Which Speaker for Home Theater?

Since the sound from the LG 50PV450 i got is pretty weak im looking for a decent audio system. Im trying to avoid 5.1 systems simply as its too much clutter and id have a hard time placing them around. Also note the only audio output from the HDTV is digital optical. I dont want to spend more on this than the TV so lets say the upper limit is 250€.
As theyre compact ive been looking at these three soundbars but any other good suggestion is welcome.
Philips HTS3111 (~140€)
Samsung HWD-350 (130€)
LG HLS36W (230€)

Any comments or suggestions?

 

have u considered getting a receiver on sale, and then slowly piecing together a 2.1 or 3.1 system? i'm not sure what your currency translates to, but u can easily do that for about $300-$400. if u are patient u could end up with a very nice system because of internet sales.

as far as "bang for the buck" soundbars, i recommend the Sony CT-150 because there are very few soundbars that will match it's price to performance ratio. i have one myself and the sound quality was very surprising after it was broken in. the subwoofer was very well capable of filling a small to med sized room with bass and the "surround" has even made me look over my shoulder a few times. plus, it's one of the very few soundbars u can get with HDMI, at that price point.

i've also heard nothing but good things about the Vizio VSB210WS. it's wireless sub could become convenient.

 

If you don't want to spend the money or if you don't have the room, a sound bar is probably going to be your best option. Just as long as you understand that you will never get anywhere near to the type of sound a multi speaker set up will give. Sound Bars are meant to be just a step up from your TV's speakers. Their supplied sub woofers aren't going to pound your chest or shake your room. In the end, as long as you know what your getting, they should all have roughly the same performance in your price range. Just grab which ever one is more aesthetically pleasing to your eyes.

I'm sure your going to have some people on here (who own sound bars) come here and tell you how well they mimic surround sound or how great one of their subs is. I do have a sound bar (in my bed room) but I also have a dedicated home theater in which I've spent more money on the sound side of things than most people spend on their car. If someone thinks any HTIB sub sounds good, it's only because they haven't heard a real sub (something with substantial output below 20 HZ) such as.... JTR Speakers| Captivator


By the way, I see a couple people talking about the Vizio Sound Bar over in the AV Forums. Everyone has nothing but good things to say about it. Also, I'm probably not the person to ask about this sound bar stuff. Once you've been tainted by premium sound (everything sounds like $hit). Just don't go wasting your money on anything made by Bose.

 

There is a surround system of every size and for every budget. Although a 5.1 does require additional wiring and added set up it's not that difficult and will yield remarkable results. If you like to watch movies, no stereo or bar even comes close

How much is that in English?

Get the best speakers you can afford. Everything else is secondary.

 

u really have to have a perfectly closed room that's in a square or rectangle shape to fully get the "surround effect" from soundbars. in a large, open room, i agree that they are just a step up from TV speakers.

3 reasons why i recommend the Sony CT-150 are 1) it has HDMI so it's able to process HD master audio. i found that movies played with HD master audio really had a more convincing "surround sound". 2) it's subwoofer is surprisingly strong for such a small unit. it's up there on the budget soundbar totem pole. 3) it's center channel performance is above average.

p.s. - there are also 5.1 sound bar systems that come with wireless rear surround channels. that might be something u would be interested in.

 

Thanks for the suggestions!
I dont have time to put together something myself and im not an expert on audio as i said so i just want to buy a complete system.
Sadly the Sony HW-CT150 or Vizio VSB210WS arent sold here in the EU.
I found some real good reviews for the Onkyo HTX-22HDX and it seams to have pretty much everything you could want. The review is for the whole 5.1 set with the additional center and rear speakers but how much do you think id loose going just for the base 2.1 set - i mean i can alwas buy the extra speakers later if im not satisfied right ?

 

After reading all the reviews and looking at the prices im basically down to the choice between the more compact 2.1 HTX-22HDX (possibility of buying the extra speakers to make it 5.1 is there but it costs alot more than the other 5.1 system then so i doubt id ever go for making it 5.1 - just consider this will be kept as 2.1) or the 5.1 Onkyo HT-S3405.

Spec sheets are here if that helps:
HTX-22HDX
HT-S3405

 

I just run 4.1 now days. I think with the more modern encoding/decoding/recording then you don't have as much need for a center channel. But thats with my speakers which retail for around 1k for the two(no amp).

 

Dispell those doubts and plan on doing the opposite. I've purchased about a dozen systems over the years and made upgrades to everyone.

In fact, that's how I buy my systems: learning from my initial mistake a long time ago, I buy separates that can be reconfigured as my system grows.

Whatever you buy, do your best to make sure it's upgradeable. In other words, buy separates.

 

As i said im not an expert but looking at the specs it seams to me the 5.1 HT-S3405 has a better amp (100W at 6OHM per channel) than the 2.1 HTX-22HDX built in amp (25W at 6 OHM per channel and 50W at 3OHM for subwoofer). Both seam to have the same features and the price is pretty close here - 295€ for the 5.1 HT-S3405 with stronger separate amp and 265€ for the 2.1 HTX-22HDX with the built in amp.
Since buying the extra three speakers (provided theyd still be available if id want to upgrade later - it seams they are already pretty hard to get) for the HTX-22HDX would bring up the price to around 400€ i dont consider that a wise purchase over the other system. Id rather be sure what im getting now and be done with it instead of wasting more money on it later.
So basically im debating whether to go for the weaker (again as i judge it from the given specs - im not an expert) and more compact 2.1 HTX-22HDX or the 5.1 HT-S3405 with a more powerful separate amp.
If you look over the specs is any of the two really superior or am i just down to more compact 2.1 vs 5.1?

 

No one is until you do the research. You've already made the first step, now you need to follow it up with more sampling of the products.

Remember, forget about priced and/or watts and focus on workmanship. You need to find a retailer that will let you sample the product.

 

I've been down and out with the Flu since you started this thread. If you just want to be said and done with it, go buy a HTIB you can afford. If you actually want decent sound that will give your music new meaning, movies more life and games more realism then piece together a system over time. You don't need to spend thousands upon thousands of dollars to achieve this.

What are your primary uses of these speakers going to be? Theater/Music/Games?

What is your absolute maximum budget?

If Theater is important to you then do not listen to ANYONE who says you don't need a center channel speaker. When it comes to theater/gaming, your center channel is the MOST important speaker. It is where 95% of the movies dialog comes from. Yes, you can run a phantom center but that is only if you don't have the space or the money to spend on a real center channel. A timbre matched center will add so much more to your experience, it's not even up for a debate.

 

Umm...well, you kinda do. However, that doesn't mean you can't get satisfying sound for a lot less.

This ^^

My sister sold my sound system (lets not get into the details) and going back to stereo is like listening to mono again. I feel like theres a hole in my sound system.

 

I ordered the HT-S3405. Ill let you know how it is once i get it and properly test it.

 

Trust me. I know your wallet is the limit depending on what kind of sound your trying to achieve. I have spent well over $100,000 on audio equipment throughout my life and am currently the owner of a 9.3 set up costing more than most people finance their cars for. Hell, my three sub-woofers alone cost more than some cars. I am a audio freak so this is what it takes to "WOW" me every time I turn it on. I have however built systems for less than $2,000 for a client, friend or family member (because that's what they wanted to spend) that "WOW'ed" them.

In the end, yes. I can get you "decent" sound without spending thousands of dollars. Will that system sound good to someone like myself? Probably not but I'm not building it for me. If you want to spend upwards of $50,000, I can build you something that sounds better than an angels voice.

 

geez...9.3. i'm hoping that isn't all crammed into a tiny room lol. 7.2 systems are already beastly so i couldn't imagine a 9.3 system.

i've had everything from bose 5.1 HTIB systems to soundbars to huge 2.0 setups to a $25,000 Martin Logan 5.1. u will find very satisfying equipment if u take the time to come up with a budget, and then do a bit of research. i always recommend my friends to stay away from HTIB systems because they don't sound very good for what they are worth. don't be afraid to slowly piece together a system. start out with a decent receiver, that has the features u need, and then pick 2 floorstanding speakers as a starting point. u can slowly add a sub and center channel later down the road. the end result will be so much more satisfying than any HTIB though. if i had to choose between a HTIB and a soundbar, i'd have to go with the convenience of a nice soundbar.

@ OP: it's not too late to return your purchase and go with something a bit better. for example: earlier this year i decided to piece together a budget system for my LG TV downstairs. i spent under $500 and i have a system that blows any HTIB, i've ever heard, out of the water.

- Onkyo TX-NR509
- Jamo S426 HCS3 5.0 system
- Polk Audio PSW111 (got it for dirt cheap)

 

I bought it online so ill have one month to return it if im not satisfied. Judging by reviews it should be a solid performer HTIB and me not being that much of an audiophile i hope ill like it.
The selection of either new or used equipment here isnt nearly as good as you have it in the US not to mention the prices so id have a much harder time piecing together a system considering that and the fact i have very limited knowledge of audio devices so i hope i dont have to do that.

 

totally understood. do u guys have alot of online sales, or things of that nature? popular sales like, black friday, are great times to purchase/upgrade sound equipment.

when it comes to sound, everyone has their own different preference. the best thing to do is go to a home theater store and audition different brand of speakers. see which kind of sound u prefer and go from there.

 

We dont really have any online sales like that and the prices are much higher than in the US. The stores offer very little choice with only have a few cheap models to try out so it doesnt really help. Online they offer a bit more but still not as much as you in the US get to pick from. At least the return policy is still generous (untill the new law is passed) so you can try everything out for a month before deciding if you want to keep it or not. So i just decided to get what i think will be suitable for me (still got a 5.1 system as suggested here) and if i dont like it ill just return it and get something else. Fingers crossed now.

 

You want a perfect home theater. Then don't go with any company oriented full home theater. I suggested a home theater to my friend and he is always giving me blessing for it. It was 10.1 Bose speakers with a brand new Amplifier of HigherFi Ultimate. And the sound it gave, well don't ask. It was out of the world and the first thing we did was connect his PS3 with HDMI cable and played MW3 on it and believe me, that was totally worth it.

 

Nah. It's not in a tiny room. It is in my basement which I turned into a dedicated home theater. The room measures 38x32x9. The room has been completely designed for optimal sound. It is a room within a room. Once you step out of it, you do not hear or feel a thing. Once you step into it, you can feel the sound waves pressing against your body (given the right frequency). I can literally watch a movie like Transformers at reference while my wife reads a book on the floor above and she won't hear a thing. Anyway, yea, it's not a tiny room.

Yes, you are right about HTIB. Never recommended one. Will never recommend one.

 

If you think a Bose set up sounded out of this world, you must be very easy to please.

Bose Fun Fact of the Day - They don't even give you a "True Subwoofer" with their HTIB sets. It's called a "Bass Module". It not only can't achieve frequencies below 40Hz but it also causes localization due to the fact how it's used to fill in mids that the small satellite cones aren't able to achieve.

Why anyone in this world would spend so much money on paper cones, plastic enclosures and ty crossovers is beyond me. I can put a 5.1 system together for $600 that would blow the doors off of a $3,000 Bose system.

 

I might agree with you on most, but that doesn't mean there's nothing good to be said about Bose. Having sold their speakers in the past, I can say they virtually invented simplicity and modularity when it comes to creating a scalable sound system package.

I agree their modules have a unique characteristic--that is not entirely objectionable--but cannot most of us put together a desktop for a lot less than the prepackaged system we'd get from Apple or even HP?

Their biggest talent is that ability to produce a big sound from a very small package (i.e. foot print), that can be placed just about anywhere in any room. I don't think their is any other manufacturer that does that as well.

 

I agree. They are good at being simplistic but simplicity does not give you great sound. Bose is a marketing machine and they market well. While other companies are dumping all of their money into R&R, Bose is dumping most of their money into marketing, opening stores and hiring thousands of employees to sell their products.

Bose is nothing special when it comes to providing good sound in a small package. I can think of many other companies that provide much much better sound in a similar sized package that is much much better constructed. Below are multiple options that will not only provide better sound but also cost less than most Bose setups.

OS³-Sat Bookshelf Speaker - Overview

MilleniaOne? 5.0 System - Welcome to the New Official Paradigm® Website.

People's Choice Home Theater Speaker System

Bowers & Wilkins M-1 Compact Speaker and PV1D Sub Preview — Reviews and News from Audioholics


There's a reason why audiophiles would never recommend anything made by Bose. Just head over to the AVS forums and create a thread labeled, "Which Bose set up should I buy?" It's no secret that Bose is the most profitable company in the business but that's what they do. They market. They also lie to their customers and overcharge them for sub par equipment.

Here is a GREAT article that is backed up by factual data that shows why Bose speakers are a bad product.

intellexual net · m k i v

 

Thay is a very good read. Thorough and informative. Thanks for the link.
My speakers will arrive on Monday and ill let you know what i think of them.

 

I got the HT-S3405 today and after trying out some movies, music and gaming on different settings i have to say that at least in my oppinion they sound pretty darn good. No sound distortion i could notice even at high volumes, everything is clear (from low tones to high pitched ones, dialogue coming from the center is crystal clear) and they sound very balanced with just enough coming from the subwoofer but not too much to drown the rest out.
The amp has pretty much everything youd want (and more - i actually found myself reading the manual a few times).
For the cost id say it is an excellent system. Came with almost everything you need from batteries for the remote to long cables for the rear speakers - the only thing missing for me was an optical cable. The amp and speakers are aesthetically pleasing and feel solid built.
Again im not an audiophile but im not that easy to impress either. Sound quality is supposedly very subjective so some might disagree with me but im very happy with my purchase.

 

congrats brother. as long as u're happy, that's all that matters!

 

Glad you like your new audio system. Just make sure you enable Pue Direct Mode when watching Bluray. Pure Direct mode makes sure your receiver/amp play's exactly what is coming from the source without adding it's own DSP.

 

Thanks for the tip! The manual isnt exactly clear on some things.

 

what did u need help on?

tip: "breaking in" your subwoofer can help it create a proper seal and sound much deeper. turn your subwoofer setting up and rock out for a day or 2. see if u hear a difference.

 

You're right - they have a lot in common with Apple in that the primary reason for getting them is that the wife, or the female / female-acting other in your life is far more likely to approve the purchase, and that purchase and installation is a no-hassle affair even if you don't have a clue what you're doing.

There's nothing objectionable but no-one is going to make an educated choice for Bose in terms of performance. Though as a package they can work better for very casual use than many an audionerd-friendly equivalent simply because you don't have to be paying attention to use them, and they think about usability factors other than sound (such as comfort in the case of headphones).

 

Am already breaking the subwoofer in .
Some modes arent explained properly in the manual leaving you to wonder what exactly they do - like the Pue Direct mode. And sometimes the combinations of buttons you have to press arent exactly logical but i enjoy experimenting on my own anyway so i dont mind.
One thing i have to note is the amp can get pretty toasty so you have to care not to block the venting on top.