Home theatre speaker packages

Post by **Xouqoa** » February 15, 2007, 2:31 am

I'm looking to get a home theater speaker package with wireless rear speakers so I don't have to run a bunch of wires. 7.1 or 5.1 is fine... I'd like to keep it under $1,000 if possible.

Any recommendations? *looks at Ransure*

edit: I don't need a receiver, but I wouldn't argue if the package came with a new dvd player. Mine is 9 years old.

Post by **Sylvus** » February 15, 2007, 12:33 pm

I'm violating one of your requirements in that they are not wireless, but I love my Anthony Gallo's. I forget exactly what I paid for them, and I got a deal because my friend owns an electronics store, but I'm pretty sure 5 Nucleus Micro's and the TR-1 or TR-2 (can't recall which I have offhand) subwoofer cost me less than $1000. In fact I think I paid closer to the $500-$700 range.

Animalor · Post by **Animalor** » February 15, 2007, 1:45 pm

Here's what I use:

http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/produ ... ENTID=9486

The caveat is that your source needs to have optical out to get real Dolby Digital/THX or else you're getting stereo coming out of the front and rear speakers.

I'm not an audio enthusiast in any sence of the word so I'm completely satisfied with the sound that comes out of those.

For reference, I have those connected to my 360 and also use it as my DVD player.

Post by **Xouqoa** » February 15, 2007, 2:39 pm

I found this... which might help with the rear speakers if I can find one.

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-3SLnkha4QH ... g+products

I would prefer to have a tower type speaker for the front speakers, otherwise those logitech ones might work.

Boogahz · Post by **Boogahz** » February 15, 2007, 2:49 pm

I haven't actually tried them out myself, but Panasonic has some systems with the tower front speakers which you can use their wireless rear speaker system with. I believe the sets with tower speakers start at around 300.00, and the wireless box is around 150.

Post by **Xouqoa** » February 15, 2007, 3:30 pm

Boogahz wrote:I haven't actually tried them out myself, but Panasonic has some systems with the tower front speakers which you can use their wireless rear speaker system with. I believe the sets with tower speakers start at around 300.00, and the wireless box is around 150.

Yeah, unfortunately it is only compatible with their receiver. I just spent $550 on a new Onkyo, so I don't want to be coerced into using theirs.

Panasonic and Samsung both offer a similar item.

Sony has a wireless (infrared) set, but again, I imagine you have to use their receiver.

I may end up just running some wires (ugh), unless something like that Kenwood thing is worth a damn.

Ransure · Post by **Ransure** » February 15, 2007, 3:55 pm

Xou, if you have the receiver out of the way, my recommendation is to spend $1k on a nice pair of bookshelf speakers and a subwoofer. High quality 2.1ch sound will be far better than half assed 5.1ch sound. Also that will allow you to build the system the way you want to. Look at Boston Acoustics, Klipsch, B&W, Totem, Anthem and some other mid level speaker brands, if you have a high end stereo store around you (not BB or CC) head in there and listen to some 2.1ch systems... youll be surprised with the sound quality you can get with a good processor.

Do you live in an apartment? or do you own your house? If you own, then most companies are charging $2-300 bucks to fish wire for rear speakers in the walls, that will get you the nicest look out of your surround sound.

The wireless systems Ive heard all suck ass... some of them dont sound as good my cell phones ringtone. That sony system is terrible. IR doesnt have the bandwidth to carry a full range signal, Ive heard of some 802.11 and wireless RF devices out there, but I would consider any device that needs to package the audio signal, transmit it, and then unpack it at the receiving end an unacceptable delay for surround sound. Its all about creating that environment and making the environment believable.

Post by **Xouqoa** » February 15, 2007, 4:49 pm

Okay, maybe I'll head to the Home Theater store and check out some 2.1 systems.

I might try running some speaker wire around the laminate flooring we are installing right now. There's no baseboards at the moment, so that might be an easier way to get sound back there without having to get up in the attic and drop wires through the walls. (I own my own place, no more apartments for me ever again I hope!)

I can also always get 2.1 for now and then add the other 3/5 speakers later I guess.

Have you heard the digital sound projectors that Yamaha makes? (http://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-YSP-1100BL ... B000I672PC) If so, how are they? The idea intrigues me.

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » February 15, 2007, 5:18 pm

Xouqoa wrote: Have you heard the digital sound projectors that Yamaha makes? (http://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-YSP-1100BL ... B000I672PC) If so, how are they? The idea intrigues me.

I have a Yamaha receiver currently and am happy with it although it's starting to move up on upgrade priority list. Their CINEMA DSP tech is excellent so if it's movies you're interested in primarily over music, Yamaha certainly should be considered.

I wouldn't worry too much about all the fancy settings...just be sure the receiver you get handles the basic Dolby Digital/AC3 modes and DTS modes well.

Post by **Xouqoa** » February 15, 2007, 5:31 pm

Winnow wrote:I have a Yamaha receiver currently and am happy with it although it's starting to move up on upgrade priority list. Their CINEMA DSP tech is excellent so if it's movies you're interested in primarily over music, Yamaha certainly should be considered.

I wouldn't worry too much about all the fancy settings...just be sure the receiver you get handles the basic Dolby Digital/AC3 modes and DTS modes well.

No, no... this is a speaker, not a receiver. I'm set for receivers.. I just got an Onkyo TX-674 which is full 1080p HDMI ready. The sound projector is a "sound bar" with like 40 mini speakers that supposedly can create surround sound with just the one compound speaker.

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » February 15, 2007, 5:42 pm

Xouqoa wrote: No, no... this is a speaker, not a receiver. I'm set for receivers.. I just got an Onkyo TX-674 which is full 1080p HDMI ready. The sound projector is a "sound bar" with like 40 mini speakers that supposedly can create surround sound with just the one compound speaker.

Ah, sorry, at work, didn't look closely! I'd be interested as well if anyone's actually heard one of these in person.

Ransure · Post by **Ransure** » February 16, 2007, 7:11 am

Stereo store, listen, buy stuff.... good...

If you want someone to run wires through your walls or to evaluate what you should do, itll only cost you a plane ticket

The Yamaha thing is also a receiver, and an amp, and some other stuff... but its all crap... I love most of what yamaha does, but that monstrosity isnt one of the things I like

Post by **Xouqoa** » February 16, 2007, 1:43 pm

Ransure wrote:Stereo store, listen, buy stuff.... good...

If you want someone to run wires through your walls or to evaluate what you should do, itll only cost you a plane ticket

The Yamaha thing is also a receiver, and an amp, and some other stuff... but its all crap... I love most of what yamaha does, but that monstrosity isnt one of the things I like

Yeah, I'll get Truant to run the wires for me. He was poking around in the attic the other day and accidently fell through the ceiling of my kitchen so I have a big hole there. I'll let him run the wires as repayment instead of paying to get the hole fixed.

I didn't know the Yamaha thing was the receiver and stuff too, I thought it was just a magical speaker.

Ah well, neat idea anyway. I guess if I wanted to put a flat screen tv on the wall in a bedroom that thing might be a good option.

Boogahz · Post by **Boogahz** » February 16, 2007, 1:46 pm

Xouqoa wrote:Yeah, I'll get Truant to run the wires for me. He was poking around in the attic the other day and accidently fell through the ceiling of my kitchen so I have a big hole there. I'll let him run the wires as repayment instead of paying to get the hole fixed.

If you stopped locking him in the attic, you wouldn't have holes in the ceiling! Get a Basement, it's harder for bokboks to get away when they're surrounded by concrete.

Truant · Post by **Truant** » February 16, 2007, 3:28 pm

Boogahz wrote:
Xouqoa wrote:Yeah, I'll get Truant to run the wires for me. He was poking around in the attic the other day and accidently fell through the ceiling of my kitchen so I have a big hole there. I'll let him run the wires as repayment instead of paying to get the hole fixed.
If you stopped locking him in the attic, you wouldn't have holes in the ceiling! Get a Basement, it's harder for bokboks to get away when they're surrounded by concrete.

haha, I felt like a total asshole, but it was funny as a shit. I kept flipping back and forth between being pissed at myself for doing it, and laughing at myself for being an rtard.

Boogahz · Post by **Boogahz** » February 16, 2007, 3:34 pm

Truant wrote:
Boogahz wrote:
Xouqoa wrote:Yeah, I'll get Truant to run the wires for me. He was poking around in the attic the other day and accidently fell through the ceiling of my kitchen so I have a big hole there. I'll let him run the wires as repayment instead of paying to get the hole fixed.
If you stopped locking him in the attic, you wouldn't have holes in the ceiling! Get a Basement, it's harder for bokboks to get away when they're surrounded by concrete.
haha, I felt like a total asshole, but it was funny as a shit. I kept flipping back and forth between being pissed at myself for doing it, and laughing at myself for being an rtard.

Did you at least get the "hidden" cameras installed before falling through?

Arborealus · Post by **Arborealus** » February 16, 2007, 3:37 pm

Feet on the boards tard...

I have NEVER done that!

Ok I was lyiing...

Truant · Post by **Truant** » February 16, 2007, 5:15 pm

Arborealus wrote:Feet on the boards tard...

I have NEVER done that!

Ok I was lyiing...

Seriously, I've been an attic rat since I was a wee lad. I used to do it for a living even! I have never, ever fucked up like that. It was so odd.

I was sliding my forward foot across the board to clear it, as it was buried under 2-3 inches of insulation. All of a sudden the board just ends at a kind of jagged edge, but I had already started shifting weight forward. You can imagine the rest.

Xou mentioned that I should consider a future in skylight installation. lol

Edit. Back on topic...we have some of those 802.11 wireless speakers here (don't ask), and they're fine for roaming monitor type situations (listening while outside or something)...but there is a delay, which makes it impractical for surround. It's also another thing to add to the 802.11 list, which means your wireless network, cordless phones, speakers, and microwaves would all interfere with each other.

Ransure · Post by **Ransure** » February 17, 2007, 12:05 am

Zamtuk · Post by **Zamtuk** » February 17, 2007, 1:51 am

texans.

Boogahz · Post by **Boogahz** » February 17, 2007, 11:44 am

Zamtuk wrote:texans.

That's Texans to you.

Post by **Xouqoa** » February 26, 2007, 2:41 am

I went with two Polk Audio RTi10 speakers for the front, and a Polk PSW-12 for the subwoofer.

I've got some crap JBL surround speakers I might use temporarily for now, but I'll get some decent ones after my checking account recovers from this.

edit: Bleh, they only had one speaker so I just got the subwoofer for now.