Surround sound....no idea where to start

596 Views 11 Replies 7 Participants Last post by nleksan, Aug 29, 2013

cavallino

Discussion Starter · Aug 3, 2013

So my parents have an old bose 5.1 system thats been slowly falling apart over the years with various functions failing. Needless to say they want something new and they asked me as the tech guy. I basically know nothing about surround sound systems. They currently have a blu-ray player, an htpc, and an att cable box connected to the plasma tv and the tv connected by analog coax to the bose system. From seeing the set ups other people have it seems like I should be looking for some kind of receiver that can accept all the hdmi inputs and feed them to the tv while also providing audio? I basically have no idea where to start, what is good or what to look for, what brands are good etc. It just needs to be something that sounds good and doesn't require a lot of confusions since this isn't for me. The bose 5.1 system has small wall mounted satellite speakers and they like that which seem pretty standard but thats really the only thing thats a limiting factor.

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dihartnell

· #2 · Aug 3, 2013

maybe something like this onkyo system.

http://www.rapalloav.co.nz/home-theatre-in-a-box/speaker-packages/onkyo-ht-s4505-5-1-home-theater-receiver-speaker-package.html

Ignore pricing thats NZD. Also this comes with 2.1 but there is an optional speaker package to bring it up to 5.1

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The_Nephilim

· #3 · Aug 5, 2013

Yes I would agree a HTIB ( Home Theater in a box) system would be best for your parents..

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cavallino

Discussion Starter · #4 · Aug 5, 2013

I've done a little more research and that's sounds like the right direction. Seems like Onkyo is a popular option.

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Watagump

· #5 · Aug 5, 2013

Just don't buy Bose ever again. They are so insanely over priced for the quality its not even funny. Mine sounds better than any Bose system and its put together with mixed gear. NAD T754 receiver, Paradigm Titan fronts and center, Martin Logan Sub, and energy RVSS surrounds. This whole thing was in the 2k range, way less than many Bose systems.

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cavallino

Discussion Starter · #6 · Aug 5, 2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by Watagump

Just don't buy Bose ever again. They are so insanely over priced for the quality its not even funny. Mine sounds better than any Bose system and its put together with mixed gear. NAD T754 receiver, Paradigm Titan fronts and center, Martin Logan Sub, and energy RVSS surrounds. This whole thing was in the 2k range, way less than many Bose systems.

Yeah I agree I wasn't around to tell them not to buy the bose system haha.

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Watagump

· #7 · Aug 5, 2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by cavallino

Yeah I agree I wasn't around to tell them not to buy the bose system haha.

I tell you the power of marketing is very strong. I have a client and when they moved to their new house I was willing to help them set up a surround system. Of course hubby did it his way and bought a 4k Bose setup. The stuff I was going to recommend was half that price and better. A NAD receiver and a PSB speaker setup.

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nz3777

· #8 · Aug 5, 2013

I personally owned a BOSE system ( forgot the model number ) its been a while but the one with the tiny little speakers...... Let me just say this much I paid close to 2k ( grand) for that thing not knowing at the time what to expect but in all honesty it sounded just like a regular boom-box type of deal to me! You are much better off to put a system together piece by piece, Currently I have a SONY reciever with KLH speakers and i can tell you for sure it sounds 1000 times better then that POS bose i paid 2 thousand dollars for! ............I like JBL for speakers, Cerwin vega, Infinity, Pioneer, For receivers just get something with 5.1 or 7.1 and your good to go~! Dont buy those pre-made department store surround systems~!

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diggiddi

· #9 · Aug 15, 2013

But what is the budget?

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cavallino

Discussion Starter · #10 · Aug 15, 2013

Oh sorry. Update they kind of shelved the plan for now and are just making due with the TV speakers.

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dihartnell

· #11 · Aug 22, 2013

I bought the Onkyo HTX-22HDX. Got a great deal on it and was less than half price. Sounds brilliant compared to my old Logitech 5.1 system on my computer.

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nleksan

· #12 · Aug 29, 2013

For relatively very little money, you can put together an extremely nice system....
Pioneer SC-1222K or Elite SC-65 = $499
1x Pioneer FSC41 Center Speaker = $70
2-4x Pioneer Andrew Jones FSP51/FSP52 Towers = $150-300
2-4x Pioneer Andrew Jones FSB41 Bookshelves = $90-180
1-2x Pioneer 12" Powered Subs = $150-350
100ft Monoprice 12AWG speaker wire = $25
40x Monoprice banana plugs = $35

I have set up a number of systems just like this, and as a sound engineer I can say that you are going tohhave to spend well oover 10 grand to get anywhere close to as good a sound out of Polk or consumer Klipsch. If you want to go upmarket a bit, DefTech are phenomenal, but the Andrew Jones Pioneer line is truly the best bang for the buck in the speaker world, bar none.

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