Home Audio - What is the "minimally" best I can get for the least amount of money?

[markw]

Like I said in post 56, use that 3.5mm to RCA connectors. 3.5 into device, RCAs into an "aux" input on the receiver.

Oh, you might get a start on obtaining a manual if it doesn't come with one. Google "Yamaha RXV757 manual"

 

[Kovacs]

Like I said in post 56, use that 3.5mm to RCA connectors. 3.5 into device, RCAs into an "aux" input on the receiver.

Oh, you might get a start on obtaining a manual if it doesn't come with one. Google "Yamaha RXV757 manual"

Thanks - got it and downloaded.

 

[Kovacs]

By the way, can anyone please recommend me an excellent song to test the wide range of audio qualities? I read online somewhere that The Who's Baba O'Riley is a good song to test on the spot (before I pay cash):

 

[markw]

Are you bleepin' kidding me? Just be happy it works. You're not in a friggin showroom.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

By the way, can anyone please recommend me an excellent song to test the wide range of audio qualities?

At your price point it really doesn't matter, as long as you don't notice obviously bad issues, but I like to test speakers with Pink Floyd's "Wish you were here" opening

 

[Kovacs]

At your price point it really doesn't matter, as long as you don't notice obviously bad issues, but I like to test speakers with Pink Floyd's "Wish you were here" opening

Thanks, I'll add that song, too.

Just be happy it works. You're not in a friggin showroom.

I'm sure you know but I'm new to all of this so I'm unsure exactly what to expect, as I don't really have an ear for good sounds, or if I'm even supposed to realize any substantial difference between the Athena set and the average set sold at a big box store. So, I have no idea if my questions sound "dumb" or if they're "good". If anyone told me to spend $270 on a home theater system one month ago, the noob in me (and I'm sure the average person, too) would have expected an immediate and substantial difference that would literally blow my socks off lol.

But, at least I took the first big step, right?: buying a nicer sound system that I can hold onto for a long time, instead of getting a mediocre one at WM or some other big box store, only to find out later that I want to upgrade it to a better one. Anyway, I'm sure I'll learn more about audio qualities through experience and from you all, and I'm sure I'll especially notice a big difference right away between my TV audio and the Athena home audio system.

 

[markw]

I'm sure you know but I'm new to all of this so I'm unsure exactly what to expect, as I don't really have an ear for good sounds, or if I'm even supposed to realize any substantial difference between the Athena set and the average set sold at a big box store.

Trust me, when you get them home, they will blow any $270 AV system out of the water. The speakers alone sold for over $1000, not counting the subwoofer, in 2003 when I bought mine.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

Ok, he told me that the Yamaha's model number is RXV757.

That's a nice example of pre-HDMI receiver. you could even hook up blu ray player to it, with trick finding one with analog outs (maybe you could find older model on 2nd hand)
Hope remote is included, it's a neat one.

I personally don't care if these fell from the truck, but do make sure what everything is kosher - aka speakers (woofer/tweeters) are not damaged and receiver works (cosmetic damage to speakers is a ok at this price)

 

[markw]

That's a nice example of pre-HDMI receiver. you could even hook up blu ray player to it, with trick finding one with analog outs (maybe you could find older model on 2nd hand)

Actually, if it has optical or digital coax outputs (most have one or the other) it should work with that AVR.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

Actually, if it has optical or digital coax outputs (most have one or the other) it should work with that AVR.

vast majority of new BD players only feature hdmi so....

 

[markw]

vast majority of new BD players only feature hdmi so....

Well, that's new. Things keep on changing in this hobby. Guess he's gotta do a little work looking on his own here.

 

[KEW]

Not sure what time you go after it, but hope it all works out, because that is a screaming deal on a great setup.
Like others said, you are not really going to gauge quality in a parking lot or whereever you are. Make sure you have a speaker cable and I would probably just hook it to the receiver and take turns going through the speakers to make sure each driver of each speaker is good.
As Mark and BSA are saying, your objective is to make sure it is not broken - you can't expect to be in conditions to allow qualitative evaluation of the system.
Check back in and let us know your experience!

 

[Kovacs]

Ok I bought it and brought the units back home. The receiver powers on.

It came with three monster cables to hook up to the speakers.
The other units are the receiver, tweeter, sub, and 4 speakers.

Setup

I'm trying to test the speakers but I think it's hooked up wrong, as I hear no sound coming out of the speakers. I connected the white and red cables behind the receiver to the left and right front speaker jacks, respectively. The 3.5mm jack I plugged in behind the TV where it says PC audio in. I set the receiver to DTV/CBL (I've tried the other modes, too, to no avail).

Some of my initial thoughts:

- I have it connected to the Front Right Speakers - maybe the wires that are twisted on behind the speakers need to be reverse - would it matter?

- Am I connecting the receiver to the TV incorrectly? I'm using the connectors as shown below on the front of the receiver.

- Am I using the wrong cables? Should I be plugging the audio out behind the TV above (FIX) on the right, to behind the receiver and plug in the white and red cables to the jacks for the front speakers? So, I'd need white-red male to white-red male audio cables? Behind the TV and receiver, respectively:

 

[markw]

I can't tell for sure but it looks like you screwed up the speaker connections. Read that manual you downloaded. You've got to make a little effort to help yourself here.

 

[Kovacs]

I can't tell for sure but it looks like you screwed up the speaker connections. Read that manual you downloaded. You've got to make a little effort to help yourself here.

I've been reading it before and after my last post, and I plugged it in accordingly. I'm just not sure if I'm using the correct cable connector to the TV (only a single 3.5mm jack - which splits into 3 connectors for the receiver).

Behind the receiver, I also tried this, and it also doesn't seem to work - maybe I'm not using the right connector into the TV:

 

[Kovacs]

OK WAIT!

I got sound to come out of the speakers but it's a rumble and squeak.

I pressed Speaker B on the receiver and it turned on, but the youtube video from the PC/TV is not playing, as it rumbles and squeaks loudly instead.

I'm pretty sure the audio out cable for the TV is incorrect.

 

[markw]

READ THE DAMN MANUAL!!!

Then, concentrate on getting the tuner to work first. Connect a wire to the antenna terminal.

 

[Kovacs]

READ THE DAMN MANUAL!!!

I've been reading it... it says to use the remote but it doesn't come with one, and it says to use other parts like mics that are supposed to come with it, and original plugs which there aren't any of. I'm re-reading it.

 

[markw]

I warned you about making sure you got a remote a long, long time ago in post 23. Does anything we've been saying sink in?

 

[KEW]

Explain what the other end of the cable connected to "PC audio in" is connected to.