I need some advice

[gato]

Let me start by giving you some important information. I am relatively naive when it pertains to new AV receivers. I just bought a new home and I am looking to install a new 52"-56" LCD 1080p TV (brand is up in the air at this point). I have a Sony Blu-Ray disc player and I want to add a good surround system to my home theater. I would like to connect my TV to my Blu-Ray and to my AV receiver via HDMI cables.

I am not sure what AV receiver to go with, HK, Sony, Pioneer, Onkyo, Denon, or Yamaha, and what speakers best fit the best receiver. I want to stay under $1,500 and closer to $1,000 if possible for receiver and speakers.

What about Bose home theater systems?

Any thoughts or ideas are greatly appreciated.

Thanks

 

[Alex2507]

I've got some advice

Start by reading this.

It's kind of funny.

Then read this.

It's kind of informative.

Then read some of these.

Welcome to the forum Mr. first time poster asking about Bose but not wanting to spend too much.
Isn't Bose like expensive?
Say, you're not jerking my chain ... are you?

Seriously, you've got some good reading there and we'll help in any way possible.
Especially Adam.

 

[m_vanmeter]

I too am quick to bash Bo$e, but simply put, you can do so much better with the same budget and some careful self education and shopping.

Before any truly specific recommendations can be made, please let us know some of the details of your specific setup. Room size, other uses for room, speaker size - are towers acceptable (is the "wife" making decorating decisions as well ?). Movies only vs. movie/music mix

 

[Davemcc]

Start by reading this.

It's kind of funny.

Update your Photobucket account, Mr. Mucklebones.

 

[mtrycrafts]

Update your Photobucket account, Mr. Mucklebones.

Yes, that would be a good idea, especially if the pictures are important to the posts

 

[Alex2507]

Sorry guys, I closed that account but I appreciate the notion that my picture posting might be important.

 

[gato]

Alex: Thanks for the post and info. I guess I should have looked before I posted, but I figured my application was unique. BTW - The Bose comment was intended as a joke...


M_Vanmeter: The intended room is my living room that is 22' x 15'. The wife is helping make decisions on the decor of the room. The other important thing to note is we have an 8 month old who is walking now, and we just found out we are pregnant again so there will be two lil ones in the house. I am not sure if towers will work unless they are child proof. I am also not sure what will be better, a 5.1 or 7.1 system. The main purpose and use for the surround sound will be for movies, but I will listen to music from my computer via an HDMI cable. I have taken sometime to run HDMI, AV cables, USB, etc through certain rooms.

Thanks again guys for your time and patience!!

 

[Davemcc]

With young kids around, you might want to consider wall mounted bookshelf speakers with a sub. I would even suggest using a bottom firing subwoofer just to keep little hands from poking at a front firing driver.

With a decent set of bookshelf speakers and a sub, you don't have to give up sound quality for the sake of toddler proofing. There are eleventy-billion speaker options to choose from for that purpose if that's the way you'd like to go. Choose the speakers first then the sub and receiver.

 

[gato]

With young kids around, you might want to consider wall mounted bookshelf speakers with a sub. I would even suggest using a bottom firing subwoofer just to keep little hands from poking at a front firing driver.

With a decent set of bookshelf speakers and a sub, you don't have to give up sound quality for the sake of toddler proofing. There are eleventy-billion speaker options to choose from for that purpose if that's the way you'd like to go. Choose the speakers first then the sub and receiver.

What wall mount speakers and sub do you think are a good bargain for sub 1k?

What do you think about in wall or in ceiling speakers?

Thanks

 

[mtrycrafts]

What wall mount speakers and sub do you think are a good bargain for sub 1k?

What do you think about in wall or in ceiling speakers?

Thanks

I think he mentioned down firing sub, not a wall mounted sub. Speakers you can wall mount to some extent, not good subs.
SVS has some down firing subs. Check them out.
Ceiling mounted speakers should be your last option.

 

[gato]

I am not looking to wall mount the sub, just the surround speakers. I think it would be best for our home if we wall mounted the surround speakers versus towers because of the lil ones.

I have to go down to a good audio store and listen to some different types of wall mounted set ups. I was hoping someone on here would know what would work best or at least give me some examples to go try before going blindly.

I am not going to buy my set up for at least 2 weeks so i still have some time before making any decisions. Any info you have is appreciated.

Thanks!!

 

[mtrycrafts]

I am not looking to wall mount the sub, just the surround speakers. I think it would be best for our home if we wall mounted the surround speakers versus towers because of the lil ones.

My mistake about the sub
Most surround speakers are wall mounted and mountable.
Hard to suggest which ones. Some like Axiom surrounds. I have two of them and works well.

I have to go down to a good audio store and listen to some different types of wall mounted set ups. I was hoping someone on here would know what would work best or at least give me some examples to go try before going blindly.

Not sure you will get a good feel for surrounds in a store as most likely they would not have a selection on the back wall to switch between. And, if you are lucky to have more than one store in town with a setup, memory is short.
I am sure others might suggest a brand or two, or you can go to the member system section and look what folks here use.

I am not going to buy my set up for at least 2 weeks so i still have some time before making any decisions. Any info you have is appreciated.
Thanks!!

If you are not in a rush, why would you be on such an investment, audition and read the systems here.

 

[m_vanmeter]

another option is speakers made to mount "on-wall", usually thinner than regular bookshelf units.

Some on-wall sets to consider http://www.thespeakercompany.com/TSAT4112T1-HT-P160C35.aspx or http://www.amazon.com/Definitive-Technology-ProCinema-Speaker-System/dp/B000TDENA6/ref=sr_1_30?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1255986275&sr=1-30

 

[gato]

Thanks for the replies gentlemen, but the original reason I posted was for an AV receiver that was a good bargain. I can not go over $1500 with speakers and receiver. I figure that puts be about $500-$800 range. It will be used mostly 90% of the time for movies and 10% of the time for music. I plan on using HDMI cables.

Any thoughts?

Thanks

 

[dapack69]

For a receiver I would suggest Onkyo, again this is the only brand I have had my whole life though. You can get real good deals as Newegg on the weekends or you can buy a remanufactured one for real cheap from accessories4less.

If not Onkyo I hear a lot about Denon, but Onkyo has more features for the money.

 

[Alex2507]

Here's a pretty cheap and popular hdmi rec'r solution.
Or buy this guy's used one.


This thread talks about budget speakers. You can wall mount them with these.

That leaves you with ~$500 for a sub. Ugh, I almost hate doing this but that's almost enough to get a pair of these.

You should get two. It's called Audioholics for a reason.

 

[Davemcc]

Thanks for the replies gentlemen, but the original reason I posted was for an AV receiver that was a good bargain. I can not go over $1500 with speakers and receiver. I figure that puts be about $500-$800 range. It will be used mostly 90% of the time for movies and 10% of the time for music. I plan on using HDMI cables.

Any thoughts?

Thanks

That budget seems somewhat skewed. I would plan to spend only $300 or so on the receiver. There are some fine receivers available for that price. Don't ask me which ones though, because I'm not American, I don't keep up on U.S. pricing or the deal du jour. But I still find myself constantly amazed at the quality of equipment Americans have access to in that price range.

I do like Alex's idea of the dual Dayton subs. I haven't heard them but they come well reviewed here. Aside from that, I can recommend subs from www.hsuresearch.com. While at the Hsu site, do not get tempted by their Ventriloquist package. I cannot recommend the Ventriloquist, from personal ownership experience.

After accounting for the necessary expense of the receiver and sub(s), you may have between $600-900 to spend on speakers. For small wall mount speakers, I like the Energy RC-Mini but only if you catch them on sale and only because of your limitation with the toddlers. As I said before, there are a ton of budget speakers out there and will pay you dividends to shop and audition as many as possible.

 

[gato]

Thanks for the input gents...

I have a lot to consider and I wish I was not so ignorant with AV equipment.

I just found this for best rated AV receiver for the price on cnet - Pioneer VSX-1019AH-K. What do you guys think about Pioneer receivers?

 

[dapack69]

Someone has been over at Cnet checking out there reviews. I would not know for sure on the quality of Pioneer has I have not owned any of there equipment since 1993.

Cnet is very good at how they rate stuff. It should be a fine receiver for you.

 

[gato]

Someone has been over at Cnet checking out there reviews. Cnet is very good at how they rate stuff. It should be a fine receiver for you.

I sense a tone of sarcasm...

I googled "best AV receiver for the money" and the cnet review came up.

I know I am a newb with this stuff, but I have to start somewhere.