My old sony system has quit on me (one of those 5.1 systems you buy at best buy...did it's duty for 6 years).


So now I need something new. I really just need a receiver and speakers (have a PS3 to take care of the DVD, etc).


What do you guys recommend.....I need something with HDMI ports so I can hook up my cable and my PS3.


so basically:

- Recievers
- Speakers (i'm not 100% convinced I need a 5.1 system right now as i'm in a small apartment...but they would all go up when we eventually move)
- Sub

 

The Onkyo HT-SR800 seems to fit your bill -- receiver, 7.1 speakers, sub, and 2 HDMI inputs.

 

what does this mean?

"The HDMI is just a pass through you have to connect the sound to the unit separately (not really that big a deal). "


That mean, i'd still have to bring sound from my PS3 and cable through another method (non-hdmi?)

 

found the answer....No, the HDMI cables will not produce sound through the reciever. it's simply a pass through. I would have to hook up an optical cable from my PS3 (which is how I had it w/ the sony) and my cable box.

Only problem is my cable box had a real hard time using the HDMI for visual and letting me run an optical to my reciever when the sony worked.

 

When you are looking at an all in one system, or a system for that kind of money you have to make a lot of compromises.

If your current TV has HDMI...then just a get an all in one system with 2 optical audios in and one digital rca in. It wont be as nice or clean as being able to just use a one cable, but it will work and you'll be able to get a slightly nicer system me thinks.

 

Odd. My cable box puts signals on all of the outputs and as far as I can tell doesn't really handshake with the receiver at all. It doesn't have an HDMI interface though; the output is component video.

 

maybe that was just the problem...maybe the box is finicky with the recievers..hmm

 

I do not comprehend (Stereo's are like speaking gibberish to me)

 

Teh Sarlack is suggesting that you not get an HDMI switching receiver if your TV has 2 HDMI inputs.

You can wire HDMI directly from the cable box and PS3 to the TV inputs, and run the audio separately from each of those devices over digital audio connections (typically optical, also called TosLink, or wired coaxial) to the receiver. This will give you the full resolution video that your devices are capable of, and also will get the surround sound to the receiver.

You would have to run separate audio cables from the cable box and PS3 anyway for the Onkyo system that I pointed out because as you noticed it only processes video on the HDMI paths, even though HDMI supports the transmission of both audio and video over the same cable.

You would have to use the TV to select the video input and the receiver to select the audio input in this scenario.

Here's the wiring with the Onkyo:



And with Sarlacc's scenario:

 

If you go the route that svtmike mentions, you will be able to listen either through the tv speakers OR through the receiver. You can choose simply by turning the tv speakers up if you wish to use them.

 

Acurazine Animation FTW!

 

I cant remember which one of the two my brother bought. I believe it was the Samsung:

Panasonic

Samsung

 

Neither of these has two digital inputs -- which clpower will need for the PS3 and his cable set top box.

Mike

 

Thanks Guys!

 

He can use the HDMI for his ps3 and use the optical for his stb.

 

The Best Buy descriptions only listed HDMI as an output, not an input.

 

BB is retarded! Information from Amazon:

Samsung
Look at the product description. HDMI in & HDMI out. I just double check, I guess the Panasonic doesnt have HDMI in..

 

I didn't look at the specs, you have to keep in mind though that not all systems will utilize the audio portion of HDMI. Some are just pass throughs for video, but you still have to connect a separate digital audio connection.

 

Are you referring to the PS3 or the receiver? I have the PS3 conected via HDMI to my panasonic receiver at home and it passes both audio and video.

 

Receiver.

 

Like I said though I didn't look at the specs on the ones posts. I believe most HDMI switching receivers today will accept the audio signal, but I really have very little experience with the home theater in a box sets, so I am not sure about them.

 

I've had this for about 3 weeks and I LOVE it. Mind you, it's my first home audio system and I'm not an audiophile. Best purchase ever!



I believe I paid around 700ish for the package.. I shouldn't have got the package though because the DVD player is utterly useless.

 

what's the diff between that and the HT-SR800

 

The HT-S907 has a 6 disc DVD changer and it's more powerful.

 

While watching in 7.1, does the volume get pretty loud? I bought an HTIB a couple years ago and had to watch a movie at full volume to half way enjoy it... so I took it back and haven't been bothered to find a new system until now.

 

I don't need the DVD changer...is there any other reason for me to REALLY look at the 907 over the one previously recommended?

 

it gets loud, but in a good way. Similarly to a movie theater, how sound fluctuates for particular scenes (ie fight scene in star wars, etc.).

 

yeah, I wish I didn't get the DVD changer, but it isn't a total loss as it sounds great playing CD's for parties. If I could do it again, I would have just purchased the receiver and speakers.

 

where can you purchase just the reciever and speakers?

 

check amazon, that's where I bought the system... not sure if this is an option or not... also, you can probably check onkyo's site....

 

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...t55uYzn.Opyv_w

TigerDirect has Onkyo HT-S894 5.1 Home Theater system for $400 with free shipping and no rebates. Lowest on Google Products is $580 + ~$75 S/H. Thanks sathvik

Specs:

* HT-R640 5.1 Channel A/V Surround Sound Receiver
* DV-SP404 HD-Conversion DVD Player with DivX Support (has 1x HDMI out)
* HTP-640 5.1 Speaker Package
* SKW-540 Bass Reflex Powered Subwoofer
* Inputs
o 2x HDMI (v1.1, repeater, up to 1080p)
o 7x Audio
o 3x Optical
o 2x Coax
o 3x Component In
o 4x Composite/S-Video
* Outputs
o 1x HDMI (Video)
o 1x Optical (Audio)
o 1x Component
o 1x Composite/S-Video

 

I just purchased a 1000w Phillips system from Walmart (Ugh) for $199. It sounds incredible. The sound is very clear and it can get very very loud.

 

1000w is not what ur truly gettin though...

 

I'm pretty sure I have that system. I have it paired with my 50" LCD and my living room is everything I'd hoped for. The Ipod dock, mp3 line in, 1080i upconvert and divx format dvd player are what sold me initially. But I got it for $169 with my corporate discount and for the money spent, i still have no desire to upgrade.

 

My dad got a Sony Bravia DAV-HDX500 as Christmas gift from his work, which I promplty took from him. It's a 5.1 system and only has HDMI out, and limited component inputs, but it sounds great. It has a 5 disk DVD/CD changer and upcales to 1080i. It can't decode Dolby TrueHD from the high end Blu-ray and HD-DVD players, but can decode Dolby Pro Logic and standard Dolby Digital codecs. I saw it at Best Buy this week for $450. Usually it sells for around $500.



So far I'm pretty happy and I think it's worth considering. It should hold me over until I'm ready to drop some serious coin on a 'real' home theater system. Most people like to piece theirs together and I think that's what I'll do next time.

 

home theater in-a-box was what I started out with... but it just didn't cut it for me... so I slowly started buying pieces one by one... By the time I was done... my TV's kinda outdated (2nd gen. Samsung DLP), but it's still great, I still think it's got a great picture. But my surround sound system definitely rattles the neighbor's hangings on their walls

 

My A/V obsession started the same way. I auditioned several HTIBs and didn't like any of them, even the nicer ones. I then decided to put together a real audio system and haven't looked back since. I just finished setting up a Definitive Technology system, and the sound is amazing. I've been meaning to post it in the 'Most Recent Toy' thread.

is300, what's in your system? I have a similar 'outdated' Samsung DLP, which we discussed a while back, iirc. For being kind of old, I think it still looks fantastic. Better, in fact, than some of my friends' more recent TV purchases, imho.

 

yeah, once you get bitten by the audiophile bug... it may never stop!!! I started off with a cheesy HTIB, and a 30" Philips CRT widescreen TV... then I swapped it for the Sammy 50"DLP... At which point I felt that the HTIB just didn't cut it... so I bought an Onkyo THX cert. A/V receiver and Polk speakers. I thought I was done... but then found out a friend of mine's boyfriend works for Sonance speakers ( www.sonance.com ) and she hooked me up with a $6k setup for about $1k!!! (7.1 with THX cert. front speakers!!)... this setup has the XBox 360 and HD DVD player and it's pretty much done.... I don't think I'll do anything else with it.... for now at least.



I basically just copied and pasted from another thread.... the speakers are from a company call Sonance which are better known for their "in wall" speakers... but I have these http://www.sonance.com/products/speakers/detail/69

back in may I bought a 46" Samsung 1080p LCD which is now in the bedroom, but I may swap them cuz I spend more time in the living room than the bedroom... (TV/movie watching, and XBox).

 

So I got $500 for xmas to put to a new reciever, but I have no clue what to do. I'm still interested in the onkyo, but the speakers are prett large, and everyone says there isn't a stand I can use for the speakers :-/

 

i know have more devices I need to hookup

PS3
Wii
Apple TV
Cable Box


I really like the idea of running everything to the TV and then from the TV to the Reciever w/ a digital cable. I find a benefit in being able to play sound off the TV as well as the reciever since i'm in a small apt living room.

IS there a DISADVANTAGE to this?