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Speakers/hometheather suggestion

656 views 41 replies 10 participants last post by  LazarusIV 
#1 ·
Hi, first of all I'm not sure if this is the right place for this thread.

Here's my background,

My current TV: Samsung 40'' UN40F6100AKXZL http://www.samsung.com/co/consumer/tv-av/tv/full-hd/UN40F6100AKXZL (sorry I coulnt find the specs in english)

I watch all my movies via USB, I feel like I get better picture quality and a lot smoother video via USB than HDMI, is this because the laptop I use as HDMI source is crappy or is it normal to get better picture from the USB?

Now to the real part of this thread, I want better audio, I've never had any tv audio/home theather before so I'm a bit lost, what would be my best option and how would I connect everything if I keep using USB files as a source??

I hope I explained myself.

Thanks in advance
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#4 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by Waroo View Post

I just found out audio stuff is pretty expensive
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, I would like to keep budget under $200 if posible, not sure if I can get anything decent with that budget.
Personally if you are trying to get the most out of that budget.

I would go on craigslist and pickup a older receiver. HDMI if you can, but most likely you will only find older Optical Receivers. Which would work out great if your TV Supports HDMI to Optical passthrough of dd/dts. Most modern TV's do.

Then pick up a couple of front speakers and a center for a 3.1 setup to get you started.

Something like this could be had under $200 used, and sound damn good at that. Just depends what people have for sale around you.

I would try to avoid getting a HTIB setup if you can.

Also is size a problem?
 
#6 ·
you could look into Samsung Soundbar via ebay or your local sources
pretty sure you could get something better than what I bought but I had a lower budget than yours

Before soundbars I was looking at Creative T20 speakers but they cost like $80+
then I found samsung soundbar for less price and more perks

my aunt had problems w her samsung tv cause she over burdens it w 18hr usage n loud
so I got her n me a soundbar

now i can hookup more than one computer to the soundbar and be able to control via remote

of course the upper models have diff features and stuff so u have to check if any of them fit your needs n budget
 
#7 ·
Since you never had any tv audio/home theather before, I guess ytour first setup (for testing
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) does not have to be so biiiiig...

Just see what you can find on Logitech.com

They have great "casual" stuff. I use there older Z-5500 system for my TV and games, works great.

(It's replaced by thze Z-906 these days)

It's not "pro" material, but it will blow your mind away
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And for that cost???
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And if you find yourself unhappy with it in a few years, buy something you really want (at a higher cost ofcourse
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)

Does your laptop has optical or coax audio out? That is way better than the mini-jacks in this case.

Not sure why your HDMI is not as good as usb??? Change HDMI port/cable???
 
#8 ·
$200 dollars is a very small budget for audio equipment, but if you buy used you might be able to get something ok. What country do you live in, here in Germany we have Bookoo where you can find stuff on the cheap sometimes. You could also look at Polk Audio on Newegg they are sometimes very much on sale, like these:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882290206&cm_re=polk_audio-_-82-290-206-_-Product

These would not be bad either and later on when you have more money add a sub:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882290202R&cm_re=polk_audio-_-82-290-202R-_-Product

To drive them that is the hard part, as someone who has spent 10's of thousands on audio equipment in past because I did not do my research I will tell you its always better to save and get something decent, not top of the line but decent. I am 100% always against Receivers until they get into the $3K - $4k range as they lie about how much power they put out and in my experience color the sound to much in one way or another, but in this case with that budget you don't have much choice so I would get something like this to drive them:

http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/denavrs500bt/denon-avr-s500bt-5.2-ch-x-70-watts-bluetooth-a/v-receiver/1.html

that puts you $100 over budget for the cheaper of the 2, but unless you go used I dont think you can get much cheaper and still sound ok, and would but would be a great starter system.
 
#9 ·
#10 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by sjwpwpro View Post

Against my better judgement I will post this one to, the speakers are horrendous but its in your budget and will sound better than the t.v.:

http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/yambundle7/yamaha-htr-3067-av-receiver-ns-ap1405-speaker-package/1.html
great price

I had the 2005 model and yes it sounded good at that time because the speakers where made of wood
the big issue is lots of wires

it be great if they had wireless yamaha speakers
 
#11 ·
Where you want to start, is with a good 2.0 system and build from there.

Ill give two good options.

1) These come with a decent DAC built in, so you can skip your internal sound.

review... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m01PFMrs6AQ

Audioengine A2+ (a little over budget new but WORTH the extra scratch)
http://www.amazon.com/Audioengine-A2-Powered-Speaker-System/dp/B00FE9XGVM?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=ox_sc_sfl_title_36&smid=AKR88PAWTQVN2
used?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Audioengine-A2-Premium-Powered-Desktop-Speakers-Pair-Black-/172188133576?hash=item28173668c8:g:AxsAAOSw3mpXJTPw

OR...

The Andrew Jones Pioneer speaker's are pound for pound dollar for dollar the best sounding deal out there!!! Start with the bookshelves + amp and build from there.

here's a review https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTlPG0D8b44

http://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-SP-BS22-LR-Designed-Bookshelf-Loudspeakers/dp/B008NCD2LG

amp...

http://www.amazon.com/Sound-Appeal-SA-100T-Digital-Amplifier/dp/B00E8ONRBS/ref=sr_1_5?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1462091378&sr=1-5&keywords=dayton+amp

good luck
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#12 ·
Thanks for all the feedback and suggestions, +rep

I have a lot to learn in terms of audio. Im from Colombia and im going to ask my friends if they know any audio website, I dont think I can find better deals here in Colombia than the U.S tho.

I could spend more but Im only going to use them 10 Hours/week tops.
Is the sound quality much worse on HTIB? even if it will only used for movies? still worth it to go with bookshelfs + receiver?

Thanks
 
#13 ·
Speaking from experience the bookshelf/floor standing ones from Polk are worth the extra money and you can always sell them in a few years and get most of your money back because of the sale price. I have owned HTIB speakers before, even when I was younger and knew nothing about sound I could tell a major difference when I purchased real speakers. Just a word though if you do get the Polk's it takes about 100 hours at low volume to break them in. I have a pair of TSI bookshelf speakers for the office and they did not sound good at all for about 25-30 hours and after about 100 they really settled in and for the money I think they sound great. I am running those with an old yamaha RX-v665. They can't compete with the Boston VR2's, Denon DAC, and REGA brio R that I have for my main system but its not bad. I have been studying this for a long time now and help with links and answer any questions that you might have about digital music, formats, how they rate the wattage of amps and receivers, where to buy high bit rate music, and where to place your speakers once you get them.

And +1 to those Pioneer's mentioned, there are also really good for the price. Audiogene is also a great place to start, you can get those powered and therefore do not need amplification, this though does not help when you want to upgrade. Also if I may, how big is the room are trying to play these in and is there carpet, paintings/pictures, lots of furniture..... are you using them mostly for movies/tv or music? This will help in suggesting also.
 
#14 ·
I think I found a website with good deals here in Colombia

http://www.falabella.com/falabella-cl/category/cat3203/Hi-Fi?No=180&Nrpp=20&sorter=1&userSelectedFormat=5*4

The website is in spanish and the currency is pesos but it should be easy if you know models and brands.

To convert to US dollars just divide by 3000.

for example http://www.falabella.com/falabella-cl/product/4914716/Parlantes-Hi-Fi-T15-BL-*****?navAction=push 99.000/3000=$30

The prices seem really off, like too good to be true but it might be due to our currency losing strenght against US dollar in the last year or so, I think they bought all these items when our currency was strong and now they seem really cheap.
Are these good deals or just the low end of those brands?
 
#15 ·
Those come up in Dollars for me and for $100 bucks you can do better. Those you linked are the lowest end Polk make and would not be as good. Is that the site that you would order from? If so I will look it over and link some to you.
 
#16 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by sjwpwpro View Post

Those come up in Dollars for me and for $100 bucks you can do better. Those you linked are the lowest end Polk make and would not be as good. Is that the site that you would order from? If so I will look it over and link some to you.
The Polk I liked go for $30 not 100 and yes I could order from that site.
 
#17 ·
#18 ·
Ah, different prices because of my ip. the Jamo speakers on that same page are better in that case than the Polks.
 
#19 ·
#20 ·
The usb thing for file playback might be an issue for good sound quality. When I think "home theater" I want to take advantage of all the audio that is recorded on the film. Be that dts-hd for blu-rays or even Dolby digital or dts for the older dvd quality stuff. I guess it all depends on the source material that you are watching. A lot of the stuff that one might get on the internet only has a stereo track and nothing else. You wouldn't be getting the most out of a home theater set up with that. I agree with the above, about buying a good 2.0 setup.
 
#21 ·
#24 ·
#25 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mikecdm View Post

The usb thing for file playback might be an issue for good sound quality. When I think "home theater" I want to take advantage of all the audio that is recorded on the film. Be that dts-hd for blu-rays or even Dolby digital or dts for the older dvd quality stuff. I guess it all depends on the source material that you are watching. A lot of the stuff that one might get on the internet only has a stereo track and nothing else. You wouldn't be getting the most out of a home theater set up with that. I agree with the above, about buying a good 2.0 setup.
How do I check the audio properties of a BR rip file?

Thats mostly what I watch Bluray rips, probably not the best quality audio wise
 
#26 ·
The biggest upside (advantage) to the Pioneer's I recommended is that you can keep adding the speakers that are MEANT to go as part of a system. Using the same model speakers for a whole setup DEFINITELY makes a difference.

I had a neighbor come to me for advice, he wanted to "one-up" his brother who just bought a Bose 525 5.1 system.($2,200) We picked up the whole Pioneer package for just under $1000, and there was a pretty big gap in the audio experience between the two.

As far as a start, the 2.0 can sound pretty realistic as far as simulated surround goes using DTS... which you're right, the USB out would not be the way to go. Use the analog out to an amp.

After that, Id add (in order) the subwoofer, the reciever, the center channel, and then the floor standing fronts.

that would be my "On a budget" plan.
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P.S.
Audioholics is a great community to get info from!

https://www.audioholics.com/
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