The $500 HT challenge!

[GMichael]

I have a coworker who wants to buy an HT system. His budget is $500 (+/- $50) Smallish room of about 12' x 13'. Mostly for playing games and a little TV. He doesn't want to buy used and wants a warranty. That leaves out EBay etc.
I know, I know. It's not enough for a very good system. He's 21 and logically challenged. He's already shot down the whole idea of just getting a good pair of speakers and then building from there. He wants it all and doesn't want to pay for it. But don't worry, he did tell me that he knows that he can't get anything good "like a Bose system" for that kind of money. I'm thinking that even for just $500 we can do better than a Bose system. He already has a 360 Xbox and a PS3 so we don't need to worry about a source. He's also not interested in HDMI or upgradeability (even though I've told him that he will want more)
Here is what I put together. Does anyone have anymore ideas that I can give this guy?

$150.00 for the sub http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/pshow...number=300-635
$110.00 for 5 speakers http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/pshow...number=300-680
$205.00 for this receiver http://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-HTR-604...2711274&sr=1-1
$465 total (leaving him room for cables & wires from Monoprice.com

I'm thinking that this will be a decent system that has the funds fairly balanced. Went with Yamaha and Dayton Audio because I know that these are decent. He is open to other brands but values longevity over small improvements in audio.

Who's got ideas (other than telling him to get a HTIB)?

[Tarheel_]

good recommendations based on the tight budget. I went through this a few years ago with my neighbor.

He already had a 1998 Sony receiver with ONE coaxial digital input...so we used his $500 gift card from best buy and bought the Klispsh Quientent (spelling is wrong) speakers...he used his small BOSE sub and i sold him my DVD player cheap and we can in at $500 plus tax.

I'd suggest he go with the Klipsh Q system...and find a demo/floor model cheap receiver from BB, CC or the like and save money for a decent sub.


When I did his HT in the basement..huge room, like 30 x 20 or more...we bought 5 Infinity Primus 150 bookshelf speakers from electronicsepxo.com (authorized and great site) and the partsexpress 15" (DIY) sub for not much more that $500 (memory may be off). You can check my postings for details.

[blackraven]

Heres a few other options

Onkyo TX SR 305 or 304 for $149 at J&R music
Sony STR-DG510 for $109 at accessories 4 less
Sony DG520 at $149 at Crutchfield
Sony 2500 Sub woofer at Vanns for $89
Velodyne VX 10 sub at Vanns for $169
Pioneer VSX518 receiver for $169

With that small of a room I would also consider going 3.1 with Infinity Primus speakers.

Infinity Primus 152 speaks for $158pr at B&H photo. They were given a good review by stereophile.

Infinity PC 250 center channel for $99 at Amazon

Add it all up with a -$100-$150 receiver and a $100-150 sub and you have a decent budget system. He can always add the Primus 142's for rear channels at a later date.


Here's another option
http://www.accessories4less.com/make...FQcCswod3iHQFA

[RoadRunner6]

Athena WS-15 satellites, 2 pair, $155 plus 1 pair, $80. This will make a 6.1 system if he wants with this identcal speaker all around including center channel, much better sound than any Bose speakers.

http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=ATWS15

Energy sub, ESW-8, $100. This is a great price on a great little sub.

http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=ENESW8

Onkyo TX-SR506, $196, great entry level receiver. (or the TX-SR575 for $26 dollars less)

http://www.6ave.com/shop/product.asp...berONKTXSR506B

http://www.circuitcity.com/ccd/produ...&om_keycode=67

Toatal price with the Onkyo 506, and a 6.1 Athena/Energy speaker system

$531

RR6

[blackraven]

Thats a great deal on the Energy sub and probably much better than anything in that price range. I'd grab it ASAP.

I would also consider the PSB Alpha B-1's I've seen them at www.saturdayaudio.com for $179 a pair. They were a stereophile budget speaker of the year

Pair them with the PSB Alpha CLR1 center and do a 3.1 system with that energy sub. It would be much better than any cheap 5.1 system.

Or do the infinity system with that energy sub. The infinity primus's freq is 58-20k. The Athena's are 100-20K.

[RoadRunner6]

Yeah, but you're way over his budget Blackraven with the PSB's or Infinity's. I always take the guy at his word on the budget and not try to get him to piece a system together which GMichael already said he didn't want to do. We obviously agree that the Energy sub is a big no brainer. I picked the 6 little Athena's which are sold by the pair only because it keeps the price within the $550 max. Don't underestimate these speakers. They have the same exact tweeter as the top of the line Athena's. With the Energy sub they should be near the same performance level as the Energy Take Five systems.

That Energy sub at the front of the soundstage and crossed over properly by the Onkyo receiver at probably 100-130Hz should give a very nice blend (I haven't looked it up yet but I presume that Onkyo includes croosover points at 100 and 120 or 125. Whether he goes 5.1 or 6.1 having all the same exact speakers all around is an added plus especially for the smoothest blend across the front.

With $100 for the sub and $150 for the receiver (this is absolute minimum), that only leaves $300 for 5 speakers. That was my logic for going with the small Athena's. Properly set up these small satellite/sub systems can sound great (I owned two sets of the original Take Five's).

RR6

[blackraven]

RR, I was suggesting going 3.1 instead of 5.1. I think he would be much happier with better speakers in a 3.1 set up over lesser quality sound in a 5.1 set up. I agree, for 5.1 the set up you mentioned is the way to go for the price.

His room is small and he could get by with a 3.1 system and buy the rear speakers at a later date. If he goes with the infinity Primus 152's in a 3.1 system , he could buy the infinity Primus 142's at a later date since they are fairly cheap.

Although, I would much rather have the PSB's.

[RoadRunner6]

Yeah Blackraven, but do you think the PSB's or Infinity Primus systems would be any where near as good as a Bose system? ... (did you notice the triple wink?)

I agree 100 percent with you but it seems from GMichael's comments that he had a pretty firm budget. But I guess we could always try the old bait and switch strategy on him.

RR6

[GMichael]

Thanks guys. Great ideas. I'll put all the info on the table for him and let him make up his own mind. The one good thing is that he seems willing to wait. He doesn't want to rush into it and end up regretting his choice. Got to give him credit for that much.
Keep the ideas coming.

[RoadRunner6]

However, with that small budget he is going to have to move quickly on the speakers and subs (such as that Energy sub) when great deals become available.

[blackraven]

Of course he could buy a complete Fluvance system for $299.

I'm with RR, buy that sub ASAP because its the best deal around for $99 and he won't find anything close to it for $250. Then he can worry about the rest of the system. That subs going to be doing alot of work with the small speakers.

[blackraven]

Here's a great deal and it should give him pretty good sound.

Amazon has the Wharfedale Diamond 9.0 speaks for $145pr with the 9.0 center for $141. Pair this with the Energy sub and the Sony 510 reciever and you've got a winner.

http://www.amazon.com/s?ie=UTF8&keyw...s&link_code=qs

You can probably get free shipping from amazon and I think that sub had free shipping. Also, pick up some radio shack 16g speaker wire and IC,s. The Diamonds are a great budget speaker.

[charlie_a]

I'm sorry to barge in on this thread.
sounds like it's been killed.

This thread had the most relevance to my case.
I have roughly $600 to spend on HT speakers only.

What setup would you recommend?
kicker is. I'm in canada and it has to ship here.

too bad
I can't get this mordaunt short system. wildwest won't ship to canada

http://www.wildwestelectronics.net/moshmospsy30.html

Any suggestions would be very appreciated.

[jaytrezza]

you live in canada,man! HOME of the budget speaker. mirage,energy,klipsch,fluance, freakin Axiom! you can't swing a dead cat and not hit great value and great performance! look at the links these guys gave you and run, don't walk to your nearest retailer and buy! buy! buy!

jayt(unmedicated,but probably should be)

[pixelthis]

Stay away from 5.1 in this price range.
GET A HARMON receiver (stereo).
They have an exelent reverb circuit.
That and an exelent pair of speakers and a cheapjack DVD and you're all set.