Help and lots of please

[Scotty]

I have recently moved over from Scotland (6 months ago) and have been absolutely blown away by the selction (quality and quantity) of home entertainment products. I am trying to set up a home cinema having no knowledge of electrical/electronic products. I am assuming that buying each product separately is the best way to go? I need alot of help in the following areas:
1) Speakers - Have purchased a Bose 16.1 Acoustimass speaker system and upgraded it to 7.1 with their centre speaker
2) Projector - Intend to buy a projector with a budget up to $3k retail (normally about $2k on the net). I have the choice narrowed to a Panasonic PTAE 900U or Sanyo PLVZ4 as they are both priced around the same with similar features. I am erring on the side of the sanyo only because of some internet based reviews
3) DVD Player - The Denon 3910 seems to get rave reviews so that would be my ideal choice
4) Receiver - Got choice down to Yamaha RXV 4600 and the Denon 4802R.
5) DVD Recorder - haven't a clue what to buy
6) HD TV - I have read that both LCD and Plasma have benefits but I am minded to go for the LCD but should I go for the largest screen size available and what make is best in this area?
7) I don't know what cables to buy for all of the above - have been told to buy monster cables or something similar using gold plating as they offer better performance? Other people have said the cables mean nothing in terms of performance
Remember I don't have any knowledge on this subject whatsoever and would be willing to listen to anyone about any of the above products in terms of reviews or recommendations. Unfortunately my wife is still in Scotland and I have been spending most of the past few months telephone calls talking about a subject I know very little about but being concerned that I am planning to spend alot of money and making a "big meat up".
Any help gratefully received!!!

 

[Buckeyefan 1]

Welcome to the forum. Are you in the US now?

How long have you had your Bose speakers? What was the reason you went with Bose over other brands?

Your question # 4 centers around the speakers you are currently using. Are you using another receiver with your Bose? If so, how do you like them?

Don't get caught up with expensive cables. Monster cables are overpriced. You can buy top of the line interconnects at Walmart at a fraction of the price without any loss in a/v quality.

I'm asuming this is your speaker setup:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00006L7RX/ref=ase_kaufenundbest-20/102-8140145-1680911?v=glance&s=electronics

 

[Nick250]

Before you do anything else rethink you speaker choice. Can you still return them? The speakers are the heart of your system and accounts for perhaps 90% of what you hear. Bose speakers are premium price for a low end product. Threre are far, far better choices out there IMO. My thinking is that 70% or so of your total audio budget (not including video) should be allocated to speakers. The only way to know what speaker is for you is to audition, audition, audition every speaker in your budget that you can find. There is no way to get around the audition part of building your audio system. Once you have choosen your speakers then you can think about the receiver, DVD/CD player etc that you will build around them.

Nick

 

[mulester7]

The speakers are the heart of your system and account for perhaps 90% of what you hear.
Nick

.....there it is....if not 98%....and we're talking main's regiment, not sub....get your main's regiment doing all it can do from 5 or 7 positions, then worry about a sub, imo....Aaron, steer away from Monster "audio" cables for sure, and Radio Shack has a grade of gold-plated rca's that are excellent at a working man's pricing....also put a lot of thought into the fact Bose satellites are pushed through the Bose sub as you consider a receiver....you obviously have some money to back your thoughts here....I would agree with Nick's suggestion of either returning the Bose system, or running a free ad in the Democrat and starting over with speakers....many here have made comments that would steer one starting off toward BIC's....if your wife's opinion says the cubes stay though, we understand....

 

[majorloser]

Call the World Heath Order! The dreaded Bose disease has spread to a new continent!

We have to contain this epidemic before it's too late!

And that deadly Monster virus is soon to follow...........................

Put the Monster Cable down and back away slowly. It can't harm you unless you take it home and open the package. We'll sent a quarantine squad over to contain the outbreak. In the mean time, just be calm.

 

[dponeill]

1. If getting rid of the Bose is possible, by all means do so.

3. A great DVD player but, if you must keep the Bose the DVD-2910 will save you some money as the improved audio of the 3910 will not be needed

6. Any decent quality cables will work fine. The Dayton line from Parts Express is very well made.