Noob at AV setup needs help

[phospholipid]

Hey, super new guy here. I want to help my friend build a 5.1 setup for his apartment. His budget is around 600-700$.

He needs an A/V Reciever, and 5.1 setup. Home theater In-box setups are NOT required. In an apartment, so quality is better then "loudness". I like denon/onkyo, but any recommendations will do.

He'll be using it with a PS3/65" DLP Tv/xbox


Please please pleas give me some recommendations!
Thanks!

 

[annunaki]

A decent quality receiver such as the Denon AVR-588/688 or Onkyo HT-SR606/506 and 5 BIC Adatto DV52si and a BIC V-1020 subwoofer would be a great little setup for that budget. The receiver(s) allow the ability to upgrade speakers down the line as well. It will outperform many HTIB options in that price range.

 

[phospholipid]

thanks

would it be worth it to get the 688 over the 788, cause the 788 supports audio over HDMI, should I be going with audio from the PS3 via optical out, or is the PS3's RCA [left/right] a better option? Cause the 788 would limit cables, right?

From what I understand, the optical out from the PS3/Upconveter would be a better choice then RCA's, right?

So it'd be:
PS3 HDMI -> Denons Input
PS3 Optical out ->Denons Input
HD-DVD Player [cause it upconverts] HDMI->Denon Inputs
HD-DVD Plater Optical out->Denon's Input
DLP's RCA -> Denon's Input
Denons HDMI out -> DLP TV

 

[annunaki]

would it be worth it to get the 688 over the 788, cause the 788 supports audio over HDMI, should I be going with audio from the PS3 via RCA's? Cause the 788 would limit cables, right?

The 788 would be a good option, but the Onkyo 606 can be had for less I believe. Not to mention it supports all of the HD audio formats. Onkyo's amplifier sections are quite powerful as well.

 

[phospholipid]

The 788 would be a good option, but the Onkyo 606 can be had for less I believe. Not to mention it supports all of the HD audio formats. Onkyo's amplifier sections are quite powerful as well.

I updated my previous post, sorry, would you look it over ?

 

[annunaki]

I updated my previous post, sorry, would you look it over ?

I would not change my recommendation. I would shoot for the 606.

 

[phospholipid]

I would not change my recommendation. I would shoot for the 606.

I'm sorry to be such a noob at this, but the 606 supports audio over the HDMI?
Would the audio over HDMI be as good of quality as audio over optical out or RCA?

Because of optical out/RCA audio quality is better, I'll just get him the Denon 688, but if HDMI is equal, the 606 looks like a winner

 

[annunaki]

I'm sorry to be such a noob at this, but the 606 supports audio over the HDMI?
Would the audio over HDMI be as good of quality as audio over optical out or RCA?

Because of optical out/RCA audio quality is better, I'll just get him the Denon 688, but if HDMI is equal, the 606 looks like a winner

Audio over HDMI is the only way to go with the PS3. Since the PS3 does not offer internal decoding of HD audio formats your best option is a receiver that decodes them and a player that sends them via HDMI. Supposedly there is an update coming for the PS3 that will allow DTS-HD Master audio output via HDMI.

When using the optical/coaxial(?) output from the PS3 it is converting (Dolby True HD)to multi-channel PCM and in the case of DTS-HD Master, nothing but standard DTS.

The 606 will decode all formats currently available as long as the player can bitstream them over HDMI.

 

[phospholipid]

Audio over HDMI is the only way to go with the PS3. Since the PS3 does not offer internal decoding of HD audio formats your best option is a receiver that decodes them and a player that sends them via HDMI. Supposedly there is an update coming for the PS3 that will allow DTS-HD Master audio output via HDMI.

When using the optical/coaxial(?) output from the PS3 it is converting (Dolby True HD)to multi-channel PCM and in the case of DTS-HD Master, nothing but standard DTS.

The 606 will decode all formats currently available as long as the player can bitstream them over HDMI.

You sir, are a machine. You have no idea how much you've helped me today. If any more questions arise, I'll be sure to ask you. Hrmm, well, do you know any good 5.1 speakers that would work with this AV, cause he can always upgrade down the line, but nothing really over 300$-400$ for all 5.1 speakers.

 

[annunaki]

You sir, are a machine. You have no idea how much you've helped me today. If any more questions arise, I'll be sure to ask you. Hrmm, well, do you know any good 5.1 speakers that would work with this AV, cause he can always upgrade down the line, but nothing really over 300$-400$ for all 5.1 speakers.

The BIC stuff I listed above should be able to be had around that price point. Regardless of what is stated on their website, they can be had for much less.

 

[jcPanny]

HT system

HDMI audio is great but it wont make a crappy set of speakers sound any better.
Consider adjusting your budget to $6-700 for speakers and $2-300 for the receiver instead of vice versa. You might also find some deals on slightly older receiver that have the HDMI 1.1 audio processing feature you want/need for bluray in the $3-400 range (Yamaha RX-V661?).

If you are only able to spend $300 on speakers, consider starting with a good pair of bookshelf speaker and adding the center, surrounds, and sub when budget allows.