[JSilver]

I was always meaning to purchase a home theater system or something compatible for my room. I don't have a very large room so i don't need a 5.1 system.

I was curious about the Bose 2.1 systems. Are they worth the price?

Thanks in advance.

[asian_XL]

do you want a receiver + speakers?
or hi-fi + receiver + speakers?
or those all-in-one setup?

[Manic!]

Bose sucks
What's your budget?

[trancehead]

Ive never had first hand experience with Bose itself...but majority of opinion is that its overpriced overmarketed shit.

[quasi]

Made me think of that saying, no Highs, no lows? Must be bose. :)

[Manic!]

Made me think of that saying, no Highs, no lows? Must be blose. :)

Fixed!:p

[Soundy]

http://reviews.cnet.com/1990-6467_7-5611984-1.html

[Hondaracer]

might as well get a 3.1 if anything

[_Hotsauce_]

5.1 isn't about being louder, its about creating the full 3d effect of the movie, hearing footsteps coming from behind, dripping water as they walk through a hallway, etc.

Anyhow, What's your budget?

[Cman333]

Ive never had first hand experience with Bose itself...but majority of opinion is that its overpriced overmarketed shit.

Bingo!

[JSilver]

I guess I'm looking for a simple all in one system. And I'm thinking about only spending $500.00. I'm not home too often so I'm not down to blow a wad of cash on this. But when I am home I watch a lot of movies, so I enjoy the best quality of picture and sound.

[Soundy]

I got an RCA home-theater-in-a-box system at a boxing-day sale a couple years ago, normally a $500 system, on for $300. Five-disc changer and aux input for the cable box, and it does a pretty nice job. Not gonna shake the foundations or anything, but it sounds good.

The one thing I'd say to check for is that it has an audio input or two, to feed in TV/cable/satellite and/or games, and will do Dolby Pro Logic decoding on that input, so you get simulated surround on your TV shows. Better yet, if you have an HD box, or newer game console (PS3, X360), is to make sure it has digital-audio in (coax or optical), so you get surround decoding from that.

[ddr]

make sure u get something where the receiver is separate from i.e. a dvd player and that it has ample inputs (optical-toslink, coaxial, RCAs, maybe even 3.5mm for convenience)

i vote onkyo systems, or a cheap receiver + pair of towers when they go on sale. you can definitely get a set for $500 total
HDMI is not important at all in that budget as long as you have optical in on you amp, at that price it won't process your video anyways

[wouwou]

what are your sources?

PS3, 360, HTPC, PC, or just a record player?

[VR6GTI]

Is their rear wireless speakears that you can buy not in a full set? If so how does it hook up to the reciever?

[Mancini]

I've heard a Bose 2.1 system intended for home theatre. I later read a review that confirmed my impression.

The small satellite speakers don't produce proper midrange. Bose has the crossover set to pump midrange out of the sub. Seriously? The box that goes beside your couch or somewhere else out of the way? It didn't sound great on the display that placed the sub right in front of you between the sats. It would be downright awful in a home environment.

[JSilver]

PS3

what are your sources?

PS3, 360, HTPC, PC, or just a record player?

[Manic!]

Is their rear wireless speakears that you can buy not in a full set? If so how does it hook up to the reciever?

Wireless speakers are a myth like Bigfoot and the loch ness monster because they still need to get power from a wall outlet. Future shop does offer a kit that will send a signal wirelessly to a amp that comes with the kit that can power speakers that are in the rear. You will need a plug close to the amp and you will have to run a wire from the amp to each speaker.

http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?logon=&langid=EN&MSCSProfile=3C79F0C7EA3162B2AD2D24472DF6467FBB24E2 C408FF1EC4640E5ABB9B4A57AB14C4F137E247AC94791E00A3 36692967155DF8B1FB4E761A44B958DB3C99BC66AE4364812C 7176A3B355D8C2C5ABE44E67960FD8ED88B72FF070C5E09B3A E36F3AB6B4DE7752477DBE43B7AB075E3CD6FA595F504DF629 65&sku_id=0665000FS10087529&catid=10672

[Crowtservo]

I'm looking for a similar setup to JSilver. Pretty much just a PS3 to play all DVDs and BRs and the cable (which is HD as well). a 3.1 system would be sweet, with a receiver and roughly $500 total. Anyone have any specific suggestions?

[Limitless]

My Insignia NS5648.. xP

I think that you should try atleast a 4.1 system for surround sound (though I don't think they make a lot of good ones that are 4.1s). But if you're really not into surround sound, a 3.1 set would be good. HD cable + movie - surround speakers = bad imo =(

[wouwou]

PS3

so it decodes by itself.

Then you really don't need a high end receiver, and if you have a budget to stick to, I would suggest Z5500 just because it can be had @ 279 before tax, and with a decent performance, just half of your budget.

the speakers are also easy to install inside your room too, all you need to do is to put the 2 rear speakere on the wall and run the wires by the corner.

and then you will have to try to not turn the volumn up past 1/3 of the scale, or your house will shake :haha:

I've had my 5500 for 2 years and the few times I turned it over 1/3, my pictures fell off the wall, especially during BD movis like transformers :D

[!Aznboi128]

1 tip that's it DO NOT BUY BOSE

[LegitJeans]

Have you thought of building a HTPC using computer speakers instead. Currently I'm running 4 sets of 2.1 computer speakers. 3 X 2.1 Klipsch ProMedia and 1 X 2.1 JBL Creature II. This gives yeah a hella lot of bass if needed. You'll need a sound card that will support digital optical in and out for your PS3 I think.

[dark0821]

honestly.. i went with a
32" Sharp 1080P
PS3
logitech Z5500...

and it gets the job done well..so i would go for that if that was the case..

[skyxx]

I"d choose a KEF over a Bose system. Similar price but better :)

[Cman333]

I"d choose a KEF over a Bose system. Similar price but better :)

Amen to that.

But getting KEF + reciever for $500 would be next to impossible.

$500 isn't a huge budget. IMO you're better off buying something you'll keep for a long time rather than waste money upgrading. Speakers are things you can keep for a long time.

Better off buying a decent reciever + a good pair of bookshelf speakers and slowly adding to the system.

Otherwise for a entry HTIB the Yamaha systems aren't too bad.

[Manic!]

Amen to that.

But getting KEF + reciever for $500 would be next to impossible.

$500 isn't a huge budget. IMO you're better off buying something you'll keep for a long time rather than waste money upgrading. Speakers are things you can keep for a long time.

Better off buying a decent reciever + a good pair of bookshelf speakers and slowly adding to the system.

Otherwise for a entry HTIB the Yamaha systems aren't too bad.

Good idea.

Here is a decent package that includes a Yamaha HDMI receiver and the Energy take classic 5.1 speaker system for $899.

http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?sku_id=BDL10003600&catid=27464&logon=&langid=EN

[JesseBlue]

i also want to get into the act...what about soundbars?

[twitchyzero]

on a related topic,

people with 7.1 lossless claims that it's so awesome

is it actually significantly better than say 5.1 DTS/Dolby D?

and if yes, say you get a reciever supporting true-HD 7.1...is there a significant difference over 5.1 if you're still using regular entry-level speakers?

[LegitJeans]

The amount of speakers you have doesn't really say anything about quality. It just gives you a better experience when watching movies. You basically hear sounds coming from all directions. The extra 2 speakers from a 7.1 setup are usually placed to the middle right and middle left. You normally have Centre, Front Right and Left, Rear Right and Left, so the extra two would be Middle Left and Right.

[LegitJeans]

Good idea.

Here is a decent package that includes a Yamaha HDMI receiver and the Energy take classic 5.1 speaker system for $899.

http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?sku_id=BDL10003600&catid=27464&logon=&langid=EN

If you can wait for the sale this would be excellent

http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=39103&vpn=KEF%2D5%2E0%2DONKYO%2D507&manufacture=Bundle%20Deals

I've seen this on the weekly sales twice already for like $1,300 or $1500 if I remember correctly