Home Audio System Help?

[Zephik]

This* is what I'm basically looking for, except with two towers. But here's my problem; No way am I paying $550! lol Thats just about how much my future TV is gonna cost, and it's the cheapest 42" around without totally sucking.

My price range is preferably $150-$200, but I might be persuaded with difficulty to go no higher than $300.

I'm pretty much asking the impossible as far as I can tell.

*http://www.newegg.com/Product/Productcompare.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2170310494&page=1&bop=And&ActiveSearchResult=True

[Zephik]

BTW; I'm not looking for audiophile level sound. I don't need mind blowing, skull exploding sound. I just want noticeably better than stock sound from the TV.

Just something that will make you go, "yea, that's much better than stock".

[mDust]

Your link doesn't work, but it's not your fault. Try linking just individual products.

A good idea is to walk through Best Buy and try things out and examine them in person. Find something you like, and then drive home really fast and order it online. It will be cheaper that way, even with shipping.

[Zephik]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882290034

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882290094

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882290022

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882290013

[Zephik]

Maybe I'll just forget about the towers as it seems like as soon as you add those in the mix even the crappy systems cost $300+. Ridiculous.

Edit: or maybe... I'll just look at towers?

Which would be better? Towers only or everything but the towers?

[OvRiDe]

One question .. do you have the 5.1 amp to drive them as those speakers do not appear to be powered on their own?

[billygoat333]

I would recommend Yamaha. I bought a surround for about 350 (5.1 receiver and subsequent speakers) from them and it was awesome. the sound quality was amazing for the price. :)

[Zephik]

I'm not planning on buying those ones. They're just kinda the style/setup I wanted. But it looks like I'll either get towers only or everything but the towers as together it's much too expensive.

Note: I can probably also use PC speakers. It has HDMI and audio in/out.

If I can just find an awesome sounding system for around $150 or less. Mission impossible I swear. lol

[OvRiDe]

Well speakers like that won't sound as good as the money you are spending with out the proper amplification, and most television just don't have it built in.

If you want a surprisingly nice sounding TV surround setup, the Logitech Z-5500's is a great unit for the price. I know its a bit higher then you were wanting, but if you look around you could probably find it on sale if you aren't in a hurry.

Most HDTV's have an spdif/optical output that you can feed directly into the Z-5500's so that all the surround sound is processed properly by the onboard decoder on Z-5500. So that way setup is a breeze, and the output can get crazy loud if you twist the knob!

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16836121120&cm_re=logitech_speakers_5.1-_-36-121-120-_-Product

There are some cheaper 5.1 solutions when it comes to PC speakers, but most do not have the onboard decoder which means you will either have to make sure your TV has the proper outputs.

[Zephik]

Alright, I've looked around a bit more in the price range I'm most comfortable with and I've dug up a few possibly decent options?

http://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-NS-SP1800BL-5-1-Channel-Theater-Speaker/dp/B001AVRD62/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1269919088&sr=1-10

http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-X-540-Surround-Sound-Speakers/dp/B000HT3QIM/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1269919088&sr=1-12

http://www.amazon.com/Sharp-HTSB200-Sound-Audio-System/dp/B001R4CJRU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1269919088&sr=1-1

I was also thinking I could somehow utilize these...

http://www.amazon.com/Universal-Speaker-Stands-Surround-Sound/dp/B002U4PF7C/ref=sr_1_18?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1269919088&sr=1-18

I really like the idea of towers because the "man cave" is equipped with wall outlets that have both wire pinch things as well as component or composite or whatever the heck those ate called. So it'd be a bit if a shame to not utilize those.

[OvRiDe]

The Yamaha set will still need a 5.1 amplifier.

The logitech x-540 are amplified .. but they dont have the 5.1 surround processor built in.. so you would need to make sure that the TV has the proper outputs. This can get tricky since the center channel and the sub woofer share a single input that is separate by channel much like right and left is.

I have been thinking about the soundbar solution for myself as well. I have heard good things about them, but never been able to listen to one in a "room" scenario vs. a showroom that is not optimal for that type of setup.

Also the towers will require an amplifier as well, in case you don't already have one.

[Zephik]

Drats! So I can't just plug those Yamaha's into like the TV or something?

[Bopher]

Unfortunately not its just a speaker set. I have a Pioneer home theater in a box from Walmart. Had it about 5 years now and have loved the sound I get from it. If I was looking for another system I would be looking at this Yamaha system (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882115198) right here. It all depends on what you need to hook in and how much power you're looking for. This would actually be a nice upgrade from what I do have. Little more power and some connections to neaten up the continuous rats nest of wires behind my tv.

[Zephik]

Edit: Alright, I think I've actually decided what I'm going to do. The thought "something I can be proud of" came into mind, so I'm going to just save up for a good system and be satisfied with stock for the imediate future. There's a lot I could buy by being cheap, but I want to have nice stuff and that comes at a cost o guess.

So, I'm kinda thinking about this one because I do really like the way it looks and I really want towers so I can really take advantage of the rooms features. That and I think they just look cool. Lol

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d.html/ref=mp_s_a_1?qid=1269930500&a=B001W0Y440&sr=8-1

What do you guys think?

[crenn]

You want the best sound system? Custom all the way!

[Luke122]

How did I miss this thread until now?

I built my Ziggies for about $150, including $90 for the plans and drivers. You can likely do cheaper than that now! Keep in mind that is for a pair of full range, single driver tower speakers that are consistently hailed for their great sound. I drive mine with a 15w Super T-amp. :D

I also vote for the Z5500's though.. not just computer speakers, they accept optical and analog inputs, and are PLENTY of power for even a large-ish room. Yes, a bit more pricey, but ask anyone who owns a set, and they'll happily recommend them.

Used might be your best bet though, most "one box" type systems are pretty disappointing..

[Zephik]

What are Ziggies? Link? Pics of yours perhaps? :p

So between the Logitech Z-5500 and the Sony Bravia system, which would be the better deal?

http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-THX-Certified-505-Watt-Digital-Surround/dp/B0002WPSBC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1269980180&sr=8-1

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d.html/ref=mp_s_a_1?qid=1269930500&a=B001W0Y440&sr=8-1

[LiTHiUM0XiD3]

ive had the bravia system.. go with the logitech... bravia got an arse load of options... but its also a royal pain to setup..(menus and such.. not the speaker placement) also.. if your gettin it.. get the wired rear speakers... the wireless ones suck balls..

anything with optical is what ya need... what i would really truelly suggest tho...
is scrap these pre boxed things.... and get a GOOD amp... and build up from there... get a nice amp.. and 2 speakers... then buy a sub... then your rears and such...(allowing you to build your system to your own personal comfort) this also allows u to budget it out... spend what ya wish now... and upgrade it as ya go

it really has to be balanced... crappy amp with harmon kardons is still gunna sound like crap...

[Luke122]

What are Ziggies? Link? Pics of yours perhaps? :p[/url]

Zigmahornets! :D
http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/zigmahornet/zigmahornet.html

I built these exact speakers, though mine are a plain maple finish with a clearcoat, and slightly larger bases for stability.

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p176/lukifer122/PICT0594-1.jpg

Shown here with my super T-amp! I also have a PS1 for a cd source, the same as in the article linked above.. 100% coincidence! I swear! I owned the amp long before I built the speakers, and when I read about the PS1 for it's awesome cd playback, I grabbed two from a pawnshop. :D

[LiTHiUM0XiD3]

those ziggies aint bad... definitely well built... and its nice to see a box being used for acoustics instead of just somewhere the speakers r held

[Twigsoffury]

Hah if you have pawn shops in your area.

You can pick up hilariously good speaker sets for cheap. I got a set of Cerwin vega 12" towers for 270$ retail on them was something like 800 a piece haha.


Nothing is stopping you from using a logitech Z series 5.1 system on a home television btw... just need 1/8th" to RCA adapters and it'll do it fine. those are like 89.99 for that X-530 set and they have those really nice logitech systems as well. might even be a kick a@# option if you have something like wii or a xbox360 connected to the system, Can plug the majority of the nicer logitech systems right into a Xbox or PS3's audio outputs