Home surround sound system

[Fuganater]

Hey all!

I'm moving and need to get a decent/cheapish 5.1 surround sound system for my new TV (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16889101173).

So I've been looking around and I have no idea what the good brands are.

These Yamaha's look good
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882115198
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882115199

And I don't know how Samsung, LG, Onkyo, Phillips and Pioneer sound. I know BOSE are good but I cant spend that much right now.

Looking for a set no more than $400.

Any help is greatly appreciated!!

Thanks,
Fuga

[OvRiDe]

What about something like the Logitech Z-5500 505 Watts 5.1 setup.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16836121120

Well within your budget as well.

[Fuganater]

What about something like the Logitech Z-5500 505 Watts 5.1 setup.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16836121120

Well within your budget as well.

Those look great but are for a Computer. I'm looking for home surround sound for my TV.

[OvRiDe]

Never fear.. you can do that as well..


...And the separate wireless remote is great for home theaters and video game consoles...

...Connect to multiple sources: Simultaneously connect 6 audio sources including PCs, video game consoles, and DVD, CD & portable music players… and control it all from the Digital SoundTouch Control Center.
http://c1.neweggimages.com/NeweggImage/productimage/36-121-120-17.jpg

It has analog and digital inputs.

http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/speakers_audio/home_pc_speakers/devices/224&cl=US,EN


When there’s nowhere to go but up, choose the Z-5500. Experience music, TV, movies and games through this THX-certified, 505-watt 5.1 digital surround sound speaker system with digital equalization.

To elaborate a bit more.. the TV has 5 HDMI inputs, and a Digital Audio (optical) output. So if you connect the Digtal audio out on the TV to the Digital Audio (optical) input on the Z-5500's then no matter which HDMI input you are using on the TV the audio will still be output to the Z-5500. The only benefit I really saw with the first Yamaha is that it will do HDMI switching which is kind of mute since the TV will do it for you already. All you need to connect the Logitech is a Digital Audio Optical Cable.

http://c1.neweggimages.com/productimage/82-339-092-04.jpg

You can get a 3 footer for 9.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882339060
or a 12 footer for 14.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882339092

Hope this helps.

[Luke122]

+1 for the Logitech setup. If you havent heard one in person, prepare to be floored.

[Fuganater]

Hmm I do see how I could use that. But do you think I should look into longer cables for it? I cant find anywhere how long the speaker cables are.

Thanks for the find.

[OvRiDe]

From this review...

http://www.justechn.com/2005/08/25/logitech-z-5500-digital-speakers


The system comes with 15′ of wire for the front two satellites and the center channel speakers. The two rear satellite speakers each have 25′ of wire.

I like how the Z-5500 doesn't have a proprietary plug on the back of the speakers and allows you to use whatever speaker wire you like.

I have been thinking about adding one of these systems to my 42" TV as well, so that was the reason I referred you to it. Almost all the reviews I have read have raved about how well it sounds.

[haha49]

Logetech z 5500 uses speaker wire so length of wire doesnt matter just cut new wire for the length for the price you want to spend i would recomend them for hometheater stuff depends on how high you want to go.. friends of mine have spent 20k on stero stuff and wow it blows everything you can buy in normal stores away but dam its expensive..



Get a sound system that can do surrond out of 2 speakers it sound alot better in a small room but those systems suck I recomedn building it from speakers reciver by your self only problem is it will cost more... but it would sound night and day diffrence... but the logitech z5500 HAs didatal ports a remote ect so its not a bad choice I went from them to my current system way more money sounds way better Ill never go back...

Useing

sony reciver (sucks was a 900 reciver but got it for 100 go staff and clearance iteams)
spent another 400 for speakers would of cost me 3000 if I wasnt staff
Then I added a better sub for another 100 would of cost me 400 for that but I staffed it as well
Then wireing would of been another 100 bucks but that was 15 on staff agian.. it adds up try and find someone who works in the store who is your buddy because they might be able to staff it for you..



OK it really comes down to what you want to use the sound system for for movies go 5.1 or 7.1 (im doing 7.1)

With 7.1 I find that if your not in the center of the room it still sounds really good with 5.1 were you sit is important because speaker placment will change the way the audio sounds.. cheap sounds systems really sound like crap I find once you go high end you never go back you hear a diffrence right away... you get what you pay for just search around alot of place have stero stuff overpriced you can look into the second hand market and get a good system for cheap.. but I would avoid the cheap 5.1 systems they sound bad at high to mid volumes and its the speakers that make the system the reciver is were you can cheap out on a little.. buying a high end reciver and cheap speakers sounds bad buying a high end speakers and a resoinable reciver sounds alot better.. if your doing bluray then you want dts master audio because it sounds alot better.. I run a blu ray through my pc and my stero is hooked up to my comp for movies media games everything.. for most games 2 speakers sounds almost the same as all 7.1 because its not true surrond sound only similated.. music is 2 speakers... the only thing you really notice in surrond sound is movies and with blu ray you notice it alot more...

[billygoat333]

the z5500's are awesome, I actually have the yamaha system posted in the first link, the YHT-391BL. I love it. sound quality is awesome. highs are crisp and the sub puts out good bass for such a small sub. I vote for it :) got it and my 360 a year ago, surround has run like a champion. (360, not so bueno, thank god for microsoft's excellent warranty)

My only qualm about the surround setup is the HDMI switching is pass-through only, so the audio goes straight to the TV, making you run another cable back from the TV to the surround.

[Fuganater]

the z5500's are awesome, I actually have the yamaha system posted in the first link, the YHT-391BL. I love it. sound quality is awesome. highs are crisp and the sub puts out good bass for such a small sub. I vote for it :) got it and my 360 a year ago, surround has run like a champion. (360, not so bueno, thank god for microsoft's excellent warranty)

My only qualm about the surround setup is the HDMI switching is pass-through only, so the audio goes straight to the TV, making you run another cable back from the TV to the surround.

I like the system. But I think the Logitech has more inputs that I can use.


From this review...

http://www.justechn.com/2005/08/25/logitech-z-5500-digital-speakers

I like how the Z-5500 doesn't have a proprietary plug on the back of the speakers and allows you to use whatever speaker wire you like.

I have been thinking about adding one of these systems to my 42" TV as well, so that was the reason I referred you to it. Almost all the reviews I have read have raved about how well it sounds.

Thanks, I think this is the one I'm going to get. I'll just get some good speaker wire to take with me. And screws to wall mount the speakers.

[Fuganater]

Talked to my brother and he says to get one with a receiver. Will get more use out of it in the long run. If anyone knows a good site to look at 5.1's for a good price. Please post it.