Second post, but first post with questions...
I am new to all of this A/V stuff, but have just purchased a Sony KDL46V2500 1080p LCD display (looks great), but the sound leaves something to be desired
We also currently have a Scientific Atlanta HD DVR cable box and a JVC XV-SA75 DVD player.
I have read quite a bit here, AVS forums, etc... but still don't know what I REALLY need or want. I think that I know some of my needs and wants, but need reassurance, so here goes..
A little background on the current and soon to be environments:
The family room in my current house does not lend itself to a surround sound system AT ALL. The TV is in an alcove that is between the fireplace and a wall of windows. There is not a good place to put the front speakers, and the back wall is not really a wall, but open to the kitchen/breakfast. We are currently building a new house (about 6 months out) that has a somewhat more surround sound friendly family room. I want to get a system now that I can use, but want it to work for the new house as well. The new family room will be about 16'x18' with the left side from where you would be sitting open to the kitchen/breakfast. We are having the family room prewired by the builder for 5.1 surround, and prewiring the covered patio for 2 speakers.
My wife and I like to listen to music, we watch movies very seldomly (at least so far, but this may change), we watch tv maybe 2 hours a night (HGTV, Animal Planet) and I watch sports (football, soccer, Tour de France, etc.), but we don't like to have the sound very loud, but we would like the audio to be more clear - we are both noticing a loss of hearing
and understanding what we hear is sometimes difficult.
My budget for A/V receiver, speakers, DVD players/recorders, cables, etc. is about $1500 to $2000. I don't want to spend a bunch and find out that we still don't use it much, but I don't want to skimp and find out that we don't use it BECAUSE we skimped and it still sounds crappy. What I am thinking I would need/want is:
- a receiver that has multi-zone capability - want to be able to have music playing out on the patio while watching a movie or tv in the family room.
- HDMI switching so that there is only 1 HDMI cable going to the tv.
- iPod capability
- XM Radio capability
- ability to have zone 2 on without necessarily having zone 1 on.
- upconversion DVD player
- Logitech 880 remote (something real easy for the wife)
I am interested in the Yamaha RX-V661. Based on my readings it seems to fit. I am also interested in the Axioms in the "$3500 Balanced system" article
http://www.audioholics.com/buying-guides/system-buying-guides/the-3500-balanced-av-system/equipment-product-recommendations. I am open to all suggestions, as I am not dead set on anything particular.
I think that in the current house, we could get by with front, center and sub and wait until we get into the new house and get the rear surrounds and the outdoor speakers.
Sorry for such a long thread, but any suggestions or comments or things that I have overlooked would be greatly appreciated.
Rodney
