audio video guys question for ya....

[Vedubin01]

I am looking to do an install of a basic home theater in my mothers house. Ill be hanging the 42" lcd over the fire place and looking for an In the box theater system to go along. Mom does not want nothing crazy and speakers would have to be hung from the ceiling. Whats the best buy for an out of the box home theater package?

[StereoInstaller1]

The best bang for the buck I have heard is the Panasonic.

Make sure the subwoofer has its own power, most HTIBs use receiver power for the sub, thus no upgrades and shitty sound.

[Devil Inc]

I've heard JVC doesn't make a bad one, but most of those I've seen have connection issues from the box to the sub/amp.

[Jand3rson]

The best bang for the buck I have heard is the Panasonic.

Hold on just a second while I...

When it comes to home theater components, never is it more true that you get what you pay for. At LEAST go with a Yamaha or Sony package at the very least. If you want something really decent for not a ton of money, you can also step up to a home-theater-in-a-box kit from Harmon Kardon or Denon. Also, try to find a receiver that does component switching. Meaning when you select a different input source (DVD player, CD player, game console, etc) from your remote, the receiver will automatically switch the video and sound to that component without you having to do anything else.

[James Crivellone]

Onkyo HTIB packages are pretty good, although I ripped mine out a year later and went with all separate speakers/receiver..

I like loud :)

[Jand3rson]

Onkyo HTIB packages are pretty good, although I ripped mine out a year later and went with all separate speakers/receiver..

I like loud :)

Truth. In-a-box packages are just fine for your average consumer, who just wants to watch movies in 5.1 with their Vizio TV they got at Wal-Mart.

But if you want true "home theater" quality, you need to custom build a system that at the bare minimum includes a receiver, subwoofer, and front/rear right/left channel speakers and a good center channel.

[Vedubin01]

I agree with you guys 100%. Mine is built the way I designed it but I got to work in my mothers budget and build her something that is not that crappy. It will never live up to my expectations. I have been looking for hours searching for something. But they all fall short. Thanks for the advise....

[James Crivellone]

Truth. In-a-box packages are just fine for your average consumer, who just wants to watch movies in 5.1 with their Vizio TV they got at Wal-Mart.

But if you want true "home theater" quality, you need to custom build a system that at the bare minimum includes a receiver, subwoofer, and front/rear right/left channel speakers and a good center channel.

and when it comes to speaker shopping, do NOT skimp out on the Center Channel, its the speaker that does 80+% of the work!

[StereoInstaller1]

So what is the budget, exactly?

[z31maniac]

$600 or so, should buy an OK entry level receiver and speaker package with a powered sub.

Homemade HTIB.

[KenC]

Definitive Tech

[Vedubin01]

Luke, about $1500

[lylefk]

For that price, I'd look at a Klipsch Quintet set, a Klipsch 10" sub and a Yamaha receiver. Leaves enough cash for all the wiring, too...Best Buy has package specials most of the time that will get you a chunk off (looks like $250 currently)...if there isn't one currently, work a deal. They'll negotiate quite a bit (I used to manage one).

The speakers are fairly small, easy to mount...quality is solid on everything.

Or are you looking at $1500 for everything...tv, mount, etc?

[lylefk]

Oh, Kmart has a 42" samsung lcd in their black friday early bird ad for $699. That's a DEAL. It would be perfect for mom...720p (she'll never notice the difference), nice black piano finish. That'll help with your budget...

[Vedubin01]

Oh, Kmart has a 42" samsung lcd in their black friday early bird ad for $699. That's a DEAL. It would be perfect for mom...720p (she'll never notice the difference), nice black piano finish. That'll help with your budget...

Hey thanks for the leads, and she already has the 40" 1080P LCD.