so I'm not sure what you are talking about. And I'm asking in many places, not just here.

For the love of "crackers", leave this thread.

[Pinky]

Oncoob is trying to make a good point - asking the experts, as I did when asking my friend, is always the best line of action. AV Forums is a good place to start, I occassionally search there for info (don't like the forums or really need them otherwise). As he also suggests - there's a lot of idiots and some exagerration of truth (ask them about Monster cables). All forums though have this element.

[Metallica]

Originally Posted by Pinky

Oncoob is trying to make a good point - asking the experts, as I did when asking my friend, is always the best line of action. AV Forums is a good place to start, I occassionally search there for info (don't like the forums or really need them otherwise). As he also suggests - there's a lot of idiots and some exagerration of truth (ask them about Monster cables). All forums though have this element.

I understand, but non of that means I can't start a discussion here. Like I said, I'm asking on multiple forums, and regardless, would like to hear OCF's opinion.

Back on topic, that 521-K seems like a steal at $188 shipped. I'm looking at either that Energy speaker setup, or Pioneer offers a set in the same price range that sound a little better/fuller, but are really big compared to the Energy. They also like a little more power. I'll have to figure what kind of space I have to work with, and go from there.

[Rafjr00]

I always find the hardest thing is making "the choice." Best thing is set a price, then search around at that price for the best one. I have heard that Yammy has been making a come back. I have also read to be careful of their intro level stuff. My rc180, which is an 808 minus some options, converts everything to hdmi. Only thing is it can only do height or width, which I know but just a heads up. Avs is a great forum, so is audiokarma.