What speakers should I go witih....???

[Davemcc]

Lets say I do increase my balance a little bit since I have yet to buy a receiver. Which receiver and speakers should I go with for a budget of $5000. I'm new to the game and I don't have any preference just wanting to hear my DirecTV HD Receiver, and my PS3 Games and Blu-Rays in surround sound. I do however like the fact of the iPod docking station for my nano.

It looks like you need 3 HDMI inputs and the AVR-4306 is a good choice with this connectivity and will definitely drive whatever you speakers you choose in your size room.

The SVS PB12-Plus will rock a room your size as well.

That would leave $2,000 for speakers and you can audition any number of great choices in that range, especially if you don't break the bank on surrounds. Choose good left, right and center speakers, then choose surrounds that fit the remaining budget. I picked up some Monitor Audio Bronze BFX bipole surrounds pretty inexpensively and they seem to do a fine job.

 

[Nick250]

Let's simplify the budget issue. 65% of the total budget goes to speakers and sub. On a one to ten scale of sound quality importance, the speakers and acoustic treatments together are a 10, speakers without room treatments a 7. The receiver is a 1 or maybe even less.

Nick

 

[dgshtav]

How about Denon 2807 + Axiom Epic 80-500

Am a novice with little experience in the world of HT - most of it around my current HTIB setup. But I am in a similar situation as yours and thought I could share what I have been thinking for my HT in case it helps (with views from others!)

I have been thinking about the below for sometime now:
Denon AVR 2807
Axiom Epic 80-500 (http://www.axiomaudio.com/epic80_500main.html)

I was thinking of starting with a 5.1 if budget doesn't allow for a 7.1 right away and would add the two rear surrounds later
This system is a little over $4K for the 5.1 but I have read only good things about the Axiom speakers. Best part appears to be that they (Axiom) allow you an in home audition for a month under their complete satisfaction guarantee.

Later adds (that I have been thinking) are the Emotiva MPS-1 and the surrounds (if I can't get them right away!).

Am sure you must have thought about this too, but I would still say, mark enough money for cabinets/Rack, power management and wiring!

 

[jcPanny]

Receiver options

I wouldn't worry too much about video features like an extra HDMI input. You can always connect HDMI video sources directly to the display (or via HDMI switch) and use digital optical or coax to the receiver. The BlueRay or other HD player is the only source that will benefit from an HDMI connection to the receiver.

Don't pay $1k for something a $100 remote can do with a macros (Switch audio and video source at the same time).