passing it on

Willow

If you could go back in time, what would have been the ONE piece of A/V advice you wish you had known before buying ?

and what would be the one piece of advice you currently think is important?

steveinaz

Don't "settle." Get what you want the first time around, if it isn't available or you don't have enough money, wait until you do.

ninerbj

You nailed it on the head first time around Steve.

Thread closed

ninerbj

DOH!
Thread back open!! One point to Zero!:D

Davidv

Along with the above mentioned item.
1.Buy a receiver with pre-outs so that you can upgrade/ or expand with an amp/amps.
2. Buy used.

If I would have followed those two I could be looking at amps and have a much better receiver. Instead of being stuck. DOH!

Dennis Gardner

Refurbed with a warranty gives the best of both worlds.

Value and security.

McLoki

Advice then:
Listen to systems 25%-50% over your pricerange before you purchase and then determine if you are still happy with your current selection. Many of my purchases were made based on budget, not sound. It would have saved me alot of rebuying if I would have had this advice.

Current advice:
Research then buy. Amazing how many times this happens in reverse. (sometimes still does....)

Michael

michael_w

Before even getting into this hobby research like mad... make sure you know what you are buying instead of just wing'in it and buying something.

I wish I had gone 2 ch from the start... not nearly as much need for fancy surround since I listen to music 95% of the time.

Loader

get it clear to your mind that
1- finding some top gun and new modles as an used one ,,i would say "good luck"
2- refurbished : only and only with the same warranty as new one , worth looking for it.
3-suggestion as : 25 percent higher than your budget ,,, in most cases it is worth it.
4- dont even think because 90 or 95 percent of the time you listen to the music ,therefore you will not need more than 2 ch,, you will be sorry big time. you dont know what you will be missing.
5-check and double check throughout the net and forums to have the best knowledge for what you are paying for.
6-dont forget that having the best A/V without a good speaker or reverse one is a total of waste of money,,unless you are planning in very close future to match them.

jcaut

A point for michael_w!

HT is not all it's cracked up to be. Build a good 2-ch rig. Used equipment gets you much more for your money. If you buy good equipment, it will have some value left when you decide to upgrade. If you buy cheap crap, you might as well just flush the money.

Jason

michael_w

Originally posted by Loader

4- dont even think because 90 or 95 percent of the time you listen to the music ,therefore you will not need more than 2 ch,, you will be sorry big time. you dont know what you will be missing.

Lol I disagree... I havn't watched a movie in my room in over 2 months. If I had spent the cash I did on my HT system at the moment I would have a nice new CDP and amp or something increasing the 2 ch system that much more where the quality of it would be so much better than my current ht system that I would want to watch movies on the 2 ch system instead...

I've watched full movies in 2 ch by accident (forgot to set to surround setting on receiver) that I didn't notice until the end of the movie when I went to shut if off. That was with my ht system in 2ch not my 2 ch system and I didn't notice enough difference to see that it wasn't in 5.1.

edit: wait I'm a little confused what you're trying to say here. Are you saying that people should just go 2ch and skip a ht system or that people should get a ht system because it sounds so much better than 2 ch for movies.

Skynut

Originally posted by michael_w
Lol I disagree... I havn't watched a movie in my room in over 2 months. If I had spent the cash I did on my HT system at the moment I would have a nice new CDP and amp or something increasing the 2 ch system that much more where the quality of it would be so much better than my current ht system that I would want to watch movies on the 2 ch system instead...

I've watched full movies in 2 ch by accident (forgot to set to surround setting on receiver) that I didn't notice until the end of the movie when I went to shut if off. That was with my ht system in 2ch not my 2 ch system and I didn't notice enough difference to see that it wasn't in 5.1.

edit: wait I'm a little confused what you're trying to say here. Are you saying that people should just go 2ch and skip a ht system or that people should get a ht system because it sounds so much better than 2 ch for movies.

I'm sorry but there is no way I could confuse 2 ch with my surround system.

My advice would be find the best you can afford and surpass it.
When I started, I started with speakers and worked my way up.
Chances are you will not be happy ever. you will allways want something better than what you have so buy the best you can now and plan replace it when you can.
experiment and learn from each poor choice.
I am partial to home theater and the fact it plays real good music is a bonus. I love hearing the movies better than they sound at the theater, music is something I listen to while I am cleaning house or playing on the internet.
Figure out which media you like most and build that way but never think you can do the best the first time.

Willow

Thanks every one, keep going!

I thought it would be nice if some new peeps would read this and learn from our past experiences.


Mine would be don't buy on impulse. If I had listened to that I would have saved lots of cash.

cfrizz

If you can't afford separates, make sure you get a very good receiver with preouts so that you can add separate amplifiers to it later on. Then when you can afford to get separates you won't have to get the amps because you will already have them.