I just bought a Samsung PN50C450 and it will be hooked to my HTPC (with this motherboard) via HDMI cable. I dont have a nice audio card yet, but would like to pick one up.

What's the best surround system I can buy or put together for <$400? My livingroom isnt huge, but I want the best that I can get for that amount right now. I'd also like to have some room for upgrading the system later on rather than having to totally buy a new surround system a few years down the road.

Also, what audio card should I get to go with it?


[Edited on August 21, 2010 at 4:42 PM. Reason : .]

8/21/2010 4:37:52 PM

Looking at maybe getting the Onkyo SKS-HT540 and a nice receiver to go with it. What's a good receiver to use with these speakers?

[Edited on August 21, 2010 at 6:26 PM. Reason : .]

8/21/2010 6:08:13 PM

Onkyo makes pretty awesome receivers, and I've been pleased with the speakers as well. Their HTIB (home theater in a box) systems are good, and you should be able to find one in that price range to include the receiver and speakers. I don't know any of the current model numbers anymore though.

8/21/2010 7:09:34 PM

Is your total budget still $400? I spent $400 on just a receiver recently and your speakers are already $300 so $100 doesn't leave much to work with...

8/21/2010 8:13:46 PM

Never cheap out on your reciever.

8/21/2010 8:24:35 PM

The Onkyo speakers I referenced above are on sale for $200 at that link. So I'd have about $200 to spend on a receiver.

8/21/2010 9:16:38 PM

For about $400 in '07 I put together a home theater system consisting of:

Yamaha HTR-5990: http://www.yamaha.com/yec/products/productdetail.html?CNTID=200015&CTID=5000400&ATRID=1020&DETYP=ATTRIBUTE

Fluance SXHTB+ HTIB: http://www.fluance.com/fluan5speaks.html

I biamped those tower speakers and they sound pretty fucking decent. I'm happy enough with my purchase. I bought the receiver in ebay used (guaranteed working but sort of a scratch and dent model), and I also bought those speakers on ebay new in the box. They're well built and sound pretty nice. Makes my parents' and my old roommate's HTIB sound like shit. Combine those onkyo speakers with a nice, used receiver with the features you want and you should be good. Most people shun the idea of buying used electronics, but with a high end receiver you're going to have a hard time being disappointed as it will likely have more features than anything you can find new for the price.

8/22/2010 1:00:11 AM

What are thoughts on the Infinity Primus P362 tower speakers?

8/22/2010 1:43:50 AM

I ended up going with the Onkyo TX-SR508 7.1 receiver and SKS-HT540 7.1 speaker set.

Ended up costing about $475. I'll report back on how it all sounds.

BTW, B&H Photo has the best prices on pretty much all of their A/V equipment that I could find anywhere on the net. Ended up buying my TV and full surround system from them.

[Edited on August 26, 2010 at 5:01 PM. Reason : .]

8/26/2010 4:57:03 PM

^ was there a coupon or bundle deal to get both for $475? individually they are way more...


i'm also in the market.

I really want this one:
http://www.amazon.com/Marantz-NR1501-Slim-Theater-Receiver/dp/B002DUCO54

and haven't found a set of speakers i really love... trying to keep it under 700

8/26/2010 5:09:16 PM

The price is discounted when you add it to your cart.

8/26/2010 5:49:22 PM

Boo hiss on that onkyo system, i had that and the speakers blew. I actually left them outside to dissapear.

8/27/2010 2:43:04 PM

I ended up picking this one up: http://amzn.to/b3Ivnb

Denon AVR-591 + Boston Acoustics MCS 95 5.1 speakers for $599.

Finished setting it up last night.

goddamn it sounds good.

[Edited on August 30, 2010 at 12:41 PM. Reason : .]

8/30/2010 12:41:19 PM

my onkyo setup is out for delivery right now. Im working from home waiting on it haha.

8/30/2010 1:01:55 PM

Dude, if you thought these speakers blew, then there's something wrong with you. This system freakin rocks in my livingroom. Sounds pretty incredible to me, especially for $200.

8/30/2010 9:36:41 PM

cute thread

8/30/2010 9:52:29 PM

lol

How big is your livingroom? I'm looking for something similar.

[Edited on August 30, 2010 at 9:54 PM. Reason : .]

8/30/2010 9:53:08 PM

Not less than $400, but good deal:

Klipsch HD500 5.1 speakers + Yamaha 7.1 3D-ready RX-V567 receiver for $599.99 FS
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.492322

8/31/2010 9:53:59 AM

I have an Onkyo and it sounds awesome. I also have in-wall and in-ceiling radioshack speakers, so you can tell that surround sound for me is more about locational sound and less about quality.

8/31/2010 11:12:33 AM

I'm not tlakign about the onkyo reciever, im just saying the speakers suck, thats all.

8/31/2010 4:25:31 PM

bump

11/30/2010 5:20:16 PM

need some opinions on:
http://www.amazon.com/Onkyo-HT-S3300-5-1-Channel-Theater-Receiver/dp/B003BEDQR6/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1291154773&sr=1-1

just bought an hdtv, so i'll need a sound system. i would go for that 7.1 surround set-up but i would need a receiver on top of that and i'm not knowledgeable about this stuff at all. i'm looking to spend less than 400 as well.

11/30/2010 5:21:46 PM

i gotta figure out what to do about this. i want some decent audio, but my living room is 2 stories and idk what to put on the walls and stuff to reduce echo. i dont want some ugly as shit foam paneling or w/e

11/30/2010 5:22:25 PM

I just recently sold my mediaPC and went with this setup:

Sony BDP-S370 Blu-ray Disc Player
http://www.sonystyle.com/product/en/bdps370

Sony HT-SS370 Surround Sound Home Theater System
http://www.sonystyle.com/product/en/htss370

Main reason being I wanted a small receiver that did HDMI switching & Dolby TrueHD & dts-HD.

11/30/2010 6:07:03 PM

pretty sure noen made this exact thread

12/1/2010 12:21:44 AM

The only thread I see from Noen is message_topic.aspx?topic=578759.

He had a budget of $750, not $400.

12/1/2010 9:24:23 AM

^^^ Would that surround sound system work with the PS3? I assume yes since they're both Sony, but I know nothing about speakers/receivers/etc.

12/1/2010 9:30:12 AM

any surround sound system will work with the PS3. Anything with HDMI is going to be the easiest, however.

Personally, I think sony home theater equipment is garbage (except maybe their ES receivers, but my experience with them was 10 years ago) and you can get a lot more for the money.

12/1/2010 9:41:21 AM

I'd recommend that Onkyo HT-S5300 - $449 w/ free shipping on amazon...

I have the HT-S6100 (late 08 model). Great sound. Tons of features. The S5300 looks to be an 09 model with a couple more features on the amp (dual zone, etc.)

12/1/2010 10:51:47 AM

^^some of it's not great back in the day, but these particular Sony systems (HTIB) are rated pretty high, best bang for your buck, tons of features, tons of power, great sound, small receiver, low-cost... i love it.

[Edited on December 1, 2010 at 10:52 AM. Reason : .]

12/1/2010 10:51:50 AM

hey, as long as you love it, that's what's important... i ain't trying to hate on someone who's satisfied with their stuff.

i had a sony ES receiver back in college which was badass paired with infinity components. I later downgraded to a Sony HTIB, which I hated. the highs were shrill, the lows were muddy, and the mid range was meh. Whether that was the speakers or the amp, I don't know, but I was glad to get rid of it.

I've had my Denon/BA setup from my earlier post in this thread for a few months, and it is a night and day difference. I'm no audiophile by any means, but HTIBs just aren't very good (regardless of who's making 'em).

12/1/2010 12:18:31 PM

Quote :

"I'm no audiophile by any means, but HTIBs just aren't very good (regardless of who's making 'em)."

normally I'd agree with you, but this system actually does sound good and at 50% of the price you'd pay for a separate system this good.

12/1/2010 1:44:48 PM

I would find something good on craigslist. grab a good receiver first, probly 100-200. then grab what items you can as the deals pop up. tons of deals on great older speakers with much better sound than those tiny htib units

12/1/2010 8:02:12 PM

anyone have experience with wireless surround sound? What would be the best setup for an HD TV with ps3

12/1/2010 8:16:33 PM

http://slickdeals.net/permadeal/42927/klipsch-hd-300-compact-5.1-hd-theater-system-yamaha-rxv367-5.1channel-digital-home-theater-receiver-yamaha-ipod-dock

12/3/2010 8:14:44 AM

^ would anything other than what's included in the bundle be needed to set this up?

12/3/2010 12:18:57 PM

it depends on what else you would want in your home theater. Component wise, DVD/blu-ray player, TV, etc.

Or do you mean would it have everything you need to connect the speakers to the receiver?

The only thing you might need is speaker wire, but sometimes they throw that in the bundle. The denon/BA set i got did come with speaker wire, even though that was not indicated and ended up being a surprise.

But that deal is infinitely better than any HTIB you'll find. The speakers are on the lower end for klipsch, but low end klipsch speakers are eons better than high end samsung, panasonic, or whatever comes with your average HTIB, no matter how sleek it looks in that best buy circular.

12/3/2010 1:53:35 PM

I have a $65 gift card to Best Buy and I'm interested in an all-in-one 5.1 HTS. Unfortunately, space isn't practicle for tower speakers so satelites are a requirement.

Currently I have a computer (non HD), Xbox 360S, and Wii hooked up. May consider a PS3, not interested in 3D ready devices.

I've found a Yamaha HTS for $350 that fits my criteria. Any recommendations?

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Yamaha+-+600W+5.1-Ch.+Home+Theater+System/9875451.p?id=1218187080690&skuId=9875451

Should I be "concerned" with future compatibility since it does not have Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, or DTS-HD Master Audio features?

[Edited on December 14, 2010 at 11:00 PM. Reason : .]

[Edited on December 14, 2010 at 11:09 PM. Reason : .]

12/14/2010 10:52:26 PM

I never thought i'd say this, but i'm actually consider a *gulp* sound bar.

The Sony HT-CT350 is pretty slick and its getting excellent reviews on avsforums. I live in an apartment and my living room is relatively small. I could get more for the same $325ish, but i don't think i care to at this point. I think this is the easy button. It'd also match my 40" Sony Z series TV and PS3 perfectly.

http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10151&catalogId=10551&langId=-1&productId=8198552921666166155

12/14/2010 11:25:33 PM

Was looking for reviews and saw that it's a lot cheaper elsewhere:

http://www.colamco.com/store/stat/product/954266.html?source=froogle

http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=HT-CT350&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=9195145418530436179&ei=pLUITc6NAsGC8gaxmrV5&sa=X&oi=product_catalog_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CEUQ8wIwAg#scoring=tp

12/15/2010 7:34:36 AM

Quote :

"Should I be "concerned" with future compatibility since it does not have Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, or DTS-HD Master Audio features?"

Im pretty sure that at a $400 price point for an entire surround system, you will not be able to hear the difference in newer audio formats. If you ever want to upgrade there will be better speakers & recievers for cheaper later.

12/15/2010 8:46:50 AM

Quote :

"I never thought i'd say this, but i'm actually consider a *gulp* sound bar."

haha, yeah i was thinking about putting one in my bar.

12/15/2010 9:55:47 AM

i'm late to this thread, but i bought this last year and it was/is PERFECT for my needs:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000UP6MU2/ref=wms_ohs_product

(Denon all-in-one compact system)

lurves it.

12/16/2010 9:47:07 AM

I ended up getting this from my fiance for Christmas:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003JUU8LO/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_3?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B0038KLM9W&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=10W8VGBGMB4DCQ25VDPK

I have it set up great for the Blu-Ray, it does audio and video through HDMI.

However, I'm having trouble getting it set up to use the speakers with TV and PS3. Do I need to get a receiver to be able to use the speakers with other peripherals? I've tried going through the TWC menu but it doesn't give me an option on Audio other than Digital, and I can't figure out how to change the audio on my tv (Samsung).

Sorry, I know these are elementary questions but I really don't know what I'm doing here.

12/29/2010 12:43:30 AM

^It has 2 optical inputs. Does your tv have an optical output? It sounds like maybe you only hooked up an HDMI between the unit & your tv. If so, that only goes one way (TO the tv)). You'll have to hook up the optical between the tv & the unit to get audio from other sources. This is assuming your cable box & ps3 are hooked up to the tv with hdmi. If they're not, you'll need to use the optical out on the PS3 and cable box (some cable boxes only have Digital Coax outputs which won't work with the Panasonic).

12/29/2010 7:55:17 AM

Yep, just checked and the TV and PS3 have Optical outs so I will go get some Optical cable and get that set up. Thanks for the thought.

Am I safe getting some from monoprice like these:

http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10229&cs_id=1022901&p_id=2763&seq=1&format=2

12/29/2010 9:21:34 AM

^yep. monoprice ftw.

also, in response to the original topic, the onkyo HTIB packages are pretty hard to beat for the money. the ht-s5300 is good. the s6300 adds faroudja upscaling.

12/29/2010 10:31:13 AM

Got it set up and running, although it's not ideal having to switch back and forth between the TV and receiver display when turning everything on.

Does anyone have recommendations on Harmony remotes? From the looks of it, the 890 and One are the best mid-range remotes out currently.

1/7/2011 12:40:01 PM

I have a Harmony 890 and freaking love it. It switches to all the correct inputs on my tv and receiver automatically

1/7/2011 12:43:55 PM