Home Theater System

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Vonie

Vonie

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thevonsteinery
Ok, so all these years we've been living off the TV speakers. It's time to make a stand.

I've been doing some research on the world wide interweb and have come up with the Onkyo HT-S894. It looks good, if a little expensive. I'm looking to spend no more than $450, maybe a bit stretchable. The HDMI switching is a big plus on that system. Also I was looking at the Samsung HT-Q80. But reports of red dots when using HDMI put me off a bit.

I don't want to get too complicated, I'm no audiophile and can barely tell the difference anyway. Does anybody have any experience with systems in this price range? Power is not a big issue, the room is fairly small.

EDIT: The Onkyo HT-S790 is looking good, too.
 
Why do you want to connect the video through an audio receiver? Video should go to the TV. Granted, it makes for one cable running to the TV and supplying all the video signals, but one less step in the process is better.
 
I'm not familiar with that particular model, but Onkyo has always been a reputable brand back in the day. Can't speak for their current build or control quality. Their upper 'Integra' line is pretty nice also, but it also carries an ugly price tag.

Good luck, sounds like you're on the right track. :)
 
TB
Why do you want to connect the video through an audio receiver? Video should go to the TV. Granted, it makes for one cable running to the TV and supplying all the video signals, but one less step in the process is better.
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Oh it makes life so much easier. With higher bandwidth connections (inputs/outputs), the world of digital, and quality switches, detectable signal degration is arguable, even at a instrument level.
 
Thanks, Pako.

TB
Why do you want to connect the video through an audio receiver? Video should go to the TV. Granted, it makes for one cable running to the TV and supplying all the video signals, but one less step in the process is better.
Click to expand...
Pako pretty much said it, for simplicity's sake. I'm willing to hand switch the cables in the back of the TV, but the 'rents probably wont like it so much. It probably won't be too much of a problem until I get a PS3, as the DVD player is the only stand alone video device (cable goes right into the back).
 
TB
Why do you want to connect the video through an audio receiver? Video should go to the TV. Granted, it makes for one cable running to the TV and supplying all the video signals, but one less step in the process is better.
Click to expand...

Usually because you have more sources than the TV has inputs. The TV may have only 1 HDMI jack, and he may end up with a DVD, cable box, satellite, all with HDMI out.
 
Ok, another question. If I get a Blu-ray palyer (say, a PS3), can I run the HDMI into the TV and then optical from there out and still get the 7.1 on the HT-S790? Does it all depend on the TV?
 
wfooshee
Usually because you have more sources than the TV has inputs. The TV may have only 1 HDMI jack, and he may end up with a DVD, cable box, satellite, all with HDMI out.
Click to expand...
I agree in part. My TV has HDMI inputs, but with the rest of my components, I, at least for now, can't use it. My PS2 and DVD player are in the component inputs, my VCR is composite, RGB for my PC and my TiVo is S-Video. While HDMI equipped components are getting cheaper and, therefore, in more more things, I am guessing, and this is just a guess, that if you are looking for a HT system for $450 including speakers, the rest of you components aren't going to be all that new and probably don't have HDMI anyway.

Of course, there is always planning for the future.
 
Vonie
Ok, another question. If I get a Blu-ray palyer (say, a PS3), can I run the HDMI into the TV adn then optical from there out and still get the 7.1 on the HT-S790? Does it all depend on the TV?
Click to expand...

Optical can only give you your 6 discrete channels of audio, hence 5.1. In DD EX or DTS ES you can get discrete rear channels of audio through a optical connection that is 7.1 but it's processed and compressed. It doesn't sound too bad, but lossless audio in a 7.1 environment via HDMI should sound, well better.

There are also many simulation modes that emulates a 7.1 from a 5.1 signal. Some are better than others.

There is a part of me that confused by the limitations of optical and 5.1 standards. For example, I run a light pipe (optical) connection from a 8 channel preamp in my studio to my computer that gives me 8 recording channels of audio at 48k 24-bit which is much higher than standard most audio formats...
 
Can't offer my opinions on the Onkyo, but I've got a Samsung HT-Q20 and it's excellent, especially as I only payed £160 for it. Assuming the Q80 is roughly the same with an HDMI output as well as the component out on mine, you'll get great sound quality. I use mine mainly for normal TV (it'll decode anything stereo into 5.1 with about 6 different modes), and it's really great. It's not a top of the range system, but it's the best one I've heard.
 
Pako
Optical can only give you your 6 discrete channels of audio, hence 5.1. In DD EX or DTS ES you can get discrete rear channels of audio through a optical connection that is 7.1 but it's processed and compressed. It doesn't sound too bad, but lossless audio in a 7.1 environment via HDMI should sound, well better.

There are also many simulation modes that emulates a 7.1 from a 5.1 signal. Some are better than others.

There is a part of me that confused by the limitations of optical and 5.1 standards. For example, I run a light pipe (optical) connection from a 8 channel preamp in my studio to my computer that gives me 8 recording channels of audio at 48k 24-bit which is much higher than standard most audio formats...
Click to expand...

Thanks, so the only way to get uncompressed 7.1 is HDMI directly to the A/V reciever?

Also, is it bad to run all the audio/video into the TV then from there out? It seems like the simplest solution, leaving the reviever on only one setting all the time and just changing input on the TV.

Thanks, Jon, but the red dots with HDMI killed the Sammy for me.
 
Vonie
Also, is it bad to run all the audio/video into the TV then from there out? It seems like the simplest solution, leaving the reviever on only one setting all the time and just changing input on the TV.
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Do the exact opposite. Have everything run into the receiver (audio and video) and then have one video out cable from the receiver to the TV. Then whenever you change the setting on the receiver (from watching a DVD, playing PS2, etc), the TV is already set up and ready to go.

Quite a turn around from my first post in this thread, eh? :lol: Ultimately, yes, it is easier, and that is how I used to have my system set up. Of course, that was when the only inputs I had was (1) coax and (1) composite. Once I bought the new TV, I changed the entire thing around.
 
Theoretically it's the same process though. I only say this because the reciever that comes with the HT-S790 doesn't have HDMI, but our TV does. I guess that getting those speakers and a seperate reciever is a possibility, but that would just complicate things too much. We'll see.
 
Yeah, I don't care much about cosmetics or usedness. As long as it sounds good. And it'll be cheaper and higher quality.
 
I went Ebay on almost 100% of the audio side of my Home Theater. I saved literally thousands of dollars....and have not had any problems with any of it.

Good luck to ya!
 
Ah, the title just happens to sum up my problem.

The other day my JVC bookshelf system's reciever decided to blow up right when I turned it on. And just after I got out of the shower, no less. So as it's popping and cracking and blowing smoke, I'm freaking out, unplugging it, and running to get some water in case it decides to catch my desk on fire. Anyway...

I think a surround system would be a good upgrade, but I really have no idea what to look for in a 5.1 system. I often blasted music on the JVC, and it sounded really clear even at high volumes. I had it hooked to the PS3 and this is why I think surround would be excellent, especially since I've got strategic speaker locations already planned.

My first question conerns the wattage I should be looking for to fill my 12x15 foot room. The JVC's 460 watts were bordering on ridiculous, and knocking stuff off my shelves. I don't need that power I suppose, but I wouldn't mind it. I'm more interested in quality, but I'm not sure which companies tend to have good sounds and which don't. Some systems I've been looking at include Logitech's G51 and this Sony. I'd much rather have a smaller theater-in-a-box than put my own huge thing together. I'd like to keep it under $400, too.
 
I'm not going to get a Bose anything! What the hell am I going to do with one $400 speaker, eh? :lol:
 

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