New Home Theater

[originalmoose]

So i have been thinking about building a new home theater, and my first question in my series of questions to ask is about a reciever. I work at best buy so much of what i buy will be centered around what i can get with my discount. Recently Best Buy started selling Harman Kardon Recievers in the store. But what peeked my interest was a reciever that best buy does not sell that i can get at an amazing price. In perticular the reciever is the HK AVR 745 Linky

I was wondering if anyone has this reciever or has used it. I like what i have seen from the HK line of products and from what i understand from their website it is a very feature rich reciever which should last me a long time. I am not as knowleged as i would like to be, but Home Theater is my passion and i would like to improve my knowlege. As suprising as it may sound /sarcasm i am prbably the most knowlegeble associate at my store and seeing as how i work in the geek squad that seems a bit sad.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Oh and the discount would put the reciever at about 850 bucks, i thought that was a heck of a bargain but i could be wrong

 

[Adam]

I don't have this, but I from what I've read, you might want to wait for a newer model. I say this only because you specifically mention it lasting you a long time. The AVR 745 upconverts to 1080i, but not 1080p - and 1080p is becoming more and more popular. Also, according to one review that I saw, it won't even pass through 1080p. It also doesn't decode some of the newer surround sound modes. The HDMI connections are 1.1, and receivers with 1.3 are starting to come out now.

Just some info. Probably a great sounding receiver, but it might not have all of the features that you'd want in the next two or three years.

 

[guitarplyrstevo]

I don't have this, but I from what I've read, you might want to wait for a newer model. I say this only because you specifically mention it lasting you a long time. The AVR 745 upconverts to 1080i, but not 1080p - and 1080p is becoming more and more popular. Also, according to one review that I saw, it won't even pass through 1080p. It also doesn't decode some of the newer surround sound modes. The HDMI connections are 1.1, and receivers with 1.3 are starting to come out now.

Just some info. Probably a great sounding receiver, but it might not have all of the features that you'd want in the next two or three years.

Quick question..What is whats the difference between 1080i and 1080p? Also I remember my friend saying his new Vizio had an option for 780i? I don't remember the exact number

 

[jaxvon]

Quick question..What is whats the difference between 1080i and 1080p? Also I remember my friend saying his new Vizio had an option for 780i? I don't remember the exact number

i is Interlaced, P is progressive. It explains the ways lines are drawn across the screen to form an image.

Here's a quick explanation:

http://www.canopus.com/canopus/technology/progressivevsinterlaced.php

 

[originalmoose]

Thank you for your response. I did notice that about it not passing 1080p and it did worry me. Although i do not plan on making my purchases for quite some time (as soon as i can make the money) I'm not sure if i plan on using the HDMI function of the receiver anyways. So my next question is if you know what newer surround sound modes it wont decode?

 

[originalmoose]

Ok so while i wait on any more responses about the receiver i will post the link to the speakers i was looking at getting, again same question, are they good, does anyone have them and what are the downsides.
linky
I was looking more twords two L880's, a LC1, two L810's, and a L8400P. But i was wondering how much of a difference the step up in each category would make for instance instead of the L880's the L890's. and also what would the appropriate configuration be for 7.1 seeing as how the setup im looking at is only 5.1. Would i just get 4 of the L810's?

One final question, between the JBL 12" sub i mentioned and the Klipsch Synergy Sub-12 The JBL from what i can tell is a better sub, but i havent heard it in action, i have heard the Klipcsh and i would say its pretty nice, the discount for each is fairly close in %. Obviously the JBL is about twice the cost as the Klipsch but i can get both for a little more than half off. Is it worth it to spend the extra money on the JBL or will i not notice the difference?

Thank you all in advance, i love this website, you are all very helpfull

 

[Adam]

So my next question is if you know what newer surround sound modes it wont decode?

Two that come to mind are Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD.

 

[no. 5]

Two that come to mind are Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD.

Very true, but it's ok that it won't decode them because anything that will play a disc that has TrueHD or DTS-HD must decode it internally (and most discs won't let the raw bitstream out of the player to be decoded by the receiver).

 

[originalmoose]

Very true, but it's ok that it won't decode them because anything that will play a disc that has TrueHD or DTS-HD must decode it internally (and most discs won't let the raw bitstream out of the player to be decoded by the receiver).

Fair enough, i dont think i plan on buying an HD-DVD or Bluray player at the moment and if im correct i believe that is the only two formats who utilize the two sound formats you mentioned. I may buy the HD dvd player for Xbox 360 but probably not unless there is a movie i cant get on DVD, the price doesnt seem to make it worth it for me, plus i'd hate it if i wasted my money on HD dvd only to find it fail a few years later, or vice versa for BluRay.

 

[jcPanny]

HT components

Yamaha, Denon, Pioneer, and the new Onkyo models are great receiver options if you can get a discount.

I think that the factory for SVS subwoofers is in your area or reasonably close. You might stop by for a tour and a demo before you buy a Klipsch or JBL sub.