Need help finding a system in a box

MaC03

We need some help. So my brother is looking for a decent system in a box, doesn't want to spend a lot of money on the system, just something good to put in the living room.

Any suggestions or experience with current stuff out there? I'll try and see what kind of budget we're working with.

Here's a link of one he's looking at:

http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Onkyo-Home-Theater-System-HT-S790/sem/rpsm/oid/148967/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do


Thanks for your help.

Home Theatre

I would just get the Onyko great starter system. Only problem no Hmdi.

AndyGwis

They have a couple at CC with HDMI at pretty good prices. My older brother has the one in the link, and it works really well for HT if setup correctly (I'm jealous as he has the perfect room for HT so his system sounds nearly as good as mine for movies. . . not music, tho).

For under $500, you can't go wrong with that package. If he's willing to spend a little more, I think they have one with an HDMI receiver and an HDMI progressive scan DVD player included. . . maybe like $700, tho.

VSchneider

I would highly recommend the Onkyo 790 if all your brother wants is a HTIB.
For the money Onkyo 7xx systems are very hard to beat. I have used the 770 (an older 6.1 model) and was very happy until I was ready to move up in $$$ and sound quality.

The receiver you get with the 790 is a repackaged Onkyo 504, if I am not mistaken, a very nice 20 lb receiver. In fact I am still using mine with Polk RTi's and a Mirage S10 sub.

You can probably find a slightly better deal on it online - Crutchfield.com for example.

HDMI in a budget receiver is a controversial topic, and is more a matter of personal preference.

tommyboy

The guy never asked for an hdmi reciever. And unless you want everything running through your reciever and have an HDTV, it doesn't matter.

I had the onkyo 770, its the best system I heard for a HTIB for 500 . The first thing I upgraded was the sub. Anytime the bass would hit real hard, a loud thump could be heard from the sub after...

If I were him though, I would start at least with the R series. With how cheap they are nowadays, and might be just a little more than the HTIB, and sound MUCH better.

tommyboy

check out frys...

r-300 $50 a piece

http://shop4.outpost.com/product/4965501?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG

It says only 2 for customer , but you can easily get around that...

csi-25 $70

http://shop4.outpost.com/product/4463996?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG


So your at $270, now you just need to find a reciever...

http://harmanaudio.com/search_browse/default.asp?sp=S&brand=HK

You can find something here, we'll just say the avr230, an older reciever with only 6.1, but he will only use 5.1 anyways .

197

and lastly the sub...

http://shop4.outpost.com/product/3435193?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG

psw303-150

never heard this sub, but for his system, good chance it will perform much better than the onkyo HTIB.

total=$617

get some cheap cables and your grand total would be around $700. Much better system especially with music.

Now it took me 5 minutes to find these components. Do your own research, and take a look around before buying. But if you just want, one, easy purchase, go to circuit city and buy it. It doesn't come with a dvd player though...

EDIT: I just to a look at shipping ands its pretty pricey. To ship all the speakers to my house would cost $150...

MSALLA

Look at H/K. My buddie just bought there CP25 for his girlfriend and it sounds pretty good. Comes with the AVR235, 6 sat. speakers, the center and a 12" sub,and a DVD player. The cost is around 800.00 but I was impressed with sound for a HTIB.

MaC03

Thanks for all the suggestions. HDMI isn't an issue at this point, he doesn't have a tv or DVD player that would support it.

Ok, so it sounds like the Onkyo would be a good set.

One other way we we were thinking is to just get speakers for now. He has an older Sony that would at least do 5.1 I think. So something like this?:

http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Polk-Home-Theater-Speaker-System-RM6750BK/sem/rpsm/oid/124847/catOid/-12950/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do

This set is 100 bucks cheaper than the Onkyo set but doesn't come with the receiver, but do you think these are better speakers? I don't know much about Onkyo's speakers, I know they make great receivers.

I don't think that going the independent route with the R series would fit in the budget, but it's worth looking into.

Thanks

louthewiz

That polk audio speaker set is a nice starter system and will play pretty well with an HK avr.............