I'm sorry, to say this, but, I do not think it is possible to put together a system (especially, home theater), for this kind of budget that is not a waste of $1400. Your only chance would be to buy used. To buy used and be succesful requires a lot of time and control of instant gradification needs. If you need sound now. (And who doesn't?). My best advice would be to checkout the Tivoli systems. They have surprising sound quality and throw a good sound stage. They have an all in one CD, radio, speakers, sub, for around $1000.00. I heard one the other day and was blown away by the sound.

To buy seperate componets and surpass this sound qualty I feel you would need to spend at least $3000.00 if you could do it for that. (new equipment). Forget about Home theater for now. Cheap home theater is a total waste of money.(only my opinion)

Jim

I disagree. Cheap home theater is not a waste of money. You should be able to learn a valuable lesson when buying such gear; equipment manufacturers don't usually have your best interests in mind when they create this junk.

Please realize where you posted this question. You are asking devoted two channel music lovers what home theater to buy. There are better places to get the answer you desire.

However, if you are satisified with what you are spending your money on, go right ahead. Everyone must begin somewhere and those of us on this forum sometimes forget we too had crap to listen to at one time or that not everyone wants the systems we own and other folks don't always listen the way we do. Not everyone is interested in soundstaging, imaging and micro-dynamics. If you are not, and you know you are not, then the 8.1's and a receiver will certainly do the job of getting sound into your apartment. The thing is, as far I see it, you have to have some idea what it is you do want from the system. Is it just that it plays and keeps you company? Or would you like something more akin to live music in your room? The direction each question points toward is the polar opposite from the other. How about you tell us what it is you think you want from the system?

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Please realize where you posted this question. You are asking devoted two channel music lovers what home theater to buy. There are better places to get the answer you desire.

No and yes. Not all of us have a monomaniac devotion to two channel but we do all strive for the best sound we can afford. With such a budget, it is hard to obtain so many channels of decent quality. So, there are better places to ask this question.

Try www.htguide.com, www.avsforum.com, www.hdtvoice.com or similar sites. Or hang around here and find out what's really good.

Kal

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your right sorry i didnt say exactly what i was thinking of. Well honestly i want the system more for music listening but I will also use it in conjunction with my television and dvd. Do you guys think a two channel system would be better for what I am looking for? I am young 19 years old, so I am not looking to make this strictly for music only. I perfer listening to music but would also like it to play movies quite well.

OK. For the quoted budget, you could buy a pair of speakers and a decent receiver. That would, imho, optimize the quality for the $$ and leave you the option of expanding the number of channels as the finances permit. Despite my preference for multichannel, I think it is more important to have a good performing and good sounding system in stereo than a truly mediocre MCH system.

Kal

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Not all of us have a monomaniac devotion to two channel

Well, of course not. That would be a "stereo-maniac" devotion. Mono is another matter all together. I am devoted to it also.

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Not all of us have a monomaniac devotion to two channel

Well, of course not. That would be a "stereo-maniac" devotion. Mono is another matter all together. I am devoted to it also.

Glad you took the bait!!

Kal

assuming that one has a PC at their disposal... couldn't one get an Audigy 2 sound controller such as this :
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150087790208&fromMakeTrack=true

and connect the outputs for Front and Rear pairs to Infinity Primus 360's and 160's respectively (Both reviewed in the last few years favorably in Stereophile), driven by the now-legendary Sonic Impact T-Amp ?

Sonic Impact T-Amp x 2 = 320.00
Infinity Primus 360 x 2 = 650.00
Infinity Primus 150 x 2 = 200.00
Audigy Sound card = 100.00 (?)

total = 1270.00

Tha'ts a little under the targeted budget. I'd pocket the change and save it toward a good outboard DSP. I'd skip the center speaker and use 4-chanel mode in the beginning, this being mainly a low-budget music system

Well Good Luck and happy shopping whatever you decide let us know!

Who is gonna pay $650 for a pair of Infinity Primus 360s when one can get them for $350 ($135 for the 150s) delivered?

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Who is gonna pay $650 for a pair of Infinity Primus 360s when one can get them for $350 ($135 for the 150s) delivered?

No one here, if you can point them to the online resource!

Crutchfield.

Probably one of the best values going right now. I see the new line of Primus speakers is out now. Could the price on Primus 360s go even lower?

Your money would be better spent on two speakers and a receiver. You can buy either stereo or multichannel, with the option of buying more (identical) speakers later.

Paradigm makes good speakers for not too much money. Or you could shop at crutchfield.com. It's got a 30-day return policy.

Also, unless you live in an intact pre-war apartment, you might also want to consider the impact the use of a subwoofer will have on the lives of your neighbors.