I know I really should save my pennies. But an Onkyo system is calling my name. It’s a bit pricey for me though, but I watch a lot of movies and my aging Sony set up is on its last leg,
In this economy is it stupid to blow $700.00+ on a home theater system? Especially if the savings account is only a little over a grand.
or
Should I say screw it, life is short. Enjoy the goodies while you can.
I will go with the most popular opinions. Majority will rule my decision.
I have more guns and ammo than I could carry in a SHTF scenario. I can’t eat a home theater system. I know this is not a necessity.
I built my home theatre system from pieces, a Yamaha receiver from Costco, speakers from Fry’s, Blu-Ray from…I can’t remember where I got the Blu-Ray from but you get the idea. Smart shopping will save you a fortune. Build a home theatre like you would an AR and you’ll do okay.
Don’t buy a HT in a Box system whatever you do. The included speakers are usually truly horrible.
As said above, do it in stages. Get a good receiver if that’s what you need. Then upgrade your speakers starting with the left, right, and center. Then upgrade the rears, and then upgrade the sub if you have one.
Whatever the weakest link in your system is, upgrade that first. You might start with the speakers.
Now, if you think you need to upgrade to get the benefit of all the new hi-rez audio on Blu-rays, there are ways around that. You can get a Blu-ray player that decodes them internally and outputs in analog, feeding that into the multi-channel inputs of your receiver (if it has such inputs).
The real truth few want to admit is that there isn’t a whole lot of difference in actually sound quality between DD and DTS and the new and improved DD True HD and DTS-HD MA. Only high quality systems with better than average resolution will show the benefit. This has been shown in properly constructed blind tests with studio quality monitors.
Crap. Don’t waste your money. Buy a stand alone receiver and a set of quality speakers.
Good choice on the PS3 slim. Outstanding Blu-ray player with fast loading times. Decent DVD upconversion too. Outputs hi-rez audio only over HDMI or legacy formats over optical so you need a digital receiver of some sort.
Onkyo is OK for the receiver, but I prefer Denon. Your choice, but others are OK too. HDMI is horrendously flakey when you put an AVR between your PS3 and HDTV. Lots of incompatibilities and other issues. It’s a crap shoot really, so just make sure you can return anything you buy in case it doesn’t work well with your stuff. Sony is famous for having “issues” working with other non-Sony product, but the PS3 is pretty well tested.
Lots of options for speakers, too many to list. Get something good and you can live with them for many years. Just not HT in a Box speakers.
As far as affording it, only you can decide that. Probably not the best idea right now. The fact that you are asking means you know the right answer…
But if you wait another year or so HDMI 1.4 will be released and 3-D HDTV will be the next big thing. So you’ll have to upgrade everything, again. Might just wait and see how it shakes out.
Personally: now that it has been 3 years without work (well a little here and there but nothing steady) I was so glad the wife had managed a very healthy savings account, to which we still have and haven’t dipped into yet, and I don’t ever want to because you never know what tomorrow will bring. We sold off the big payment stuff and some that were payed for to reallocate the investment money to more economic vehicle for me and other things. I would be scared shit less with a Small amount of savings like that. You should have at least enough for 3 months to pay all bills and utilities for emergency situations. But it is a decision you will have to make. First mistake for you in MY OPINION, would be the part about “Majority Rules here in YOUR decision”. You are the only one who knows your real financial situation. What are your priorities? Are you looking for permission here?
Good luck in your decision.
I almost went down the same route (HTIB) but instead bought a higher quality Denon reciever and kept my older speakers for the time being. This is what I got: http://www.usa.denon.com/ProductDetails/5011.asp
Was able to get it through a friend that is a Denon distributor for a lot less than MSRP (about $550). This way I spent less now, and later on when I have the money for it I’ll buy speakers that match the quality of the reciever.
Just what worked for me, but figured this would give you another option to look at.
Excellent choice. I have the 4310ci, and was thinking of getting a 2310ci for an upstairs room. Not for the surround sound, but for the Audyssey MultEQ room correction. It does wonders on my main system, and I think it will cure some mid-bass boominess in the upstairs room. Thanks for the price tip - $550 sounds more reasonable. Maybe I’ll wait until the 2310 is discontinued and goes on clearance…
As much as I would say go for it, you are getting by just fine now. Why not wait until that model is on clearance for the new stuff, and then decide. You can manage to spend less this way. Plus that is money better spend on a man size tv :D:D:D
My opinion? Movies are a waste of time. To put that much money into it is a waste of money. If I can hear the dialog, I’m fine. I don’t have cable TV either, so maybe I’m a killjoy.
Great advice and I would follow it. www.avsforum.com is the M4C of the audio/visual world and I’ve read days & days of info there. Log on there and give them specifics and you’ll get great advice on quality components that fit your budget. Best of luck.
It’s your money and you can do with it what you will. I wouldn’t, but hey, I rarely watch the telly anyway. Heck, I still have one of them there old style TVs with the giant tube and weighs 2500 lbs.
