My TV sound sucks. Help

February 9, 2018 5:34 PM

The Onkyo Receiver that I run my TV sound through has died. The B channel is dead on both the primary and auxiliary speakers. I've owned a detached receiver since I was 16 years old, but I know that not how the kids do things these days. I am sad.

I'm not an audiophile, but when I play Iron Maiden via Plex I do expect to hear Steve Harris' bass. I don't have room for a proper surround sound set up any more so it's literally just a stereo with a subwoofer. I'm torn between spending a couple of hundred on a new receiver, or maybe less than $100 on a gaming speaker setup with a subwoofer. Or maybe a soundbar. There are too many options. Opinions?

posted by COD to Technology (8 answers total)

I’ve got a Sony soundbar with sub (current model would be the HCTC800) and I like the sound. The subwoofer is wireless, so no cables stretching across the room, and the soundbar is Bluetooth-enabled, so I also paired it with my Echo Dot and my tablet. Setup was super easy.
posted by Autumnheart at 5:53 PM on February 9, 2018

I'd go with the Wirecutter's current budget soundbar selection, which also has the wireless subwoofer and satellite speakers, which costco has for $179. I have an older, similar soundbar and I love it.
posted by Huck500 at 6:06 PM on February 9, 2018

Are the speakers trashed or is it just the receiver? I still run an independent receiver, most recently a cheap, but awesome Yamaha s202. If you have all the other pieces you need, it’s a cheap swap. I’ve been really happy with it; sound is good (through these shockingly cheap speakers...like, I bought them for the garage and they were so good I migrated them inside).
posted by furnace.heart at 6:47 PM on February 9, 2018

Another option is to buy another used Onkyo receiver on Ebay, perhaps even a direct replacement.
posted by the Real Dan at 6:59 PM on February 9, 2018

Soundbars are great for people who would otherwise just be using the TV speakers. You already have a receiver—and trust, a lot of people still use receivers. I’d get another one. 16 years is a good run.
posted by Automocar at 7:15 PM on February 9, 2018

Yeah, if you already have the separates, get a replacement amp. If you don't need HDMI switching for 4k sources and stuff like that you can get used Onkyo 6xx amps for $100 or less on eBay if you are at all patient or refurbs for a bit more.

With a bit of research and some patience I bet you could do it for $50. I see ads on Craigslist that seem legit for those prices as well, though I know that its utility varies widely between cities.
posted by wierdo at 8:04 PM on February 9, 2018

Another vote for a replacement receiver if your speakers are still good.

I don't have a surround setup, but have four front speakers (a pair of pretty recent Sony floor-standing speakers, and a pair of vintage Allison Six cube speakers) powered by an inexpensive Insignia stereo receiver. No subwoofer. It sounds better than any setup I've ever had, including surround systems.
posted by The Deej at 8:32 PM on February 9, 2018

Do you like your speakers? If yes, then you should keep your speakers!
posted by mr_roboto at 9:07 PM on February 9, 2018