HTBs

AHHHH!!!

I'm thoroughly against home theaters in a box. You and your DVD player deserve more than just a $400-$500 surround sound treatment. So here's the alternative to home theater in a box (HTB).....

Definition:

HTBs come in various forms. The HTB that I'm concerned with is the $400-$500 receiver/speakers/subwoofer package. Kenwood makes a desirable HTB (HTB-503) which includes deceivingly large speakers, a DD/DTS receiver, and a powered subwoofer. Sounds like peaches, doesn't it? More like the devil in the blue dress! These particular HTBs use second-rate speakers and overrated, poorly made receivers. Kenwood is a good example of what NOT to buy. Their line of receivers have a share of problems such as overheating, poor sound, poor remote, and hissing.

The Alternative For The Budget Conscious:

The Receiver:

The centerpiece of home theater is the receiver. Sound, video, multi-component management, and enjoyment arise from a receiver. Use of cheaply made receivers ruins what home theater tries to accomplish! Therefore, a good receiver is the start...the speakers come later.

Buying wholesale is a good way to save between $100 and $1,000 (if not more) on your entire HT. If your price target was originally $400, you owe it to yourself to spend it all on the receiver.

I recommend Onkyo's TX-DS575x (Onkyo TX-DS595 new for 2001) and Denon's AVR-2801 which can be had shipped for $395 and $485 respectively.

Speakers:

The main speakers should be the first of the five speakers you purchase. Whether you buy towers or bookshelf is entirely up to you. Since you've already spent about $500 on a receiver and cables, another $800 can buy you the rest of the speakers. For example, you can buy two pairs of JBL's S38 speakers and the S-Center for about $800 shipped ($300 per S38 pair, $150 S-Center, Shipping).

The Final Product:

JBL and Onkyo is one recommendation. There are many more affordable combinations for more or less. Money for a subwoofer can be saved once the core system has been built.

$1,300 for 5 great speakers and a great receiver is perfect. Buying wholesale in my perceived setup amounts to a savings of about $700 (figured using MSRP, adding $100 worth of cables, and 7% sales tax).

Summary:

In my opinion, spending $400-$500 on a 6 speaker/receiver combo is not worth doing. "It's all or nothing." Experiencing Dolby Digital and DTS surround sound is hardly accurate on low end systems. Of course HTBs sound much better than regular TV speakers, but a nicely configured HT sounds entirely better than an HTB.

edited 5.26.01