Home Theater Help

[JE78]

I'm looking to get a 5.1 home theater in a box surround sound system for my house. I don't really have much knowledge of home theater systems so any help would be appreciated. I have my PS3 that has an optical output on it, my cable box which has a coaxial output and my Wii which has I think just has a normal audio output that I'd like to have all hooked into the receiver.

I've had my eye on this setup but want to make sure it will allow me too hook up everything I need. I want to stay around that price range as well. Thanks in advance.

 

[PurdueRy]

Well if it was 1000W I would say go for it....but since it's only 998....:evil:

Have you read through Jello's sticky on HTiB's? I generally wouldn't recommend a Sony or ANY HTiB that uses the receiver as a DVD player. These tend to have VERY limited inputs.

 

[JE78]

Yeah I'm not one really for the DVD as the receiver either but i'm limited when it comes to price.

 

[PurdueRy]

Is this your max price?

 

[JE78]

pretty much, I didn't really want to go to much over $300

 

[PurdueRy]

As much as I'd like seeing you go with at least the 4100...the 3100 might be your best bet:

http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm...m/ccd/productDetail.do

 

[JE78]

thanks, whats the big difference between the 3100 and the 4100 that would warrant a $100 price difference?

 

[bdubyah]

if you do want the 3100, newegg has it for $279.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16882120085



edit:

actually, here is the 4100 for $305 at amazon
http://www.amazon.com/Onkyo-HT...&qid=1219101934&sr=1-5



not to thread-jack or anything, but i'm actually looking for a setup as well. anyone know which one is best under $400? i've been looking at the yamaha 390bl or the sony 7100dh. would one of these onkyos be better?

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: JE78
thanks, whats the big difference between the 3100 and the 4100 that would warrant a $100 price difference?

Onkyo 4100 has a powered sub and a bigger sub IIRC. The receiver I believe is also a bit more versatile.

 

[JE78]

Thanks for the heads up bdubyah, feel free to ask questions in my thread, the more you learn, the more I learn.

I think i'm set on getting one of the Onkyo systems, just not sure which one yet. My next question is how I should go about setting up the system in my livingroom. I have a oddly shapped room with a vaulted ceiling.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a209/JE78/layout1.jpg

From right side of the stairs starts a 12 foot ceiling, but the living room its self starts at a 12 foot by the window and works it way up to 24 foot. We had to put the TV in the corner by the stairs because we had this huge couch that would only fit on the left wall. I've been trying to figure out the best way to place the speakers, I figure the rear speakers could go on the wall where the window is but i'm not sure where the fronts and sub should go.

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: JE78
Thanks for the heads up bdubyah, feel free to ask questions in my thread, the more you learn, the more I learn.

I think i'm set on getting one of the Onkyo systems, just not sure which one yet. My next question is how I should go about setting up the system in my livingroom. I have a oddly shapped room with a vaulted ceiling.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a209/JE78/layout1.jpg

From right side of the stairs starts a 12 foot ceiling, but the living room its self starts at a 12 foot by the window and works it way up to 24 foot. We had to put the TV in the corner by the stairs because we had this huge couch that would only fit on the left wall. I've been trying to figure out the best way to place the speakers, I figure the rear speakers could go on the wall where the window is but i'm not sure where the fronts and sub should go.

Why can't you put the TV along the wall alongside the staircase? Seems like it would still be perfectly visible from the seating location.

 

[JE78]

The couch won't go anywhere else, its a couch with a chase lounge on it, that picture isn't exact and I don't really have that much extra room.

 

[PurdueRy]

I didn't say to move the couch...just the TV...

 

[JE78]

With the angle its at now its a better view angle, putting it flat would against the wall would limit it.

 

[JE78]

I think I found a good spot for the speakers, I might have to get stands for the front so they don't sit on the TV stand. But I put red X's where I think i'm going to mount them, i'm going to run the wires down into the basement and them up behind the couch. I think putting them a foot higher than the couch will provide some good sound. Thoughts?

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a209/JE78/layout2.jpg

Does anyone know how much speaker wire comes for the rear speakers of the Onkyo HT-S3100?

 

[bdubyah]

i was wondering the same thing about the 4100s. even went to their website. figured i'd just go ahead and buy some extra just in case. found 30ft for like $10 at amazon.

think i'm going with the 4100s, just haven't pulled the trigger yet.

 

[JE78]

I'm pretty close to going to Circuit City and getting the 3100 just because I have gift cards from Christmas I haven't used yet. I did some searching and found the 3100 comes with two 30 feet lengths of speaker wire. Taken from the Crutchfield website. http://www.crutchfield.com/S-V...Main.aspx?i=580HT3100S

 

[Burrens78]

Since you have a PS3, I would get one that handles PCM through HDMI to take advantage of the new audio formats associated with Bluray.

Check out this thread on AVS: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1019554

 

[JE78]

I just got done reading that, it really makes me want to splurge on the Samsung AS720 but the price tag it a little more over my budget.

 

[bdubyah]

i saw that samsung...makes me want it now as well. they have a whole thread on it over there as well. lots of features apparently. was a bit too expensive at newegg, but lookin at amazon, they have it for $403. not too bad.

anyone here think the AS720 would be worth the extra $100 over the onkyo 4100?

 

[JE78]

I was also looking at the Sony HT-SS2300, looks to be pretty good, not alot of reviews on it though. http://www.circuitcity.com/ccd...1&oid=210979&user=true

 

[Burrens78]

So from I can tell neither the Sony nor the Samsung come with component inputs right?

 

[JE78]

Yeah I saw that too, the only thing I run components from is my Wii so i'm trying to decide if I really need it.

 

[bdubyah]

well, could you not just keep your wii hooked up to your TV? not like a wii really needs 5.1 surround sound anyways.

but anyways, i finally decided on the onkyo S4100s. bad part is, they were $305 when i ordered them, and less than an hour later, they had them for $290! damn my luck.

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: bdubyah
well, could you not just keep your wii hooked up to your TV? not like a wii really needs 5.1 surround sound anyways.

but anyways, i finally decided on the onkyo S4100s. bad part is, they were $305 when i ordered them, and less than an hour later, they had them for $290! damn my luck.

Amazon will match their price up to 30 days out. Call and get it changed.