AudiogoN Forums: Decent Home Theater On the Cheap!

Decent Home Theater On the Cheap!

  Toshiba 51H83 51 Inch Projection HDTV
  Integra Research DTR-5.5 Receiver (85 wpc)
  Sony 12 Bit Progressive DVD Player
  B & W Loudspeakers DM-302 Monitor
  B & W Loudspeakers DM-302 Monitor
  B & W Loudspeakers CC-3 Monitor
  R E L Storm III Subwoofer
  Pioneer Laser Disc Player Video
  Van Den Hul D102 Mk3 Interconnects
  Analysis Plus Clear Oval Speaker Cables
  MAS (Music and Sound) Black Interconnects
  Blue Circle BC606 Music Bar Conditioner.
  Target Speaker Stands
  Blue Circle Audio BC 86 Mk3 AC Filter

Decent Home Theater On the Cheap!
I put this together in the family room of my new house (new to me) for video only. I am not big into HT. My audio system is elsewhere (play room)! The speakers were store demos; the receiver new/refurbished; the Target stands at AudioAdvisor clearance; and the rest used/mint. I actually got it all for about $1585. It sounds great for the price. The REL Sub is the key component. The B&W 302 have great mids and highs for the price and are efficient 91dB (the receiver is only 55 watts X 5). So the accurate bass from the REL make this system sound much better than the price would suggest. If you are looking for an good sounding HT system on a budget, I recommend this combination.

I also have an old Pioneer Laserdisc player and Panasonic HiFi VCR. I used some older Van Den Hul D102 Mk2 cables I've had for years for this equipment and the digital output. The video cables are home grown with studio quality RG6 75ohm cable modified with RCA plugs.

Sugarbrie (System | Reviews | Threads | Answers | This Thread)

09-13-01

Responses

09-16-01: Plato
Sugarbrie, I like your philosophy of keeping HT separate from your audio-only system. My friend Stan and I have both assembled multi-channel HT systems on the cheap. I used interconnects and speaker wires passed down from my upgraded audio system. We found it is possible to buy a decent HT receiver for under $200; front tower speakers for $200-$300/pair; center channel $100-$200; decent surrounds @ $40-$60/pr; and a workable sub for $150. I think I paid about $650 total for all my speakers plus another $200 for a Denon 1601 receiver (Stan found a 100W x 5ch Sony receiver and different speakers for the same total cash outlay. For HT, the bass is great, maybe not as good as my Paradigm Servo-15, but perfectly acceptable in both quantity and quality. All it took was a powered 12" AR sub in the small section of my L-shaped room ($150 on sale). I combined the above with a Hitachi 43" HDTV-ready RPTV, and it's an amazingly detailed, lifelike and entertaining system, which could be slightly bettered for big bucks, but really wants for nothing (except an audience). In my main audio systems I use B&W CDM 9NT and InnerSound Eros speakers and probably have about $30-$40k (total) invested there (analog and digital sources). Yet, when I play a CD on the HT set in 5-channel stereo, it comes off surprisingly well, though for ultimate sonic performance I favor the big-buck audio 2-channel system. Summing up: keep your audio and HT separate and skimp on the HT audio where ever possible. It will free your budget for software purchases. YMMV.
Plato (System | Threads | Answers | This Thread)

09-16-01: Sugarbrie
Yes, me too! My audio system probably retails for 5 times the HT system. The Onkyo receiver was new/refurbished. Got it from a Ubid.com auction for only $129 plus shipment.
Sugarbrie (System | Reviews | Threads | Answers | This Thread)

09-16-01: Plato
I bought my Denon 1601 likewise at Ubid.com, for $189. Sometimes you can get very good deals there if you know the value of what you are bidding on. I've seen some nice looking HT speakers going cheap there also, but bought mine at a local Best Buy store. When buying from Ubid you have to watch that shipping fee for the heavier items because it starts to add up quickly on large stereo speakers and heavy subwoofers. Enjoy!!!
Plato (System | Threads | Answers | This Thread)

08-05-02: Sugarbrie
System edited: Updated as of August 5, 2002.
Sugarbrie (System | Reviews | Threads | Answers | This Thread)

08-07-04: Dan951
Sugarbrie,
Not a bad system at all. How do you like the 302's? I was thinking about buying a set for my workout room?
Dan951 (Threads | Answers | This Thread)

01-20-07: Dewald_visser
I like your idea of using extention-lead cable as speaker wire...

Dewald
Dewald_visser (System | Threads | Answers | This Thread)

03-07-08: Sugarbrie
Most all regular DVD Players are 10 Bit Video. This Sony is 12 Bit Video and the difference is very noticeable. The original Integra Receiver was 55 watts; newer one is 85 watts.
Sugarbrie (System | Reviews | Threads | Answers | This Thread)