I just got a new Sony Bravia for upstairs and i'm looking for a new speaker setup to go with it. I have a cable box that uses component, a Xbox 360 that uses component, a PS3 that uses HDMI, and sometimes I hookup the AppleTV. I'm looking for a system that is not overly expensive, but is surround sound and will sound good when watching Blu-Rays. I'm also trying to convert my audio to optical audio.
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need recommendations on a new home theater system
- Thread starter K3mp
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So, you are looking for either a Home Theater In A Box (receiver, speakers, maybe DVD player), or an Audio Video Receiver and Home Theater speaker set. My first suggestion would be to check over at the High Definition Forum. Lots of good folks there who could help you.
HDMI is the best way to connect the devices, so you should look for many HDMI inputs.
Optical audio is a step up from red/white RCA audio, but only just. An HDMI connection is required to bring the uncompressed audio bitstreams (Dolby TrueHD, DTS Master Audio) from a Blu-ray Player to your receiver.
I don't know what your budget is, but it maybe better to spend a little more than you were originally thinking of and have some room for expansion or updates.
Good luck!
Im looking for a receiver setup because from what i've seen they have the most HDMI ports. When I said switch my stuff to optical I meant all of my non-HDMI devices. Thanks for the help.So, you are looking for either a Home Theater In A Box (receiver, speakers, maybe DVD player), or an Audio Video Receiver and Home Theater speaker set. My first suggestion would be to check over at the High Definition Forum. Lots of good folks there who could help you.
HDMI is the best way to connect the devices, so you should look for many HDMI inputs.
Optical audio is a step up from red/white RCA audio, but only just. An HDMI connection is required to bring the uncompressed audio bitstreams (Dolby TrueHD, DTS Master Audio) from a Blu-ray Player to your receiver.
I don't know what your budget is, but it maybe better to spend a little more than you were originally thinking of and have some room for expansion or updates.
Good luck!
Price is rather subjective. When you say "not overly expensive", just how much are we talking about?
Receivers from Denon, Onkyo, Sony ES (not Sony), and Yamaha are generally considered to be good but models vary depending on what your needs are.
Speakers are much trickier to recommend, depending heavily on your budget, room size and layout (stand vs wall-mount, for instance), and music listening preference.
Receivers from Denon, Onkyo, Sony ES (not Sony), and Yamaha are generally considered to be good but models vary depending on what your needs are.
Speakers are much trickier to recommend, depending heavily on your budget, room size and layout (stand vs wall-mount, for instance), and music listening preference.
I'd recommend a Onkyo HTIB.
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_580HT6200B/Onkyo-HT-S6200.html?tp=6419
Im sure you can find it cheaper, but the receiver can do all the HD audio and work well with all your gadgets and the speakers are great for the money. If that's more than what your looking for, they have cheaper models, but those models will lack some of the extras that come with upgrade receiver.
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_580HT6200B/Onkyo-HT-S6200.html?tp=6419
Im sure you can find it cheaper, but the receiver can do all the HD audio and work well with all your gadgets and the speakers are great for the money. If that's more than what your looking for, they have cheaper models, but those models will lack some of the extras that come with upgrade receiver.
I have an Arcam AVR 7.1 receiver, plus 2 outboard Arcam amps. My 7.1 speakers are Dynaudio Audience plus a Dynaudio Sub500. I guess it was all about $10K or so. Nowadays Arcam has a really nice 7.1 AV receiver with all the HDMI switching and the new 7.1 HD audio formats. It's about $5K. Spend another $8K or so on a Dynaudio 7.1 speaker setup and you'll have a really sweet setup, and not overly expensive.
No offense, but that may seem like a lot of money to some people. 5K is a lot of money to spend on home theater, when you can get great set-ups for 2K or much much less.
No doubt you have a fantastic set of gear there though
The OP didn't specify a budget, so I consider my recommendation fair game. There was nothing in the original post to indicate what is meant by overly expensive so I used my own frame of reference. I've seen and heard systems that cost 6 figures. Those are definitely overly expensive.No offense, but that may seem like a lot of money to some people. 5K is a lot of money to spend on home theater, when you can get great set-ups for 2K or much much less.
No doubt you have a fantastic set of gear there though
Arcam/Dynaudio is awesome stuff, and $2K is not going to get you anywhere close to that quality. But it's all relative.
RaceTripper thanks for the help but this is just for an upstairs TV. When I redo my home theater I know where to go now . I am looking for a nice setup but not necessarily a decked out theater.
. I am looking for a nice setup but not necessarily a decked out theater.Ah, I see. For my upstairs TV I have TV speakers.RaceTripper thanks for the help but this is just for an upstairs TV. When I redo my home theater I know where to go now
Hi:
I'm not an expert, but here a few tips I feel I can offer.
www.audioholics.com - great site, they have "recommended" systems based on various price points. and alot of general information as well.
www.avsforums.com - a huge, and fiesty forum. If you find a brand you like of reciever and or speakers, you should be able to find a forum dedicated to talking about that equipment and it's pros, cons, and alternative.
www.monprice.com - buy connectors, wire at monoprice. They offer hdmi cables for a couple bucks that are equal or better to the overprices crap that monster sells. www.bluejeanscable.com also good - probably slightly better, but more expensive than mono.
I don't know your price point, but I like axiomaudio.com for speakers. It's an internet direct company, but that have been around for 30 plus years, and have alot of credibility. I like to listen before I buy, but the prospect of getting $5K speakers for a third of the money convinced me to take the chance. (you can return stuff hassle free if you don't like it) - I kept it.
Common "pro" (yeah - take it for what it's worth) advice is to avoid cube type speakers and home theater in a box.
When you say "optical" audio- you really mean digital audio - Digital can be carried via a optical connection OR a rca looking connection - same quality -nothing magic about the optical. Although optical can minimize the chances of introducing a group loop, but that's getting ahead of things. Other poster's comment about going with HDMI for audio is true to the extent that some of the most advanced audio decoding schemes limit themselves to hdmi so it's not but given that hdmi is very prevelant, you should make sure your reciever can accomidate HDMI. however, outside of understanding the newer formates, hdmi won't give you better quality than digital audio.
my last bit of advice is to buy in pieces... I started with a reciever, DVD, and just two speakers, 2.0 basic sterio audio. Then I added a subwoofer for a 2.1 system.
I'm just now planning to add rear channel speakers for a 4.1 system. I'm building out a much nicer system than I could have if I spill my initial cash amoung five or seven speakers, woofers, etc all at once.
good luck - enjoy!
I'm not an expert, but here a few tips I feel I can offer.
www.audioholics.com - great site, they have "recommended" systems based on various price points. and alot of general information as well.
www.avsforums.com - a huge, and fiesty forum. If you find a brand you like of reciever and or speakers, you should be able to find a forum dedicated to talking about that equipment and it's pros, cons, and alternative.
www.monprice.com - buy connectors, wire at monoprice. They offer hdmi cables for a couple bucks that are equal or better to the overprices crap that monster sells. www.bluejeanscable.com also good - probably slightly better, but more expensive than mono.
I don't know your price point, but I like axiomaudio.com for speakers. It's an internet direct company, but that have been around for 30 plus years, and have alot of credibility. I like to listen before I buy, but the prospect of getting $5K speakers for a third of the money convinced me to take the chance. (you can return stuff hassle free if you don't like it) - I kept it.
Common "pro" (yeah - take it for what it's worth) advice is to avoid cube type speakers and home theater in a box.
When you say "optical" audio- you really mean digital audio - Digital can be carried via a optical connection OR a rca looking connection - same quality -nothing magic about the optical. Although optical can minimize the chances of introducing a group loop, but that's getting ahead of things. Other poster's comment about going with HDMI for audio is true to the extent that some of the most advanced audio decoding schemes limit themselves to hdmi so it's not but given that hdmi is very prevelant, you should make sure your reciever can accomidate HDMI. however, outside of understanding the newer formates, hdmi won't give you better quality than digital audio.
my last bit of advice is to buy in pieces... I started with a reciever, DVD, and just two speakers, 2.0 basic sterio audio. Then I added a subwoofer for a 2.1 system.
I'm just now planning to add rear channel speakers for a 4.1 system. I'm building out a much nicer system than I could have if I spill my initial cash amoung five or seven speakers, woofers, etc all at once.
good luck - enjoy!
After you get some education from the various forums mentioned above, I'd also suggest calling Crutchfield to get some ideas...they are pretty good at recommending setups, in my experience. Of course, their job is to sell you the parts of a system, but that also makes them knowledgeable, and you might learn something from speaking with their reps.
I've purchased my speakers from Cambridge Soundworks - I've been very happy with both the quality and their prices.
I've purchased my speakers from Cambridge Soundworks - I've been very happy with both the quality and their prices.