New Setup Questions

[polomaan]

What I want:

-Good sounding surround sound (2 front; 2 rear; center; sub; back?)
-Ability to listen to all sorts of music at fairly loud levels
-HDMI connectivity to 2 year old panasonic plasma
ability to connect non-HDMI components (like with just red-white-yellow RCAs)
-Connect: HD dish network box (don't have yet); regular DVD player for now (until I get bluray); Wii; xbox; ipod.

What I have (3 years old):
-1 infinity 600W subwoofer
-2 Klipsch floorstanding speakers that are great (middle size- about 3.5 feet tall)
-Sony receiver that was inexpensive and not so powerful...etc.

I'm thinking there's 2 ways to go. 1)Use the home theater in a box (Panasonic SC-PT956 from Costco- Looks pretty nice...easy) that my fiance's parents got us for Christmas, OR 2)Use the existing speakers I have and add on a new receiver, center speaker, and surround speakers....and prob a macro remote.

I do like the ease of the HTIAB, but I would feel that my good speakers are going to waste.

I also want to get the most out of my 1080i/720p HDTV. I may upgrade to a newer TV in a year or two, and am not sure if I would then get 1080p.....would if it would make a difference.

Thanks!

 

[polomaan]

Please help. I would really appreciate it.

Thanks!

 

[jostenmeat]

I'm thinking there's 2 ways to go. 1)Use the home theater in a box (Panasonic SC-PT956 from Costco- Looks pretty nice...easy) that my fiance's parents got us for Christmas, OR 2)Use the existing speakers I have and add on a new receiver, center speaker, and surround speakers....and prob a macro remote.

Oh man, keep the Klipsch towers, add a MATCHING center. Forget the HTIB... as so nice as a gift that is... oh I'll let you figure that one out. Surround speakers... yeah, some klipsch bookshelves or something.

Macro remote, I use a URC RF20, its pretty nice and easy. $80 shipped, and its IR + RF, with blaster, 6 emitters, and you can now hide your components too if you wanted.

I do like the ease of the HTIAB, but I would feel that my good speakers are going to waste.

You are preaching to a very large and maniacal choir.

I also want to get the most out of my 1080i/720p HDTV. I may upgrade to a newer TV in a year or two, and am not sure if I would then get 1080p.....would if it would make a difference.

Thanks!

If you sit more than two screen widths away from your display, than you're not going to notice any difference. Check out this graph:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v471/tha_trixta/resolution2.png

 

[polomaan]

In-ceiling and In-wall

Thanks! The house is almost finished being built....which means I get to install the system, woo hooo. My fiance is telling me that it would be really nice to have in-ceiling speakers and an in-wall center channel. I think that's a pretty fair trade since I get all of my toys...errr serious equipment.

Any thoughts on what brands to look at and which brands to stray from?

Thanks again. I appreciate the help.

 

[AVRat]

You'll want a Klipsch center to timbre match your mains. Unfortunately, the Klipsch in-wall LCR won't fit in the standard 16" OC studbay. Talk her into an in-room center using this explanation. The in-ceiling surrounds can be a different brand if you choose. A budget for the speakers would help.

 

[scotties2006]

I hope you were able to run the speaker wire before the drywall went up..saves alot of headache and time. Congrats on the new house.