best HTIB at or about $1k
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Posted by khaina06 on November 27, 2006, 12:12 am
Please log in for more thread options Looking for a system that is about $1k, HTIB that will sound good for a moderate size lving room - about 225 sq ft in an apartment. Doesn't have to have a DVD player - just speakers OK - as I have a DVD player already. Thanks for any help. | |||||||||||||
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Posted by Jeff on November 27, 2006, 10:19 am
Please log in for more thread options HTIB & "sound good" doesn't belong in the same sentence. By design, every HTIB compromises sound quality for appearance and profitability. No HTIB includes a subwoofer worthy of even a walk-in closet, and typically the amp & speakers are poor quality as well. The manufacturers are preying upon unwitting customers who think it's best to have all components be from the same company or just don't know what they need. With a $1k budget, I recommend a Pioneer 1016 receiver ($375), 5 bookshelf speakers from Polk, JBL, Klipsch, etc. (approx. $50-125 ea.), and a Dayton SUB-120 12" subwoofer ($150 from partsexpress. This setup will blow away ANY HTIB and sound quite good with movies in a medium-sized room. Personally, I find the Polk R15 an incredible value at $80 a PAIR; however speakers are extremely subjective since no one's hearing is the same. Therefore you should demo various speakers to find a sound you prefer. For example, many people love Klipsch, whose horn-loaded tweeter allows a high 93 dB sensitivity, meaning lots of volume with little load on the amp. However many other people feel the Klipsch's horn "blares" and is grating on their ears. Bring a few of your favorite CD's & DVD's to a dealer, and listen to several bookshelves within your budget to see which sounds most accurate and uncolored to YOU (not the writers of some magazine or the salesguy). HTIB is the epitome of "jack of all trades, master of none." To make matters worse, many are downright terrible with one or more components. It would be like employing a handyman who isn't so great with plumbing...you know you're going to get a few leaks. When it comes to HTIB, just say no! khaina06 wrote: | |||||||||||||
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Posted by lanman on November 28, 2006, 11:42 am
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>Looking for a system that is about $1k, HTIB that will sound good for a
>moderate size lving room - about 225 sq ft in an apartment. Doesn't >have to have a DVD player - just speakers OK - as I have a DVD player >already. Thanks for any help. I purchased a Samsung HTIB to go with my Samsung 55" HDTV. The model HT-TQ85 currently sells for $385.00 at Costco and the sound and power (1,000W) will blow you away. The subwoofer is awesome and will vibrate the entire room if you want. The separation and clarity of the corner speakers is excellent. Don't let component snobs lead you to believe you must spend big bucks to have decent sound. There are many quite good HTIB systems available now at very reasonable prices. http://www.samsung.com/Products/HomeTheater/HomeTheaterSystem/HT_TQ85TXAA.asp ----== Posted via Newsfeeds.Com - Unlimited-Unrestricted-Secure Usenet News==---- http://www.newsfeeds.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! 120,000+ Newsgroups ----= East and West-Coast Server Farms - Total Privacy via Encryption =---- | |||||||||||||
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Posted by Jeff on November 28, 2006, 11:11 am
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"Component snobs" do not recommend $40 bookshelf speakers. I'm sorry if I insulted your hard-earned $385. However, I suspect you were attracted to the TQ85's styling, price, and perceived ease of installation; rather than being truly concerned with comparing sound quality with a receiver and speakers. Regardless of how a HTIB "vibrates the room" (so does a hearty belch), sound QUALITY simply does not compare with a real receiver and real speakers. I'm not talking about a McIntosh preamp, Classe monoblocks, and German Physiks speakers. A $199 Pioneer VSX-816 & set of $40 Polk R15's, and a $150 Dayton 12" sub will quite simply sound far better than any shiny, plastic HTIB. Furthermore, these "components" can be mixed, matched, and/or replaced individually to serve your household for many, many years; on the other hand HTIB's often use proprietary connectors and/or odd speaker impedances, which render the WHOLE system obsolete if one part goes bad. (Note the TQ85 uses 3 ohm speakers, and can never be used with another amp when the Samsung amp/DVD player dies.) Consider what you get for your money. The shipping weight of the TQ85 is less than 62 lbs, while the modest system I describe is over 100 lbs. Yes, weight is a significant spec in home audio (manufacturers always seek to reduce weight to reduce cost, be it in materials or simply shipping charges). Amps are mostly copper and iron, and the more the better; speaker cabinets should be robust in order to help resist resonances; speaker magnets should be big and strong enough to resist flutter; the list go on and on... If I seem like a "component snob", it is merely because most HTIB's are absolute garbage that manufacturers opportunistically foist upon uninitiated consumers. They spend all their engineering effort on pretty cosmetics, leaving little left for the internal parts...yet they still charge a premium. The low price seems like a good value due to appearances, but the profit margin based on cheap internal parts proves otherwise. They essentially put a small 4 cylinder in a Ferrari body and price it like a Toyota...and you perceive value. BTW, don't put too much stock in the "1000 watts" advertised. In order to rate most every receiver 100W per channel, manufacturers have made a mockery of the testing standards developed to measure amplifier power. FWIT (though I don't put much stock in media reviews), the TQ85 has received good reviews. No doubt it is sexy looking and will meet the all-important WAF (wife approval factor). Clearly it is better than much of the trash out there. If it makes you happy, great; but until you truly compare it yourself to specialized components, you shouldn't assume I am being a snob. The only thing I am snobbish about is value, and HTIB--though cheap--is not a good value, and more often than not, a terrible value. P.S. I guess it's a matter of taste. By "value" I mean performance for the dollar. That's why I drive an '06 Mustang GT (300 HP for under $26k), not a VW-based kit car with a Cobra body (my personal favorite design). To someone who values looks over performance, perhaps a 75 HP car that looks like a Cobra is the ticket...and that's precisely what HTIB is. Different strokes... lanman wrote: >
> >Looking for a system that is about $1k, HTIB that will sound good for a
> >moderate size lving room - about 225 sq ft in an apartment. Doesn't > >have to have a DVD player - just speakers OK - as I have a DVD player > >already. Thanks for any help. >
News==----
> I purchased a Samsung HTIB to go with my Samsung 55" HDTV. The model > HT-TQ85 currently sells for $385.00 at Costco and the sound and power > (1,000W) will blow you away. The subwoofer is awesome and will vibrate > the entire room if you want. The separation and clarity of the corner > speakers is excellent. Don't let component snobs lead you to believe > you must spend big bucks to have decent sound. There are many quite > good HTIB systems available now at very reasonable prices. > > http://www.samsung.com/Products/HomeTheater/HomeTheaterSystem/HT_TQ85TXAA.asp > > ----== Posted via Newsfeeds.Com - Unlimited-Unrestricted-Secure Usenet > http://www.newsfeeds.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! 120,000+
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Posted by lanman on November 28, 2006, 3:46 pm
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>"Component snobs" do not recommend $40 bookshelf speakers. I'm sorry if
>I insulted your hard-earned $385. However, I suspect you were attracted >to the TQ85's styling, price, and perceived ease of installation; >rather than being truly concerned with comparing sound quality with a >receiver and speakers. > I'm inferring from your comment about my "hard-earned $385" that you believe I cannot afford a higher priced system. Nothing could be further from the truth. I'm just a person who places no importance on labels, brand names, or meaningless specifications. >Regardless of how a HTIB "vibrates the room" (so does a hearty belch),
>sound QUALITY simply does not compare with a real receiver and real >speakers. I'm not talking about a McIntosh preamp, Classe monoblocks, >and German Physiks speakers. A $199 Pioneer VSX-816 & set of $40 Polk >R15's, and a $150 Dayton 12" sub will quite simply sound far better >than any shiny, plastic HTIB. > What does shiny have to do with sound? The TQ85 has matte black plastic center and corner speaker enclosures, and the sub-woofer is enclosed in wood. Some of the better speaker systems now come with metal or plastic housings. >Furthermore, these "components" can be mixed, matched, and/or replaced
>individually to serve your household for many, many years; on the other >hand HTIB's often use proprietary connectors and/or odd speaker >impedances, which render the WHOLE system obsolete if one part goes >bad. (Note the TQ85 uses 3 ohm speakers, and can never be used with >another amp when the Samsung amp/DVD player dies.) > Who cares. At $385, if anything goes, I'll toss it and get another. >Consider what you get for your money. The shipping weight of the TQ85
>is less than 62 lbs, while the modest system I describe is over 100 >lbs. Yes, weight is a significant spec in home audio (manufacturers >always seek to reduce weight to reduce cost, be it in materials or >simply shipping charges). Amps are mostly copper and iron, and the more >the better; speaker cabinets should be robust in order to help resist >resonances; speaker magnets should be big and strong enough to resist >flutter; the list go on and on... > Anectodal at best. I'm sure with a little research I could find systems that weigh less and are perceived as better. >If I seem like a "component snob", it is merely because most HTIB's are
>absolute garbage that manufacturers opportunistically foist upon >uninitiated consumers. They spend all their engineering effort on >pretty cosmetics, leaving little left for the internal parts...yet they >still charge a premium. The low price seems like a good value due to >appearances, but the profit margin based on cheap internal parts proves >otherwise. They essentially put a small 4 cylinder in a Ferrari body >and price it like a Toyota...and you perceive value. BTW, don't put too >much stock in the "1000 watts" advertised. In order to rate most every >receiver 100W per channel, manufacturers have made a mockery of the >testing standards developed to measure amplifier power. > I place no importance on the rated wattage. The TQ85 is hardly a Ferrari and it makes no pretense to be other that what it is. The sound quality, imo, is really very good for the price - so the system offers true value. What made me buy this unit in order of importance: - Ease of setup - Ease of use - HDMI output - Good sound with teeth vibrating bass - Good value I should mention that at the time of purchase, I considered this a stop gap throw-away system. When I got it home however, I realized it far exceeded my expectations for an HTIB. I'm not in love with this system, I'm only advising the OP that this is a decent system for the cost and will readily compare in sound quality to many $1,000 systems. I have friends who have spent $5K on their speakers systems, and to tell the truth, they wasted their money. Now...if you haven't heard the TQ85 yourself, then how much credibility can your comments have? >FWIT (though I don't put much stock in media reviews), the TQ85 has
>received good reviews. No doubt it is sexy looking and will meet the >all-important WAF (wife approval factor). Clearly it is better than >much of the trash out there. If it makes you happy, great; but until >you truly compare it yourself to specialized components, you shouldn't >assume I am being a snob. The only thing I am snobbish about is value, >and HTIB--though cheap--is not a good value, and more often than not, a >terrible value. > Nope, it's a great value. >P.S. I guess it's a matter of taste. By "value" I mean performance for
>the dollar. That's why I drive an '06 Mustang GT (300 HP for under >$26k), not a VW-based kit car with a Cobra body (my personal favorite >design). To someone who values looks over performance, perhaps a 75 HP >car that looks like a Cobra is the ticket...and that's precisely what >HTIB is. Different strokes... > I prefer a more environmentally friendly car and drive a Honda Civic which is rated at 40MPG highway - another meaningless specification. BTW, sorry if you took this personally. I was responding to the OP and not you, and I didn't mean to imply that *you* were a component snob. You're not, are you? >
> >lanman wrote: >>
>> >Looking for a system that is about $1k, HTIB that will sound good for a
>> >moderate size lving room - about 225 sq ft in an apartment. Doesn't >> >have to have a DVD player - just speakers OK - as I have a DVD player >> >already. Thanks for any help. >>
News==----
>> I purchased a Samsung HTIB to go with my Samsung 55" HDTV. The model >> HT-TQ85 currently sells for $385.00 at Costco and the sound and power >> (1,000W) will blow you away. The subwoofer is awesome and will vibrate >> the entire room if you want. The separation and clarity of the corner >> speakers is excellent. Don't let component snobs lead you to believe >> you must spend big bucks to have decent sound. There are many quite >> good HTIB systems available now at very reasonable prices. >> >> http://www.samsung.com/Products/HomeTheater/HomeTheaterSystem/HT_TQ85TXAA.asp >> >> ----== Posted via Newsfeeds.Com - Unlimited-Unrestricted-Secure Usenet >> http://www.newsfeeds.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! 120,000+
Newsgroups
>> ----= East and West-Coast Server Farms - Total Privacy via Encryption =----
----== Posted via Newsfeeds.Com - Unlimited-Unrestricted-Secure Usenet News==---- http://www.newsfeeds.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! >100,000
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| Similar Threads | Posted |
| best HTIB at or about $1k | November 27, 2006, 12:12 am |
> moderate size lving room - about 225 sq ft in an apartment. Doesn't
> have to have a DVD player - just speakers OK - as I have a DVD player
> already. Thanks for any help.