I am researching a new system, and need to advice...

[Eternal]

I am looking at buying a LCD TV 42-52" 1080p ($500 to $1000) I will prolly buy it during black friday or if a very good deal comes along.

Along with the LCD tv, I will be purchasing a home theater system. $500 to $1000 budget too.

I have an Asus W90Vp-a1 laptop that carries 1080p video and 7.1 audio through it's HDMI port, I will be hooking hte laptop up to the reciever and watching blu-rays with it.

I also have an xbox 360 and may get a wii that I would like to run through teh reciever.

I was hoping for advice on what recievers I should research/consider buying. The things I want:
-7.1 audio is prefered, but 5.1 is acceptable.
-HDMI/component video upscaling 1080i
-to handle sound through HDMI
-best bang for the buck is prefered.

a reciever I liked the look of, but was a little costly was the Onkyo TX-SR806S

In addition, if I could have some recomendations for speakers 5.1 to 7.1 prefered.

I will be living in a smaller apartment for a t least a year, so I won't have the speakers hanging on a wall.

Again, I am not looking for the top of the line, I would like best bang for the buck, I would like decent caulity with the ability to put out enough sound to feel the explosions.

Thank you for your help,

Chris

 

[lsiberian]

I am looking at buying a LCD TV 42-52" 1080p ($500 to $1000) I will prolly buy it during black friday or if a very good deal comes along.

Along with the LCD tv, I will be purchasing a home theater system. $500 to $1000 budget too.

I have an Asus W90Vp-a1 laptop that carries 1080p video and 7.1 audio through it's HDMI port, I will be hooking hte laptop up to the reciever and watching blu-rays with it.

I also have an xbox 360 and may get a wii that I would like to run through teh reciever.

I was hoping for advice on what recievers I should research/consider buying. The things I want:
-7.1 audio is prefered, but 5.1 is acceptable.
-HDMI/component video upscaling 1080i
-to handle sound through HDMI
-best bang for the buck is prefered.

a reciever I liked the look of, but was a little costly was the Onkyo TX-SR806S

In addition, if I could have some recomendations for speakers 5.1 to 7.1 prefered.

I will be living in a smaller apartment for a t least a year, so I won't have the speakers hanging on a wall.

Again, I am not looking for the top of the line, I would like best bang for the buck, I would like decent caulity with the ability to put out enough sound to feel the explosions.

Thank you for your help,

Chris

Look at the panasonic plasma's for TV's they are better picture quality, and they've fixed all the old issues with plasma.

For home theater speakers are the most important part. They make the noise don't ever forget that.

For speakers I suggest you go 6.2 With 3 sets of Behringer 2030p's This is by far the best bang for buck deal on speakers.

For your subs get a pair of Dayton 12 subs.

If you need stands get Sanu's They are low cost and easily assembled.

For cable only buy from monoprice.com or bluejeanscable.com. I do monoprice they have wholesale prices on cable.

For a receiver if your computer decodes the HD formats then get an HK 254 receiver from the ebay HK store.

The total cost will be around 1000 for this entire set.

 

[shadyJ]

Is your $500 to $1000 budget for receiver and speakers, or just speakers? Because if it is for both, a Onkyo 806 will eat up a disproportionate amount of that budget unless you found a fantastic deal somewhere. Even refurbished ones cost over $600.

I would divide your budget into one third for receiver, one third for speakers, and one third for subwoofer. One of the best deals for a complete 5.1 speaker package is The Speaker Company. You can get some very good packages there for $600 to $700 dollars. That leaves about $300 for receivers, which I would go to Accessories4less for, because they have great deals for good receivers.

 

[Eternal]

The budget is $500-$1000 for both reciever and speakers. I would preffer to keep it lower, a few years down the line I will get a very good system, but atm I am looking for a more solid reciever that will handle HDMI and hopefully handle upscalling as well.

I am just looking for a system that will sound much better then the current TV speakers, and to play audio from my computer though the sound sytem (using hdmi port).

I am allowing for up to $1000 for the budget b/c if there is a slightly more expensive setup with a huge gain or performance, it is worth it.

 

[jostenmeat]

If you have $1k, pretty much all of us will encourage you to use it all, as long as you can comfortably handle the expenditure. You are quite a ways from the point of diminishing returns, but that's not to say you can't build a very pleasant system either.

First of all, forget the whole receiver upscaling thing. Not worth it with your budget.

Think about it... which is going to process video better? A $1,000-$2,000 video display, or a $500 receiver (which means 7 amps, preamp, processor, eq/rc, radio, etc)?

I generally like shady's 1/3 proportion, if this system could never be touched, changed, improved, upgraded.

If I could upgrade anywhere in the relatively near future, I'd spend as little as possible on the receiver, to get the best speakers and sub I could.

Processors/receivers outdate relatively quickly. Not so with speakers and sub.

You could make a *small* receiver compromise, and maybe find a used HDMI receiver that simply handles mch PCM. Then have player decode.

However, at this budget, I would even consider a *larger* compromise, and find a $100 garage sale DD/DTS optical receiver, so that I could get the things that really count: speakers 'n sub.

 

[Eternal]

Hmm, true... I know I will need HDMI through the reciever, and I know I want it to carry it as 1080p to my tv. the upscaling isn't as important to me, and my computer has a drd/blu-ray combo so I am good with both of those.

do you guys know of a good reciever with HDMI pass through that can recieve audio only from hdmi too. something like:Onkyo-TX-SR507-5-1-Channel-Surround-Receiver for $350 at amazon. (I will be watching for a sale and buying then.
Is there a bundle that is in the $600 ish price range of a receiver (with at least 2 HDMI in and 1 HDMI out, and decent speakers. I can easily buy a sub seperately btw.

- Chris

 

[shadyJ]

If you want to get a good receiver with just some passable speakers for now with the intention of upgrading later, the 806 would be a more rational choice. However, I wouldn't wait a long time before buying better speakers because the 806 will become more of a wasted investment for the longer you don't take advantage of it. I know people who have done this but they never got around to getting better speakers.

You might consider getting a good receiver now and just a couple of good full-range tower speakers, with the intention of adding other speakers to your system later. That way you won't be throwing away money on temporary speakers. Besides that, a pair of good towers will sound better than a bunch of lesser speakers in a surround sound package. If you piece your system component by component, you will have a better system in the end, and you'll have spent less money.

Here is a good looking receiver for a great price: the Marantz SR6001 for $350.

Set how much you want to spend on a couple of towers, and you can come in well under budget with a system that will sound better than a equivalently priced surround sound package.

There are very good speaker packages out there minus the subwoofer. Check out AV123's ELT535 5.0 speaker package, on sale currently for only $600. Those would be very good speakers, and you wouldn't need to upgrade later.
There is also a sale at HSU for speaker packages, their 5.0 package is on sale for $768 currently. Those are very powerful bookshelfs, and you wouldn't have to upgrade from that system either.
Check out Elemental Designs, you can build a very substantial 5.0 system for a good price. Use their home theater package builder to set something up. I might recommend a A6 6T6 tower fronts, A6 6T6 MTM center, and A3 5TC bookshelf rears, a package which comes out to $718. That would be a fantastic setup.

Any of those speakers packages combined with a decent receiver will blow any home-theater-in-a-box type systems away, especially if you add a decent subwoofer later.

 

[Eternal]

I have some websites I would like to past and ask about the quality of speakers, but this is my 4th post I think so I will have to make another post before I can... Is theree anything wrong with these speakers:

Model
Brand Energy
Model Take 5 Pack
Part# 1010937
Spec
Type Home Theater Speaker System
Channels 5CH
Sold As System
Speakers Configuration 1 Center Speaker + 4 Satellite Speakers
Driver Units Center Speakers: Magnetically Shielded Bass Reflex

Satellite Speakers: Magnetically Shielded Bass Reflex

Center Speaker Tweeter: 0.75" Hyperbolic aluminum-dome tweeter

Satellite Speaker Tweeter: 0.75" Hyperbolic aluminum-dome tweeter

Center Speaker Woofer: 3" poly-titanium

Satellite Speaker Woofer: 3" poly-titanium
Power Rating Center Speaker: 100 Watts

Satellite Speaker: 100 Watts
Frequency Response Center Speaker: 110Hz - 20KHz

Satellite Speaker: 115Hz - 20KHz
Nominal Impedance Center Speaker: 8-ohm compatible

Satellite Speaker: 8-ohm compatible
Sensitivity Center Speaker: 89 dB

Satellite Speaker: 89 dB
Connectors Mini 5-Way Binding Posts
Dimensions & Weight Center Speaker: 4.13" x 10.25" x 4.13" / 3.2 lbs.

Satellite Speaker: 6.88" x 4.13" x 4.13" / 2.9 lbs.

Features
Features Packaged 5 pack home theater system

Compact speakers look great with contemporary flat panels

High-gloss black finish has high-tech look

Center Speaker Crossover Point: 2.9 kHz

Satellite Speaker Crossover Point: 2.9 kHz


I really don't know much about speaker stats, so it would be a great help if you guys could point out what is wrong with these. The are on sale for $150 out the door (for 5.0 setup)

And there is a current combo deal with this sub:

Model
Brand Klipsch
Series Synergy
Model Sub-12
Spec
Type Subwoofer
Sold As Single
Driver Units Drive Components: 12" (30.5cm) fiber-composite cone, down-firing woofer
Power Rating FTC Rated Power: 300 watts continuous @ 1% THD, Dynamic Power: 650 watts
Frequency Response 24-120Hz
Connectors Inputs: L/R line-level RCA jacks, L/R high level speaker binding posts
Outputs: L/R High level speaker binding posts (passthru)
Power Supply Voltage: 110/120 VAC 60Hz
Export Voltage: 220 VAC 50/60Hz
Dimensions & Weight 18" x 15" x 19.9"

40lbs.
Features
Features Volume, Lowpass, Phase, Auto Power

Enclosure Type: Bass-reflex via rear-firing port

The sub is currently $500, but they knock off $175 if I combo it with the speakers. Can you guys point out the things that would be bad about the sub so I know what to look for as I research things.

Thank you.

-Chris

 

[Patrick_Wolf]

The Energy Take Classic probably isn't going to satisfy you for 3 years. Small satellite-type speakers can only do so much.

I don't think Klipsch subs are well reguarded. And just looking at the specs of speakers/subs isn't going to tell you what they're going to sound like.

A couple things are important like ohms; 4, 6, or 8 usually. 8 is common and easy to drive by most amps/receivers. Frequency response, ideally you'll want your front 3 speakers to go below 80 Hz I think. Subs should go to 25 Hz, 20 Hz or less ideally.

The budget minded HT enthusiast is always directed to Dayton for excellent bang for your buck subs.

 

[Eternal]

The 80 Hz is a good value to know, now I can hunt for some speakers with at least that range. From what I read on slick deals the take 5 were a good deal, but if the 115 Hz range is too high and may distort voices, i will look for another deal.

 

[Eternal]

And yet I am still tempted to get the Take 5.0 speaker setup, get a good sub and reciever. And plan on buying beter speakers later. Currently I will have the set setup in a relatively cramp apartment, about a 10' x 15' room for a year. So how distorted would voices etc be with the 115 Hz -20KHz speakers be? If I got anything else it would prolly be Behringer B2030P.

 

[jostenmeat]

I've read positive things about the Take system, considering the very low price. It should be a step up from the typical HTIB system, which is the only way you're going to pay less, I think.

I believe you listed the 5.0 system, and not the 5.1. That also seems to be the recommended path, so that you can get a better sub. Roughly $200 on 5.0, and then whatever you can muster for the sub.

The Behringers do not have grilles, just in case you didn't know. Do you have space for an upright bookshelf center speaker?

 

[Eternal]

The Behringers do not have grilles, just in case you didn't know. Do you have space for an upright bookshelf center speaker?

I have a tv stand that I should be able to fit the center speaker (just under were the tv sits). I would like to save as much money as I can atm, but I also want a decent best bang for the buck system.

 

[Eternal]

I am fine with the Behringers not having grills. How mucch of a gap or quality/performance would the Behringers bring over the Take speakers if I get a reciever like: http://www.amazon.com/Onkyo-TX-SR507-5-1-Channel-Surround-Receiver/dp/tech-data/B001VEI290/

I am not dead set on the reciever, and will prolly find one on sale soon, but I definately want HDMI pass through for it.

 

[lsiberian]

I am fine with the Behringers not having grills. How mucch of a gap or quality/performance would the Behringers bring over the Take speakers if I get a reciever like: http://www.amazon.com/Onkyo-TX-SR507-5-1-Channel-Surround-Receiver/dp/tech-data/B001VEI290/

I am not dead set on the reciever, and will prolly find one on sale soon, but I definately want HDMI pass through for it.

The Behringers are widely considered the best speakers in the budget class. They have plenty of extension and I think look just fine for home use. You can lay it on it's side for a center if necessary as well. Wmax stated this would be as good as a tradition Midrange Tweeter Midrange center

The HK AVR 254 or 247 is a Multi-ch HDMI processing receiver that can be had for 205 - 220. I go my 247 for a 180 best offer on ebay. Infinity owns and runs an Ebay store for their refurb speakers and receivers.

The 254 or 247 will have plenty of power for your needs. It's not an 806 in features but in power it's about a 705.

You have to get the behringer's in pairs. But I bet you might find someone that would split a pair with you. I know if I were looking at a new front system I'd be up for it.

Let us know what you end up doing.