Audiophiles - I'm Looking for an audio system.

[The Buddha]

OK, so I am a audio ignoramus.

So I am looking for one of those 5.1 types. I really dont know what I am looking for, however I am leaning toward the RCA or philips @ walmart. They claim 500-1000 watt power (freaking hell sounds like an insane amount) and generally seem like it should work. They cost $150-250.

I really prefer the philips cos its made in america too.

So can someone point me better, I dont care if I had to buy used either but I am really looking to stay under ~4-500 ...
BTW I have gotte by so far with 2 channel, giant sized speakers bought circa 1991.

Cool.
Buddha.

[jserio]

you want a home surround sound system? or a home stereo system? i'm a bit confused by your post. guess i've not been here long enough to dechiper buddha speak.   

[The Buddha]

Home theater system ...
whatever you can get for 200-400.
Cool.
Buddha.

[scottpA_GS]

I bought all my stuff separate.. L&R Surround sound (RCA) $40 Center Chanel (RCA) $140 12" 200 Watt Sub ($250) Klipsh L&R Front (had for years) and a Kenwood 5.1 Stereo (demo model $70  Make sure whatever you buy that the Stereo has optical inputs for your cable/sat and DVD. you cant get true Dolby Digital w/o the fiber ins/outs. And the powered sub makes my whole house shake.. I cant even turn it up past 3  Most of the packaged systems claim way higher output than they really deliver. Buy your components one at a time and put together your own awesome system  I hope to move our living room system into the bedroom and upgrade some of the living room this year 

[XealotX]

I really prefer the philips cos its made in america too.

Philips is a Dutch company. Are you sure it's made in America? Only thing I know they make in the US is light bulbs.

[grayghost]

Buddha get the owner's manuals out on the receivers you look at, flip over to the spec's page and find the RMS power output to find out what the actual continous power output is. typically if they claim 200-300 watts per channel, the actual RMS rating will most likely be 50-60watts RMS (root mean square) continous w/ 4ohm load. also look for high sensitivity speakers (will be listed as decibals w/1 watt, measured at 1 meter (3ft)) the higher the sensitivty number the less wattage required to produce the "SPL" sound pressure level, again listed in decibals, so you can run a lower wattage (and generally less expensive) power source. i'm with Scott on picking components from various
manufactors, the only down side to this is compatibility of remote controll units, but other than that i think you get much more for your money than the "packaged" deals.
check out consumer reports at the local library for better buys on components (not guaranteed to be best choice, but a good starting point as far as make, models, $ points)

[XealotX]

If you're looking to stay under $400 then I suggest waiting until Memorial Day and buying the nicest box system you can afford. That way you know everything will work together out of the box and it will probably be a huge improvement over what you have now. As time goes by if you feel the need to upgrade then you can start upgrading various pieces of the system. There are SOOO many variables at work here...the size of the room you plan on using this stuff in...the type of movies/music you prefer...your inevitable hearing loss from riding motorcycles all these years...

Buying all that stuff separately works great when you know what you're looking for.

For that budget I wouldn't get carried away with the wattage claims on the box...All of them will claim more power than they truly have...all of them will ultimately be fairly low (true) power in the great scheme of things...and all of them will make your movies sound a lot better than the speakers in your TV.

I started about 10 years ago with a "box" system and LOVED it...for about three years...then the upgrade bug hit...sound familiar to a certain 2 wheeled hobby?   10 years later my subwoofer costs more than I'll admit to the wife but I haven't been to a movie theater in years.

[cstilt]

I agree with the starting out with a simple box system. I bought a panasonic brand from best by that has an included 5disc changer. It's rated at 800watts max. I've never had to turn it up all the way in any apt i've lived in. Objects in the room begin to rattle around half to 2/3 power. That's also when the neighbors get cranky. If you have a nice DVD placer. Sony maked a nice box kit with just the receiver and speakers that's I believe 600watts. It sounds pretty good for the money as well. Can't remember prices, but I know both fell below your range you gave. I'd just go into Bestbuy and turn a bunch of them on and see how they sound to YOU. And don't worry about max watts too much. They're all louder than they probably need to be.

XealotX, in undergrad my roomie had  15" CV down-firing sub connected to his system. The resonance frequency of our dorm was the baseline to Interglactic by Beastie Boys. Playing Bia Bia by Lil' John made it hard to breath in the room. lol

[The Buddha]

Mmmmm OK cstilt when you come over you're looking at my current system.
Cool.
Buddha.

[TheGoodGuy]

okay with your budget of 400 bucks.. that 1000W is PMPO (peak) which is crap, you need RMS (continous).

There are several things you can do.. I would suggest getting some quailty speakers and a quaility amp for 500 bucks in total.. than those box sets. I will post some info in here for you in a bit.

[TheGoodGuy]

Do you have to deal with WAF? (Wife Appreciation Factor)... aka Small speakers vs. Bigger ones?

I can do a good deal for under 500 if you can stretch your budget a bit. With a nice amp, using your old dvd player, and a few cables to finish off the thing. Do you have a HDTV? Do you have a existing bluray or HDDVD? Do you ahve a stand alone dvd player?
How much room you got?

[jserio]

the size of the room you're installing it in is important too from what i understand. good audio system building is almost an art from what i've heard.

[TheGoodGuy]

Might want to look at this thread to start with.

http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.aspx?catid=67&threadid=2099593&enterthread=y

I was thinking of starting you off with a "fluance" system. http://www.fluance.com  --> Either the AVHTB+ (199.99) or the much better SXHTB+5

You wont need subwoofers right away since these are big speakers and have quite a bit of 'low end' (down to 49hz on the SXHTB and 38hz on the AVHTB). You can even add a 50W sub to complete the sound.

The only thing with the fluance, you need an amp that delivers its power with least distortion (no 10% THD). They are not very efficient speakers (they are other 5 set speakers that are more effective in their ability to produce sound and i'll add them later) however if you got a good solid amp, you wont be disappointed.

One thing with buying speakers is letting them break in. So for the first 2 hours you play classical at soft volumes, then the next 2 hours play rock in soft volumes
then slowly start raising the volume up until you reach about 10-20 hours of use. You can use it to watch tv and what not, just dont blast it right away, good way to blow the speakers.

[TheGoodGuy]

Okay I found a denon 5.1 HTIB system for under 400 but its recertified. Let me know if it interests you.

[The Buddha]

Oh so much more info ...
OK we dont want to use our amp - its a unit with tape, radio and amp in 1 box and has no remote. That has to go and prolly to the kids room in a few months.
And I am good reusing the speakers for now, but then kiddo needs a speaker set soon. I am almost sure i can find these giant clunky speakers easy, and I like those old school stuff.
My DVD, CD etc etc are stand alone.
I done have Blurry (southern for blu-ray) yet ...
I have the cable box which is HD ready.
I would buy individual pieces, I'd gladly buy used as long as they all work together and the thing has a remote with volume on it.
Goodguy - PM me - you selling any of these - I'll gladly buy, as long as you tell me what else to buy to finish the thing.
WAF is pretty important, but volume control will cove 90% of that.
Cool.
buddha.

[Toogoofy317]

I have a Phillips surrond sound from Radio Shack. My best friend got it for me for Christmas I looked it up and it said $500 he assured me it was on sale half price! But, it is a 5.1 system, with dvd integrated and it is supposed to make the regular dvd's better can't remember what it is called, HDMI imput, Satallite imput, subwoofer, and my favorite piece an Ipod dock so I can use the remote to listen to music or watch movies from the Pod! Although, they are small speakers except subwoofer they rock! Let's put it this way I used to work in the Ultimate Home Theater at Disney to my hearing it rivals the Bose 3,2,1 we were showcasing in the Your Home section! Well, except for the bass shakers placed under the seats I don't need the shaking under oh wait nevermind  .

Must admit though it does not compare to the "Ultimate Home theater"First, it was designed by Theo Kalomirakis one of the biggest innovaters in home theaters. Eh, rather than me go through my old spiel here: Home theater products showcased in the exhibit include: acoustical diffusors (RPG Diffusor Systems, Inc.), acoustical insulation/room treatment (Owens Corning), amplifier/pre-amplifier (Audio Design Associates), audio video distribution (Channel Plus), audio video receivers (Kenwood USA), bass shakers (Aura Systems), cable and power conditioners (Monster Cable and Monster Power), consumer television, HDTV, DVD, Web TV, DSS service and receiver (Sony), digital player piano (Yamaha), flatpanel television (Philips), high-end loudspeakers (M & K Sound), home theater seating (Irwin Seating), lighting controls and control systems (Lutron), lighting fixtures and fiber optic lighting (Cooper Lighting), mainstream speaker system (Bose Corporation), motorized cabinet door mechanisms (Eubank), projection screen (Da-Lite), projectors (Runco International), speaker and equipment stands (Lovan Audio), touchscreen controls (PHAST by AMX), and Ultimate Home Theater room certification (THX).

And when we were good little cast members we were treated with a movie night there! Gone in 60 seconds when it was brand new HDTV was new right then. Then we did all of Star Wars, Harry Potter (yack). Ahhh, memorable times with many a good friend (sighs). Lutron shut it down I believe last year. Need to ask a couple of my friends who work their what they did with it. Probably, went to some exec that could afford it anyway but will still get it as some perk!

Mary

[The Buddha]

K one more for Phillips ... thank mary.
If goodguy dont come over soon with the denon and other bits as to where they are and what their model/part numbers are, I think I am gonna bite the billet and buy phillips.
Cool.
Buddha.

[Toogoofy317]

Would you like my model number so you can compare them? I think I got the manual still in the depths of manuals under the coffee table!

Mary

[jtolentino637]

The bigger the room the more you want in watts. If your just looking for something that is going to let you hear the surround sound then stick with the walmart brands BUT  If you want to hear and FEEL like your at the movies then you want to spend way more.

[The Buddha]

Yes please mary. Thanks.

Jtolentino - My room is 15 X 40 or so including the kitchen. I already ahve a projector ... so I am thinking 2-300 watt minimum.

BTW can I run these big speakers I have in the front channel instead of the dinky ones they give you ...
Is a 7.1 worth it.
Cool.
Buddha.