Recommend Me a Home Theatre Audio setup

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NonprayingMantis

6434 posts

Uber Geek

#88646 20-Aug-2011 00:10

wife is finally letting me get a new TV, not 100% certain which model I will go for yet but likely to be the Samsung UA46D6600. LED, 46", 3D, etc etc

http://www.samsung.com/nz/consumer/tv-audio-video/television/led-tv/UA46D6600WMXRD/index.idx?pagetype=prd_detail

anyway, I also have a PS3 and want to complete the setup with a bit of 5.1 surround sound. Can anyone recommend me an entry level setup. Max is around $800 but realistically I don't want to spend more than $500

I figure I don't need a DVD/Blu Ray/3D player since the PS3 does that already and from what I have read it does it well (right?), so just need the audio part.

I used to know about these kind of things 10 years ago, but haven't looked into it since then and things have massively moved on so in need of some advice.

cheers

Tom_Rush

208 posts

Master Geek

#509261 20-Aug-2011 01:02

$500 dollars doesn't go far when its comes to A/V receiver and speakers.

The TV has a digital audio out so, at the risk of sounding really cheap you could get some Logitech Z906 Speakers.

They may look a bit odd in a living room while one is sipping gin and eating cucumber sandwiches.

[creeps away and pretends he never just wrote that....]

NonprayingMantis

6434 posts

Uber Geek

#509284 20-Aug-2011 08:41

Tom_Rush: $500 dollars doesn't go far when its comes to A/V receiver and speakers.

The TV has a digital audio out so, at the risk of sounding really cheap you could get some Logitech Z906 Speakers.

They may look a bit odd in a living room while one is sipping gin and eating cucumber sandwiches.

[creeps away and pretends he never just wrote that....]

well I do like gin, but I only eat cucumber sandwiches when they have marmite in them (seriously, that i a delicious combination)

I was thinking something like this. looks good on paper at least ,although it is at the very top of my budget
http://www.jbhifi.co.nz/home-theatre/onkyo/home-theatre-system-sku-24243/

Dunnersfella

4086 posts

Uber Geek

#509422 20-Aug-2011 19:13

There's a sub $900 Yamaha amp / speaker pack at Hardly Normals for under $900 that should serve you well.
They're all satellite speakers (I've seen them in their catalogue, but not listened to them) - but they should work as it's all HMDI 1.4a etc etc.
Worth a look / listen?

sultanoswing

814 posts

Ultimate Geek

#509497 21-Aug-2011 00:21

How big is your room? the Logitechs are cheap, and will do a fair job in a small space, but won't provide room-filling cinema sound in a large room.

IMHO it seems a shame to have a nice TV, good source player - then render it near mute by skimping on the audio. Sure, no one needs to spend thousands on esoteric psycho-acoustic voodoo gear, but if your budget is $500, there are basically three options:

1) Buy a new cheap home-theater-in-a-box setup. Likely to disappoint and no upgradeability.

2) Go the second-hand route... lots of people sell last year's model cheap just to upgrade. Grab a bargain (or possibly a lemon).

3) Save up a little longer to extend the budget to $1000-$1500. Many more options become available.

Phexx

415 posts

Ultimate Geek

#509637 21-Aug-2011 16:44

sultanoswing: How big is your room? the Logitechs are cheap, and will do a fair job in a small space, but won't provide room-filling cinema sound in a large room.

IMHO it seems a shame to have a nice TV, good source player - then render it near mute by skimping on the audio. Sure, no one needs to spend thousands on esoteric psycho-acoustic voodoo gear, but if your budget is $500, there are basically three options:

1) Buy a new cheap home-theater-in-a-box setup. Likely to disappoint and no upgradeability.

2) Go the second-hand route... lots of people sell last year's model cheap just to upgrade. Grab a bargain (or possibly a lemon).

3) Save up a little longer to extend the budget to $1000-$1500. Many more options become available.

I agree,
I would reccomend either buying second hand or waiting a little longer and increase your budget.

As sultanoswing says, it is a shame to have a nice TV with Blue ray, spoilt by cheap audio setup. Believe me, you will regret having crappy audio.