Should I buy a Home Theater in a Box or a Receiver/Speakers?

[winter628]

I'm looking to buy a home theater system, I have been torn between products and options, I have heard many different opinions and lots of pros and cons for each.
I'm trying to decide if I should buy a HTIB or a Receiver and just get speakers to go with it.

I've been looking at a home theater system like:

http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-SC-BTT490-Blu-Ray-Surround-Theater/dp/B0078GCLUG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1343625881&sr=8-1&keywords=panasonic+home+theater

And I have found a receiver that seems alright:
http://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-RX-V371BL-5-1-Channel-Receiver-VERSION/dp/B004QQXDVC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1343625792&sr=8-1&keywords=receiver+yamaha

I'm also wondering if that receiver will work with these speakers:

http://kansascity.craigslist.org/ele/3156428954.html

I know that they share the same impedance and that leads me to believe that they would work together? but being that I have never bought any real stereo equipment before, I didn't want to risk it.

 

[lance]

I would get an AV receiver those HTIB units are proprietary and not very flexible so if a speaker goes out you can't replace it or upgrade the speakers with any other speaker or if the blu ray quits work the whole unit is useless, they also over heat so are prone to breakage.......the Yamaha receiver your looking at would be good if you can get a really good deal on it, I use to recommend Pioneer for entry level receivers due to better amps but I noticed lately that the price has gone up on may pioneer AV receivers you might still be able to get a deal on a VSX 821 or 521 if you look around some...I would not recommend getting those speakers off craigslist they will be too hard to match with other speakers for surround, take a look at Fluance speakers, for entry level that is going to be your best bet another possibility may be BIC speakers.....or Dayton speakers.....they also have a more modern design that those technics...better drivers are available now adays for cheaper prices....