Please help me w/ my HT

[DanD]

First off thank you for taking your time reading this. I belong to car forums ( I own a WRX) and anytime a NEWBIE ask a question, most people just say do a search.

Well I have been on here for a little and have been searching and searching. My wife is tired of waiting on me to make a decision and she has threatened to go out and buy what ever she likes. So here is what I am looking at, and comments, suggestions on something better for the price or some where to buy it cheaper, or any 2 cents would be appreciated. I see a bunch of people asking the same question on their plans and it seems a lot of people add their opinions freely and nicely.

Living room has hardwood floors and is 21' by 20' with a 11' ceiling. Music 50 movies 50

TV : Plasma Pioneer PD6071HD can get it shipped for 3000.00 not including wall mount.

Reciever: (open to more options) Yamaha RXV659 EBAY 290.00

5.1 system

Speakers Front Athena WX 60 series 165.00 each
((I like these speakers becasue of the way they look, have never heard them, (yes not a good idea) but my wife wants NO let me repeat NO wires in site, so the TV will hang on the wall, these speakers next to them and everything else will be in the closet that is behind the wall that is behind the TV.)) Wife doesn't really want floor speakers. But I'm sure if they look nice enough I can show her pics.

Rear Speakers Athena only because they match (open to other speakers) either the WS-15 125.00 or B1.2 100.00
(any opinions on satellite speakers)

Sub, Uhhh haven't started researching this much,

I want to run speakers to the outside to listen too, will I have any problems w/ the receiver?? Haven't searched outside speakers much either.

Remote Harmony 890 Ebay 290.00 Like I said all the components will be in the closet and only the TV and speakers will be visible. Does anyone like in the wall speakers??? Are there that are any good?

Anything else I should know about that I will run into or know about, just speak up. thanks for any help.

Dan

 

[AbyssalLoris]

If you're going to keep the remote in the closet behind the wall, I'd say just skip it and save some money .

So, as for the AVR, based on my research it is a good choice. It all depends on your budget, though. So first, I'd say you will get better help if you outline your budget for audio. Second, the Yammy 659 does not do HDMI switching. That may be important to you especially if you want to minimize wiring. Again, if being in the closet makes this irrelevant, then ok. Third, if you buy the Yammy AVR from ebay, you will not have a valid manufacturer warranty, assuming it is new from an ebay dealer, as Yammy will only honor warranties if bought from an authorized dealer. The warranty issue may or may not be important to you, I can't say. Some people care, some don't.

I have no opinions on in-wall speakers never having auditioned/considered them. But as for good looking bookshelf speakers, there are really a ton IMHO. Someone more familiar with the Athenas might be able to suggest other similar looking options.

 

[AbyssalLoris]

Oops, my mistake. When you said you didn't want floorstanders, I thought you meant you wanted bookshelves. Didn't consider the possiblity of having those slim long wall-mounted "plasma friendly" speakers. I see that is what the Athenas are. Anyway they appear to be WS-60 according to Athena's webpage. Again, I have never considered speakers of this kind so can't suggest alternatives, though I bet I have seen equally handsome examples from other brands too. I have heard people suggest not to go with woofers smaller than 5" and I would second that keeping audio quality in mind. But if aesthetic is paramount (as stipulated by the wife) then so be it.

On the other hand a more effective measure might be to counter with one of your own stipulations. Like, you could go "No more than 3 pairs of shoes per head in the house". That might do it . But then again, take my suggestions with a grain of salt. Having no wife, I don't know what I'm talking about. YMMV.

 

[DanD]

My budget for the reciever and 5.1 speakers is around 2,000-2,500.

anymore ideas would be great. Thanx

 

[rnatalli]

Athena makes great bang-for-buck speakers, however, you should try to audition at least a few as speakers are the main component of your system. I think Monitor Audio makes some plasma speakers worth checking out. Something else to consider would be Orbs or Gallo's as they have a small profile and high WAF.

 

[agarwalro]

I belong to car forums ( I own a WRX)

Cool! I have an 07'STI running Cobb Stage 1. Love it. Saving up to go Stage 2.

Living room has hardwood floors and is 21' by 20' with a 11' ceiling

Since you have hardwood floors, you might need acoustic treatments to tame the room response. For this big a room you will need a decent sub for sure. Look at SVS, Hsu, AV123, etc.

Pioneer PD6071HD

This is a 720p native TV. IMHO, you should get a 1080p native TV so that you don't need to upgrade soon. HD-DVD and Blu-Ray Discs are 1080p sources.

Yamaha RXV659

Like the TV this one does not support HD audio formats, DD-True HD, DTS-HD. IMHO, get a receiver that can.

I like these speakers becasue of the way they look, have never heard them, (yes not a good idea) but my wife wants NO let me repeat NO wires in site. Wife doesn't really want floor speakers. But I'm sure if they look nice enough I can show her pics

Buying a speaker for its look is like buying a car for its smell. Probably not why you got the WRX . To get the "wife approval factor" look into in-wall speakers. There are some excellent sounding floorstanders that also look beautiful, but they are expensive and will take a large chunk of your budget.

Sub, Uhhh haven't started researching this much

As I said before, this should not be an afterthought given your room size.

I want to run speakers to the outside to listen too, will I have any problems w/ the receiver??

Any receiver that has "Powered Zone 2" capabilities will meet your needs. Plenty of speaker options out there for outdoor speakers (pun intended ). I cannot recommend any from experience, but, Axiom, Polk, GE, etc. all have some deck/ patio models.

Harmony 890. Like I said all the components will be in the closet

You will need an RF remote and the Harmony series is pretty user friendly. The 890 will be a good fit.

 

[DanD]

Thanx for all the input, so now I am back to looking for a plasma around 50' for around 3,000.

now looking into Onkyo 605 for a reciever.

speakers I am going to search for "monitor audio, orbs, and gallo's" I do want something that sounds good and looks good. Right now I just have some universal Sony TH. I don't mind spending money on good stuff, but I don't need the best out there. Got to save up for my engine transplant (2.5L) and bigger turbo

So basically from the beginning I am still getting the same remote and thats it

 

[Davemcc]

The best value on-wall speakers I've found is the Paradigm Cinema series. They seemed to me the best balance between price and sound quality. Another to consider is the Definitive Technology Mythos series. I haven't heard the Orb or Gallo, but have heard nothing but positive comment about them.

 

[DanD]

I live in Columbus Ga. and there really isn't much but CC an BB for HT to look for. So it's next to impossible for me to listen to and compare speakers. My wife gave me the :thumbsup: on the Orbs speakers that matalli suggested, but still open to options. It's like every speaker I read about has wom some reward by someone for something.

Anymore opinions on TV's, thanx, Dan

 

[no. 5]

Since you have hardwood floors, you might need acoustic treatments to tame the room response.

I agree, the Athena speakers I have listened to have sounded bright, and a live room will compound that.

This is a 720p native TV. IMHO, you should get a 1080p native TV so that you don't need to upgrade soon. HD-DVD and Blu-Ray Discs are 1080p sources.

Unless he is is sitting at a distance where the resolution difference would be noticeable, I don't think a 720p TV is an issue, and the Pioneer should have good video processing ability too.

Like the TV this one does not support HD audio formats, DD-True HD, DTS-HD. IMHO, get a receiver that can.

The specs for Blu-ray and HD DVD (as far as I am aware, anyway) do not allow the raw audio bit stream out of the player, so a receiver not having support for TrueHD, DTS-HD, etc, shouldn't be a deal breaker.

Other speakers you may want to take a look at may be Morel SoundSpots, and Totem has on-wall speakers that supposedly sound good too.

 

[no. 5]

It's like every speaker I read about has wom some reward by someone for something.

It's because there are a lot of good speakers out there... and a lot of publications giving out awards.

 

[Davemcc]

There is a Paradigm dealer in Columbus, GA.

MERRIT TV / SOUND CITY
6298 VETRANS PKWY
COLUMBUS, GA
31909
706-322-0123

Both Gallo and Orb offer 30 day trials. If you decide to return them, you are only out the cost of shipping.

 

[DanD]

I believe that the Merits place is going out of business. I have gone there twice and no one is there, and there are boxes laying around. I will try to call there to see if there is an answering machine.


Any opinions or options if I were to get floor standing front speakers and a plasma on the wall, what do people to for the center channel?? Most are kinda of thick and would stick out and look funny. thanx, Dan

 

[Davemcc]

That kinda sucks that the place is going under, but if you can get hold of them you might be able to get some speakers dirt cheap.

If you do decide to consider floorstanding speakers, that opens up a whole other can of worms. There are just so many really good ones to consider. The sale on Rockets at AV123.com is really good right now.

 

[DanD]

TTT, BUMP, etc...

Okay anymore input would be great, I'm starting to order, (remote only) so let me know anything I'm looking over.

Okay I went to Merits, was not out of bus. I checked out thier speakers, and was turned onto Definitive Technology, they had Paradimgn Cinema (model # unknown, sounded good) but was very impressed w/ the system. Has anyone dealt w/ these speakers before. They are around 1,500.00 for the 5.1 system.

TV now looking at the Samsung FPT5084 went to HH Gregg, and it did look like a really good picture next to a Panny.

Reciever, looking at the Onkyon 605.

Anymore comments would be appreciated. thanks, Dan

 

[GaryCo]

This may be to late, but go slow , i know its tempting to get everything in place all at once.

But if you are like me and others ( i'm sure ) you buy stuff and then get further into the hobby and wish you would have gotten this or that. Only you know how "deep" you want to get into the game. For example, i was really enjoying the hobby a few years ago and due to work and life , the AV stuff lagged for awhile.

I finally got my plasma this July and since then it sparked a revival , bought a upconverting DVD player, returned it, got the A20 HD DVD player ,returned and now have the XA2 and about 35 movies. I just took possesion of my new amp last week ( emotiva LPA-1 ) and am looking forward to a Blu-ray, pre-amp and second sub - damn these forums



PS -I have the Samsung 5054 and its a great TV , you should be happy with the 5084.