HTIB shootout picks the best at a variety of price points
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
zargon @ Dec 4th 2008 9:10AM
Good to see the higher end ones are not complete HTIB's, but rather a receiver paired with a DVD/Blu-ray player and speaker package from a real speaker maker. Though I am not sure about their lower end suggestions.
I haven't looked at HTIBs for a long time now, I haven't looked at much equipment either, though I am saving my pennies for the Marantz AV8003. But what happened to Kenwood and Onkyo HTIBs? They at least use to put out a solid offering in the sub $500 to approaching $1,000 range.
For a HTIB alternative though, I would look at speaker packages like Paradigm, Energy (Take 5 system), PSB and Axiom who all should have packages or at least affordable speakers that could be paired together in a 5.1/7.1 system and matched with a good and affordable receiver from Yamaha or Onkyo.
squiggleslash @ Dec 4th 2008 2:01PM
Kenwood have been out of the business for several years, which is a crying shame because even their cheap stuff was good. I have friends and family who have heard my relatively low end set up, went out and got higher priced stuff from manufacturers like Sony, and been disappointed in comparison.
They merged with JVC recently, hopefully something good will come out of that.
glenn s @ Dec 4th 2008 2:36PM
Ah, the classic Eames style chair. Mine (knock-offs) are in bad shape. Their still real comfy.
glenn s @ Dec 4th 2008 2:40PM
...they're...
palehorse @ Dec 4th 2008 2:58PM
That Onkyo HT-S9100THX they list in the "Under $1500" category is the best HTIB I've ever seen or heard. It can be had for $750 these day...
I'll probably be picking on up for myself just after Xmas...
Evan @ Dec 4th 2008 3:48PM
I disagree with the page 4 set - Denon DHT-589BA & Pioneer DV-410V-K. I had previous versions of both:
- The Pioneer's deinterlacing and upscaling is crap. I discovered I was better off outputting 480i and letting my TV do the deinterlacing and upscaling.
- The Pioneer's DIVX playback does not play everything. It's no substitute for a Popcorn Hour.
- The speakers packaged with the Denon were very inefficient.
Morgan Boyle @ Dec 4th 2008 5:45PM
i just want that chair. anyone know what that is?