Low Budget Set up

eloplayspolo

Alright, so i've been more focused on car audio the last few years, but i've always had interest in home A/V as well. I currently work at a location where i have access to finding some insane deals on some speakers, hd dvd players and receivers.

My question is, what are some good companies to look at for a good set up to start out with. im not going to do it all at once... but i figure i can do step by step and over the next few months put together a nice set up.

Any suggestions about anything would be great. i know i need some good cables and wiring. and i know speaker placement plays a big roll in overall sound. But as far as THX... do i need it? do i need speakers that are also THX certified? what should i look for in a speaker? I plan on doing the stereo stuff before i get a LCD TV, i currently have a non hi def 32" sony trinitron, the last one they made before HI-DEF came out... pretty good picture for non high def.

just anything at all would be great. Thanks

eloplayspolo

Oh. its going in my bedroom. i still live with my parents (20 years old, go to school). my room is pretty small.... so that should help... i have a really cheap 2.1 chan setup going right now... just a sony home theater in a box set up with some yamaha bookshelfs connected in teh front and then my small sony sub that came with it. its crap. my car sounds 1000000 times better.

eloplayspolo

sorry i keep adding stuff... i rather add then edit.... but As far as a receiver. i just want HDMI for when i get my blue ray and hd dvd player, i would liek to be able to connect my ipod to it.... if not, i could just use the headphone to RCA cable i have.... i know that wont be as good quality.... but ummmm yeah i just need some decent power, HDMI, and a few inputs i think. please let me know if THX is necessary

eloplayspolo

would i be happy with something liek this?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882290067
i know thats a terrible question if someone asked that about a car setup i would laugh..... but i mean i actualy want good stuff u know. im all about quality.... i will end up having a great tv and i want great sound to go with it

danger boy

just how low of a budget are you talking about? Under $500 or what?

There are tons of low priced receiver out there right now. Get one that has pre amp outputs for later on if you want to add amps.

this might be a receiver that would fit your budget right now.. it's a place to start anyways. http://www.vanns.com/shop/servlet/item/details/538350849/denon-avr-1609

eloplayspolo

heres the deal. i can get used equipment from my work location for unbelievably cheap prices. for example a toshiba HD DVD player for, not kidding, 20 dollars. i just a couple 1000 dollars or so for all of it...... i just wana know what to look for mostly

eloplayspolo

i dont need specific models.... just brands. i see a lot of Pioneer Elite, Sony (the higher end ones, like ES), and kenwood. I would be getting EVERYTHING used most likely. is there anything i shouldn't get used? and what would the reason be?

eloplayspolo

for example.....
PIONEER ELITE VSX-72TXV - 200.00
SONY STR-DG1000 - 85.00
KEF 104/2 FLOOR SPEAKERS - 50.00
(2) B&W CM2 & CM1 MONITORS TOWER SPEAKERS - 85.00

I may be able to get my hands on some polk stuff.... but i normally wont get much of a choice on brand. i just gotta tell my boss i need some speakers and he will do his best to get me some. but i mean are there any brands besides Bose that a lot of people think make good stuff? but they are just complete crap?
Is there anything in a receiver that they came out with, thought it was good, but have since said no, its not good anymore?

eloplayspolo

also, is it worth buying anything new in the store if im getting prices on stuff like this? center chan or sub?

apphd

Some more info would help. Like danger boy said, "how low of a budget? At some point you will finish school and move on, are you looking for components that may be over kill for your room now but will be good to go when you move on? The link he provided is a good unit for the price if that is how low you need to go, but it does not have pre outs if you decide to add an amp later (move to a bigger room) which may or may not fit your needs. If your room is really small you may want to consider going with a nice 2.1 with as good a book shelf and sub you can fit in your budget. Run in a phantom mode with out a center. Then you can expand it when you have a larger and more permanent location. Move the bookshelves to surround duty pick up a center and something to match for new fronts.

IMHO THX is not worth any extra $$ or time researching. If you find something you like and it is THX then fine, but if it is not don't loose sleep over it.

Here is another option
http://www.vanns.com/shop/servlet/item/features/538499006/yamaha-rx-v663bl?v_c=Nextag&srccode=cii_9324560&cpncode=18-23486498-2
I run a 663 with a 5 ch amp and I am very happy (for my total costs) I see the link has a package deal with the receiver and iPod dock at an ok price from an authorized dealer free shipping no tax. I was able to get mine for $400 when they first started shipping, so shop around.

Or this: http://www.jr.com/pioneer/pe/PIO_VSX1018AHK/ another choice with pre outs from another authorized dealer.

Really a lot of options new, used, open box, referb. Some more on budgit, future plans and there are lots of good members here that are willing to help.

One thing I do recommend when buying new go with authorized dealers for all your equipment.

Fongolio

I'm looking for a Pioneer Elite VSX-72TXV. If you don't take it for that price I will. That is a great price for that receiver if it's in good shape. And yes, I really am looking for one.

apphd

eloplayspolo you added your other posts while I was typing. As long as you can be comfortable with what you can get from work, I don't think you can do any better than those prices. All of the usual suspects make good gear. Harman Kardon, Pioneer, Yamaha, Denon, Marantz, Sony, add NAD, Outlaw as something you will not see in your CC and BB to name a few. If you have your eye on a particular model do some research on that and post on what people think about that paticular one and you will get a good idea if that's the one for you.

eloplayspolo

are B & W speakers worth the money?
the problem with me buying the stuff... especially a speaker is that i cant listen to it first... and i cant return them.

I want a home theater set up... so i want at least 5.1.... I love Surround Sound, nothing like hearing a tank (Lord of War), or soem glass break (bourne ultimatum) on blueray.
Are some floor speakers for my frontstage a good start? or should i just get book shelves all around?

danger boy

what model are the B&W speakers?

eloplayspolo

they were the beolab 8000... i just mean in general though..... i rarely will find the exact same product twice...... unless its a vintage stereo... like right now im cleaning a Yamaha CA-1010.....

apphd

The B&W CM1's MSRP was around $900 in 2007 for just the 2 way monitors. The price you gave in one of your earlier posts if they are in good shape and not too old would be a killer especially with the CM2's thrown in. IIRC they had stands specifically to use the two (CM1 and CM2) together like a tower.

BTW how big is your room? Can you fit a 5.1 system in it? Would using towers be a problem fit? Will you be able to have good speaker placement/separation?
KEF also make some pretty good speakers, you mentioned them earlier also.

Google search the gear you might be interested in and you will probably find all kinds of good info.

Again add some more specifics to your questions and you will get some more specific reponces.

eloplayspolo

yeah the cm1 and 2 were together on the stands. my room is prob close to 10x12. im gonna view from a bed... so maybe bookshelves on my center would be better?

apphd

The beolab 8000 were Bang & Olufsen B&W is Bowers & Wilkins both good sounding speakers some designs not to my liking but quality sound none the less. How long do you have to research something before it's gone? Sounds like where you work comes across a lot of high end goods, and at the prices you are able to get, you should have no problem getting set up.

One thing you should consider is matching up your speaker brand and models. Especially for the front and center speakers, and a little less important for the surrounds but should be considered and if possible matching as well, for a well blended and seamless sound

danger boy

eloplayspolo wrote: »

they were the beolab 8000...

run away as fast as you can. :eek: B&O = overpriced, *(^@#!@^%*!

I don't think i've ever met a person who loved their B&O stereo gear for the price they paid for it... and it ain't that good sounding to begin with. YMMV.

Ask any old timers around here their experience with B&O stereo gear.. we've all been down that lonely road.

eloplayspolo

haha, well, i would pay prob 200 bucks for the pair. Umm yeah pretty much i tell him i need a good reciever and he looks for one for me.

eloplayspolo

okay so i found out that i can get some polk tower speakers... he said the ones that they carry at Circuit city for around 600 bucks each.... i can get them for 80

wutadumsn23

$600 a piece at CC? Don't know which ones those would be, I just bought Monitor 70's from CC about 2 months ago and even they were only retailing for arounde $250, but I got them for much less. Even the new TSi series floorstanding speakers are only $200 retail. If you can get a $600 Polk speaker for $80 and there is nothing wrong with it, why is it still at the store? LOL.

wutadumsn23

I know you said you weren't looking for specific model numbers and what not, just making a suggestion. As for receivers, I prefer Onkyo and they have some nice entry level stuff with HDMI upscaling for around $350, for example the TX-SR606. http://www.jr.com/onkyo/pe/ONK_TXSR606B/ also with free shipping. It has 90W per channel and is 7.1 with digital optical and digital coax connections.

eloplayspolo

i dont get stuff from the store. i get them from my place of business, used.

wutadumsn23

^^^^ I know that, I read your post. Substitute the words place of business for the word store, sorry for the confusion.

wutadumsn23

Also, if you are going to get a Blu-Ray player no need for an HD DVD player. Especially since they no longer make HD DVD's anyway.... I have a PS3 and love it.

eloplayspolo

i had no idea they dont make HD dvds anymore..... i just know how cheap i can get them for..... ummm im a computer guy mainly..... anyone try http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136325

eloplayspolo

blueray players are like 130 now in the sores... ps3 is still overpriced... especialy when i want a 360 more.

danger boy

i guess you missed the big HD DVD vs Blu Ray battle earlier this year? I didn't think that was even possible.. it was everywhere. And yeah, HD DVD lost out.. no mo HD DVD's being produced.. they is cheap to buy.. and their players are drop dead cheap.. but still play regular DVD's as well as the dead format HD DVD.

eloplayspolo

yeah I get most of my movies on my computer.... but if its a GOOD movie ill go buy it... especially if it will sound and look amazing. im thinking that im going to put my tv on the wall over my window... ttheres about 2.5 feet of clearance above the window... kinda hang it like in a bar because i watch tv in my bed.... and i have a big desk. so having it high in the air i coudl install it myself and just run the wiring alound the sealing and down the corner of the room. it should work nicely. Now, because i watch tv in my bed... would it be better to have my speakers in the top corners angled at my bed? and because my bed is against my back wall... should i put the speakrs in the corners again angled down at me? or behind me?

eloplayspolo

okay, i found a solution to playing blueray and HD DVDs for cheap.... My laptop has HDMI out, im going to buy a blueray player and connect it up to my laptop. BOOM instant Blueray.HDDVD player for 90 bucks.