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In Reply to: Serious Question, really inexpensive home theater system needed! posted by Steve L. on May 17, 2003 at 21:07:33:
1. The all-in-one-box system may not be all bad. Last year I set up a Sony system that cost $499 + tax at Costco. It included a Sony DVD player that also plays SACDs (and regular CDs). This was for the livingroom of a beach condo that I am a part owner of. The room was smaller than your friend's room. Mine was about 16 X 14 with one side open to the kitchen/dining area. This system has tiny satellite speakers with a powered subwoofer. A 23 X 25 room probably requires larger speakers, though, for realistic car crashes etc. In a smaller room, this system sounded quite good. This option does free up his current dvd player for another room.2. For better speakers, look at the Radio Shack ones with the Lineaum tweeter. Now they are labelled RCA, previously Optimus. I use a pair for video now. I bought the cheaper ones with a unidirectional tweeter instead of the usual dipolar pattern because RatShack had them sitting on the checkout counter for $19 each. The dipole versions retail for $150, but are almost always on sale. I think June is the best sale month. Expect to pay between $49 and $75 each. I hated these in my music system as they sounded shrill. Hooked up to my TV they sound great; the forward high end sharpens up dialog so that my 47 year old ears can make it out at normal listening volumes. 3 X 75 = $225. In my opinion, much good money is wasted on rear speakers. They don't need to be A/V shielded so you can use any smaller speakers lying around. Even mediocre car speakers may be overkill. A pair of nice 6 X 9 speakers is about $50 on sale. Cut out some 1/4" plywood baffles, make a pair 6 X 9 holes in the sheetrock, and mount them covered in decorator fabric (high WAF). A decent surround sound A/V receiver can be had for $250 or so, less if you can tolerate refurbs from www.ubid.com. If you find several choices, I would study the remotes and see which are laid out more logically. Also pick up the receivers and give extra points for the heavier units, usually means the better power supply. The common name brands, Sony, Pioneer, Yamaha, HK, Denon sound similar enough most people can't tell them apart. (Flame bait) Sherwood makes nice ones too. There are multiple choices for powered subwoofers. They start around $100. For a larger room, two would be better, but we are getting close to the budget limit. Parts Express sells a nice kit for $349 or so when your friend has more money to spend. 225 + 50 + 250 + 200 = $725 (for 2 subwoofers)
3. Whatever you choose, how much care you spend setting it up determines how well it will sound. As a reviewer you probably have access to a Radio Shack SPL meter and a home theater set-up DVD. I bought a Discwasher setup DVD from Parts Express for $9. They also have inexpensive speaker stands if you need them for $29/pair. These are OK for smaller speakers, if my Optimus 12s were any larger, I don't think they would fit. Find time for you and your friend to spend about 3 hours with no one else home so you can try out various speaker locations and louder than usual volumes.
rtbarr
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- several ideas - rtbarr 17:26:51 05/18/03 (0)
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