Home Theater advise needed

[IA_Chiefs_fan]

I have a 54 AKAI HDTV and a 12 inch KLH sub. I want to add a new receiver and speakers. This will go with my existing Dish Network receiver and Pioneer DVD player. My maximum budget is firm at $700 for cabling and all. I simply can not go over that figure. What should I buy???
I should add what I'll be doing with the system.
Music -0%
Regular TV -80%
DVDs -20%

[Miles]

Are you looking for a surround setup or just a stereo one?

With your budget you could get significantly better speakers if just go with a 2 channel setup. Later on you can add the surrounds and the sub.

Or you could get a budget surround system. The speakers wont be all that good but it will be surround.

[IA_Chiefs_fan]

Are you looking for a surround setup or just a stereo one?

With your budget you could get significantly better speakers if just go with a 2 channel setup. Later on you can add the surrounds and the sub.

Or you could get a budget surround system. The speakers wont be all that good but it will be surround.
I definitely want surround and I already have a sub.

[Monty]

Go to the Overstock.com site that Phob referenced last night. Yeah, I'm too lazy to provide the link. :D There was a set of KLH speakers there for $69(6 speakers w/sub) and a receiver(can't remember what brand) for $129 I think. I have KLH on my system and they are just fine, but I'd highly recommend getting the monster cables and 14 awg speaker wire vs. the cheaper stuff. It really does make a huge difference. :thumb:

[Miles]

5 NHT Super Ones - 86.22 ea = $431
http://ww1.onecall.com/PID_1089.htm

Denon AVR-1705 $233
http://www.ecost.com/ecost/ecsplash/shop/detail.asp?dpno=502640

Total = $644

Or if you have room for a center rear speaker (6.1 surround) you may consider the same reciever with

3 NHT super ones (86 ea)

and 3 NHT super zeros for the rear and rear center
(62.50 ea)
http://ww1.onecall.com/PID_1107.htm

This would be about $678.

[Miles]

This Boston Acoustics speaker package doesnt look bad for $367.50.

http://ww1.onecall.com/PID_1056.htm

Forgot about cables. Dont spend much on them but dont use the ultra cheap ones either. The radioshack gold series are pretty cheap and will work just as well as the moster cable stuff they sell at bestbuy.

I also like the ones on this website.
http://www.knukonceptz.com/

[IA_Chiefs_fan]

The more I look at this the more I think I should put at least $400-$500 into the receiver and the remaining couple hundred into speakers. My wife would probably let me upgrade speakers at some point but I'm sure I'll be stuck with the receiver for a long time.

[LTownChief]

get a best buy card and take advantage of the 18 months 0% financing deals.

[Skip Towne]

Dish Notwork? Bleeech!!! :Lin:

[blsilks]

Go get yourself a Dolby CP650 Processor with QSC MXA Amplifier and maybe some JBL SRX700 Series speakers.

[Phobia]

Does anybody know an electronics shop in KC that would fix my Onkyo receiver for a little bit of cash?

[2bikemike]

Does anybody know an electronics shop in KC that would fix my Onkyo receiver for a little bit of cash?

I found it cheaper to replace my reciever rather that fixing it. IIRC they wanted like $75 just to look at it.

[Phobia]

I found it cheaper to replace my reciever rather that fixing it. IIRC they wanted like $75 just to look at it.

Well, this one is a $900 receiver. I'd love to fix it because it's really nice. It broke during the move to KC. I had it up in the truck's cab with me and it didn't drop or anything - it just gets no power now. I've checked the internal fuse, so I'm hoping it's something pretty simple like that.

[Skip Towne]

Well, this one is a $900 receiver. I'd love to fix it because it's really nice. It broke during the move to KC. I had it up in the truck's cab with me and it didn't drop or anything - it just gets no power now. I've checked the internal fuse, so I'm hoping it's something pretty simple like that.
Yep, sounds like a loss of power to me. Let's troubleshoot it. Plug it in and remove the top. Grasp the case firmly with the left hand. Probe around on the devices on the pc board with your right forefinger. You should know pretty quickly if the device is getting power.

[Skip Towne]

Seriously, a guy named Bill Galloway used to fix my video games back when. If you can find him, he'll fix it cheap. Let your fingers do the walking.

[C-Mac]

Here' my recommend for more than capable receivers:

7.1 for $299

http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/en/-/USD/SY_DisplayProductInformation-Start?ProductSKU=STRDE697&Dept=hav&CategoryName=hav_HiFiComponents_Receivers_HiFiReceivers

6.1 for $199

http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/en/-/USD/SY_DisplayProductInformation-Start?ProductSKU=STRDE597&Dept=hav&CategoryName=hav_HiFiComponents_Receivers_HiFiReceivers

Cerwin Vega has nice a $149.95 speaker package.

[IA_Chiefs_fan]

Or what about the Pioneer VSX-52TX? Any one have it???

[Miles]

The more I look at this the more I think I should put at least $400-$500 into the receiver and the remaining couple hundred into speakers. My wife would probably let me upgrade speakers at some point but I'm sure I'll be stuck with the receiver for a long time.

I would suggest puting more into the speakers than the reciever since they have the greatest effect on the overall sound. Cheap speakers will still sound bad even with a nice reciever while nicer speakers will still sound better with a lesser reciever.

For your budget, IMO you will get the best overall sound with a pair of $400-500 bookshelf speakers and a 200 or so reciever. And later add the rears and then the center.

One of the entry level (about 75 watts per ch) onkyo or Denon refurb units should be fine unless you have a giant room or start looking at much more expensive speakers.

Also here is a HT forum that has a lot of great info:

www.avsforum.com