If you only had $1,500 for your HT system...

[Palindrake]

... and needed to buy a receiver and 5.1 speakers, what would you buy???

Note: WAF is a serious issue and the smaller the better and also any speakers that come with color to them, whether silver or wood color would probably be better than straight-up black.

1. Receiver choices:

2. Sub Choices:

3. Surround speaker choices:

I need to help my brother-in-law with his system and he's got a definite budget so any help you all could offer is greatly appreciated.

Have a nice day

[zepman1]

Receivers:

I would check out the Yamahas and Pioneers at Worst Buy. They have 5.1's with 100w/channel for as low as $200. You can upgrade to 7.1 and some more features for around $300. Those are good brands to look at in this price range.

Subs:

One option may be the Dayton subs at Parts Express. There is a 12" 150W that could be had for $150. I have not heard these subs, but they come well recommended. Otherwise your best options would be the Velodyne VRP series at Circuit City ($300 I think) or the Athena at Best Buy ($300). I would personally stick with the 10" drivers instead of 12" if you are using it for music. If only for home theater, go with the 12".

Speakers:

This is a little tricker, and there should be about $1000 left for the front, rear and center speakers. It really comes down to personal preference, and you should be able to get something pretty good for $1000 or so. I would not go to a big box store for these, but shop around at local hifi stores and see what you like. Most brands will come in a variety of finishes.

I would personally stay away from those small satellite systems, since they have trouble with the mid-bass. A couple bookshelfs for the front are probably your best bet. Tower speakers may be out of reach in this price range if you also need center and surrounds. Brands to look at include Paradigm, Energy, Klipsch, Athena among many others.

[L.J.]

Another route would be to build slowly.

AVR = $300 - $400

Center & Fronts = $1100 - $1200

Get your sub and surrounds later.

I know, I know. But in the long run, it'll pay off.

Just my little tiny .02

[LMB]

Try Onkyo HT in a box

[L.J.]

Try Onkyo HT in a box

Ouch, that hurt!

[GMichael]

Try Onkyo HT in a box

Not your best bet.
Onkyo receiver? Sure.
Onkyo speakers? Not so much.

[zepman1]

As mentioned, Onkyo in a box is not so great. Anyhow the comment about building slowly also has some merit. That way you can get the things you really want and not have to sacrifice quality to get everything at once. $300 will get you a pretty nice receiver. The remaining $1200 would be pretty good for fronts and center speakers. Save up for a nice SVS sub $400-$600 and matching surrounds later on.

[westcott]

Another route would be to build slowly.

AVR = $300 - $400

Center & Fronts = $1100 - $1200

Get your sub and surrounds later.

I know, I know. But in the long run, it'll pay off.

Just my little tiny .02

I agree with LJ.

If it were my money, I would snag the last few Klispch RB75s still available for fronts at $800 a pair and get a receiver with a phantom center capability. You could buy a third RB75 and use it for a center chanel and still stay within budget if you use LJs numbers for a receiver.

Good speakers last a long time. They could make awesome surronds some day in the future if you catch the bug the rest of us have. Quality over quanity as my father used to always say.

Good Luck

[BadAssJazz]

I haven't tried any of these, but if I absolutely HAD to get a HT system together with high WAF for less than $1500, I'd go this route:


NAD T743 Receiver $699
http://www.audiovisionsf.com/?page=d...product_id=622

Home Theater Direct "Level Two" Dark Cherry Speaker Package $799
http://www.htd.com/leveltwosets.html


But my advice is to piece your HT system together over time with equipment that you have thoroughly researched. The reality is you will probably buy the system/equipment that you can afford and inevitably upgrade. That was the case with me. I am now many, many years and thousands of dollars removed from the old Sony HT receiver, Kenwood main speakers, Cambridge Audio Center and Surrounds, and Advent subwoofer. (Yes, I said Advent.) I can laugh at it now, but boy, the early years were the most painful. Good luck!

... and needed to buy a receiver and 5.1 speakers, what would you buy???

Note: WAF is a serious issue and the smaller the better and also any speakers that come with color to them, whether silver or wood color would probably be better than straight-up black.

1. Receiver choices:

2. Sub Choices:

3. Surround speaker choices:

I need to help my brother-in-law with his system and he's got a definite budget so any help you all could offer is greatly appreciated.

Have a nice day

[EdwardGein]

Orb Audio Mod 1 System 5 Satellite Speakers & Super Eight Sub aprox $800 including shipping Denon 3801 Receiver $400 ($1200 new, I bought mine used on Ebay in excellent condition with everything)

It is near impossible to get Orbs used For the remaining $300 you can get a Denon 31 DVD player & cables or a cheaper DVD player & Harmony Remote (online not in stores) & cables

The going rate for a used Denon in excellent to very good condition 3801 on Ebay is $375-425 inc. shipping & is usually listed a few times a week

[swgiust]

I'd like to invite the wifes of the world to come spend an evening in my living room/home theater. I have a tastefully decorated 18 x 18 room. Leather theather seating, nice carpeting. Pictures and such on the walls. Nice entertainment center.

I'd like to bring them in with the lights down low and a good movie on. They would
notice how comfortable the seating was, how nice the picture is. They would enjoy their kids sitting next to them. They would think how nice it would be to have a HOME theater
like this at their house.

Then I'd turn up the lights.................

65" Mits tv = HUGE.

SVS PB12-Ultra/2 Sub = HUGER, 200lbs of subwoofer giant!

4 1/2 ft high tower speakers, giant center channel...

And hopefully.....like my wife......they wouldn't care!

[L.J.]

I'd like to invite the wifes of the world to come spend an evening in my living room/home theater. I have a tastefully decorated 18 x 18 room. Leather theather seating, nice carpeting. Pictures and such on the walls. Nice entertainment center.

I'd like to bring them in with the lights down low and.........

ALL the wifes of the world. My, what a big appetite you have...

[GMichael]

ALL the wifes of the world. My, what a big appetite you have...

Easy LJ,

I'm sure he meant just 3 or 4 per hour.

[Bigfishe]

Pioneer 1015 $380 Call J&R.

Bic Acoustech 5.1 system $700 make an offer on one of the Ebay auctions accepting offers they will take it most likely especially if you also order an extra sub and pair of surrounds for a 7.2 system
all for around $1500