Z5500 vs HTIB

[fungke]

good evening everybody.
I have been doing some searching online and stumbled upon this forum who seems to have the most knowledgeable people when it comes to home theatre set ups.

I know that "sheep" in particular loves the Z5500 setup as he claims it outperforms many HTIB available. I just wanted to hear from others.

i want to make a small entertainment area in the basement I have attached a rough diagram of the area i have to work with.

the left is left open to another part of the basement so there is no wall there.

this setup is meant for regular tv, gaming and movies.

i have alloted $500(cdn) to spend on surround sound as this will be my first setup. I have been tempted by the following boxing day deals...

http://www.bestbuy.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?sku_id=0926INGFS10088264&catid=20311&logon=&langid=EN

http://www.bestbuy.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?logon=&langid=EN&sku_id=BDL10001384&catid=24476#

they seem to have HDMI in and out which can simplify things....despite that... would I get better sound quality from the Z5500?

your expert advice is much appreciated and if you have any solutions to recommend to me, please do.

 

[fungke]

12 views but no responses? any help please?

i went boxing day shopping with a friend today without the intention of buying anything. however, the Sony HTDDW990 was on sale for 299. bought it, was all excited until i found out it was an HDMI pass through. to my understanding, it carries the video signal well but not the audio via HDMI. this does not bode well with my xbox 360.

are there any HTIB that carry "real" HDMI?

 

[Genso]

Same issue here

Me too. XBOX 360 and a DVD player. Both are HDMI. I am also looking at HTiB options for $500. Any help out there?? I'm looking at Onkyo HT-SR800 for $449 with "pass through HDMI".

 

[davidtwotrees]

Be patient

Dear Fungke.........
Sorry for no responses......I don't know, maybe no one gets excited about the HTIB stuff, or surround sound for $500. The rank and file Audioholic would counsel you to calm down, take a deep breath, and not by a bunch of junk. If that is your budget, buy a receiver with the features you need, like an entry level Onkyo.......and a pair of affordable bookshelf speakers. This will give you a 2.0 system that sounds pretty good. Now you can save for your next purchase, a decent pair of front speakers, or perhaps a sub and a center. Your affordable speakers that you first bought will become your surrounds. If you are dead set on having surround sound this instant, Audioholics has a dozen reviews of HTIB. I liked the Pioneer set up you linked to........but that is just because Sony ranks a bit above BLose in my fuzzy little mind.........