Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater HTIB Any good ones??? Or separates???

Has anyone heard any good htib systems? I love my system and am extremely spoiled, but my father is looking to replace his huge rca htib setup costing $250. I think he wants to stay around $800 at most for speakers and about 200 for a reciever if that. I KNOW. Kinda imposible to get anything, but has anyone heard the Definitive system or the svs for around this price?? I keep trying to get him to go up in quality becuase I know how much more enjoyment he will get out of it. Also ARE there any decent sounding HTIB's around. It seems to me that the speakers that are paired with the newer htib's are worse than those of a few years ago. I think since the power of the recievers are going up and the more electronics that are being added to them have made them use cheaper speakers to keep costs down. Has anyone else noticed this or am have I just got completely spoiled with my setup? Anyway, can anyone jump in on this and let me know what I could recommend to my dad?

Does he have a sub with his current HTIB?

He could keep his current sub and get 5 M3's all around for a 5.1 system for $720 USD from the Factory Outlet.

His other option would be to get 5 M2's for $650, and mabey strech his budget to pick up an Outlaw LFM-2 for about $300 for a total of $950.

The best choice to stay in his budget seems to be keeping his existing sub and getting M3's all around I think. With the upgrade to the M3s all around I think that he will notice a huge improvement over a $250 HTIB.

I like what you have suggested, but the problem is,his current sub is CRAP!!! It came with the massive 250 rca system. It would help him trememdously to get another one. His sub is a passive, muddy, cruddy, no extension garbled mess. In other words I would like him to get something that allows for bass to actually be heard and not sound like low noise. Anyway, as you all know I would like for him to do something like that, but I doubt I could get him to do that. Thanks, I will mention that too him, but also has anyone heard the difinitive system or the svs system?? Are they comparable, or should I really push him to go the Axiom route. I seriously doubt he would, but OH WELL!! He really loves to listen to it that is for sure. Anyway, keep the comments comming, Oh, What about the Onkyo HTIB's has anyone heard those? Do they have anywhere near good enough quality to be used??? Thanks again everyone!

I don't know much about HTIB, all I know that is anything with HTIB written on it is not usually the best option of spending his money.

If he has "around" an $800 budget, getting 5 x M2's (all vertically positioned including the centre channel) would be better than SVS's 5.1 system speakers. The M2s will crush those SVS speakers no doubt. SVS has not had the 20+ years of experience that Axiom has with speaker development.

There are many options for getting a better sub listed below:

HSU STF-1 $299 Direct from HSU Online (Audioholics review)

Onix X-Sub $199 from AV123.com (Audioholics Review)

Or that outlaw sub previously mentioned.

If your father gets those 5 x M2's plus one of these subs he can stay under or around $950.

5 x M2s plus any of these subs would be better than that SVS 5.1 HTIB system I think.

JL, take a look at the x-ls/x-cs 5.1 system from av123. I double guarantee you this system will be a huge step up from his current HTIB. With shipping ($132), and a decent receiver such as a refurbished Onkyo TX-SR503 from eCost.com, it would only take him about $100 above his $1k budget, but I truly believe it would be well worth it.

Maybe you should try one of thebig box stores and look at the subs in the systems. Some are better than others. My daughter bought a Sony system with a sub that didn't sound too bad to her. Of course it doesn't sound all that good to me, but she is happy.

ok, I definitely like this idea, but how well will that speaker work for a center channel? He has an odd room dimention. A very wide angle for all people sitting in the room plus it is a very large room with openings on all sides. Will everyone hear the center channel alright?

I don't disagree with what's been offered so far. Great suggestions (and good find by Jack on that Onkyo - that's the ticket)

To me - for pure dollar value - I think you'd be hard pressed to beat a Hsu Ventriloquist system at only $527 including shipping and STF-1.

The other thing I've considered for parent-types is the Yamaha sound projectors. They have several models now. If the $799 msrp YSP-800 meeds your needs, you could add the AV123 x-sub and be right at budget (plus shipping) You don't have to buy a receiver, the user interface is good, you don't have to wire surrounds, and it just doesn't get any more aesthetically elegant. I've heard these units several times, and I think they are remarkable.

I like the idea of the HSU system.