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View SlideshowSo you’re finally tired of your old VCR and have decided to enter the 21st century. You have an HDTV, but you’re still not rich and famous, so you’d like to experience a modern home theater without breaking the bank. Truth is, you don’t need every type of component or feature. You can have a good home entertainment experience with just a few of the basics.
The center of any home theater system is an integrated receiver. This single device provides video and audio switching, audio and video processing, and speaker amplification. You can spend thousands of dollars on a receiver, but you really don’t have to. Start with only “5.1” channels of amplification. This means your receiver can power three main audio channels (left, front, and right), two rear channels (for surround), and a subwoofer (the “.1”). Neither the rear channels nor the subwoofer are required, but having a subwoofer allows you to buy smaller (i.e., less expensive) main speakers as the subwoofer generates all the hard-to-reproduce low frequencies. Likewise, you can even start your system without surround speakers if funds are tight.
For power, 100W (peak) for each front channel and 40W for each rear one is plenty, though make sure it’s spec’d into an 8 ohm load. Still, it takes a doubling of wattage to produce a noticeable increase in volume, so don’t sweat the difference between, say, 80W and 100W, as you really won’t hear the difference. Most of the time your system will be putting out much less than its rated power anyway.
HDMI is the new standard for hi-definition video cabling, so your receiver should have at least 3 HDMI inputs (one each for your TV, cable/satellite box, and DVD player/recorder). Audio and video processing modes (which massage the sound to make it seem like a “Jazz Club” or “Concert Hall”) are fun to play with, but don’t pay for more as you may not use them that much.
Onkyo makes a variety of solid receivers at various price points. Consider the Onkyo TX-SR505 ($299) or TX-SR605 ($499), or for small spaces, the value-priced TX-SR304 ($199). The Sony STR-DG810 ($299) or STR-DG910 ($499) are also good choices. (All prices are list, shop the web for better deals).
Next on the list is a DVD player. However, DVD recorders are so inexpensive that it’s silly not to buy one. Low-end models from Panasonic and Sony can be had for as little as $150. Consider the Panasonic DMR-EZ17K ($149) or Sony RDR-GX255 ($149). They handle all formats (including audio CDs), work fine as players, and are great for letting you archive recorded shows to DVD.
Of all the decisions involved in your system, speaker choice is the most subjective, but also the most important. Whereas any well-made digital receiver or DVD player does its job, and extra dollars typically buy extra features or ergonomics, higher quality speakers directly enhance your listening experience via richer, wider-range sound. “Satellite” or bookshelf systems often give the best quality per dollar. Though deceptively small, they can produce full-range sound at surprisingly high volumes. One contender is the Boston Acoustics MCS 100 ($499). For a little more money, the Bose Acoustimass 6 Series 3 ($699) provides an excellent audio experience while taking up minimal space.
craigslist, monoprice.com, and Circuit City are what I used to create my home theater.
Samsung 32 lcd $600 craigslist
Yamaha receiver $100 craigslist
Boston Acoustics speakers $100 Circuit City
HDMI cables, HDMI switch $150 monoprice
For under $1000 that will last me at least 5 years.
I already replied to the ‘3 HDMI’ comment in my earlier responses.
Only read half this article so far, but am all ready disappointed in the advice. I’m not going to argue the merits of speaker quality and Bose crap. What i would like to point out is that you, Jeff Winston, recommended to consumers with a budget to purchase a receiver with 3 HDMI inputs on it then suggested the Onkyo receivers. They are outstanding receivers that continually get high marks in the sub-$1000 category for receivers, but non of the Onkyo’s you recommended have 3 HDMI inputs. The Sony models mentioned do, but are far less quality receivers and all the low-end Sony receivers seem to have plenty of issues with their HDMI switching. People on a budget shouldn’t worry about HDMI switching on a receiver since it is a luxury type of feature. I’m sure i have plenty of other qualms about your article, but I’ll let it stay at this for now.
People are generally quite opinionated about this topic, and
I doubt there are any equipment suggestions I could make that -someone- wouldn’t object to 8-} Clearly some people do buy Bose and are happy with it, or they wouldn’t be in business. I’m quite familiar with AVS Forum and the high standards over there. But I think that headset can make some pretty-darn-good-sound seem inaccessible to those without excessive income, and what I describe is, I believe, better than the Wal-mart all-in-one systems that can cost just as much.
If you’re not an audiophile or a spec-o-phile, and you put together a modest system as described, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. Although, that’s just my opinion 8-}
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Some people like Bose despite the facts. As for Onkyo, this opinion isn’t based in fact I have read several reviews of the Sony 910 Vs same class Onkyo, the sound quality is comparable but the features offered by the Sony give the nod to Sony, it really doesn’t matter though. What matters, is after you spend your hard-earned cash are you happy with your decision!
My under $1000 HT system, based around a (Panasonic plasma TH-42PZ77U $1050) include: A/V rec. Sony STR-DG910 $345 incl. frt. EBay, Speakers Polk Rm20 (1 center, 2 front, 2 rear) $330 incl. frt. EBay, Subwoofer BIC100 $225 Ebay, cables/wire under $50 Monoprice. Everything is Brand New. Already owned DVD player, Xmas received gift of HD-DVD player. So I got lucky at Xmas, if I had to purchase a new DVD player it would have been under $100 standard definition.
The big question is am I happy with my decisions. YES! Could I improve on the setup, Yes, I now need a Blu-Ray player, and a Harmony universal remote. My original goal was to replace my old TV and HT setup with best bang for buck components that I could afford, no charge, paid for. Plus, I wanted a system that was better than most HTIB. It took 2 months of shopping and bidding online. There really is no way I could have achieved the quality of components with out Ebay and online shopping. The advice about buy from a store with liberal price matching was applied for the TV, and it was the only item I didn’t want to trust the internet or Ebay for. Sears gave me 3 price reductions, 1st a sales price, 2nd a CC app rebate (I immediately paid it off), 3rd a price match 60 days later with Fry’s sale).