Your favorite home theater in a box?

exalted512
exalted512 Posts: 10,735
edited April 2010 in Speakers
I get asked a lot...'what is your recommendations for a home theater system?'

But 95% of the time, they're always referring to the whole home theater in a box system and are looking to spend $500-1000 depending on the person.

I know you guys all know the type. What are your guys recommendations when it comes to the people where the most work they want to do is buy a single surround sound set of speakers and a separate receiver that will do 5.1?
-Cody
Music is like candy, you have to get rid of the rappers to enjoy it
Post edited by exalted512 on
· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • nooshinjohn
    nooshinjohn Posts: 25,474
    edited April 2010
    Why waste more than a couple hundred bucks if you don't care about the sound?


    If I was forced at gunpoint to toss a name out there, I would go with a Denon Box....
    The Gear... Carver "Statement" Mono-blocks, Mcintosh C2300 Arcam AVR20, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, Sony XBR70x850B 4k, Polk Audio Legend L800 with height modules, L400 Center Channel Polk audio AB800 "in-wall" surrounds. Marantz MM7025 stereo amp. Simaudio Moon 680d DSD

    “When once a Republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.”— Thomas Jefferson
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • rooftop59
    rooftop59 Posts: 8,121
    edited April 2010
    I personally haven't heard a ton, but for all in one packages I would say onkyo seems head and shoulders above the rest. Good separate receivers that can be kept if you upgrade, powered (though not particularly good) subwoofers, and halfway decent speakers that at least have separate midwoofers and tweeters. I think the speakers are the weak link, and they tend to be on the large side, but for overall quality I think onkyo is hard to beat.
    Peace,
    Paul
    Living Room 2.2: Usher BE-718 "tiny dancers"; Dual DIY Dayton audio RSS210HF-4 Subs with Dayton SPA-250 amps; Arcam SA30; Musical Fidelity A308; Sony UBP-x1000es
    Game Room 5.1.4:     Denon AVR-X4200w; Sony UBP-x700; Definitive Technology Power Monitor 900 mains, CLR-3000 center, StudioMonitor 350 surrounds, ProMonitor 800 atmos x4; Sub - Monoprice Monolith 15in THX Ultra
    Bedroom 2.1     Harmon Kardon HK3490; Bluesounds Node N130; Polk RT25i; ACI Titan Subwoofer
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • SolidSqual
    SolidSqual Posts: 5,218
    edited April 2010
    Onkyo makes great HTIBs.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • juliusbk4
    juliusbk4 Posts: 36
    edited April 2010
    Polk surrondbar 50 they sound really good. I might get one for the bed room.
    Sony KDSR70XBR2 70" RPTV :D
    POLK LSi-25s (Front)
    POLK LSi-FX (Surround)
    POLK LSi-C (Center)
    POLK LSi9s (Rear)
    Dual JL Fathom F113 :eek: (Sub)
    Onkyo TX-NR5007 (Receiver)
    Oppo BDP-83 (Universal Player)
    Toshiba HD-XA2 (HD-DVD/DVD)
    XBOX 360 Elite
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • exalted512
    exalted512 Posts: 10,735
    edited April 2010
    nooshinjohn wrote: »
    Why waste more than a couple hundred bucks if you don't care about the sound?


    If I was forced at gunpoint to toss a name out there, I would go with a Denon Box....

    Because some people do care about the sound enough to want to upgrade from the terrible speakers on their tv to something better, but not everyone cares enough to join an audio forum and talk about it and spend thousands of dollars.

    Thanks for the suggestions guys, keep em coming.
    -Cody
    Music is like candy, you have to get rid of the rappers to enjoy it
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • exalted512
    exalted512 Posts: 10,735
    edited April 2010
    juliusbk4 wrote: »
    Polk surrondbar 50 they sound really good. I might get one for the bed room.

    I want to get one for our bedroom. Unfortunately, our tv is really small and I dont want the thing to make it look any smaller!
    -Cody
    Music is like candy, you have to get rid of the rappers to enjoy it
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • leroyjr1
    leroyjr1 Posts: 8,785
    edited April 2010
    Bose
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • wingnut4772
    wingnut4772 Posts: 7,519
    edited April 2010
    Just speakers - Hsu Ventriloquist system.
    Sharp Elite 70
    Anthem D2V 3D
    Parasound 5250
    Parasound HCA 1000 A
    Parasound HCA 1000
    Oppo BDP 95
    Von Schweikert VR4 Jr R/L Fronts
    Von Schweikert LCR 4 Center
    Totem Mask Surrounds X4
    Hsu ULS-15 Quad Drive Subwoofers
    Sony PS3
    Squeezebox Touch

    Polk Atrium 7s on the patio just to keep my foot in the door.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • TECHNOKID
    TECHNOKID Posts: 4,298
    edited April 2010
    I often see HTIB packages which consist of seperate receiver and speakers (IE: Yamaha receiver with Polk RM10 package). Those are usualy previous years series that are combined to offer a package at good value (500$). The advantage of such package is that they are actually separate and therefore upgradable. As previously suggested, a SB is also a valid option for a bedroom or any small room however, you must add a receiver and your cost would bring you closer to a 1K spending.
    DARE TO SOAR:
    “Your attitude, almost always determine your altitude in life” ;)
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • punk-roc
    punk-roc Posts: 1,150
    edited April 2010
    A family member and a friend were asking me this just the other day.. After looking around a little with them; they got the Polk RM705 system for cheap from Newegg.. I gave my mom my old Onkyo receiver and the friend bought an lowered end Onkyo to power the system.. ended up costing about $600 total i think for RM705 and Onkyo.

    Both parties are very happy.. I don't care much for the systems however =)

    Jason
    2-Channel - So far...
    Pre: Dodd ELP
    DAC: W4S-Dac2
    Source(s): Computer and Denon 2910
    Amp: Parasound HCA-1200II
    Speakers: LSi9s - Vr3 Fortress Mod
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Montoya
    Montoya Posts: 506
    edited April 2010
    Onkyo HT-S9100THX if the room is small to medium sized.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • KrazyMofo24
    KrazyMofo24 Posts: 1,210
    edited April 2010
    Definitive Technology Procinema 600 and just buy an entry level receiver. That will be right at the $1000 mark retail, but should sound a lot better than any of the HTIB's.
    Setup:

    2 Channel: Vienna Acoustics Mozart Grand, T+A P 1230R, Primare SPA21, Oppo BDP-105
    PC: Vienna Acoustics Haydn Grand, Cambridge Azure 650A v2 , Peachtree iDAC, Denon DVD-3800BDCI

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Gadabout
    Gadabout Posts: 1,072
    edited April 2010
    Buddy of mine bought his dad an Onkyo HT-S7200 for Xmas.

    I have only heard this in the store and it would sound OK in a small room. It also has TrueHD, DD Plus, DTS-HD Master Audio, Neo6 & PLIIz Decoding. He checked with me before he bought it. For what it is, It's a decent system.

    It was perfect for his Dad as he had just bought a new HD TV and his brother was getting him a BluRay player. Via ICQ, he just answered that his dad was really happy with the system. He has never had a surround system before, so perhaps his expectations were lower than what others might be.

    The HT-S6200 is virtually the same thing but doesn't have the tower mains.
    The HT-S9100 is THX certified, offers TrueHD, DTS HD Master, PLIIx, Neo 6

    Scott
    Without music to decorate it, time is just a bunch of boring production deadlines or dates by which bills must be paid. ..... Frank Zappa
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • comfortablycurt
    comfortablycurt Posts: 6,745
    edited April 2010
    nooshinjohn wrote: »
    Why waste more than a couple hundred bucks if you don't care about the sound?


    Because there can be a tremendous difference in quality between a $200 HTIB and a $1000 HTIB.

    I'll never buy another HTIB, but there are plenty of people that will. Not everyone cares enough, or can afford, to research and build an entire component HT setup. Some people want the simplicity of purchasing the whole setup at once, but still want to get the best sound that they can.

    Believe it or not, there are some little HTIB setups out there that sound DAMN good. They aren't going to equal a well thought out component system, but they make for a very dramatic improvement over TV speakers.



    If I were to get a HTIB setup...I'd probably go with Onkyo, for the same reasons others have mentioned above.
    The nirvana inducer-
    APC H10 Power Conditioner
    Marantz UD5005 universal player
    Parasound Halo P5 preamp
    Parasound HCA-1200II power amp
    PolkAudio LSi9's/PolkAudio SDA 2A's/PolkAudio Monitor 7A's
    Audioquest Speaker Cables and IC's
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • cnh
    cnh Posts: 13,284
    edited April 2010
    +1 on the Onkyo....the closer to their highest model the better. But also as said...HTIB are not what most of us would want in our AV rooms.

    cnh
    Currently orbiting Bowie's Blackstar.!

    Polk Lsi-7s, Def Tech 8" sub, HK 3490, HK HD 990 (CDP/DAC), AKG Q701s
    [sig. changed on a monthly basis as I rotate in and out of my stash]
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Agent
    Agent Posts: 65
    edited April 2010
    Onkyo makes some pretty nice HTIBs. I had one before my rather large, recent upgrade and in a small to medium sized room it sounded pretty darn good.
    Samsung LN52A650 : PS3 : RTi A7s : CSi5 : SVS PC12-NSD : Pioneer VSX-9040THX : Emotiva XPA-3 = :D
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • polkfarmboy
    polkfarmboy Posts: 5,703
    edited April 2010
    Sonys the king of htib because most companys out there cant offer the value that sony can .......theyr the kings of cheapy cheap
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • PSOVLSK
    PSOVLSK Posts: 5,235
    edited April 2010
    SolidSqual wrote: »
    Onkyo makes great HTIBs.

    +1. Buddy of mine got one a few years back and I have to say...not too bad for less than $500.
    Things work out best for those who make the best of the way things work out.-John Wooden
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • DollarDave
    DollarDave Posts: 2,575
    edited April 2010
    How about Polk's offerings?
    http://www.polkaudio.com/homeaudio/surroundbar/index.php?s=surroundbar-sda-instant-home-theater

    Personally, I would go that route to start a system before I would buy ANY htib. If, like the original OP, you are looking to spend between 500 and 1,000, then Polk has some answers for you.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • cnoat
    cnoat Posts: 315
    edited April 2010
    I just gave my onkyo away which I had for about three years.Most people who really didn't know or care much Thought it sounded great.For 599 It was really a nice system.
    Parasound Avc-1800
    Mains-Rti 12 -Parasound 1500a
    Center-Csi5-Parasound 1000a
    Rears-Rti 8-Parasound 750a
    Sub SVS Ultra Tv 12
    Diamondback and King Cobra IC's
    AQ T4 SC
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • GreggC
    GreggC Posts: 23
    edited April 2010
    I would add my vote for some of the Onkyo systems - they generally make good stuff at a decent price.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • bklynNupe
    bklynNupe Posts: 728
    edited April 2010
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mb8iP3jow6w&feature=related

    :D

    emotiva xpa-2
    emotiva xpa-3
    Denon 3312ci
    Rtia9 /csia6 / FXi A6
    Samsung LN46A650
    SVS PB-12-NSD sub

    Audio Research SP-9 MKIII (GNSC mods)
    W4S ST250
    Lsi 9 (mods)
    W4S DAC-2
    Mac Mini
    Audio Aero Prima CD player
    Pro-Ject debut
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • wutadumsn23
    wutadumsn23 Posts: 3,702
    edited April 2010
    I had an Onkyo HTIB before I put together my current system, and it sounded pretty damn good. I paid $450 for it at CC and they threw in two stands for my front channels. It was a 7.1 system and it had 1000W of total power. I sold it to a buddy of mine for $250 about a year and a half ago, and he is still very happy with it. My wife is always telling me that we should have kept it and put it in our bedroom or downstairs, she liked it very much too.

    -Jeff
    HT Rig
    Receiver- Onkyo TX-SR806
    Mains- Polk Audio Monitor 70
    Center- Polk Audio CS2
    Surrounds- Polk Audio TSi 500's :D
    Sub- Polk Audio PSW125
    Retired- Polk Audio Monitor 40's
    T.V.- 60" Sony SXRD KDS-60A2000 LCoS
    Blu-Ray- 80 GB PS3


    2 CH rig (in progress)
    Polk Audio Monitor 10A's :cool:

    It's not that I'm insensitive, I just don't care.. :D
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Toolfan66
    Toolfan66 Posts: 17,349
    edited April 2010
    bklynNupe wrote: »
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mb8iP3jow6w&feature=related

    :D


    I want one just for the hell of it..LOL;)
    Polk Audio SDA 2.3tl Fully Hot Rodded. 😎

    SVS SB16 X2

    Cary SLP-05/Ultimate Upgrade.
    Cary SA-500.1 ES Amps
    Cary DMS 800PV Network
    OPPO UDP 205/ModWright Modification
    VPI Scout TT / Dynavector 20x2
    Jolida JD9 Fully Modified

    VPI MW-1 Cyclone RCM

    MIT Shotgun 3 cables throughout / Except TT, and PC’s
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • 1fastz28
    1fastz28 Posts: 122
    edited April 2010
    i haven't sold an HTIB in months, i just point out the value of a component system and people either have the money or dont.
    setup
    Panasonic 46pz85
    Polk RTi A9's
    Polk CSi A6
    FXi A6's
    Energy s12.3 sub
    Denon 3808ci
    Pioneer elite dv-79
    Monster 1850
    Denon dp500m w/ grado green
    PS3,XBOX 360, NES
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • ryanjoachim
    ryanjoachim Posts: 2,046
    edited April 2010
    leroyjr1 wrote: »
    Bose

    Go stand in the corner for 5 minutes.

    Bad boy!
    MrNightly wrote: »
    "Dr Dunn admitted that his research could also be interpreted as evidence that women are shallower than men. He said: "Let's face it - there's evidence to support it."
    mystik610 wrote: »
    Best Buy is for people who don't know any better. Magnolia is for people who don't know any better and have more money to spend.
    My System:


    TV: SAMSUNG UN55B7000 55" 1080p LED HDTV
    HTPC: Chromecast w/ Plex Media Server. Media streamed from Media Server.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter