Get a Yamaha, Onkyo, Kenwood receiver. Then spring for a decent set of speakers and you're all done. The previously linked Onkyo from Newegg is a sweet deal.

Do some of your own research HERE and HERE.

Sometime HTIBs are the perfect answer for an under 1k budget. Some vendors will give you a really nice receiver and pair it with OK to good speakers. You can always upgrade the speakers as you get more $$$. Key with HTIBs is that it gets you into the whole 5.1 - 7.1 surround experience that's essential for BluRay movie enjoyment.

Unless you're a true audiophile with discerning ears, you'll be fine with the HTIB speakers until you can upgrade.

 

Thanks for all the advice guys. Yah, I was a little skeptic about a home theatre in a box set, but that Onkyo setup is pretty sweet. It's the first 7.1 I've actually seen that come with 7 speakers.

BTW, I'm setting it up in my finished basement measuring approx. 20' w x 15' d.

 

Speakers: http://www.av123.com/ or http://www.svsound.com/
The MFW-15 from AV123 is AMAZING!!! especially for $600 search for craigsub listings and see.

receiver: any decent manufacturer is fine. i have the onkyo 606. i do have issues with HTPC audio over HDMI, make sure you go to AVSforum.com and research receivers and PS3 compatibility. Harmon Kardon has a few issues with them as well.

cables: monoprice.com end of story.

 

$1,000 will not get you anywhere with home audio, unless you want something that sounds cheap. People pay for what they get. I am running a marantz receiver $3k with b&w speaker $3500. And then do not buy cheap cables either, some people say any cable will do but that is not true. Look into what you buy, think of it as a life time investment. Do a lot of research and go to a store that deals with home audio and nothing else. Do not buy from someone that sells washer and dryers, ect.

 

Be careful of Onkyo. I had a 750 dollar onkyo theater in a box system and the thing was in the repair shop more than it was in my home. What a piece of crap! Also you don't want integrated dvd player, make sure it's seperate from reciever because with technology change your dvd player or even blu ray will be obsolete in a year or 2.

 

/thread

 

Took the words right out of my mouth.

Yes Bose is junk!

Bose would rather spend their money on advertising and telling(or convincing) people how great their stuff is,rather than spending the advertising dollars and produce a better product.

 

This is good advice. And for $1000 you can't afford much. I used to have surround sound from a "theater in a box". But then I upgraded to a nice receiver and two really good speakers. (I told myself I would add the other speakers later) I have since added a center and a sub. But I still do not have the satellite speakers and there is no comparison between my new custom built system as compared to the "theater in a box" I used to have.

 

Quite frankly if I were in your position I would be spending very little on something decent to tide you over for a year, then putting aside the remaining cash to get something higher end as the prices continue to come down on a 7.1 system at this time next year on one of the big sales you kids have going on today.

I'll probably get pummeled by everyone for saying it but since I have it and it is a fantastic starter setup, I'd go with the http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/se...334&srkey=z5500 Logitech Z5500 and be very satisfied for a while. By next year if you save very modestly you could have over $1700 to get a better system and you wouldn't exactly be suffering in the meantime.

Its just my opinion as your looking to get started in this.

 

Check out the user reviews on the Z5500 as well...

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/se...TD&body=REVIEWS