Need recommendation for a 5.1 speaker system for trial purposes?

Question

I purchased Denon AVR-988 and would like to see how it works. I particularly would like to see how it will work with my PS3 and Comcast cable box, as well with Blu-ray movies having DTS-HD Master Audio and Dolby TrueHD.

I do not have any single experience with speaker systems and A/V receivers and would like to buy a CHEAP 5.1 system w/ subwoofer and see how the connections are made and the surround sound effect et cetera. I know the quality of the speakers will immensely affect the performance, but all I wanna do is buy a 5.1 surround system and see how it works, or whether it works for that matter. For instance, I wanna see if whether I would be able to benefit from DTS-HD MA (I know the receiver will never lighten that indication, I just wanna press the info button on the PS3 remote while watching a Blu-ray movie having DTS-HD MA, and see whether it will say DTS-HD MA.

Anywyz, please recommend me something cheap that I can buy and then return.

Tnx!

Answer 1

I'm afraid this wont work.

The more expensive speakers are more 'sensitive' and can show nuance and detail in the sound that less expensive speakers cannot.

I suspect the difference between DD5.1 and the un-compressed DTS-HD for a movie is ... nuance.

Cheap speakers will likely mask the improvement.

Your better bet is to take a recent BluRay movie to a higher-end store and ask that they play the movie and toggle between DD an DTS-HD on some nice MartinLogan, Magnapan, Infinity, DefTech, etc speakers.  The better stereo stores usually have a higher end room where they can do this.

Answer 2

If you want a good system and not a piece of poo, Get a Bose. I use to sale Bose Lifestyles A28 systems, very tiny speakers with mind shattering and realistic sound. I use to run a retail consumer electronics store that was about 3000 square feet in size and the Bose would shake the class and vibrate the floors of that store if you wanted it to. Mitsubishi is ok for a good cheap system. Stay away from Onkyo.

Answer 3

I would not buy Bose, in fact I was almost given one for free and I wouldn't take it.  Bose speakers are horrible in their frequency response range.  Their tiny cubes can only reach up to 13Hz  The human ear can hear between 20Hz and 20kHz, think of it as 100 points on the listening scale.  Now Bose "Bass module" cannot be called a sub at all because it can only reach down to 47Hz with it's trifold 5.25" mid bass drivers inside.  A good pair of stereo speakers will reach lower than 47Hz even without a subwoofer.  So now the bass module is losing from 20Hz-47Hz which is 27 points on the lsitening scale and the cubes are missing 7 points on that scale.  So in total you are missing 34 points on that 100 point scale, or 1/3 the sound.

But wait it gets worse from there, this is with a +/- 10db change in volume (the standard is +/- 3db)  Consumer Reports Magazine was sued by Bose (Bose lost) because CR published these horrible testing results, hence why Bose never publishes their frequency response in any ad ever.  Because they are so bad and for the cost of any Bose system you can do far better than Bose.  So please don't listen to the first poster.

There is a valid reason why when you put Bose sucks in any search engine there are 210,000 results.  In fact there are many published reports on how bad Bose it.  Go to any audio forum and I mean any one of them and do a search there and just put in Bose and see what you will get.  AVSForum.com is ranked as the best audio/video forum on the net and see how they all feel about Bose.  Please don't listen to any salesman who insists that Bose or Monster Cables are the best, please do your research.

Now for a cheap system that can handle the new PS3 audio formats. I would get an Onkyo 605 reciever for 350.00

5 Best Buy Insignia speakers with the curved wood design. they cost 50-70.00/ea and are praised on A/V websites for their great sound and cheap price  5 will cost you between 250-350.00

A sub is gonna cost you though, most cheap subs are just that CHEAP with tons of distortion and poor bass response.  Internet companies sell a 500.00 sub that will rival subs costing thousands in stores.  I recommend SVS or Hsu for the best bang for the buck and offer a 45 day return if you don't like.  Trust me you won't ever return the sub it sounds great.

You are looking at around 1,200 for everything.  I know this isn't cheap, but you won't have buyers remorse and also won't be throwing away your money, by going this route.

Good luck and happy listening.

Answer 4

I'm telling you the truth, I bought Denon AVR- 988 two months ago and answered some questions about How to know the receiver playing DTS-HD Master ? What you say is correct , just press display button on PS3 remote and you will see the info on TV screen. Don't forget to set Linear PCM on audio setting and HDMI out for both audio & video on PS3 menu.