Which is better home theater or stereo component... please help?

Question

I want to buy sound system now but im confused on which one is better in terms of sound quality..

Answer 1

What i got from the question is a surround sound receiver vs. a stereo receiver.

If your just into music get the stereo receiver because it will pump more current to the dominant two channels, and usually you have ports for subs for added bass.

If you want a movie experience get the surround sound receiver so you can atleast have the fulll 5.1 dolby surround sound.

I have a surround sound receiver and i only have two large speakers that aren't getting as much power as they should and don't care to get more speakers because it's just for music.

Answer 2

Philips HT 3000 home theater is better option, as it comes with 5.1 channel audio output for surround sound, 10 W power consumption, 30-20000 Hz frequency and MP3 playback format.

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Answer 3

your budget is the biggest consideration. you can start with b&w or krell, or you can start with sony! i always recommend denon on the reciever end for entry to mid-level. and paradigm on the speaker end for mid-level pricing vs. sound. the sky is the limit! however check out denon's site and paradigm's site you won't be sorry!

Answer 4

Get your budget down and go test what is in your range. Receivers and speakers. Remember they sound different from each other. Some receivers have a muddy sound and some are clear. Check on true power of receiver and inputs and outputs you need. Its nice not to upgrade for a few years if you can help it. Remember if your hi def DVD has a decoder built in to it, you dont need one on you receiver. Dont skimp on cables. Go to a HT shop that will help you. Ask alot of questions and good luck.

Answer 5

The correct answer is both.   See, home theater will produce surround sound with the proper sound coming from the respective speaker, typically 5 in a system.  Stereo will reproduce only the typical image found in most CDs based on the presentation.  

If you watch a lot of movies then go with the home theater.  If you are more into sound while you do other things than watch TV, then perhaps the stereo is what you want.

Do understand the more money you throw at it, the better it will sound, up to a point of course.  So, a stereo having only two speakers, two amplifiers, and a stereo source "should" sound better for a given budget since you can buy better quality components.  Buying two is much less expensive than buying five of each, for a given price range and quality.

Also keep in mind that most home theaters have stereo decode options which will convert two channel stereo to five channel stereo and the newer ones do a very good job of it, too.  That fact alone can make a mid range home theater sound wonderful with a stereo source.  

But, in the end run, there are no concrete answers, what you buy is entirely dependent on what you prefer and like.  I suggest you take two or three of your favorite CDs and listen to the systems you would consider buying.  Don't waste your time listening to a 50,000 dollar stereo system -- yeah, it sounds fantastic but unless it is in your budget you are wasting your time and the sales persons as well.  Focus on where you are spending your money.

Do the same thing with your favorite movies.  You can count on action movies at the store, but bring what you like to watch.  If a movie like "No Reservations" is your favorite type of movie, then making a buying decision while watching "Terminator" is pointless.  

Listen, listen again, then buy what you like to hear, not what you like to see.  Remember, you are buying sound, not cosmetics.

T

Answer 6

Speakers are the most important component.  Every environment is different, so you're not going to know how it sounds until you set it up in your home.

Sound quality is subjective.

Answer 7

Audiophiles purchase the best speakers they can afford, then upgrade electronics as they go along.  Speakers are the most influential.  Then preamps/processors, then digital sources, then amplifiers, then your power out of your wall.  Then cables.  Yes, cables.  If your ear is sensitive and your electronics good and not raspy (*ony, *ioneer, c**p from bbuy, etc.) you can easily hear differences in cables.