What surround system systems you guys currently have?

[Moses Shuttlesworth]

Re: What surround system systems you guys currently have?

HDMI is used for sound as well (the same cable)

HDMI = High-Definition Multimedia Interface

I know, but the HDMI cable I use is DVI-HDMI, and only supports video.

[tanis38]

Re: What surround system systems you guys currently have?

I recently got rid of my surround sound system (had it for about 10 years) and I have been using headphones instead. Since I live in an apartment I was never able to really take advantage of my system (neighbors would complain). Plus, I was having issues with the sound of my center speaker coming and going. I'll definitely be getting a whole new set-up again when I buy a house.

Loving my headphones for now.

[mgoblue]

Re: What surround system systems you guys currently have?

MGO purchase the receiver in my post from eCost.com for $265 shipped and pickup the speakers I posted about on eBay for around $180 refurbished from the manufacturer. When you are done you'll have a 7.1 receiver that handles the HD Audio codecs and a decent set of speakers and sub for under $500. The speakers retail for about $500 from Ultimate Electronics. If you are interested I can send you links.

I'm happy with my setup, and I get the top sound/video I can via hookups....in the future I may go to a better receiver, but no need now. I can;t turn it up super loud due to neighbors anyways, so not like I need that high end yet.

[thaima1shu]

Re: What surround system systems you guys currently have?

I have the Onkyo 606 receiver:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0015S8PGW

and the Onkyo HT540 speaker system:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000GU78Z4

High quality sound for a pretty decent price.

[Zer0xray]

Re: What surround system systems you guys currently have?

Hey guys. I'm bumping this since i have time now to research more on this stuff.

I'm leaning towards an Onkyo 5100 System
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...X0DER&v=glance

However, i've been reading about the whole not getting HDMI audio through the connectors. Just HDMI pass thru from the tv. Can someone explain this to me alittle clearly??

my other alternative is to my a set of polk audio 5.1 speakers and getting the Onkyo S606 receiver, but that'll be more money.

someone please give me their input?

[jmood88]

Re: What surround system systems you guys currently have?

I'm getting this next week. It's gotten great reviews and I found a place that's selling it for $200.

[Seymour Scagnetti]

Re: What surround system systems you guys currently have?

Hey guys. I'm bumping this since i have time now to research more on this stuff.

I'm leaning towards an Onkyo 5100 System
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...X0DER&v=glance

However, i've been reading about the whole not getting HDMI audio through the connectors. Just HDMI pass thru from the tv. Can someone explain this to me alittle clearly??

my other alternative is to my a set of polk audio 5.1 speakers and getting the Onkyo S606 receiver, but that'll be more money.

someone please give me their input?

Here's my 2 cents and it's gonna be long winded. There are 2 types of pass thru, lower end receivers only allow video pass thru while higher end ones allow both video and audio pass thru.

Assuming you have a PS3 bluray a video only pass thru requires you to hook up an optical cable separately from the PS3 to the receiver as the HDMI handles the hidef video transmission only because of the limited pass thru. The negative of this is no ability the play any hidef uncompressed sound as the bandwidth of an optical cable cannot process uncompressed sound thru 5 channels, only 2 channels.

With a higher end receiver doing both pass thrus all you have to do is hook up a HDMI cable form the PS3 to the receiver and then another HDMI from the receiver to the TV. The PS3 and similarly featured Bluray players do all the on board decoding for TrueHD and DTS-MA and PCM uncompressed sound which passes thru the receiver to the TV for hidef video and sound.

My advice: Totally avoid almost all HTIB, most are crap. Buy a receiver that does both video\audio passthru. Then buy separate speakers. There is alot of great deals out there if you do your homework.

To me the difference between a lossless (uncompressed) movie soundtrack and a regular compressed soundtrack is like Hidef and regular DVD. The tighter bass, dynamic range fidelity and richness of it really enhances the viewing experience as much as the picture. My old system with optical hook up I thought was pretty good but my new Denon receiver and Energy speakers blow it away with a good Bluray soundtrack.

If that kind of system specs seems too pricey then hold off, save some more cash and wait. A good receiver\speaker system can be had between $800 to $1000 and the prices will only get lower with time and with the economy tanking stores are very flexible with thier pricing to move out stock. If you really enjoy a great audio experience with watching movies it will be worth it.

[gopadres]

Re: What surround system systems you guys currently have?

I bought a Sony STRDG720 receiver for $249.00 about a month ago and LOVE it! I tried the Onkyo SR606 but found out that audio will not go through HDMI with this unit. Well I wanted to take advantage of the hi-def audio codecs, Dolby TrueHD or DTS HD and found out that the PS3 will decode these audio formats and send the signal to the receiver. You don't need an expensive receiver to process these signals. But only certain receivers can pass audio through HDMI.

I'm using the same speakers and I can't believe the difference. Sounds are clearer, there's more separation between hi's and lo's, and the balance is so much better. I'm extremely happy with it.

[GAMEC0CK2002]

Re: What surround system systems you guys currently have?

I bought a Sony STRDG720 receiver for $249.00 about a month ago and LOVE it! I tried the Onkyo SR606 but found out that audio will not go through HDMI with this unit.

You must have gotten a defective unit because the 606 does it all. The Sony 720 requires a PS3 (Blu ray player that decodes the hidef codecs) in order to play the lossless audio tracks via LPCM. The 606 can both decode and bitstream these.

[GAMEC0CK2002]

Re: What surround system systems you guys currently have?

My advice: Totally avoid almost all HTIB, most are crap. Buy a receiver that does both video\audio passthru. Then buy separate speakers. There is alot of great deals out there if you do your homework.
To me the difference between a lossless (uncompressed) movie soundtrack and a regular compressed soundtrack is like Hidef and regular DVD.

Co-sign. I definitely agree with buying a HDMI receiver and getting the speakers separate. I have a modest setup (Onkyo SR574, Pioneer surrounds, Yamaha 250W sub) but the difference between that and most HTIBs is night and day.

Consider that most HTIBs have a passive sub. If you want to really enjoy your movies at home you'll want a powered sub.

Transformers and Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift are nice barometers.

[Zer0xray]

Re: What surround system systems you guys currently have?

Hmm i'm really not looking to spend 800-1000 on an audio system. Maybe 500 tops. What receivers do you recommend that do both HDMI audio/video? does the Onkyo 606 do it?
btw i have a panny dmp-35k. i think it decodes hidef codecs.

[GAMEC0CK2002]

Re: What surround system systems you guys currently have?

Hmm i'm really not looking to spend 800-1000 on an audio system. Maybe 500 tops. What receivers do you recommend that do both HDMI audio/video? does the Onkyo 606 do it?
btw i have a panny dmp-35k. i think it decodes hidef codecs.

For a HDMI receiver that can do everything, the 606 is probably the best value. If you have a PS3 and plan on always using it as your blu ray player then the Sony 720 is just fine. (Around a $130-150 price difference between the 2) Instead of bitstreaming the hidef codecs you set it to LPCM instead. Both ways work. If you get the Sony, you'll lose the lossless audio if you switch to a standalone blu ray player that doesn't do the decoding.

I have an older Onkyo HDMI receiver that gives lossless audio via LPCM (like the Sony 720).

As for the rest, the top priorities are you front speakers (center, right, left) and subwoofer. You don't want to mix and match your fronts for obvious reasons.

[Zer0xray]

Re: What surround system systems you guys currently have?

For a HDMI receiver that can do everything, the 606 is probably the best value. If you have a PS3 and plan on always using it as your blu ray player then the Sony 720 is just fine. (Around a $130-150 price difference between the 2) Instead of bitstreaming the hidef codecs you set it to LPCM instead. Both ways work. If you get the Sony, you'll lose the lossless audio if you switch to a standalone blu ray player that doesn't do the decoding.

I have an older Onkyo HDMI receiver that gives lossless audio via LPCM (like the Sony 720).

As for the rest, the top priorities are you front speakers (center, right, left) and subwoofer. You don't want to mix and match your fronts for obvious reasons.

I dont have a ps3. i refused to buy one! haha.
so the 606 does audio/video HDMI pass thru? i want something that is future proof.

[GAMEC0CK2002]

Re: What surround system systems you guys currently have?

I dont have a ps3. i refused to buy one! haha.
so the 606 does audio/video HDMI pass thru? i want something that is future proof.

The 606 (or last year's 605) is what you want then.

[gopadres]

Re: What surround system systems you guys currently have?

I tried the Onkyo SR606 but found out that audio will not go through HDMI with this unit.

My apologies, I was incorrect. It was not the Onkyo, it was a Denon receiver.