Reddit mentions of Onkyo HT-S3500 660 Watt 5.1-Channel Home Theater Speaker/Receiver Package

Well since it seems you're not a huge audiophile, I don't think you need to get too complicated with what you need, so my recommendation is to stay with 5.1, anything higher I think is overkill unless you're really passionate about surround.

I don't personally like wireless speakers, you never know if something can interfere with the signal and cause any audio loss, so I would stay with wired.

My best recommendation would be something simple but functional, there are packages out there that come with the receiver, speakers and sub woofer for about $300+ depending on your needs. I don't recommend ones that come with the DVDs/bluray player built in though, try and find one that has a big receiver. Something like this would do: http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0077V88V8/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1420721858&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX200_QL40&dpPl=1&dpID=313AsvRhHuL&ref=plSrch#

Yes, the general consensus among audiophiles is that Bose is overpriced and soundbars are very underwhelming. "Real 5.1 sound" cannot (yet) be achieved without a real 5.1 setup. Most HTIB (Home Theatres in a Box) will give you better sound than a soundbar.

I own this 5.1 Pioneer speaker setup found here and I highly recommend it to anyone that is looking for a good entry level home theater setup. Shop around and you can get a fantastic deal on the whole setup. I got the 5.0 setup for less than $300 and then upgraded to a $200 BIC 12 sub to get the 0.1.

You will then of course need a decent reciever (about $250) and cables and you will blow any speaker bar out of the water. I am not certain if this is within your budget since you only quoted "cheaper than bose" but I have seen this exact setup recommend many times before and I feel it is one of the best values for the price.

Edit: I was way under your budget. You could definitely do better than this setup at your price range.

Looks a bit overpriced for what it is. I would purchase a Blu-ray player separately and this system instead

Well, if you plan on buying a cheaper set, only to upgrade piece by piece, do not buy a in-box system from companies like LG, Samsung, Panasonic, Sony etc. The OHM load is not standard 6-8 like a stand alone stereo receiver, so you can't just buy replacement speakers for them, so you would have to cut the plugs off (they usually aren't pos/neg but have there own type of "special" plug) which is NOT recommended. Plus, those subs are passive, meaning they aren't a powered type set up so you can't just buy a new one from the store either. These set ups are referred to as "disposable" to people who deal with them a lot.

I recommend either finding a 5.1 set (that doesn't come with a receiver) from a company like Klipsch or Polk Audio, and than buying a standalone receiver or an Onkyo set. If you have a budget of $300-$400, Onkyo makes a fantastic in box set up, that will allow you to swap out any piece for upgrades or replacements, as well as plenty of HDMI I puts for gaming consols, optical input jacks, analog input jacks and so on, so you can plug in just about anything.

http://www.amazon.com/Onkyo-HT-S3500-5-1-Channel-Theater-Receiver/dp/B0077V88V8 this set up is on sale right now, it's actually a killer deal.

Source: I sold home audio for 6 years.

Well right meow I was looking at the cheapest option which was this [Onkyo HTIB] (http://www.amazon.com/Onkyo-HT-S3500-5-1-Channel-Theater-Receiver/dp/B0077V88V8/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1346954220&sr=1-1&keywords=HTIB) to get me started. However, in my mind it probably makes a little more sense to go higher quality. Would 750-1.5k be enough for a decent system? If not, what price point am I looking at for a decent 7.1 system? I am also fine with a 5.1 with the option to upgrade in the future.

You're solving the wrong problem here... you're trying to work around the fact you bought a rather cheap HTiB, when you should just return it and get a better one, negating the need for all this shenanigans...

Here's an Onkyo set for $280.

So, I count four HDMI devices (not sure what "home theater" means)... which that would support... and it has two Component jacks as well.. (will only output Component via Component), in addition to two TOSLINK in and a Coax in as well so your non-HDMI audio is covered too.

So, you'd have Four devices on HDMI, Two on Component, Two TOSLINK cables going into the receiver. Then going from the receiver to the TV you'd only have an HDMI Cable, and a Component cable.

Whether you think simplifying things to this level is worth the extra $17 ($190 + $73 + shipping) you'd be spending (and less remotes) is up to you.

I would advise you that buying a sound bar is a waste of your money. You're much better off setting that money aside and saving for a better system.

Speakers are the most important part of a sound system, more important than the receiver (just to put it simply. Obviously there are caveats).

If you're really desperate to make the leap now, there are many Home Theater In a Box (HITB) setups in your price range. Consider purchasing one of these, with an eye on upgrading your speakers.

Personally, I like my Onkyo a lot, and you might consider this unit on Amazon. I do not own it myself, but it is well reviewed. I recommend searching for units in your range, and then google that model along with key words "AVS forum" - you'll likely find a ton of user feedback.

A few key points I would mention - don't worry about 7.1 systems unless your TV viewing area is cavernous. If you are watching Blu-rays, do focus on something with HDMI inputs, to maximize your options for hi-def audio. My opinion is that Sony gear tends to be overpriced, because of the brand name. Consider looking into a well reviewed HITB from lesser known brands.

Ah gotcha, if you watch movies and all that shnaazzz then any home theater setup will do. I'd suggest having one with a receiver, you'll just need to connect the PC via HDMI into the receiver, then have the receiver output to the TV via HDMI as well.


Unfortunately, it does come at a price. A decent 5.1 system starts around 250 or so unless you find a sale. This has some great reviews on Amazon and I personally would have bought it but found this on sale, which I'm extremely happy about. But they're pretty much in the same class.


Also, there's some 5.1 multimedia speakers available for <200 but I'm assuming you get the quality of what you pay for. I have a 2.1 system with a sub connected to my PC and the sub is satisfying, yet completely under-performed compared to my home theater setup in my living room. It's really up to you though, I don't watch movies on my PC so the 2.1 system does just fine.

Hi Zeos. Thank you for sharing all your knowledge and taking the time to educate and answer others.

I bought this HTiB about 2 years ago before I knew anything about audio/visual equipment. Everything is in good working condition. I started stalking /r/audiophile, /r/headphones, and /r/hometheater and came across /r/zeos. Reading up on your posts about 2.0/2.1 and 5.0/5.1 systems has made me think whether I should change my setup.

I'm currently using my system for watching streamed TV/movies and also for listening to music streamed from my android/computer to my Chromecast. I do not have a DVD or Blueray player. However, this is in a small room, about 11'x20'. Note that the TV/couch orientation uses the 11' distance and not the 20' distance. After looking at your diagrams for a 5.1 system, I noticed I have absolutely no room behind my couch since my couch is right up against the wall. This makes me think I'm not really taking advantage of a 5.1 system. I'm also not planning to upgrade the room size for another 3-5 years.

Would you suggest trying to sell the HTiB and starting from scratch with a 2.0/2.1 system? Will I see a notable upgrade from my HTiB? And since I use this for TV/movies, would it be advisable to get something with multiple inputs (like one of the 5.1 receivers) rather than just one of the amps you have listed above?

Okay here you go -

Sharp LC-60LE650 60-inch Aquos 1080p 120Hz Smart LED HDTV by Sharp http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BG5M93Y/ref=cm_sw_r_udp_awd_E7Qetb123NKEP watch this as it will move in price. Right now is amazing,

Onkyo HT-S3500 5.1-Channel Home Theater Speaker/Receiver Package by Onkyo http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0077V88V8/ref=cm_sw_r_udp_awd_K8Qetb1KC9W9M - again watch this because it will change

Nexera 221133 Allure 60-Inch TV Stand, Ebony and White by Nexera http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008HUNTDA/ref=cm_sw_r_udp_awd_j9Qetb054VAXZ - same

Nexera 220433 Allure 36-Inch 2-Drawer Unit, Ebony and White by Nexera http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0062O1L10/ref=cm_sw_r_udp_awd_I9Qetb0EV7WZX - again watch.

The actual shelves were the hardest part because they are different pieces so I had to see when one would get a bump down.

There is money involved but it's after lots of saving and waiting for the right time for deals. Like I said before, amazon and craigslist can be your best friend.

What about this? It doesn't have BluRay but it has all 6 speakers and does Linear PCM as well as Dolby True HD, as well as 4 HDMI in and 1 HDMI out.

http://www.amazon.com/Onkyo-HT-S3500-5-1-Channel-Theater-Receiver/dp/B0077V88V8/ref=lp_281056_1_2?s=tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1382233868&sr=1-2

The system i've shown above is more for music than movies.
For movies, seeing how you need an audio/video receiver and that budget ... i'd do something like this:
http://www.amazon.com/Onkyo-HT-S3500-5-1-Channel-Theater-Receiver/dp/B0077V88V8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1420683425&sr=8-1&keywords=onkyo+HTIB

Even if you don't want all 5 speakers you can just make it work with 3 and subwoofer. It will still be better than the sound bar.

Also ... I bought this unit for my parents for Xmas and it was $289, which would fit your budget. So maybe give it a few weeks till it drops in price again.

You could do a lot worse than this Onkyo system. I have a similar set up and it's fantastic.

http://www.amazon.com/Onkyo-HT-S3500-5-1-Channel-Theater-Receiver/dp/B0077V88V8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1414424716&sr=8-1&keywords=onkyo+home+theater+system

I recently bought this Onkyo surround sound system from Amazon. Really nice system for the price. Very happy with it. Has great reviews by several others as you'll see...

Onkyo HT-S3500 5.1-Channel Home Theater Speaker/Receiver Package by Onkyo http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0077V88V8/ref=cm_sw_r_udp_awd_kvmhtb0A03FDF

You'd need an amplifier to power those speakers. Something like either of these would work:

Cheap Option

Better Quality

You could also consider buying a package deal like:

Speakers + Amplifier

or if you don't want to spend a lot of money, you could do something like:

Micro Amp

with these

Inexpensive pair of speakers

This is the HTIB I previously owned. So the speakers are from that.

But recently I think I've decided to up the budget a little bit. I think I'm going to go with the Denon x1300w off of A4L for $299, and then get a pair of Micca MB42X and the MB42X-C for now until I can upgrade my rear speakers and sub.

I was considering just settling for the Denon AVR-S530BT, but for $299 it's hard to pass up such a significant improvement as well as a leaving me a bit of room to gradually improve to a 7.1.2 set up for Atmos.

Oh...for gaming..I'll be connecting it to:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0077V88V8/

Onkyo HT-S3500 5.1-Channel Home Theater Speaker/Receiver Package

So this was my setup before the samsung bar

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0077V88V8/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

If i get that denon receiver, for the time being just to get me 5.1 up and running, could i essentially use these speakers with it? I know the sound quality probably sucks, but at least I could drop the samsung bar, and then use the new AVR with some speakers. Or is that a bad idea?

Do you have any speaker recommendations for 5.1 atm?

I got this like 3 years ago and love it

Most people will say you're better off with a real receiver. They're right. I've been through this scenario you are describing. The problem is that the bluray player is your "receiver". At the same time, it has no HDMI inputs. So all your components (Xbox, whatever else) have to plug into the TV, and then the sound is sent out to the bluray receiver through the optical.

Can it be done? Yes. But most TVs do not passthrough 5.1 via optical, which means your TV will likely spit the signal out as stereo. Your bluray will probably take a stereo signal and split it artificially into 5.1, but it's not the true surround you had coming out of the Xbox. The only time you will get true surround is when watching a bluray.

The other issue is the speakers. Most of these systems have a proprietary connector on the receiver that prevents you from easily connecting new speakers. That means when you outgrow the system or want to upgrade you have to completely replace the system. Mine was donated to a friend.


You're better off with a real receiver. Even this system would be better, since it has a real receiver and the speakers could be upgraded.

Onkyo HT-S3500 660 Watt 5.1-Channel Home Theater Speaker/Receiver Package https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0077V88V8/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_xnJ-ub0XM6VGY
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0077V88V8/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_xnJ-ub0XM6VGY

Also what do you think about the speakers that come with these: http://smile.amazon.com/dp/B0077V88V8/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=VHT3EQQ052JF&coliid=I3QJ9CXM0F45RQ

So I've been thinking about my situation some more, and being cognizant of the fact that the sound quality will be inferior in a prepackaged system, I think getting one makes the most sense for me due to budgetary constraints and overall convenience. I like the idea of building a system over time, but I don't think I'll be able to commit resources to building it up like that. I probably won't ever get around to upgrading anything. Also, as a bit of perspective for me, I've been using a basic stereo system (5 CD changer kind of deal) for the last 13 or 14 years... so I think a prepackaged system would still present a pretty significant upgrade for me...

With all this in mind, and resigning myself to the disadvantages of a prepackaged system, which of these seems like the best option?

The aforementioned Sony system?

This Onkyo system?

Or this other Sony system?

Thanks so much for your help!

I'm sorry and I know this is irrelevant, but I read powDered sub and lost it.

On a more serious note, a powered sub will need some sort of pre amp to send the signal. If you were really wanting a subwoofer to have all the connections of the rest of the sound system, I know bose (DONT DO IT) acoustimass modules have the outputs for speakers, though they aren't powered.

Since it is going to be PC driven, honestly You're best off making sure you have a 5.1 soundcard and then finding a 5.1 computer set up. I know Logitech makes a few.

I understand money is always a factor in creating your system, but do NOT sell yourself short and spend just under 200 when you could save up a bit more and get what you actually want.

A proper receiver with 5.1 output and a speaker setup will be something that you can keep and upgrade when the time comes.

If your PC has an optical out, you could do something like this

it's not a powered sub setup, but it's a start in the right direction.

You could rock this for a while, then upgrade to a receiver that has a sub pre out and pick up a powered sub with that and then use your existing speakers with your new set up.

Ultimately, my true opinion is: DON'T SETTLE.

You'll regret it.

Why not replace the soundbar with this and gain sound quality and simplify your input connections

You would both benefit more from something like this I can almost guarantee. http://www.amazon.com/Onkyo-HT-S3500-5-1-Channel-Theater-Receiver/dp/B0077V88V8/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1416412558&sr=1-1&keywords=5.1+receiver+home+theater+and+speakers

Is this worth buying? Is it similar to yours?

http://www.amazon.com/Onkyo-HT-S3500-5-1-Channel-Theater-Receiver/dp/B0077V88V8/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1411068131&sr=8-9&keywords=Onky

Your receiver model might not be HT-s3200, check the front right corner or rear by power. s3500 is R391

I chose the same model Sony receiver and found a Samsung TV that was DLP like mine.

Make sure you have the latest ATI drivers and HDMI Audio is selected for install.