Are any of those cheapo surround systems any good?

[Anderton]

You see them for like $99 - $150 or so...five speakers, sub, no amps. Lots of DVD players and amps have surround outputs, but I'm not about to spend a ton of bucks on good, big speakers, let alone find the space to put them. So I wondered if anyone has gotten one of those small systems, and whether it was any good.

[I was The Funk]

I've never heard one that was worth listening too. these are the things that double as computer surround speakers right?

They are ok for that use and maybe for gaming. but for listening to music or movies, they just aren't worth it.

A good two channel setup would be better. but thats not for $100 either.

[Jon Hiller]

I would second "I Was The Funk's Reccomendation of a 2-channel setup, unless you are looking to spend a bit of money. 2-channel won't be cheap either, but you will get more sound for your money, especially if you listen to music more than you watch movies. Most of the surround receivers on the market seem to be geared more toward watching movies than they are for listening to music, hence them being marketed as surround setups. If you're in a small room and just want something for movie surround, one of those all in one box systems (receiver, dvd/cd player, powered sub and speakers) from Pioneer or Magnavox or Sony would probably be ok, but I'd be willing to venture that if you're in a room of any size, they'd be inadequate.

[doug osborne]

http://www.orbaudio.com/

Not $150, but not bad.

http://www.orbaudio.com/ProductImages/450quattro.gif

[Jon Hiller]

http://www.orbaudio.com/

Not $150, but not bad.

http://www.orbaudio.com/ProductImages/450quattro.gif

That company's page on markups in the electronics industry is complete BS. I sell and install some home electronics along with running my shop. NEVER have I seen any sort of subwoofer or any other electronic device that wholesales at $279 and is marked up to $899. If you look at the electronics industry, the only retailers that are independents that are still doing great business are the ones who also install because places like Best Buy and Circuit City have killed the profit margins (markups) that all the small shops used to enjoy. You'll be lucky (if you're a retailer) to make $50.00 on a $200.00 receiver these days, and that's before shipping to your store's door.

As for the speakers themselves, I have never heard of them, but that doesn't necessarily mean they are bad. However, I would have a real problem believing anything from a company that posts such blatant crap as their markup page is.

[denvertrakker]

Standard margin on name-brand electronics is 40%, except for speakers which are usually 50%. I've been in and out of the audio business from all sides since 1972 and that's pretty standard.

Back to the original question:
If you want a decent surround system, Onkyo makes the best ones I've ever heard. They come with a good basic receiver and five ugly but adequate speakers, plus an OK subwoofer, and a set of cables you should immediately replace, for about $300.

[Professor Tom]

The cheap ones are OK if you have cloth ears or have just upgraded from a normal TV but once the novelty has worn off or if you are a musician with good ears they are not much good. I would advocate using a BOSE speaker system unless you have serious spare money lying around for the real top end stuff.

[Jon Hiller]

Standard margin on name-brand electronics is 40%, except for speakers which are usually 50%. I've been in and out of the audio business from all sides since 1972 and that's pretty standard.

Back to the original question:
If you want a decent surround system, Onkyo makes the best ones I've ever heard. They come with a good basic receiver and five ugly but adequate speakers, plus an OK subwoofer, and a set of cables you should immediately replace, for about $300.

Yeah, that's probably about right on the margin, unless you're competing directly with a chain store, which would lower them a tad. Certainly NOT in the 400-500% as that web page posted suggests.

I had forgotten all about Onkyo, if they have an all in one kit it would definitely be a step up from most. I have Harman/Kardon system components with all Advent speakers, and I was just looking around the net and Harman/Kardon actually has a complete system now as well, which would also probably be a step up from what you'd see at Walmart. I've never heard any of the H/K speakers, though, so I have no idea what they'd sound like. They're probably ok, though, or H/K wouldn't put their name on them. Same with the Onkyo.

Anderton, being a music guy, I still say you should stop and think hard about what you're going to use it for before you buy, though, because I think if you listen to music more than you would watch movies through it, you'd get more bang for your buck with a stereo, 2-channel setup. My H/K stuff, while not extremely high end, is far from cheap stuff, and it does what I would call "good" on music, but not great. It sounds fantastic on movies, though, and since my kids use the system for movies as much or more than I use it for music, that works out ok by me. However, if it were for my personal use only, I'd have gotten the regular 2-channel H/K receiver, because it's a bit less expensive than what mine was, and it smokes my surround receiver for music.

[denvertrakker]

[QUOTE=Jon Hiller;25085951

I had forgotten all about Onkyo, if they have an all in one kit it would definitely be a step up from most. I have Harman/Kardon system components with all Advent speakers, and I was just looking around the net and Harman/Kardon actually has a complete system now as well, which would also probably be a step up from what you'd see at Walmart. I've never heard any of the H/K speakers, though, so I have no idea what they'd sound like. They're probably ok, though, or H/K wouldn't put their name on them. Same with the Onkyo.

[/QUOTE]

The Harman all-in-one isn't bad, a bit more stylish than the Onkyo, though I think the Onkyo is a better value. Bear in mind that Harman's parent company also owns JBL, so that's where the speakers come from. Although JBL's pro sound stuff is still excellent, their home audio stuff is...well...less so. We all used to joke that the initials stood for "Junky But Loud".

A little known fact about Onkyo is that they are actually a speaker manufacturer as well as electronics. They have quite a bit of manufacturing expertise in speakers, so even their cheap ones are decent. They used to have quite a presence in the US speaker market back in the '70s, though very little any more.

As for Bose, well, all I'll say is our slogan at the store I used to work at was "Friends don't let friends buy Bose.":poke:

[JohnnyPhenom]

The cheap ones are OK if you have cloth ears or have just upgraded from a normal TV but once the novelty has worn off or if you are a musician with good ears they are not much good. I would advocate using a BOSE speaker system unless you have serious spare money lying around for the real top end stuff.


http://www.intellexual.net/bose.html



Bose Sucks my friend. Learn and spread the word.

[Jon Hiller]

http://www.htguys.com/archive/2007/November30.html

A link to a comparison of a bunch of home theater in a box systems. You can probably find them for less money on eBay. I know for a fact that Harman/Kardon sells direct on ebay, mostly refurbs, but they have full factory warranty, not a shortened warranty like most refurbs. I have one I bought as a refurb and it's great. The Onkyo stuff there looks good as well, and there are a couple lower priced ones. A good resource to check out.

[planteater]

Anderton, being a music guy, I still say you should stop and think hard about what you're going to use it for before you buy, though, because I think if you listen to music more than you would watch movies through it, you'd get more bang for your buck with a stereo, 2-channel setup.


I agree. Having bought a mid-price Sony surround sound setup and used it for a couple of months I realised I wasn't that much of a film buff. CDs sounded horrible through it and I wasn't prepared to clutter my living space with two audio systems. It had to go and I now feed my DVD player through my ancient Cyrus One amp and B&W speakers. CDs sound great again and DVDs sound good enough.

I'm really glad that I didn't Ebay my old gear!

[I was The Funk]

The cheap ones are OK if you have cloth ears or have just upgraded from a normal TV but once the novelty has worn off or if you are a musician with good ears they are not much good. I would advocate using a BOSE speaker system unless you have serious spare money lying around for the real top end stuff.


I would NOT advocate using ANYTHING BOSE.

Except their 301 speakers (which would need a reciever anyway) or their headphones. None of which can be had even used, at your price point.

those little speakers from bose SUCKKKKKKKKK!!!!!

[Hard Truth]

Geez Craig,
I am shocked that you don't have a surround system at home. IMO its a very worthwhile investment, more so than a big screen TV, because surround enhances primetime TV shows, movies and concert videos so significantly.

I am very happy with my relatively modest $2.1K system-$350 for the Sony receiver, $1300 for the 5 Tannoy speakers, $500 for the Definitiv sub. I bet you can write it off considering the type of work that you do. I don't think it is worthwhile to spend less than $1700 considering that you know the difference between good and bad sound.

BTW, despite the myths, all the speakers in a surround system should be the same type. I don't support going with smaller speakers for the surrounds.

[buckethead99]

Well Speakers have changed alot over the past few years,
Bigger is not always better and the same with price...
But in the end it depends on how much you want to rattle the windows...

[TIP]

So far I haven't heard anything mixed for surround or 5.1 worth listening to...hell it's rare that stereo even gets done properly anymore.

[Neonfacelift]

The cheap ones are OK if you have cloth ears or have just upgraded from a normal TV but once the novelty has worn off or if you are a musician with good ears they are not much good. I would advocate using a BOSE speaker system unless you have serious spare money lying around for the real top end stuff.

Bose is crap. You can get twice the performance for half the price with countless other brands. The only reason they are regarded as a decent brand is they made one good product 20 years ago (901 series speakers) and never went away. Do some research here ->http://avsforum.com. These guys know their stuff and will have a ton of suggestions for you.

[search now]

You see them for like $99 - $150 or so...five speakers, sub, no amps. Lots of DVD players and amps have surround outputs, but I'm not about to spend a ton of bucks on good, big speakers, let alone find the space to put them. So I wondered if anyone has gotten one of those small systems, and whether it was any good.


just threw mine away last week,true

[oldman2]

What kills me is the outrageous wattage these systems claim. Buy this 500 watt surround system with 5 speakers and a sub.
Daamn we been getting ripped of on our guitar,bass,keys, and Pa amps.
And those little systems don't weigh near as much as one of my other amps.
Maybe I could just get rid of my Pa systems and get one of these. Just think I would not have to hurt my back to set it up and would not burn so much gas [ lite weight].
Look out Ebay I'm gonna unload all my gear and buy these things.
oldman2

[alcohol]

would those low cost self powered studio monitors at GC be better?

I have a Tonnoy sub that I no longer use in my studio and was thinking about getting other speakers for my home entertainment system. Right now I'm only using the monitors that are built into the screen.

Two pairs of these for example:

http://www.zzounds.com/item--MDOSP3