Home Theater Systems Questions

[RockyTop1]

I can't swing the $500-600 super receivers and I was in a chalet in the mountains this weekend and they had just a basic dvd player/theater system and I thought it sounded great. Does anybody have one of these? I've checked out two on cc.com so far,

http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Sony-...oductDetail.do

http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Phili...oductDetail.do

What am I looking at in terms of connections on these? I've got a hd dvr, 360 and ps3. Can I leave them all hooked up to the tv and then just run a cord from the tv to the back of the dvd player? I know next to nothing about home theater systems. Any help would be greatly appreciated

I'm actually looking at everything on this page.

[ExtremeGamer]

Re: Home Theater Systems Questions

I don't know much about either unfortunately. My home theater in a box is about 3 years old now, the ones I look at now only have one optical in most of the time. Mine has 3 and a coax in (I use my DVR on that one). So look at the back of them for optical in's. I saw the Sony has HDMI in, but I highly doubt it'll convert the audio, it's probably just pass through. If it does take the HDMI audio, then that's a no brainer, as the price is a steal.

[bergie56]

Re: Home Theater Systems Questions

http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Onkyo...oductDetail.do

My step-dad and I did an extensive amount of shopping on these and found this one to sound the best. It isn't the highest power but the sound was far superior to any HTIB that we found. It even held its own with some of the true receivers that we found. It has 2 optical and 1 digital coax connections plus plenty of RCA connections plus a ton of listening modes to choose from. It sounds great at home IMO. It also has three component inputs and 1 ouput (I think). Also, I think one huge advantage it has over any HTIB is that it doesn't have a DVD player in it so there is one less thing to go wrong since they often are pretty crappy anyways.

[RockyTop1]

Re: Home Theater Systems Questions

http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Onkyo...oductDetail.do

My step-dad and I did an extensive amount of shopping on these and found this one to sound the best. It isn't the highest power but the sound was far superior to any HTIB that we found. It even held its own with some of the true receivers that we found. It has 2 optical and 1 digital coax connections plus plenty of RCA connections plus a ton of listening modes to choose from. It sounds great at home IMO. It also has three component inputs and 1 ouput (I think). Also, I think one huge advantage it has over any HTIB is that it doesn't have a DVD player in it so there is one less thing to go wrong since they often are pretty crappy anyways.

Thanks bergie. So if you were me, how would you hook up the 360, ps3 and hd dvr to this thing?

[bergie56]

Re: Home Theater Systems Questions

I hooked my parents dvd player to the digital coax and the TV and HD satellite receiver to the optical connections. However, I found out that I only needed the DVD and TV connected because the TV could handle outputting the OTA HD audio as well as the satellite receiver via the optical output since the TV was already receiving the audio for the satellite receiver. For you I would assume you could connect the 360 and PS3 to the optical input and the HD DVR to the digital coax (provided it has that ouput, which is typically orange). Go to your local Circuit City and check it out.

[ExtremeGamer]

Re: Home Theater Systems Questions

Thanks bergie. So if you were me, how would you hook up the 360, ps3 and hd dvr to this thing?

360 and PS3 both optical, and HDDVR coaxial. Exactly how my set up is. I wouldn't run the video through it, just the audio.

[TIm]

Re: Home Theater Systems Questions

I can't swing the $500-600 super receivers and I was in a chalet in the mountains this weekend and they had just a basic dvd player/theater system and I thought it sounded great. Does anybody have one of these? I've checked out two on cc.com so far,

http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Sony-...oductDetail.do

http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Phili...oductDetail.do

What am I looking at in terms of connections on these? I've got a hd dvr, 360 and ps3. Can I leave them all hooked up to the tv and then just run a cord from the tv to the back of the dvd player? I know next to nothing about home theater systems. Any help would be greatly appreciated

I'm actually looking at everything on this page.

Alright man I owned the Philips HTS-6500 before. The thing sounded great. No it didn't give you full surround sound but did a good virtual sound. This unit had plenty of power. I really loved this unit but got rid of it for 2 glaring reasons.

1. The Speakers are not magnetically shielded. (This means if you have a CRT based television you can't put your speakers right next or on or it would give you that discoloration) That wasn't good.

2. I had the unit for under a month and 2 times I couldn't get the disc out no matter what I pressed. I had to unplug and replug it in.

[fishepa]

Re: Home Theater Systems Questions

360 and PS3 both optical, and HDDVR coaxial. Exactly how my set up is. I wouldn't run the video through it, just the audio.

So you're assuming his TV has 3 component/hdmi inputs?

[ExtremeGamer]

Re: Home Theater Systems Questions

So you're assuming his TV has 3 component/hdmi inputs?

I know what TV he has....

Either way, just about every TV you can buy now has at least one HDMI and 2 component inputs.

[fishepa]

Re: Home Theater Systems Questions

If it were me I would connect everything to the receiver to avoid having to switch inputs on the TV. It's must easier to switch inputs on the receiver rather than switching the TV input then the receiver. Just my opinion...

[ExtremeGamer]

Re: Home Theater Systems Questions

If it were me I would connect everything to the receiver to avoid having to switch inputs on the TV. It's must easier to switch inputs on the receiver rather than switching the TV input then the receiver. Just my opinion...

I'm anal with component, switchers always seem to bug me.

[CaptainZombie]

Re: Home Theater Systems Questions

I can't swing the $500-600 super receivers and I was in a chalet in the mountains this weekend and they had just a basic dvd player/theater system and I thought it sounded great. Does anybody have one of these? I've checked out two on cc.com so far,

http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Sony-...oductDetail.do

http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Phili...oductDetail.do

What am I looking at in terms of connections on these? I've got a hd dvr, 360 and ps3. Can I leave them all hooked up to the tv and then just run a cord from the tv to the back of the dvd player? I know next to nothing about home theater systems. Any help would be greatly appreciated

I'm actually looking at everything on this page.

Rocky, next time your on AIM send me a PM. Are you looking for a full HTS or just a receiver? It looks like your looking for a full HTS, I would recommend an Onkyo from CC. My brother bought the one below this one, this one here is on sale at $429 this week.

http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Onkyo...oductDetail.do

I had the 5.1 speakers already from my previous stereo so I purchased this one here. It allows for full audio/video transfer via HDMI. It's on sale this week for $449, I was able to get this 1.5 months ago at $389 by getting CC to price match a local TV store. Only thing that sucks is that this one doesn't come as part of any HTS packages, so if your looking for speakers also than I can fully understand. I did a lot of reading up before I purchased this one here and for the money on the features that I needed it was perfect since I already had the speakers. I'm hoping that sometime next year I can replace the speakers.

http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Onkyo...oductDetail.do

[RockyTop1]

Re: Home Theater Systems Questions

Ok, I've changed my mine. I'm going to go the receiver route. What about this one? I know it's not the greatest, but it has 2 HDMI in's, which is what I'm looking for and it's relatively cheap. I found it on pricegrabber for $178 shipped. So you audio nerds, tell me about it. Is it missing anything that is a "must." I'm not an audio-phiile, so I don't need the top of the line, just something with a little pop. I'll also eventually have to get speakers, but I'll cross that bridge when I get there.

[ExtremeGamer]

Re: Home Theater Systems Questions

Ok, I've changed my mine. I'm going to go the receiver route. What about this one? I know it's not the greatest, but it has 2 HDMI in's, which is what I'm looking for and it's relatively cheap. I found it on pricegrabber for $178 shipped. So you audio nerds, tell me about it. Is it missing anything that is a "must." I'm not an audio-phiile, so I don't need the top of the line, just something with a little pop. I'll also eventually have to get speakers, but I'll cross that bridge when I get there.

It's not bad. The HDMI is pass through, meaning it'll split HDMI signals, but won't use HDMI sound.