Thread: new to home theater...

are there any good sub $200 systems? I'm not making a theater, I just want some decent sound to go with my 360 and ViP 211. Does 5.1 exist at these prices?

Newegg.com - Panasonic SC-PT660 1080p Up-Conversion DVD 5.1 CH Home Theater System

probably gonna get that...remember, I don't want anything SUPER

They have systems like that at Wal-Mart and Radio Shack here... you might look... The way I keep doing mine is 1 piece at a time and when something dies, replace with something a little better...

One thing to watch out for in the cheap systems is the switching. You can easily get systems that will work with either the XBOX or 211. Both is tougher.

I got my first 5.1 system at wally world for about $250. The Panasonic you linked is far superior. Whatever unit you get, make sure the I/Os match your other equipment. I see that Pan. has the optical digital input which you will need to feed the DD5.1SS signal from the 211 into the audio system. The 211 will also do that over HDMI but apparently the Pan. does not have HDMI inputs, or any video inputs for that matter, so you will end up connecting the 211 directly to your TV for the video, hopefully by HDMI. (The XBox will also have to go to the TV.) The only possible consequence of that arrangement is that there might be an A/V sync issue and I don't see anywhere this system gives you any way to resolve that. (But there could be a sync control feature in the Pan. not mentioned in the specs.)

The real downside to this approach (as I have learned!) is it's almost impossible to expand, as jayn_j alluded. Perhaps if your TV has multiple video inputs (preferrably HDMI) and an optical output, you can use the TV to do the switching if you pick up other sources like a BD player. And then the XBox could also feed a SS audio signal to your system via the TV.

Good luck with your system! Warning - It gets very addictive and thus expensive! I went from about $3,500 invested in just a TV and HTiB about 2 years ago to over $15K now, and that's only considered a "mid range" system. I think I'll park here for awhile, tho'...!

Originally Posted by bhelms

Good luck with your system! Warning - It gets very addictive and thus expensive! I went from about $3,500 invested in just a TV and HTiB about 2 years ago to over $15K invested now, and that's only considered a "mid range" system. I think I'll park here for awhile...!

Heh... I spent $750 on a Nakamichi Cassette deck over 20 years ago...

Originally Posted by dfergie

Heh... I spent $750 on a Nakamichi Cassette deck over 20 years ago...

I 'hear' you! My mid 70s-vintage stereo system at about $3K total took every penny I had to spare at the time. But that's all fodder for another thread...!

I don't have the money to keep expanding though. That is why I want something to settle on with the 211 and the XBOX. I also looked at this, but I don't know what speakers to get:

Newegg.com - YAMAHA HTR-6130BL 5.1 Channel Digital Home Theater Receiver

also, my TV has 1 HDMI input and 1 component input. HDMI is currently the 211 and the component is XBOX.

Well, that's a nice little receiver. So you're already expanding your original $300 budget by a good bit. The bug has bitten! Going beyond the HTiB concept is a no-brainer once you start looking into it. The receiver you linked will serve well as the switcher (2 HDMI inputs is a bare minimum, tho') and a good audio center. It does not appear to power the sub however, so you will need a powered sub if that is the case. 5.1 worth of speakers to match could cost you anywhere from a couple hundered $$ to thousands, but a good match for this receiver might be in the $500 range total.

As you alluded, you don't want to keep making this decision over and over. You need to find your "comfort level" then buy accordingly. I recommend you get into a local Best Buy or Circuit City just to see what's available, what sounds good to you, get some "hands-on" experience, etc. Pick a couple of systems that might work for you then start shopping around for price. You could save a bunch on the receiver if you're OK with a refurb unit. Others here have been focusing on the Onkyo 605 for under $300 as a refurb. That would be a superior unit to the Yamaha.

The quest begins! Good luck with your search. Don't forget that the SatGuys forums are your best sounding board...!