Team-BHP - The Home Theater thread

Guys,

I Plan to buy a Satellite speaker based HT that can play well in a L shaped Living cum dining room (about 550 sqft). My budget is around @ 50000/- to 60,000/- max.

What I would really like to have is

1. AE's Aego T Sat based HT package with a Marantz SR 5001. package cost Rs 1,10,000/- ( Reference Point Blr).
2. KEF 3001 Eggs with Denon 1907. Package cost 1,07,000/- ( Pro fx Blr) .

Both of the above I cannot afford, So guys help me with something under Rs 60000/-. I have some thoughts do verify

1. Denon 1707 with Polk Rm 6750 5.1 speaker pkg
2. Harmon Kardon avr 130 with JBL scs 260.5

Any more ideas?

Quote:

Originally Posted by MC Mayank (Post 514265)

Guys I have no clue on home theater systems. Pardon my ignorance but here is my question. Would it be possible to have a combo of a 29" flat tv + 5.1 decent sounding system all within 20k?

I think it might be possible, though you might be a little out of budget,

Home Page - Sumaria

Some HTIBs start at around 8000 and 29" tvs for around 14000

Quote:

Originally Posted by islandman (Post 526727)

So guys help me with something under Rs 60000/-. I have some thoughts do verify

1. Denon 1707 with Polk Rm 6750 5.1 speaker pkg
2. Harmon Kardon avr 130 with JBL scs 260.5

Any more ideas?

The Polk model is a good one. If you are pressed for budget, cut it att he receiver side and focus on the speaker. Sonodyne Genie is a decent set as well, as someone suggested. You can also try the Cinema series by Wharfedale (35K), other than KHT.

Another receiver which is great value is the Panasonic SR-X series. I will settle for the X25 than the later models with useless bells and whistles. It is a fully digital amplifier and well rated. Talking about digital amps, if you promise not to scream at me, I would recommend you take a look and listen to the Sony DZ 7** series. The new ones that are branded Bravia arent as good as the old series. At the price point, that particular model is unbeatable.

As for your earlier query on KEF KHT, the rates were street prices in the US. In fact, circuit city has KHT 2005 mk2 on sale right now for $500 shipped.

HTH./DT

Quote:

Originally Posted by jassi (Post 515612)

determinus - have u had a listen on the onkyo ht-s990thx(s) package - the speakers/sub are pretty good :) cos of the requirements set by thx to get the certification - afaik this was the only complete thx certified HT system when i bought it 3-4 months back.

Didnt mean to say that they were bad in any ways. They are OK, pretty decent, and should suffice for most of the applications. So are some of the Sonys. I was talking about the value factor, in which there are better performers. (And you are right, THX is all hogwash, be it HTIB or otherwise)

edit:oops! did i pick an old query and reply?

@vikram_d
Ash's HT budget breakup is near perfect. Amongst the brands, I will strike off a few from the list: NAD makes great stereo amps, but doesnt fare that well in receivers, Yamaha is too bright, leaving you with Onkyo and Denon in that price range. I would probably buy an Onkyo (I myself have a Denon and a Yamaha) and spend that extra bit on the speakers.

If you are not going to listen to music much, then good speaker packages are also OK. But buying separates from the same series also should work fine -- Wharfedale Diamond 9 (80k) < Polk Monitor or RTi (90k) < B&W Mini (1L) < KEF Q (1.3L) are some proven systems.

If it is a dedicated room, then work on the acoustics also. You an find scores of material on the net.

@appuchan
How much did you pay for the Diamond 9.1 set? Where did you buy that from?

Quote:

Originally Posted by reignofchaos (Post 519641)

Stay away from Jamo's lowend made in china range. None of them are great. However if you are willing to spend, their E8, D and C8 series speakers are incredibly good for the price. These are hand crafted danish speakers. I have a pair of E855 floorstanders and am pretty happy with them.

Let me check the model as you suggested, but the sales guy told me it's from Europe.

Quote:

Originally Posted by determinus (Post 529773)

Thanks Determinus, I will go by your advice on cutting in on the receiver side. I have a good HDMI enabled tv and a HDMI DVD player. I would perhaps go in for the Marantz 4001 or Onkyo Sr 604 which are both HDMI enabled and priced at around 30-35k.

I will then have about a max of 35-40 K for the Sat. speakers and wonder what would be the best buy in that range.

Quote:

Originally Posted by islandman (Post 530648)

Isn't the price difference between the 604 and 674 small ? You could consider that. It probably allows HDMI switching.

Btw, how is the Onkyo 604/674 for playing stereo ?

Quote:

Originally Posted by shuvc (Post 530721)

Isn't the price difference between the 604 and 674 small ? You could consider that. It probably allows HDMI switching.

Btw, how is the Onkyo 604/674 for playing stereo ?

Onkyo's out. Musically no good.

Its got to be marantz 4001 ( 32k) and the speakers to be a mix of wharfedale diamond 9.1 for the fronts. 9.0 css for the centre and 9.0 hcp rears with Sw 150 sub ( about 45K)

All prices with bill and warranty. will bargain a few more grands downwards.

Quote:

Originally Posted by shuvc

Who is the distributor/dealer for Marantz in India ?

Marantz distributor

Refex Pro-Acoustics
113 GN Chetty Road
T.Nagar
Chennai - 600 017
Phone 91-44-42124483
91-44-28343483
Fax 91-44-2822 4483
Email acoustics@refex.com

The Audio People
Anmol - Palani
88, G. N. Chetty Road
T.Nagar, Chennai - 600 017, India
Tel : 00 91 44 42125999
Fax : 00 91 44 42125899

BTW.
My final choices are
1. Marantz Sr 4001 @ 32k and Wharfedale 9hcp ( with SW150) @ 34k(approx)
2. Marantz Sr 4001 @32k and Definitive Technologies Pro Cinema 800 @47k(approx.)
3. Marantx Sr 4001 @32k and Acoustic Energy Aego T @70k

Also how is Yamaha 661 that all wharfedale dealors swear by here?

BTW, Heard an amusing and mischeivious quote by dealors of the higher end of the hi end hi-fi speakers. the quote is " oh, Wharfedale; that is the Ahuja Speakers of the UK"