Home Theater assistance for a 18 year old

[dtrain8906]

So yeah, I am a HUGE movie geek rockin a minimum wage job and a 24 in tv. Any advise on cheap effective ways to make my set up a little better without costing an arm and a leg.

[theboytampon]

Is it an HDTV? If your really looking to upgrade from SD, and your budget is really tight... you could always consider:

Instead of an HDTV, purchase a computer monitor (LCD of course.) For example, a 24" Samsung 1080p monitor goes for under 500$, which is pretty good. Keep in mind they run at 16:10 as opposed to 16:9 and have limited connections (usually DVI and VGA only.)

Instead of forking over an arm and a leg for 5.1 surround sound, purchase computer speakers (do I sense a trend?) There are a variety of things you have to keep in mind when purchasing these, however. The best bet I've found is the Logitech Z-5500's which still go for just under 500$. They decode DTS and Dolby by themselves, and have many inputs so you can join whatever devices you need, with whatever connections you have.

Buy a PS3 as opposed to a Blu-Ray standalone. Not only is the cost of the player only marginally higher, but it allows the playing of console games. Having an online connection within the player itself also allows firmware upgrades in the form of Blu-Ray profiles (unlocking certain features of Blu-Ray discs as they are created.)

I'd go with an HD-DVD standalone as opposed to a 360 plus addition, however.

Buy HDMI cables online, not in-store. Monoprice is the best place to purchuse your connections. Since it s digital, there really is little difference whether you buy a 10$ cable of the 150$ Monster brand cables.

Rent a calibration disc instead of purchasing one, or use one of the THX tests included on many DVDs. They work fine for smaller sets, and for the less A/V obsessed.

[dtrain8906]

Nope not an HDTV at all

thats a good plan, I'll probally do the speaker thing

I have an xbox, and am saving alot of money beofre i go off 2 college but with xmas and graduation upon me I will add those ideas to my list thank you.

[The Postmaster General]

These Mac Minis are becoming very popular for all-in-one home entertainment centers. With a $19 adapter they plug right into a standard TV. You can get the keyboard and mouse, if you don't already have one, for not much more. The Front Row software is pretty cool. I just got a Macbook Pro with a busted display and am running it into my TV, and it's pretty sweet having the full computer entertainment set-up via my old tube TV. I've actually been watching and listening to more stuff on that set-up than my usual one. If I had an HDTV, I'd be floating. It'll be no time before dirt cheap external HD-DVD readers.

[theboytampon]

I'm in the same position as you (18 with minimum wage job.) My small set-up is a 19" Samsung LCD HDTV (16:10). It has HDMI, DVI, Component, S-Video, Composite, Optical, RCA, a Headphone Jack as well as VGA and PC Audio. One of each, but that's all I need. I would have grabbed a Bravia (so I could continue my all-Sony product line-up) but they are quite pricey. Plus, I dislike the design. My Samsung is pretty. I also have the DVAHDX466 Home Theatre package from Sony. It has 5.1 Dolby, Prologic and DTS with a bunch of bells and whistles (XM ready, AM/FM tuner, iPod connectivity...) Plus it comes with a 720p/1080i upconverting DVD player. My TV only goes to this resolution, so it works great. I also plan on grabbing a Sony Playstation 3 console. Not only for my favourite franchises (Devil May Cry, Final Fantasy, Silent Hill...) but also for playing Blu-Ray. I believe it's the best Blu-Ray player availible, as it's not only fairly cheap, but it allows updates (as the machine has wifi built-in...) So you have the latest Blu-Ray technology as it's released. I could also use the PS3 as an upconverting DVD player if I so wished.

Each component in this set-up cost 499.99... retail. I got a few of them on sale for 100$ less.

For my SD setup... I have a 20" SDTV by some bargain-bin brand. PS2 hooked up with composite. LG DVD Player with DivX. Sony Stereo system, not sure what the specifications are. Huge receiver with two huge black speakers that are twice the size of the tv. I use this for SD gaming (PS2 and the Virtual Console games on the Wii) as well as watching SD channels (I have satellite but refuse to pay for HD programming...) and DivX movies. After getting the HD set, I realized just how bad the image looked on an SD set. You can SEE the pixels!

But yeah. Other then banking half of my check for university (I don't take out loans) I spend the rest of my cash on my set-up and dvd collection. I'm addicted. :(

[Crimson_Kahuna]

... do you have any debt? Good credit rating? Then here's the plan.

1. Apply & get a Best Buy credit card (or other low interest card). Get about $2000 in credit.

2. Purchase one of their 50" or more HD plasmas; which are on sale right now on payment plan with no interest until like 2009 (as long as your payments are on time). Have the payments come directly to the credit card. Do the same with an HD DVD player, or cheapie all region DVD player (if you want to build your collection in the mean time). And the sound system.

3. Make payments on the card to keep the interest you're paying down.

Fuck all that nonsense about a TV under 50" dude. You want a system you're going to use for years to come. Think WIDESCREEN! Your payments will probably be about $100- 150 or less a month, and you'll have a pimp-ass setup. Most important; do the reasearch on the card, you don't want to get fucked by a crazy interest rate. And don't miss payments to it.

Follow this plan and within a month you'll have a crazy home theater setup that you can afford, and you will look back, and hardly believe it. The first time you will feel this will be when they deliver your TV.

[theboytampon]

Eh... it's your choice, but I really... really... don't suggest that. Why? Well, not only because it involves a credit card and a shit promotional deal. He's 18. He's in highschool. He's going to college in the upcoming year. Context, man, context. Even if this sounds like a good deal, it's not, and I wouldn't want to deal with it. You don't want to get hit with the interest and debt (combined with possible loans to pay for schooling) for a measly home entertainment system. Sure, big is better, but common. He hasn't even owned an HDTV... there is absolutely NO reason to go big or go home. He will see immense improvements on even a smaller set. Plus, I assume he isn't going to be living with his parents forever. I would really love to move a huge 50" HDTV a few years after getting it. I'm sure it would fit in his current bedroom just fine, too.

Honestly, stay small for now. There is no need to start out with top-of-the-line, big-as-a-house equipment.

As far as suggesting a "cheapie" region-free DVD player... no. Two reasons. Does he need a "region-free" player? Does he watch movies from other countries? I didn't see him state so. Region-free is as much a gimmick as 1080p is on smaller sets. If you do need region-free playback, there are hacks for nearly every player on the market. LG and Samsung players usually have remote codes that unlock region-free playback. I suggest an Oppo player if you want to stick to DVDs.

[dtrain8906]

I just sent the site photos for a share your shit deal so i'll post them here so you all know what I'm working with thanks for all your help.
http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/5896/dsc00958gj5.th.jpg
http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/9174/dsc00971wk1.th.jpg
http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/2879/dsc00982zq5.th.jpg
thats it unless u want more of my poster collection.

[theboytampon]

Like I had assumed, even the smallest HD / 5.1 set-up will be a vast improvement.