Please Help an Excited Newbie Audioholic

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HercFlyer55

Audiophyte
I want to complete my home theatre system.

I currently own:

Hitachi 55HDS52 UltraVision 55-inch Plasma TV (mounted over fireplace):D
Sony DVPNS75H Single Disc Upscaling DVD Player
Scientific Atlanta 8300 HD DVR Cable Box (Time Warner)

Great Room Specs:

Approx 18ft x 16ft with 17 foot cathedral ceilings that open to the right to a loft. (Large open room).

All components will be hidden in another room in a closet. This will lead to my universal remote control issues.

What I want to buy!!!

Denon AVR 2807 receiver
Infinity TSS-1200 5.1 speaker system (I want a compromise of surround and music quality sound)
A great universal remote with IR/RF capabillity.

OK, so my concerns are this. I simply want the best picture I can get without getting overly picky. Same goes for the sound. I don't want huge speakers but i want the best quality speakers i can get that are no bigger than 12 inches tall and 5 inches wide (approx). I looked into in wall speakers but decided to avoid them since I don't want to cut holes in the walls that big. And if you look at the Infinity system, it's not overwhelming to the eye.

So please give advice. I have been researching this for months as I did with my plasma. I am somewhat savvy in the A/V lingo, so I can keep up.

Thanks in advance.
 
H

HercFlyer55

Audiophyte
I am going to check out the def tech's and I appreciate the response, but does anyone have any other speaker suggestions that meet what I described above?
 
Seth=L

Seth=L

Audioholic Overlord
AcuDefTechGuy said:
My take:

Definitive Technology SM350 (11" tall) x 5 = $1,000
Definitive Technology SuperCube-I Subwoofer (14" cube) = $1,000
Onkyo SR605 Receiver = $400

Total 5.1 HT= $2,400.

http://www.definitivetech.com/reviews/SCin350HT4c.pdf

http://www.definitivetech.com/reviews/SC350SV4c.pdf

http://www.definitivetech.com/reviews/SCubeIAR4c.pdf

http://reviews.cnet.com/av-receivers/onkyo-tx-sr605-silver/4505-6466_7-32430580.html
Click to expand...
Every thread, I swear.:rolleyes:

You need to accept the fact that Definitive Tech is not the end all to speakers, and definitely subwoofers.

HercFlyer55, why have you chosen the Denon AVR-2807?
 
ParadigmDawg

ParadigmDawg

Audioholic Overlord
H

HercFlyer55

Audiophyte
Seth=L said:
Every thread, I swear.:rolleyes:

You need to accept the fact that Definitive Tech is not the end all to speakers, and definitely subwoofers.

HercFlyer55, why have you chosen the Denon AVR-2807?
Click to expand...
The one thing that frustrates the living hell out of me is that you get a different opinion on speakers every time in here. I would like to hear every set of speakers people suggest, but that's not feasable. So I'm going to trust that a company like Infinity makes a decent system such as the TSS-1200. The reason I leaning toward them is that
A. It's a respected brand of speaker
B. The price is right
C. The dimensions are exactly what I'm looking for
Although I might replace the Sub it comes with.

As far as the Denon receiver goes, I picked that one cause I am more concerned with the Video capabillities than the audio, since I believe the audio will more than exceed my expectations whether I buy Denon, Yamaha or Onkyo. The Onkyo's I looked at did not have video upscaling. Simply the Denon had some other cool features I liked such as Input renaming etc....

Am I way off base?
 
Seth=L

Seth=L

Audioholic Overlord
Well the Onkyo TX-SR605 has scaling, and it can be had for a lot less saving you some money. It doesn't have input renaming, but it is about the best bang for buck. Although, the scaling on most AVRs is lackluster. An Oppo DVD player is going to outperform the scalers on all but the best AVRs that feature Reon HQV or Realta scalers. I would not expect the scalers in the Denon to be vastly different than the ones in the Onkyo, as I believe both are Faroudja edge. And HD sources certainly need no scaling.;)

The reason we can't all agree on speakers is we don't all like the same sound, and we also know that you have preferences in sound. Receivers are easy to recommend because they basically have the same sound from model to model and brand to brand. What matters with receivers is the power, features, and what works best for the user.:)
 
OttoMatic

OttoMatic

Senior Audioholic
Nah, you're not way off base.

But I would suggest you go out and auditon as many speakers as possible (if it's reasonably possible). Just go to a couple shops and see what they have and what you like. Speakers will make the biggest difference, so pay the most attention there. I would suggest looking at Paradigm, PSB, B&W, Focal, Dynaudio, etc. You should be able to see a good variety at even only one or two shops.

I don't know if I'd buy based on "respected brand of speaker." On the other hand, I'm a big proponent of just buying something and getting on with it. If you don't like it, change it later. I know people that will research things to death, and never end up getting or doing anything for one reason or another.

Yeah, replace any Infinity sub with an SVS. I don't have any experience with SVS, but with the support and the response, they simply must be awesome. Other serious sub options are HSU, Velodyne and JL Audio. Or you could do a DIY sub...

I think you're right about the receivers. Unless you start to get into separates and get really picky, you'll be fine with any of those receivers.

I use the Harmony 890 RF-based remote. It will do everything you want and control your components that are hidden in the closet. A very cool device!

Good luck!
 
AcuDefTechGuy

AcuDefTechGuy

Audioholic Jedi
Seth=L said:
Every thread, I swear.:rolleyes:

You need to accept the fact that Definitive Tech is not the end all to speakers, and definitely subwoofers.
Click to expand...
When did I ever say that any one speaker is the ultimate best?:)

Different strokes for different folks, man. Everyone is different. Every room is different.

The man asks for opinions, and I just offered mine.

I can't recommend speakers I have never auditioned in my room.

I have experience with Def Tech & NHT speakers in my room. I can recommend both.

Well, okay, the $280,000 Kharma Grand Exquisite Towers are the best, but I'll let you know how they sound when I win the lottery.
 
AcuDefTechGuy

AcuDefTechGuy

Audioholic Jedi
Seth=L said:
Well the Onkyo TX-SR605 has scaling, and it can be had for a lot less saving you some money.
Click to expand...
The Onkyo 605, 705, 805 do NOT have 1080p Upscaling. They have Upconversion. Only the 875 & up have 1080p Upscaling.
 
AcuDefTechGuy

AcuDefTechGuy

Audioholic Jedi
Seth=L said:
An Oppo DVD player is going to outperform the scalers on all but the best AVRs that feature Reon HQV or Realta scalers. I would not expect the scalers in the Denon to be vastly different than the ones in the Onkyo, as I believe both are Faroudja edge. And HD sources certainly need no scaling.
Click to expand...
The Onkyo 875 uses the Reon HQV 1080p Upscaler.
And why would anyone buy an Oppo DVD player when they can buy a Toshiba HD HDVD player for $99 (unless they need SACD or DVD-A) ?
 
Seth=L

Seth=L

Audioholic Overlord
AcuDefTechGuy said:
The Onkyo 875 uses the Reon HQV 1080p Upscaler.
And why would anyone buy an Oppo DVD player when they can buy a Toshiba HD HDVD player for $99 (unless they need SACD or DVD-A) ?
Click to expand...
Certain Oppos are known to upscale better than the A2. Blu-ray is also outselling HD DVD by a pretty wide margin the last I heard.:)

I am well aware that the TX-SR875 has the Reon HQV 1080p upscaler. The TX-SR605 uses a Faroudja 1080i scaler.
 
AcuDefTechGuy

AcuDefTechGuy

Audioholic Jedi
Seth=L said:
Certain Oppos are known to upscale better than the A2. Blu-ray is also outselling HD DVD by a pretty wide margin the last I heard.:)

I am well aware that the TX-SR875 has the Reon HQV 1080p upscaler. The TX-SR605 uses a Faroudja 1080i scaler.
Click to expand...
No, I mean the SR605 does NOT have 1080i Upscaler PERIOD.

It can upsacle 480i to 480p (Faroudja), but not 1080.

Same thing for the SR705 & SR805.
 
Seth=L

Seth=L

Audioholic Overlord
I stand corrected about the scalers.:) You are right, the only deinterlace.

I still think better performance per dollar can be had with an upconverting DVD player or an HD player.
 
AcuDefTechGuy

AcuDefTechGuy

Audioholic Jedi
Seth=L said:
I stand corrected about the scalers.:) You are right, the only deinterlace.

I still think better performance per dollar can be had with an upconverting DVD player or an HD player.
Click to expand...
I agree.

Upscaling receivers are overrated. Clean power and future-proof features like 7.1 Analog Inputs and Outputs are more important.
 
GlocksRock

GlocksRock

Audioholic Spartan
AcuDefTechGuy said:
The Onkyo 875 uses the Reon HQV 1080p Upscaler.
And why would anyone buy an Oppo DVD player when they can buy a Toshiba HD HDVD player for $99 (unless they need SACD or DVD-A) ?
Click to expand...
Tthe $99 HD DVD player was only on sale for a day or two, you may have to wait a while before those players can be had that cheap again. As for Oppo DVD players, I can highly reccomend them. I have the original Oppo 971H and its awesome, but for now it's up for sale since I don't have the room in my av rack for it since I got my PS3 and my HD DVD player.ss
 
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