Going to be gradually upgrading my HTS. Would like some input on models/brands/specs.

Devices:
42" Plasma HDTV @ 720p
BD player
HD TV service (TWC)
Laptop via HDMI (music, some stored movies, & internet content)
MP3 players/ipods
No gaming anticipated

Would like/think I need:
>=4 HDMI inputs
>=1 HDMI output
Aux input
5.1
wireless rear/surround speakers (at least these being wireless)
A/B speaker channels (would like the ability to isolate audio to one set of speakers for another room)

I'll have to check my current speakers/sub for RMS ratings; I'd probably hang onto my current front speaks, sub, and center for now; however, I do need new wireless surrounds at least. Though, I would like suggestions for all speakers. I'm certainly not an audio/videophile.

Not really sure on a budget yet; but I'm not looking to spend a lot, maybe <$500 for all? I guess I need to research (or have you suggest) what prices are for good, but not great equipment.

Thanks

5/3/2011 9:16:40 PM

wireless is still a gimick. get rub or find another way to hide the wires. around the budget i'd say look into onkyo's htibs. or go a la carte and pick up one of their receivers and piece everything else together

5/3/2011 9:41:01 PM

Here was my thread about this. I budgeted about $400

message_topic.aspx?topic=600817

5/3/2011 9:56:29 PM

Good luck. 500 bucks will get you a decent Onkyo HTIB, but is not going to get you HDMI processing (pass-thru only) and sure as shit isnt going to get you wireless capability.

Even a 4-500 dollar receiver isn't likely to have wireless speaker functionality. But you will get HDMI 1.4 with all the bells and whistles on pretty much any receiver at that price point. A/B speaker channels are standard on almost every receiver now, even the cheapos.

5/3/2011 10:02:17 PM

^noen, you really do have trouble reading don't you? read the last paragraph again. would you like to make some suggestions?

^^thanks, I'll take a look

^^^possibly, but I really don't want to go that route. what is wrong with wireless speakers?

5/4/2011 7:22:11 AM

Quote :

"wireless rear/surround speakers (at least these being wireless) "

If you like the rear speakers you have currently...just get a ~$100 wireless speaker adapter kit

Quote :

"A/B speaker channels (would like the ability to isolate audio to one set of speakers for another room)"

In most cases you'll need a 7.1 receiver for this. 5.1 for the main room, and channels 6/7 serve as your "B" speakers.

My advice depends on your current speakers. If you absolutely hate them then budgeting will work out differently. But the receiver is *always* more important than the speakers. The quality of your rear channel speakers is pretty much bottom priority on the grand scale of a 5.1 setup, so if you can get away with a wireless rear speaker adapter you may be able to come away with a receiver and the adapter, keeping your original speaker setup for right around the price range you put.

Just shooting from the hip, I think Pioneer has some in this price range that'll do everything you want to do. The trick is going to be the A/B switching while still maintaining 5.1 in your main room.

5/4/2011 7:37:13 AM

thanks. I don't care to keep any of my current speakers; however, what needs replacing immediately are my rears, center, then fronts, then sub.

5/4/2011 7:46:28 AM

Look up the Denon AVR-1611. Seems to be the best bang for your buck with what you're trying to do.

To add speakers and get all of the receiver functionality you're looking for you need to up your budget. Good place to start for rear speakers would be the Polk Audio TSI100s. Or you could do the whole she-bang and get one of Klipsch's complete speaker sets and then just upgrade the center channel that comes with it.

[Edited on May 4, 2011 at 8:11 AM. Reason : herpes]

5/4/2011 8:10:17 AM

At the end of last year I bought a Pioneer 1020. This should get you close to all your specs. I'm not sure about setting up wireless rear speakers, I have my speaker wire running at the edge of an area rug. I paired this with a the Energy Take Classic set.

I bought everything from Amazon. It has been a pretty great set-up for my needs.

The total cost should put you in the $600-$700 range.

5/4/2011 1:32:43 PM

I'm lost on this HDMI pass-through/switching/processing/repeater stuff. What do I need? All devices will be connected via HDMI. I want HD video output to the TV and HQ audio from the receiver.

5/4/2011 10:38:27 PM

Pass through just means that the receiver won't actually process the audio signal coming in through HDMI but will actually pass the entire signal through to your TV (which defeats the entire purpose of running it through a receiver in the first place unless you're just looking to turn it into a dumb switch. In short: it's useless.

5/4/2011 10:43:51 PM

thanks.

so is processing/switching/repeating all the same thing?

I'm not seeing this labeled on a lot of receivers... so how can I tell?

5/4/2011 10:50:44 PM

Repeating is the opposite of pass through. Which like, from a buzz word standpoint doesn't really make sense to me, but whatever. All of the receivers on Onkyo's website says they offer HDMI repeating, so I guess that's their terminology of choice. Switching/Pass through - bad, repeating/active intelligence - good.

Although I'd be surprised if there was any non-bottom-of-the-barrel receiver made from any company that's even remotely credible made in the last 3 years that didn't actually do audio over HDMI. It's a standard feature at this point and unless you're buying used off craigslist, you shouldn't have to worry about it.

5/4/2011 11:09:56 PM

great. thanks for the info

5/4/2011 11:11:35 PM

^^All of the HTIB's on Onkyo's website do NOT do HDMI repeating. Only the S9400THX system does.

All the rest just support HDMI 1.4 (with audio return channel) to make the connection problem easier.

5/5/2011 1:17:47 AM

I didn't say anything about the HTiBs, I was talking about the receivers. And yes, while you're nitpicking, it's true that not ALL of them say they offer repeating, MOST of them do, from one that costs $299 all the way up to one that's $2,799. Some of the extreme lower end ones don't even have HDMI ports at all. Would you care to point out how I was technically wrong about those as well?

Now if you're done picking out meaningless snips of my post that weren't 100% correct, did you have anything that was actually helpful or relevant to add to the discussion?

5/5/2011 12:46:15 PM

eh...

another question; I'll be hooking up my notebook to this as well for browsing, music, etc.; what's a good wireless keyboard for this (media control, browsing, etc.)? i've got a wireless mouse (MS 5000) any need to upgrade that too?

5/6/2011 10:42:08 PM

The HDMI "passthrough" that Onkyo does is just a fancy HDMI switch. For example, I have the DVR, BD, XBOX, and HTPC connected to the receiver via HDMI and one HDMI out of it to the TV. The TV has an optical cable coming back into the receiver to deliver the actual audio signal. I just select an input on the receiver to switch the signal going to the TV because it gets the audio from the TV's optical out, not the HDMI.

As for keyboards, unless they have improved the range on the devices recently, I would opt for something Bluetooth. I've tried various wireless keyboards in the past few years, and the range on most was quite disappointing as soon as the batteries got a bit run down.

5/8/2011 8:29:55 AM

42"? 720p? Plasma? Why????

55" LED 1080p 240hz+

...oh sorry, just saw this was on a tight budget. Prices are dropping all over the place and you should be able to at least pick up a 52" LCD with 1080p pretty easily.

[Edited on May 8, 2011 at 4:01 PM. Reason : budget]

5/8/2011 3:58:48 PM

42" 720p is just fine.

and I don't need a new TV

5/8/2011 5:33:58 PM

Oh, and BT is out on keyboards... on think my onboard radio is done for. drops connections constantly.

5/8/2011 6:26:47 PM

seems like the proper thread for this.


need to order some new HDMI cables to support 1.4, 3D, ARC, etc. Of course from monoprice, but i've been reading through their website and in regards to a receiver or hdmi switch they do not recommend using the smaller 28AWG cable due to signal strain on the smaller wire. Does anyone have any knowledge/opinion on this? I don't mind the 24AWG, but my runs are all 4-6 feet and their 24AWG w/ net jacket is just so stiff.

5/9/2011 11:28:39 AM

bueller?

5/10/2011 8:58:44 AM

I have the monoprice 10ft 28AWG 1.3b with no net jacket cables. They work fine on my receiver and from a BR player to a TV. I assume since your only running 6ft that it wont matter what you buy.

Side note: I found that "High Speed HDMI 1.3 cables can support all HDMI 1.4 features except for the HDMI Ethernet Channel." I guess all my 10ft 28AWG cables will be fine for a while since my receiver, tv, DVD & BR dont have HDMI Ethernet.

5/10/2011 10:34:01 AM

any last suggestions? gonna go look at some today

still want at least wireless rear speakers. I guess I could get one of those transmitter/amplifer kits. also, I don't care for 7.1 right now, but most of the ones I'm seeing that fit my liking are 7.1... will it mess things up to just go with a physical 5.1 setup on a 7.1 system?

5/10/2011 2:09:07 PM

it shouldn't. the receiver should be able to decode 7.1, 5.1, down to basic 2.1. That's a better idea than getting a 5.1 only to want to upgrade later and be obsolete.

[Edited on May 10, 2011 at 3:56 PM. Reason : z]

5/10/2011 3:54:54 PM

Get a 7.1 if it fits your budget...simply for the fact that it has other upgraded stuff than whichever model is below it. Normally you'll get an extra input, higher wattage per channel, ability to use the 6 and 7 channels as a second zone, etc.

7.1 isn't really that big of a deal. I have a fuckton of movies, and I think maybe 10-12 of them are actually mastered in 7.1. The standard for the film industry is and will be 5.1 for some time. Almost everything I have that is 7.1 (except for Tron Legacy) is produced by Lionsgate. Some mixes played from my roommate's HTPC produce sound from the 6 and 7 channels...but it's just a re-creation of what's played from the standard surround channels so no biggie.

[Edited on May 17, 2011 at 11:25 PM. Reason : herpes]

5/17/2011 11:17:26 PM

went with a 7.1 onkyo. works well thus far

5/18/2011 8:26:03 AM

I'm thinking really hard about ordering this sometime this week:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882120180

I probably shouldn't, but it's an awesome receiver and the price is pretty great. I'll be upgrading my 6 year old Onkyo 5.1 receiver. I really need HDMI inputs/switching.

7/17/2011 10:57:14 PM

.

[Edited on July 18, 2011 at 1:49 AM. Reason : .]

7/18/2011 1:47:40 AM

Its new amp time... this time i think i'm going to take the plunge and get a good 7 channel amp and a separate single processor so that when its time to upgrade formats, i'm not buying a huge amp all over again.

7/18/2011 10:41:46 AM

Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 Computer Speakers.

Peak Power: 200 Watts total system
Satellites: 35 watts/channel @ 5% THD, 1KHz, two channels driven
Subwoofer: 130 watts peak (50 watts @ 5% THD, 50 Hz continuous)



$155 at Best Buy

Then get one of these:


Then one of these:


Hook the RCA into the TV out.

Profit.

That's my connection, and the speakers are usually at 10% of output they are so freakin' loud.

7/19/2011 8:23:43 AM

^I'm doing the same with the bose 2.1 set and optical out on my tv. Definitely an upgrade without busting the bank.

7/19/2011 8:41:52 AM

I just got some Polk Monitor30s a Polk PSW10 Sub and hooked them up to a cheap Sherwood receiver. The speakers sound awesome. I can't even turn it up past 25 without shaking the entire neighborhood. I typically keep the sub pretty low, the monitors have nice mids and highs. All in $240 this setup would of been 2x-3x more when they were released.

7/31/2011 8:16:46 PM

35w at 5% THD are you fucking kidding? do you know how awful that is? you have to turn it down so quickly because it distorts the signal so badly at a very low wattage. I mean if it was free or $20 and sounded better than your tv speakers, sure but for $155 that's a COMPLETE waste of money. A solid receiver could be bought with that money or a pair of decent floorstanding speakers like polk r60s

8/1/2011 8:28:06 AM

http://www.circuitcity.com/applications/searchtools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3296567&SRCCODE=CCDSHOP&cm_mmc_o=2mHCjCmtB55bETCjCVqHCjCdwwp&cpncode=21-147034792-2

Altec Lansing BX1121
more impressive than one would imagine. Yes, even at 8%-10% THD. I've got it set up around 60% usually, which is plenty loud for any movie, and rarely come across any distortion. It's a very clean setup, especially since I got it for free. But for a $30 product, I'm quite impressed. One of the better 2.1 systems I've heard for <$40.

8/1/2011 2:25:35 PM

I want a 1080p projector...

8/3/2011 11:14:03 AM

Instead of me using my brain to spend 5 minutes researching this, why would I want to spend so much more money for HDMI processing over pass through?

No, I don't know anything.

8/3/2011 1:10:13 PM

Processing has to be done somewhere. On the player/source, the receiver, or the TV.

8/8/2011 2:03:03 PM

^^You could try reading this thread, as I've already answered your question several posts up.

8/8/2011 3:33:44 PM

8/8/2011 5:33:15 PM

you didn't actually answer his questions about what the benefits of processing are. they include, adjusting the delay between picture and video. outside this benefit, im not aware of any others

8/8/2011 7:07:43 PM

^What the fuck are you talking about? The only benefit that matters is that when the receiver does the processing then you actually get sound coming out of your speakers. With pass through, the sound "passes through" to the TV and gets outputted there. i.e. one of them is useful, and worth paying for, and the other is complete shit.

Now, if he had phrased the question as "What's the difference between having my receiver do the processing, or allowing my [ps3/blu-ray player/whatever] do the processing itself and then using coax/toslink to pass the sound over, then maybe you might have a point.

But that's not the question he asked.

8/8/2011 10:31:44 PM

Looking at a Denon - Can get a refurb for $260 or new for $500

These things prone to failure? Should I be afraid of that refurb?

9/3/2011 12:47:02 PM

Can't speak on Denon specifically, but I've bought 2 refurbed Onkyos and never had an issue with either one. With most stuff like that, refurb is practically the same as new.

9/3/2011 5:51:01 PM

Sounds good, thanks. I really wanted to give the onkyo nr609 a shot since it has a dsub pc input, but this older denon 1911 is so much cheaper i don't think i can justify the extra monies for something else

9/3/2011 6:20:37 PM

fuck onkyo. i will never buy one of these pieces of shit again.

9/3/2011 10:31:54 PM

Mine have been great! What's your beef with Onkyo?

9/4/2011 12:41:53 AM

^

9/4/2011 12:45:30 AM

I'm looking at an Onkyo receiver and some Klipsch towers, center channel, and surround speakers. Haven't really looked at subs yet.

Onkyo TX-NR609
Klipsch F-20 speakers...can't remember what their center channel or surrounds are called.

Any comments on this stuff, and/or a good sub to go with it? I think the towers will have enough grunt that I won't need a ton of sub volume...just want something to fill in the really low freq stuff.

9/4/2011 12:56:41 AM