low budget stereo recommendation

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › low budget stereo recommendation

cloudlover

58 posts

Master Geek
Inactive user

#82397 28-Apr-2011 14:51

Hello guys,

Just moved in auckland, and want to spend $500 to buy a set of stereo for movies and music. The source will be a blu-player and my lap-top built-in soundcard. At present, my target is Bose companion 3. Any better recommendation? Thanks a lot.

By the way, anybody know where I can find the lowest price for Bose C3? I asked a dealer a while ago and the best he can give was $460.

Cheers

xarqi

727 posts

Ultimate Geek

#463397 28-Apr-2011 15:48

cloudlover:By the way, anybody know where I can find the lowest price for Bose C3? I asked a dealer a while ago and the best he can give was $460.

That seems a good price.
You could set up a price alert here though:
http://pricespy.co.nz/product.php?p=234281

MyHeritage

Shop MyHeritage and uncover your origins and find new relatives with a simple DNA test. (affiliate link).

cloudlover

58 posts

Master Geek
Inactive user

#463432 28-Apr-2011 16:55

Thanks for the tip, mate. This price is still way higher than that in usa, lol.

clevedon

1059 posts

Uber Geek

#463579 29-Apr-2011 07:40

cloudlover: Thanks for the tip, mate. This price is still way higher than that in usa, lol.

Probably because they have 400 million potential customers against our 4 million - economies of scale, plus having to ship them half way around the world to us etc etc.

For your price range I would personally look at Logitech, I have only heard bad things about Bose.

sen8or

1607 posts

Uber Geek

#463642 29-Apr-2011 10:24

Buy
Other
Stereo
Equipment

As good if not better sound to be had from other cheaper alternatives. As per Clevedon, Logitech have some good sub/sat packages.

How big is the space that you are trying to fill and what is it you are after 2.1 channels only or 5.1?

Your $500 will go better into 2.1 channels and you will most likely get better sound quality, but you will miss out on the surround sound experience, only you can decide which is more important

Nety

2584 posts

Uber Geek

Retired Mod

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#463655 29-Apr-2011 10:52

Maybe consider the Edifier S530 2.1 as well. I have not heard it but it seems to get good reviews.

Media centre PC - Case Silverstone LC16M with 2 X 80mm AcoustiFan DustPROOF, MOBO Gigabyte MA785GT-UD3H, CPU AMD X2 240 under volted, RAM 4 Gig DDR3 1033, HDD 120Gig System/512Gig data, Tuners 2 X Hauppauge HVR-3000, 1 X HVR-2200, Video Palit GT 220, Sound Realtek 886A HD (onboard), Optical LiteOn DH-401S Blue-ray using TotalMedia Theatre Power Corsair VX Series, 450W ATX PSU OS Windows 7 x64

timmmay

19631 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#463659 29-Apr-2011 11:01

My Edifier 5.1 system's pretty good. It cost $500 or so, with a big sub, center, and four speakers.

My Onkyo recevier with Wharfdale speakers blows it away, but at three times the price and with the main speakers about ten times bigger that's to be expected.

cloudlover

58 posts

Master Geek
Inactive user

#463787 29-Apr-2011 17:20

Hi bros,

I have heard bose compaion 3 this afternoon and very disappointed with it. The sound is so so compared to the price. And like what you guys said, I'm looking at some logitech THX certified stuff, Z623 for instance, which is so cheap. My space isn't big and I'm looking for 2.1 which will give me some good bass and balanced smooth sound without considering the installtion of rear spears. Any input?

Regards

alasta

6233 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Subscriber

#463801 29-Apr-2011 18:32

clevedon: I have only heard bad things about Bose.

The product is fine - it's the price that's the problem.