Onkyo HT-S3100

[lsiberian]

The LCR combination from the speaker company is a good suggestion, as are the dayton subwoofers. If your dad does want to upgrade, and doesn't want to do it all at once, I would suggest getting just a center channel from the speaker company. When watching movies, all of your dialogue is going to come from the center channel, and you will notice a big increase in sound quality for the least amount of money. The speaker company sells a good center channel for $50 with free shipping. Later down the road, you could add new front left and right speakers and a subwoofer. You could try to recoup some of your money by selling the speakers on craigslist or ebay as you replace them.

Another option is to just forget a center and get a nice pair of bookshelves. If your dad bought it and it's for him. I suggest you not make a big deal out of it. If he likes it let him enjoy it. I know it's hard to swallow your audiophile within. But my parents replaced good speakers with a terrible HTIB. I cried inside. They had a pair of old technics floorstanders and a JBL center and surrounds.

Center's are only necessary if you have off axis seating or bad LR channels.

I wouldn't build a center channel again. I feel it's unnecessary now. Of course I reserve the right to change my mind.

 

[Adam]

I'd like to mention something. You said that you hooked up using the cables that you just bought, but that you didn't get any sound. I'm assuming that you're referring to a coax audio cable. If so, I'll bet that you just need to assign the digital input(s). On page 8 of the manual for the 3100, it references the Digital Input button and provides two page numbers (38 and 57) for additional info on how to use it.

I'm telling you, the digital connection is going to be better.

 

[Adam]

Out of curiosity, Isiberian, why do you say that the 3100 is valued at $170? I don't see anyone offering a new system for under $200, with stores that I trust being at $250 or higher.

 

[i1own0u]

Actually, I did assign the coaxial cable.

Other than that, i still never understood why you would connect the video connections to the receiver, how would that even work? Just makes more sense to leave it plugged into the TV and plug just the speakers into the receiver

 

[i1own0u]

If i do plug in the coaxial cable, what do i put the receiver on so that the speakers will work? like video1, dvd, video2...?

 

[Adam]

If i do plug in the coaxial cable, what do i put the receiver on so that the speakers will work? like video1, dvd, video2...?

You'd select the input to which you assigned that digital input.

 

[i1own0u]

Lol assign? I never read anything in the manual about "assigning" a coaxial input? I just wanted to plug the cable into the out coaxial, and put the other end into the receiver and sound to come out...