Home Theater in a Box Reccommendations?

[Chris Brightwell]

I've decided to take the plunge into 5.1, and, for simplicity's sake
(as well as for my wallet's), would rather get a Home Theater in a Box (HTB)
than piece together a top-of-the-line system with all the latest bells and
whistles.

I don't particularly need a DVD player, as I already have one that
is capable of Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS outputs. I do, however, need the
receiver to support Pro Logic II (for my GameCube) as well as DTS and DD5.1.
Optical and coax inputs are a must, and switching for each medium is an
option.

I'd like to keep it under $1000, and fully realize that I get what I
pay for.

Thanks for all of your input.


--
Chris Brightwell // cdb.webhop.org

[q]

You do not get top-of-the-line for under a grand. I have not seen HTB that
I would live with. They always compromise on speakers. You might want to
look at the new Yamaha HT receivers. Very reasonable in price, clean,
powerful, lots of features. Then all you need is 5 speakers + a sub. Try
Axiom, Paradigm, etc., etc., etc. Speakers will make or break the system.
Skimp on the receiver, not speakers. Also, Dickson's Vance Titanic Sub -
cheap and real good.



"Chris Brightwell" > wrote in message
...
> I've decided to take the plunge into 5.1, and, for simplicity's
sake
> (as well as for my wallet's), would rather get a Home Theater in a Box
(HTB)
> than piece together a top-of-the-line system with all the latest bells and
> whistles.
>
> I don't particularly need a DVD player, as I already have one that
> is capable of Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS outputs. I do, however, need the
> receiver to support Pro Logic II (for my GameCube) as well as DTS and
DD5.1.
> Optical and coax inputs are a must, and switching for each medium is an
> option.
>
> I'd like to keep it under $1000, and fully realize that I get what
I
> pay for.
>
> Thanks for all of your input.
>
>
> --
> Chris Brightwell // cdb.webhop.org
>
>

[Brad Clarke]

On Tue, 24 Jun 2003 02:32:41 -0500, "Chris Brightwell"
> wrote:

>> I've decided to take the plunge into 5.1, and, for simplicity's sake
>>(as well as for my wallet's), would rather get a Home Theater in a Box (HTB)
>>than piece together a top-of-the-line system with all the latest bells and
>>whistles.
I was in a similar situation last year, and opted to get a Panasonic
SC-HT400 HTB. Comes with a SA-HT400 Receiver (which sits between the
SA-HE70 and SA-HE100 feature wise), 5 satellite speakers and a dual cone
sub-woofer.

It has DTS, Dolby Digital, and Dolby Pro Logic II decoders built in.
The only downside is no phono input.

I paid about $650 CDN for it, and it is pretty good for a started HT
system.

Brad

[Chris Brightwell]

"Chris Brightwell" > wrote
> I've decided to take the plunge into 5.1, and, for simplicity's
sake
> (as well as for my wallet's), would rather get a Home Theater in a Box
(HTB)
> than piece together a top-of-the-line system with all the latest bells and
> whistles. [...]

I've done some looking around, and I'm drawn to the Kenwood HTB-506.
I understand that this is a fairly new model (an upgrade of the HTB-505,
really), but I'm curious as to what some of you have to say.

If I can find a place in town that carries it, I'm planning to pick
it up one Friday (possible this Friday or the next), playing with it for a
solid weekend, and making a decision on Monday or Tuesday.

Thanks again for any input. All is appreciated.


--
chris // cdb.webhop.org

[Scott]

I personally like the Onkyo HT-S650. I think it does very well against
other systems 3 times its price.


"Chris Brightwell" > wrote in message
...
> I've decided to take the plunge into 5.1, and, for simplicity's
sake
> (as well as for my wallet's), would rather get a Home Theater in a Box
(HTB)
> than piece together a top-of-the-line system with all the latest bells and
> whistles.
>
> I don't particularly need a DVD player, as I already have one that
> is capable of Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS outputs. I do, however, need the
> receiver to support Pro Logic II (for my GameCube) as well as DTS and
DD5.1.
> Optical and coax inputs are a must, and switching for each medium is an
> option.
>
> I'd like to keep it under $1000, and fully realize that I get what
I
> pay for.
>
> Thanks for all of your input.
>
>
> --
> Chris Brightwell // cdb.webhop.org
>
>