LCD TV and Speakers

[KoskoZax]

My roommate is buying an LCD TV, and I'm going to get some great speakers to go along with it. I really like the Sony SS-B1000 and the Sony SS-B3000 speakers. I'm not sure ultimately which one to get, but it will be one of those.

I want a simple way to hook them into the TV. I've looked at receivers, the Sony STR-DG510. If I bought a receiver, I may get the Sony SS-CN5000 center channel. I don't necessarily want to get a subwoofer, the Sony SA-W2500, at this point of time.

The ultimate question is: do I need to buy a receiver? If not, how else could I do it? I'm not going to buy computer speakers.

 

[Nohr]

Have you listened to the Sony speakers? Sony doesn't have a very good reputation for their low end audio equipment (receivers & speakers included) and most people here and on AVS will recommend other brands.

You need a receiver to power the speakers and decode surround sound signals.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/Y...wsDAjello/Welcome2.JPG

What's your budget for this operation?

So you've tried out the Sony speakers and like them?

Other than the front 3 speakers (and to a lesser extent, the other 2-4 speakers) there's no need to keep the speaker / receiver / subwoofer / whatever brand the same throughout the system.

A receiver would be the easiest and cheapest way to get this system working easily.

Have you taken a look at the sticky thread I have at the top of this subforum?

 

[KoskoZax]

$300-$350. My parents have always had Sony. So I've always had them. I really like the frequency response that these ones have. Most have 50Hz-20kHz. These say they have 50Hz-50kHz. I am still in college, so I do not want the best system; just something small and sufficient for the moment. I thought that a receiver would be the easiest.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: KoskoZax
$300-$350. My parents have always had Sony. So I've always had them. I really like the frequency response that these ones have. Most have 50Hz-20kHz. These say they have 50Hz-50kHz. I am still in college, so I do not want the best system; just something small and sufficient for the moment. I thought that a receiver would be the easiest.

50Hz - 50kHz is bogus. You probably can't hear much above 18-20kHz, not much source material is going to have frequencies that high, and there are much more significant things to consider about speakers than the manufacturer rated upper frequency range.

Sony makes some good stuff and some pretty crappy stuff.

For a budget system like this, I would pick something else unless you've tried out the speakers personally with your own material compared to other options and liked the Sony options in particular.

 

[KoskoZax]

I figured. What do you recommend for the price range and about a $400 LCD TV?

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: KoskoZax
I figured. What do you recommend for the price range and about a $400 LCD TV?

I have some audio suggestions and tips here
http://forums.anandtech.com/me...=2099593&enterthread=y

Would you be willing to go used on some stuff?

 

[KoskoZax]

I really want to go with new stuff. Also, is it worth it to just get a set with everything included? I've heard some bad things about the quality of most of those.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: KoskoZax
I really want to go with new stuff. Also, is it worth it to just get a set with everything included? I've heard some bad things about the quality of most of those.

There are some reasonable ones and a lot of crappy ones.

For around $400, you could get something like this
http://www.vanns.com/shop/serv...16&cpncode=17-319156-2

More info here
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forumdisplay.php?f=109

Especially if music is a significant concern, if you don't have room to place more than 3 speakers well according to Dolby guidelines, and if you want to leave yourself and upgrade path... then going with a 2.0 or 2.1 system to start with better quality components would be a better choice probably.

 

[KoskoZax]

I'd like to go with a 5.1 if I get a set.

 

[KoskoZax]

You know, that Onkyo one is very appealing. I may go with that if I don't find something else, or you don't recommend a good 5.1.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: KoskoZax
You know, that Onkyo one is very appealing. I may go with that if I don't find something else, or you don't recommend a good 5.1.

The Onkyo sets offer pretty good bang for the buck, so I'd suggest looking through that HTIB area of AVSforum I linked to in order to check out some other recommended systems in that range.

For a 5.1 system on a budget that's not a HTIB set, Polk R-series is one of the few options that would allow you to keep the budget down in combination with a Dayton sub from PartsExpress and a budget receiver from Onkyo/Pioneer/etc.

 

[KoskoZax]

I just read on AVS that the HT-SR800 doesn't support audio in the HDMI connection to save money. Would I have to therefore go with an RCA?

 

[KoskoZax]

Also, what do you think about power distributors and conditioners?

 

[KoskoZax]

I could get the system, but swap out the receiver and sell the one that comes with it. Do you know if the 504, 505 or 940 or another one has HDMI audio issues? And would they work with the system. I'm sure they would, but I'd like to ask.

 

[krotchy]

Originally posted by: KoskoZax
I could get the system, but swap out the receiver and sell the one that comes with it. Do you know if the 504, 505 or 940 or another one has HDMI audio issues? And would they work with the system. I'm sure they would, but I'd like to ask.

I wouldn't so much call it "HDMI audio issues" as there really are not any cheap receivers that do HDMI audio processing. The "cheapest" one I have seen that has full HDMI audio processing is the Onkyo 605, and the best price ive seen it for consistently is 380 dollars.

Also....
505 = receiver in the SR800
504 is an older receiver and I dont think it even has HDMI.
What is the 940 you are referring to??

If you did want the SR-800's speakers and HDMI audio processing, you could grab the HT-SKS540 7.1 speaker kit for 300 dollars (ive seen as low as 240)

So on a good day, a cheap Onkyo setup with HDMI processing is gonna run 620 dollars, well more than the SR-800 though still cheap considering the capabilities/sound you're getting from it.

however, another option if you feel you want HDMI audio processing now..

You might consider getting an Onkyo 605, then pairing it with 2 nice bookshelves/floorstanders now (Athena's on clearance are a great deal at the moment, though YoYo's thread has a dozen other options) Later on when you want to spend the money, add a Sub, then center then sides then rears. The major advantage of this is say you bought 2 decent fronts but decide you want better. Demote them to side duty and get better fronts, nothing is lost.

Also just so I dont skip it. Denon's AVR1908 (or 788) both do HDMI audio processing, and are the cheapest of Denon's lineup, though they don't do the top end bitsream decoding like the 605, but they are still definitely worth looking into as a great alternative. Yamaha and Pioneer also have some quality receivers to look into though I don't know the models off hand.

 

[BlahBlahYouToo]

Originally posted by: KoskoZax
I could get the system, but swap out the receiver and sell the one that comes with it. Do you know if the 504, 505 or 940 or another one has HDMI audio issues? And would they work with the system. I'm sure they would, but I'd like to ask.

you might as well save yourself the trouble and just buy the 605 receiver and speakers individually.

i picked up the sr800 for $400 shipped

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: KoskoZax
I just read on AVS that the HT-SR800 doesn't support audio in the HDMI connection to save money. Would I have to therefore go with an RCA?

What sources were you planning to hook up again?

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: KoskoZax
Also, what do you think about power distributors and conditioners?

I wouldn't worry about that really unless you know you have really crappy power in your building / house / whatever.

 

[Wuzup101]

If you are looking for another receiver option, you can check out the Harmon Kardon E-bay store. They sell a lot of factory refurbished stuff there for good prices and it comes with the standard factory 5 year warranty (as well as all the accessories and such). I believe the AVR 247 and 347 both have audio processing over HDMI as well as 720p up conversion (which you may or may not need). It's been a while since I checked prices, but I believe they were around the low to mid $300 range (with the 247 being a bit cheaper, despite being almost identical to the 347).

If you are looking at the $400 price range for a total package, you can forget anything that is both NEW and has HDMI audio processing. This isn't a big deal, all you really lose is some of the higher end loss-less audio formats that can't be sent over digital optical or coax. You definitely will still get digital surround sound (and won't have to use the analogue red+white).