Home theatre in a box

[Buff]

Originally Posted by fotze

Has anyone bought one of these things?

I can't really tell the difference between a $2000 sound system and a $200 system.

What should I be looking for in speakers? The most wattage? I have no idea.

This one from memory express looks alright to the ignorant eye.

http://www.memoryexpress.com/index.p...6338&SID=86440

I don't really want to spend any more than $350.

I got a home thatre in a box and I've had no qualms about it. I enjoy it. I got a Toshiba and I think I spent around $350. My friend has a nice home theatre that he pieced together and I'd guess that he spent around $2000. Have I noticed a big difference? Not really. They're both oodles better than a plain old tv with built in speakers. As far as I'm concerened the sound is better than a plain old dvd plugged directly into the tv and that's good enough for me.

If you're looking for the best sound and the best experience you may want to spend more on a higher end system, otherwise if you're looking for something that is better than the plain old tv sound a home theatre in a box is good enough.

[BlackArcher101]

Essentially it comes down to what you want to do with it. Are you interested in hooking anything else up to it, like a computer or XM radio? And other inputs you may need?

Size of room will matter. Sometimes, a Theatre-in-a-box won't have the spunk for a larger room.

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by fotze

I can't really tell the difference between a $2000 sound system and a $200 system.

If you can't hear the difference then go for it. However keep in mind the limitations. Upgradability; forget about it. Speakers not being the right ohms, limited inputs on the receiver; power output of the receiver.

IMHO the worst mistake is people would rather get a mediocre 5 channel system, instead of starting with a good 2 channel one and going up from there. You say $350 limit- how about $400? You can buy a decent amp and a good pair of bookshelf speakers. Next upgrade in a few months; buy yourself a better set of speakers and move the bookshelves to the rear. Then get yourself a centre speaker.

It all comes down to you get what you pay for. And the baby won't be a baby for ever; and there's times when she's at grandma's when you and Mrs. Fotze want to watch a movie.

[Prototype]

I bought my RCA surround sound system for $99 at that X/S Cargo or Wares, or whatever. Perfect for small rooms, and if you already have the DVD player. I had like 3-4 DVD players when I was looking to buy it, no need for annother.

[Mightyfire89]

If all you can spend is $350, you should probably go with the HTiB route. However, if you can bump the amount up some, I could help you out choosing the best components for the money, based on your personal preferences. Audio is a major passion of mine.

PM me if you're interested.

[trew]

Originally Posted by fotze

Has anyone bought one of these things?

I can't really tell the difference between a $2000 sound system and a $200 system.

What should I be looking for in speakers? The most wattage? I have no idea.

This one from memory express looks alright to the ignorant eye.

http://www.memoryexpress.com/index.p...6338&SID=86440

I don't really want to spend any more than $350.

If you already have the DVD player , satellite receiver, etc. and are just looking for the speakers and amplifier then I would recommend the following:

http://www.memoryexpress.com/index.p...4975&SID=86440

This is a computer speaker system, but I use mine for home theatre and am very happy with it. I am not an audiophile, but it seems to sound basically as good as my previous $1000+ system (at least for movies). I bought it because I needed a system with small speakers that would fit into a very snug home theatre room. I also didn't want to spend a ton of money, but wanted something that would recreate a movie theatre experience with good bass.

With that said, the subwoofer in this system is a bit of a beast, and is probably overkill for most people. It's a 10" speaker in a big black cube case with the system amp built into the back. (Pretty much the same size as a small end table). I have it turned almost all the way down, anything over the halfway mark and I would shake the pictures off the wall. It puts out very clear sound though, and the system as a whole seems to have good power without any distortion.

If you need to buy the dvd player as well, then the box system is probably the only way to go, as the logitech system is already at your $350 limit. The Phillips box sounds like it might be ok, and it has inputs and outputs that should allow you to connect in your satellite and projector.

I don't think you can really judge any sound equipment by its specs. (Other than making sure it isn't obviously mickey mouse, ie less than 50W per channel). Look for reviews online, and failing that, find the one that you like best, try it out, and return it if you don't like it. Just make sure you buy from a place with a decent return policy. (Memory Express is one week I believe).

[Bobblehead]

Originally Posted by trew

If you already have the DVD player , satellite receiver, etc. and are just looking for the speakers and amplifier then I would recommend the following:

http://www.memoryexpress.com/index.p...4975&SID=86440

This is a computer speaker system, but I use mine for home theatre and am very happy with it. I am not an audiophile, but it seems to sound basically as good as my previous $1000+ system (at least for movies). I bought it because I needed a system with small speakers that would fit into a very snug home theatre room. I also didn't want to spend a ton of money, but wanted something that would recreate a movie theatre experience with good bass.

With that said, the subwoofer in this system is a bit of a beast, and is probably overkill for most people. It's a 10" speaker in a big black cube case with the system amp built into the back. (Pretty much the same size as a small end table). I have it turned almost all the way down, anything over the halfway mark and I would shake the pictures off the wall. It puts out very clear sound though, and the system as a whole seems to have good power without any distortion.

If you need to buy the dvd player as well, then the box system is probably the only way to go, as the logitech system is already at your $350 limit. The Phillips box sounds like it might be ok, and it has inputs and outputs that should allow you to connect in your satellite and projector.

I don't think you can really judge any sound equipment by its specs. (Other than making sure it isn't obviously mickey mouse, ie less than 50W per channel). Look for reviews online, and failing that, find the one that you like best, try it out, and return it if you don't like it. Just make sure you buy from a place with a decent return policy. (Memory Express is one week I believe).

I have this system as well, but I do have it hooked up to my computer. I think it gives me better sound than the more expensive system I have hooked up to my Sat/TV/DVD

[Log]

I have a home theatre in a box.... Anyways it sounds good when watching movies or TV... However it sucks if you are listening to a CD or watching a concert DVD. There is zero mid range sound.

I am saving up for a stereo... The I priced out will be at the $5k mark. This time next year I'll have enough to swipe the debit card for it.