Trying to make smart decisions can you guys help?

[couch000]

Here's what I have currently for HT:

Onkyo tx-ds484 receiver- about 5 years old or so
Polk Satellite Speaker System: Sat. Speakers RM2300, Sub RMPS01295, Center CS1751
Polk S10 floor standing speakers that are about 15 years old but are in perfect condition

This is what I have coming in:
Panasonic 42" 1080p Plasma
Samsung Blu-Ray player

So my question is this: If you guys had this and were to continue to upgrade what would you upgrade first? Let's say you have $300 what would you do?

I've thought about upgrading the receiver first and then possibly selling the S10's and getting some smaller bookshelf speakers for my fronts. Wife likes the smaller speakers. LOL This would allow me to have a 6.1 system and use one of the other sat. speakers. Based on my room layout a 6.1 system is about the most I could accomodate. At least I guess that would work.

If you have questions please let me know as I'm trying to play catch-up on a lot of this stuff.

Thanks in advance.

 

[mtrycrafts]

Here's what I have currently for HT:

Onkyo tx-ds484 receiver- about 5 years old or so
Polk Satellite Speaker System: Sat. Speakers RM2300, Sub RMPS01295, Center CS1751
Polk S10 floor standing speakers that are about 15 years old but are in perfect condition

This is what I have coming in:
Panasonic 42" 1080p Plasma
Samsung Blu-Ray player

So my question is this: If you guys had this and were to continue to upgrade what would you upgrade first? Let's say you have $300 what would you do?

I've thought about upgrading the receiver first and then possibly selling the S10's and getting some smaller bookshelf speakers for my fronts. Wife likes the smaller speakers. LOL This would allow me to have a 6.1 system and use one of the other sat. speakers. Based on my room layout a 6.1 system is about the most I could accomodate. At least I guess that would work.

If you have questions please let me know as I'm trying to play catch-up on a lot of this stuff.

Thanks in advance.

I would save your money until you have more to upgrade with, although if the wife wants smaller speakers, then not sure if she would go for better sub?
Your receiver has DD and DTS and it has analog channel inputs so if your Samsung will decode the hi-def audio and pass it out on the 5.1 analog, you are set for now.

 

[nick1000000]

I would upgrade the receiver first so you can have the inputs to enjoy the blue ray movies. I would wait to save some more money though. It is hard to find a receiver that can work well with your Samsung. What I mean is that if you want the Doldy True HD and dts HD MA audio from your Samsung, you will need a receiver that can decode it. I don't know of any receiver in the $300 price range that can do that.

 

[couch000]

I don't have a trained ear or anything but is the true HD audio going to sound a ton better? We have an Integra dtr 5.5 with a proficient audio sub and matching speakers upstairs. We also have a Samsung upconverting DVD player/recorder connected to the integra. We had that system professionaly installed when we had our kitchen and den remodeled about a year ago so I hope it's good.

The one thing I can tell from our system upstairs is that it "sounds" so much more "clean" than the one I have downstairs (not sure how much that will change). Is that the type of thing I would notice with an upgraded receiver? What are some of the receivers you guys would recommend to get this sound and what are the things I'm looking for in a new receiver? Sorry to sound so ignorant but it's been a long time.

I just threw $300 out there as a suggestion. We talking $5-600 or more?

 

[couch000]

I would save your money until you have more to upgrade with, although if the wife wants smaller speakers, then not sure if she would go for better sub?
Your receiver has DD and DTS and it has analog channel inputs so if your Samsung will decode the hi-def audio and pass it out on the 5.1 analog, you are set for now.

What I was going to do is connect the Blu-ray player to the TV via HDMI and then connect the Blu-ray player to the receiver via digital coax. I would also connect the Panasonic to the HD Cable Box via HDMI and the receiver to the cable box via optic connection. Does that sound right?

 

[mtrycrafts]

What I was going to do is connect the Blu-ray player to the TV via HDMI and then connect the Blu-ray player to the receiver via digital coax. I would also connect the Panasonic to the HD Cable Box via HDMI and the receiver to the cable box via optic connection. Does that sound right?

Yes, that will work fine. Or, if that Samsung can output the TRuHD through the 5.1 analog out, you can enjoy loss less hi-def audio.

 

[couch000]

Yes, that will work fine. Or, if that Samsung can output the TRuHD through the 5.1 analog out, you can enjoy loss less hi-def audio.

Not sure but I will definitely look into it. I'm sure I'll be up all night Christmas Eve getting the kids' toys put together. LOL

 

[couch000]

Yes, that will work fine. Or, if that Samsung can output the TRuHD through the 5.1 analog out, you can enjoy loss less hi-def audio.

Okay, I'm sorry for being such a noob but do you mean instead of connecting the receiver to the cable box I would connect it to the Samsung through a 5.1 analog out for the audio? Man it's been way too long since I've gotten into this stuff.

Thanks again for the help.

 

[mtrycrafts]

Okay, I'm sorry for being such a noob but do you mean instead of connecting the receiver to the cable box I would connect it to the Samsung through a 5.1 analog out for the audio? Man it's been way too long since I've gotten into this stuff.

Thanks again for the help.

Hey, not to worry, this audio, HDMI, hi-def, etc is getting very complicated

No, Connect the cable box video and audio as you proposed, video to TV and audio to receiver.

You can connect the bluray hidef DVD audio to the receiver two ways to try. Using the coax will pass the DD+ and/or perhaps some aspect of DTS. Check your bluray manual in the audio section to see if it will pass the TruHD as analog audio through the 5.1 analog output. If so, connect that 5.1(6RCA cables) to the receiver's 5.1 input used for SACD/DVD-a inputs as your receiver will handle those analog inputs. This way, with that 5.1 analog input to the receiver, you could get an uncompressed audio signal, high quality.

 

[couch000]

Hey, not to worry, this audio, HDMI, hi-def, etc is getting very complicated

No, Connect the cable box video and audio as you proposed, video to TV and audio to receiver.

You can connect the bluray hidef DVD audio to the receiver two ways to try. Using the coax will pass the DD+ and/or perhaps some aspect of DTS. Check your bluray manual in the audio section to see if it will pass the TruHD as analog audio through the 5.1 analog output. If so, connect that 5.1(6RCA cables) to the receiver's 5.1 input used for SACD/DVD-a inputs as your receiver will handle those analog inputs. This way, with that 5.1 analog input to the receiver, you could get an uncompressed audio signal, high quality.

Thanks again for the feedback and help. The Samsung does have the 5.1 analog output so I'm going to try and hook it up that way. I'm pretty anal when it comes to figuring this stuff out (just ask my wife, LOL) so I think I'm starting to get the hang of it, I hope. I've already got my components I just haven't opened them (Christmas presents) but I've already downloaded all the manuals and have been studying up!!

 

[mtrycrafts]

...but I've already downloaded all the manuals and have been studying up!!

That is a good idea getting ahead of the curve, not being behind.
You will need 6 interconnects, no need for them to be expensive at all, to use that 5.1 analog out. If you don't have that many, get it, then you will be set on the 25th
Make sure you have the video cables covered as well.

 

[couch000]

That is a good idea getting ahead of the curve, not being behind.
You will need 6 interconnects, no need for them to be expensive at all, to use that 5.1 analog out. If you don't have that many, get it, then you will be set on the 25th
Make sure you have the video cables covered as well.

I think I have enough (cables) from my existing setup to cover the 5.1 analog out and I just bought 2-HDMI Cables, 1-Optical Cable, and 1-Digital Coax cable from Monoprice.com. I learned you don't have to buy the "expensive" cables by researching forums like this.

I just got my HT/TV stand delivered today and am starting to stage everything in the basement to get started in the next few days. I need to cut some drywall, fish some cable through the wall, and hang a satellite speaker tomorrow and I should be good to go. Oooh, the anticipation is killing me.

I can't say enough how much I appreciate the help from everyone.