Help with new system HOUSTON TEXAS

[source1tx]

Hey guys my name JRey and was looking for a little bit of help putting together a new system for my new place. This system is going in the living room and will be used for movies and music. Here is my initial idea of the set up I have researched. Any recomendations or comments would be appriciated.

Monitor
TV Samsung 55" un55es7150

Video source
Onkyo Bdsp 309 Blue ray player HDMI Connection
Sony PS3 game HDMI connection
Nintendo Wii Component Connection
Att Uverse Cablebox HDMI Connection
Apple TV

Audio 5.1 set up
Onkyo TXNR 717
Artison FCR soundbar SB.1
Artison LRS-IW Rear speakers
Polk 10" powered subs x 2 PSW10 from my old set up for temp use untill I can get a nicer sub set up. Any recomendations?

Zone 2 outside patio
2 jamo outdoor speakers 5.5 woofers JAM 03A2

Surge protector
Furman FUR TST6 6 outlet slim profile strip.

Cables
undecided

 

[zieglj01]

Why a SoundBar - also not recommended for when listening
to some good music. I think that I would go ahead and sell
the Polk subs, or donate them to charity.

If money is tight, the Sony can double as a Bluray player >
Also if buying a seperate Bluray player, I would look at the
Sony or Panasonic ones.

No need to spend big dollars on cable and wires

Now how much did you intend to spend, on the 5.1 system
as a whole - speakers and sub?

 

[sholling]

Video source
<strike>Onkyo Bdsp 309 Blue ray player HDMI Connection</Strike> Just use the PS3
Sony PS3 game HDMI connection
Nintendo Wii Component Connection
Att Uverse Cablebox HDMI Connection
Apple TV

Audio 5.1 set up
<strike>Onkyo TXNR 717</strike> The 717 is a downgrade from last year's TX-NR709
<strike>Artison FCR soundbar SB.1</strike> Forget the soundbar and buy some speakers. If you can afford them a 3.1 set of Ascend Acoustics CMT-340 or if that's too much then listen to Pioneer and Infinity Primus both go on sale cheap - if you have a Fry's near by watch for sales.
Polk 10" powered subs x 2 PSW10 from my old set up for temp use untill I can get a nicer sub set up. Any recomendations? Rythmic, Hsu Research, or SVS.

Zone 2 outside patio
2 jamo outdoor speakers 5.5 woofers JAM 03A2

Surge protector
Furman FUR TST6 6 outlet slim profile strip.

Cables
undecided Monoprice

See above for recommend changes, the rest I have no opinion on.

 

[source1tx]

thnks guys for the recomendations. I cant go any other route but with a soundbar because of room avaliable and personal prefrence. As far as the DVD player I guess I can cut the Onkyo out and just use to PS3 but really perfer to have one remote control everything including the DVD. DOes sony make a nice Receiver ? Id like to keep the spekaers all one brand and the Reciever and Dvd the same brand as well.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

If I had to go with a Soundbar, it would be the Artison FCR soundbar.

Get a good sub as soon as you can.

I would pick a Panasonic plasma over any other display depending on your lighting situation/control. I would also pick a Panasonic BD player.

If all the gear has to be from the same manufacturer, I guess I would get Pioneer Elite gear or Denon gear.

Get a Harmony one remote and be done with it.


****EDIT*** Good Gawd, that display is $3900 and it is edge lit. You could get a nice 65 in Panasonic for way less than that.

 

[sholling]

thnks guys for the recomendations. I cant go any other route but with a soundbar because of room avaliable and personal prefrence. As far as the DVD player I guess I can cut the Onkyo out and just use to PS3 but really perfer to have one remote control everything including the DVD. DOes sony make a nice Receiver ? Id like to keep the spekaers all one brand and the Reciever and Dvd the same brand as well.

If you prefer the soundbar then you prefer the soundbar but pass on the Sony receiver and stick with Denon, Onkyo or Yamaha. As for Blu-Ray I only suggested using the PS3 to free up money for better speakers and a good sub. For a unified remote you can invest in a Harmony remote and the Harmony PS3 adapter. Believe it or not it's one of the better players on the market.

 

[keltik]

I can't speak much for the sound system but in regards to the TV your best bet is a Panasonic Plasma. You can pickup the st50 55" for around $1200 bucks now a days.

 

[slipperybidness]

thnks guys for the recomendations. I cant go any other route but with a soundbar because of room avaliable and personal prefrence. As far as the DVD player I guess I can cut the Onkyo out and just use to PS3 but really perfer to have one remote control everything including the DVD. DOes sony make a nice Receiver ? Id like to keep the spekaers all one brand and the Reciever and Dvd the same brand as well.

Looking for everything from the same brand doesn't really make any sense. Just trying to use one remote? I doubt all the same brand will do that anyway. My advice is to avoid anything made by Sony unless it is a PS3 or a Walkman.

The PS3 is bluetooth, so it needs the PS3 controller, a bluetooth remote, or a dongle that will accept IR remotes.

 

[PENG]

I guess I can cut the Onkyo out and just use to PS3 but really perfer to have one remote control everything including the DVD.

I use a cheap Harmony remote to control everything including the PS3, but you do need an adapter for the Harmony to work with the PS3.

DOes sony make a nice Receiver ?

I would say they do, but it is not a popular AVR brand around here, sad but true. Most here would recommend Yamaha, Denon, Marantz, may be Onkyo, but only guardedly, due to some perceived reliability concerns with some past Onkyo models.

 

[zieglj01]

DOes sony make a nice Receiver ? Id like to keep the spekaers all one brand and the Reciever and Dvd the same brand as well.

Sony has improved their receivers over the last few years, and they
tend to measure well. >> In the past they were on the wimpy side,
power wise - also, they make some good DVD players.

 

[zieglj01]

Here is the Sony 1030 receiver, with measurements
Sony STR-DN1030 A/V Receiver HT Labs Measures | Home Theater

http://www.hometheater.com/content/sony-str-dn1030-av-receiver

 

[slipperybidness]

Here is the Sony 1030 receiver, with measurements
Sony STR-DN1030 A/V Receiver HT Labs Measures | Home Theater

Sony STR-DN1030 A/V Receiver | Home Theater

It's not the Sony measurements that concern me. It's the build quality and customer support that gets me.

I know many people are happy with Sony, but I am not one of them.

 

[source1tx]

so here is a update.

Ended up going with

Paradigm Millenia trio LCR 9 driver sound bar front stage
Definitive Technology Bi polar inwall rears
Sunfire Sds-10 10" sub

Onkyo TXNR818

Samsung 8000 series 55" LED
sony ps3 for blue ray
nintendo wii
apple tv
uverse cable box

All this stuff should be installed by tomorrow evening ill post some pics.

 

[zieglj01]

Good Luck, enjoy - and have fun.