Cheap but good surround sound.

I'm looking for a good surround sound for my tiny room, second smallest room in my house besides the bathroom, that would go good for my xbox 360 playing pleasures. My budget is $150-$200 and I have a 22" Samsung HDTV.

At that budget, go for a good pair of speakers and an amp. surround sound at that budget wouldn't get you much, and a stereo setup would be much better.

Ok then, whats a good stereo setup?

I believe the general rule of thumb is: Best to buy a great receiver and crappy/average speakers than vice versa.

http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/ONKTXSR307BLK/Onkyo/TX-SR307-65-watts-channel-5.1-Home-Theater-Receiver/1.html

Nothing special, but it works. Even can do 5.1 (Not HD audio like Dolby TrueHD or DTS:MA though) Next would be to decide what speakers. Floorstanding, or bookshelves? Floorstandings are what their name says they are, tall speakers that sit on the floor. Bookshelves are smaller and able to be wall-mounted. Onkyo has a set of bookshelves on that same website for 50 bucks, but I've never heard them so I can't recommend them.

Sony has a nice budget line of speakers. The SS-B1000 are a small pair of bookshelves that seriously sound great for the money. Only 50 bucks a pair too. Then there's the SS-B3000 which is a bigger bookshelf pair. It has an additional woofer over the Ss-B1000s, but cost around 90 bucks. then theres the floorstanding series SS-F5000 (then 6000/7000.) the 5k/6k are around 120 a pair. the 5k would have more low-end/bass to them, but the 6k has an additional woofer so i would go with them. Choosing anything above the SS-B1000s would break the budget of 200 though. If you have a Frys Electronics around you, go and listen to the speakers (especially the SS-B1000) or any eletronics store and find something you like. Also look on amazon for Jamo or Polk speakers as they have good budget lines also, but Polk never sells floorstanders in pairs. Jamo does. I did find one refurb surround sound at 200 bucks, but it's kinda weak. I'd say the seperate amp and speakers would be much better. But here it is anyway

http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/ONKHTS3200/Onkyo/HT-S3200-700w-Receiver-5-Speakers-Subwoofer-Black/1.html

And remember to pick up some 16AWG speaker wire from monoprice.com because speaker wire that comes in any package is thin crap.

A Home theatre in a box would be good for that price. You can get Samsung or Sonys 5.1 HTIB Surround sounds at that price like at Walmart for sure.

Most people hate HTIB, but they work well for basic setups like this. People usually hate the HTIB recievers because they don't have enough connections, but you can get a 3X1 Optical switch and connect all your systems to the reciever via optical toslink.

http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=104&cp_id=10423&cs_id=1042302&p_id=2946&seq=1&format=2

I've been using one of those for about 2 years and it works great. Easily switch from my PS3, 360, and Satellite TV to get their own true Dolby Digital, 5.1, etc etc

I hate them cause most sound worse than TV speakers. Seriously a good stereo setup is worth far more than any cheapie HTIB

Just go for the stuff you can get at best buy or some place like that. Sounds considerably better then what you'd get off your TV even if it isn't perfect.

I found these which i thought were pretty good and cheap. I know they say pc speakers, but I can stiil set it up for my xbox 360.

Logitech Z-2300 2.1 THX-Certified Speakers:

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Logitech-Z-2300-2.1-THX-Certified-Speakers/4064450

Logitech Z523 Speaker System:

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Logitech-Z523-Speaker-System/13021184

Well it ain't surround, but they're decent "PC" speakers. I'd go with the Z-2300s. I think these M-Audios would be better though (based on reviews, and the fact they aren't little wimpy satellites speakers)

If your willing to go computer speakers for under 200, the m-audio av 40's are a good option. There from the same company as the poster above suggested (which are the av 30's), but have a stronger amp and a larger woofer). Also, if your willing to go right to the higher end of your budget, the audioengine a2's should be considered. I personally have the audioengine a5's (which are just a step up from the a2's) and love mine, although I have also heard great things of the a2's.

I found it its perfect.

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-Details.asp?EdpNo=2507686&sku=L23-7250&SRCCODE=WEBTV&CMP=OTC-WEBTV

You can purchase it at wall*mart for $80.

I found it its perfect.

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-Details.asp?EdpNo=2507686&sku=L23-7250&SRCCODE=WEBTV&CMP=OTC-WEBTV

You can purchase it at wall*mart for $80.

Gamer-Dude-1-

The reason I didn't post that is cause you can't get TRUE 5.1 out of that from a 360. only a PC will give you true surround with that. What that'll do is take stereo sound and expand it across the other speakers. its vastly inferior to real 5.1 and doesn't sound great at all unless the source is encoded with Dolby Pro Logic 2 like all Wii games are.

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=6382265&CatId=5675

I plan on getting this after I get my new tv for my bedroom. I'll be hooking up the xbox to the HDMI on the tv, and plug an optical cable into the receiver so I can play through that surround sound.

And if you need an optical cable: http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10229&cs_id=1022901&p_id=1419&seq=1&format=1#largeimage

On the X-540's you can press a button, called the matrix button,and canturn 2 channel into 5.1 surround, I've watched about everyreview you can on youtube and everywhere else, and they all say they loved them besides a couple people.

Watch:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wbbpN1UEps

Besides if it doesn't work I can just take it back.

I just bought that myself, but from Newegg.com... Newegg has free shipping for it. Which is pretty good when you consider that it weighs about 20 pounds. Although, for some reason it didn't come with a manual and the box look pretty beat up. It works though... and sounds good so, I'm not going to RMA it.

The speakers only have minijack inputs, though. There are 3 minijacks. One for Front Speakers, one For Rear and one for the Center/Sub. So, it's really only good for connecting to a Sound Card from a PC. It comes with a cable splint that has two female RCA looking jacks that combine it to a singe female mini jack.... Not sure what you do with that, though... i guess it's for front and back from a PS3/Xbox. But wouldn't know being that I don't own either of them. As for a HDTV. I can't really see how you could get these speakers to work from one....

I got it and they work great it's perfect for my room, but I got the x-530's instead.

I got it and they work great it's perfect for my room, but I got the x-530's instead.

Gamer-Dude-1-