[FuriouslyFast]

My surround sound receiver seems to have taken a dump so now I am looking for a surround sound system. It's an Onkyo 7.1. New one doesn't have to be 7.1 if it's just as good. (This one is 10+ years old). Not looking to spend gobs of $. Any recommendations?

[BSM n54iS]

https://www.amazon.com/Speakers-Subw...D6S4JE71X2C3G7

[Rmtt]

Ours shit the bed a few weeks ago. I just picked up a JBL Deep Base Sound bar with a wireless sub.

Sound bar under the tv, sub at the back of the room.

Just something quick and cheap (<$400) to get the job done as we will be upgrading everything pretty soon.

Actually sounds pretty good.

[Crimson92]

Get last year's Denon for cheap. Pick a model that fits your needs.

[FuriouslyFast]

Originally Posted by Crimson92

Get last year's Denon for cheap. Pick a model that fits your needs.

Which model is that? I want one that I can still hook my iPod classic up to to play through it.

[bigrum]

Vizio makes some pretty good sounding setups, I have two and considering a third for the garage.

https://www.costco.com/vizio-sb36512...100459820.html

The one thing I hate though is I cannot control the volume individually per speaker.

[RickFLM4]

I got my Denon repaired when it died. It took less time and money than figuring out what to replace it with.

[mecheng77]

Buy once, cry once: Anthem

[dreamingat30fps]

I guess it depends on what kind of setup and budget you are looking for. I have a basic Vizio soundbar with wireless sub in RV and works great for that environment. At home I have an Onkyo receiver with some Polk floor speakers I bought a few years ago. When I upgraded TV recently I added a matching Polk center speaker. Since my living room/family room is open to the kitchen in the rear I can't easily have rear speakers (I don't feel like running shit through the ceiling) but I find the setup with just fronts works fine for me.

I compared to some soundbars and unless it was the $1k range bars I preferred my setup which I already had, only cost me like $100 for the center speaker.

[WestRace]

Some of more affordable receivers are about $250 from Best Buys which are a lot better than something similar in price 10 years ago. It depends on your budget. If you're willing to go separates then it would be a bit more expensive but will gain in sound quality.

Are you looking to purchase speakers as well or only the receivers? I mean a proper surround sound system would probably need two fronts, one center, and two rears. If your front speakers are large enough, you probably won't need a sub.

[lsturbointeg]

you can try accessories4less.com

having my Nakamichi sound bar with 2 8" wireless subs sound amazing for the last couple of months! even the wife approves over having the 2 big towers next to the TV

[bimmer456]

I have a 20 yo system and it still works great. Good thing is if I upgrade I just have to swap out the receiver but can keep the speakers and cable. I would look for the latest HDMI 8k support and Bluetooth audio. Dolby Atmos support. Maybe look at a budget of $400?

[lsturbointeg]

Originally Posted by bimmer456

I have a 20 yo system and it still works great. Good thing is if I upgrade I just have to swap out the receiver but can keep the speakers and cable. I would look for the latest HDMI 8k support and Bluetooth audio. Dolby Atmos support. Maybe look at a budget of $400?

I dunno especially if you're looking with Dolby Atmos. I would say budget of at least $600+

[bimmer456]

Originally Posted by lsturbointeg

I dunno especially if you're looking with Dolby Atmos. I would say budget of at least $600+

Maybe refurb or open box item then.

[zx10guy]

Originally Posted by WestRace

Some of more affordable receivers are about $250 from Best Buys which are a lot better than something similar in price 10 years ago. It depends on your budget. If you're willing to go separates then it would be a bit more expensive but will gain in sound quality.

Are you looking to purchase speakers as well or only the receivers? I mean a proper surround sound system would probably need two fronts, one center, and two rears. If your front speakers are large enough, you probably won't need a sub.

It really depends on what you classify as better. Yes, modern receivers have a lot of bells and whistles packed into them. But as far as sound quality, that depends. Older receivers didn't have to deal with sharing space with all the new fangled features. So there wasn't the need to rob Peter to pay Paul with the design of the amplification stages and power supply.

As far as not needing a sub, unless you really have large speakers, most everyone needs to have a sub. Since I'm thoroughly familiar with B&W speakers, a 802D3 is what I would consider a fairly large speaker. And even with the 802, I would still recommend the use of a sub. I used to be anti sub because all I was exposed to was crap sounding subs which only played loud and had boomy distorted bass. It wasn't until I heard properly designed subs that my mindset changed. Now I run subs with all my serious systems. My main system has 2 subs; a 15" and a 18". My 2 channel system has a single 12" sub.

Dropping the use of a sub in a surround system is also a mistake as there is a discrete LFE channel with all multichannel audio mixes.

Not only is having a sub an advantage for low bass reproduction as subs are designed with this in mind, subs help with the overall sound quality of the rest the audio system. Setting the other channels to small will alleviate the amplifier driving those speakers from having to reproduce deep bass which is the hardest load on any amplifier. Having a sub is essentially bi-amping your system. With the economization of consumer audio for the masses, I wouldn't bet a $250 receiver has the necessary amplification and power supply to be driven hard. Having a sub provides better flexibility in placing the sub in the optimal position based on your room characteristics to get the best performance/sound. Where one places a standard speaker is not necessarily the best placement for bass reproduction. Many times this is the rule and not the exception.

[zx10guy]

Originally Posted by bimmer456

I have a 20 yo system and it still works great. Good thing is if I upgrade I just have to swap out the receiver but can keep the speakers and cable. I would look for the latest HDMI 8k support and Bluetooth audio. Dolby Atmos support. Maybe look at a budget of $400?

Originally Posted by lsturbointeg

I dunno especially if you're looking with Dolby Atmos. I would say budget of at least $600+

I heard a Dolby Atmos system at a friend's place who happens to be an owner of a audio company. Even with who this person is and the assumption there was great care in speaker selection, placement, and calibration, I wasn't impressed. The theaters I have gone to with Dolby Atmos setups were just too loud and distorted for me to even notice any of the Atmos audio enhancements. I just don't understand why many people (including many audio professionals) have this thing that louder is better. It's not.

Maybe I'll change my mind with a proper system set up for Dolby Atmos. Until I hear such a system, my feelings of Atmos is meh.

[bimmer456]

Originally Posted by zx10guy

I heard a Dolby Atmos system at a friend's place who happens to be an owner of a audio company. Even with who this person is and the assumption there was great care in speaker selection, placement, and calibration, I wasn't impressed. The theaters I have gone to with Dolby Atmos setups were just too loud and distorted for me to even notice any of the Atmos audio enhancements. I just don't understand why many people (including many audio professionals) have this thing that louder is better. It's not.

Maybe I'll change my mind with a proper system set up for Dolby Atmos. Until I hear such a system, my feelings of Atmos is meh.

That's why I like my Dolby digital 5.1 system from 2000. Sounds better than the theatre. Last movie I saw was 1917 and it didn't sound better than when I watch Netflix movies. Even the picture quality wasn't that special and I have a 1080p TV.

[Techno 9000]

Back on topic.

Originally Posted by FuriouslyFast

My surround sound receiver seems to have taken a dump so now I am looking for a surround sound system. It's an Onkyo 7.1. New one doesn't have to be 7.1 if it's just as good. (This one is 10+ years old). Not looking to spend gobs of $. Any recommendations?

If you don’t want to spend a fortune....and aren’t bothered by the latest 4k / Atmos type stuff....
My experience with the Denon 3313 has been very good. 7.1 and iPod capability (plus lots of other stuff. I particularly like the Audessy EQ via microphone)

Available second hand over here quite easily at very low prices now (yes it’s a seven year old model). YMMV.

[FuriouslyFast]

Originally Posted by WestRace

Some of more affordable receivers are about $250 from Best Buys which are a lot better than something similar in price 10 years ago. It depends on your budget. If you're willing to go separates then it would be a bit more expensive but will gain in sound quality.

Are you looking to purchase speakers as well or only the receivers? I mean a proper surround sound system would probably need two fronts, one center, and two rears. If your front speakers are large enough, you probably won't need a sub.

Those $250 units don't have the inputs I need. Ended up getting mine working again, though.

[zx10guy]

Originally Posted by bimmer456

That's why I like my Dolby digital 5.1 system from 2000. Sounds better than the theatre. Last movie I saw was 1917 and it didn't sound better than when I watch Netflix movies. Even the picture quality wasn't that special and I have a 1080p TV.

Same here. I'm running a pseudo 5.2 system that's remained pretty much the same for almost 2 decades. Don't have any intention of making any major changes.

[zx10guy]

Originally Posted by FuriouslyFast

Those $250 units don't have the inputs I need. Ended up getting mine working again, though.

[BSM n54iS]

ok being serious the LG SK9Y or 10Y is pretty sweet... OR

https://www.amazon.com/Sony-Sound-Ba...language=en_US

Dolby ATMOS totally worth it