New speaker setup

[Wuzup101]

Alright here's the deal. Over the summer I'm planning to buy some sort of modest HDtv. I'm currently shopping for christmas gifts for myself, and I came across the Onkyo HT-S780 system in the hotdeals forum. I can pick up a refurb system direct from Onkyo for $350, or I can pick up a new one at circuit city for $400 after a $50 MIR. I'm currently using logitech z5500s and an m-audio sonica theater connected to my powerbook. I'm debating over getting this system or just using the logitech's with the HDtv when I get it. The system would be used for mostly console gaming/movies. So what say you? I'm banking on the "a home theater setup will sound much better than computer speakers" so I can pull the trigger...

Onkyo HT-780

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

I should be an upgrade, but it's probably not going to be mind blowing or anything.

If you can, go to Circuit City and test it out in person. Hearing it yourself would be your best bet to decide if it's worth it or not.
Naturally it's not going to be an ideal listening environment, but if you can bring a piece of music that you're familiar with and play it at the store you should be able to get a pretty decent feeling for it.

For Entry level HTIB sets, as I'm sure you saw in the thread, it's a good deal for $400 or less.

The Logitech z-5500s will certainly work as an entry level HT system.

With the Onkyo set, you'll get
A lot more input/output options
7.1 vs 5.1
Sound sound better (personal preference)
Ability to change a lot more settings to adapt to your room (level calibration, distance, etc)
Ability to upgrade a component later on
etc.

 

[bdww00]

i got the same exact system from cc for 500 though pfft anyway sounds nice make sure u have a 7.1 sound card http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16829120103 this one is cheap but now i see its not in stock i got this hooked up to my computer and it sounds gooood i love the three optical inputs (for sound card from comp and from ps2)

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: bdww00
i got the same exact system from cc for 500 though pfft anyway sounds nice make sure u have a 7.1 sound card http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16829120103 this one is cheap but now i see its not in stock i got this hooked up to my computer and it sounds gooood i love the three optical inputs (for sound card from comp and from ps2)

I thought he was connecting just HT type stuff and not a computer... and even if he does, it looks like it's going to be a powerbook.

 

[Wuzup101]

It would be in my apartment room, hooked up primarly to a HDTV and probably an xbox 360/ps3. Either way, I do have an external 7.1chan sound card for my powerbook (m-audio sonica theater)... and it would probably get use in that way. As far as input/output I like the flexability of the components over the logitech system, but to be honest I'll probably have it hooked up via optical cable from either the xbox 360 or the ps3 and I'll use that for my DVD player. Haha maybe I should just stick with the z5500 for now until I can afford something much better. Thanks for the input guys... continue to comment please!

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Sticking with the z-5500s until you can get a more significant upgrade sounds like a good plan.

If you didn't already have the z-5500s, it would be an easier decision to go ahead with the 780s so that you'd have all the extra options down the road, but when you already have a decent 5.1 set that you like, I think holding off for a better upgrade would be smart.

Better to do it right the first time than make several incremental upgrades.

If you are interested in getting a bit more performance out of the z-5500s, there is the option of hooking up standard speakers to the outputs on the sub if you have a speaker wire version of the 5500s and not the RCA style version.
That wont get you all the benefits of having real speakers, but it can help a bit.

 

[alcoholbob]

Most HTiBs would be...very very limited in terms of sonic upgrade over the Logitechs. It's just not possible to get very good sound from a setup that includes both speakers, and receiver/DVD.

 

[Wuzup101]

Unfortunatly I don't have the normal speaker wire version of the 5500s... I got them shortly after they came out. Actually to be quite honest, after looking at the size of the speakers in the 780 package, I'm not sure that I would really want them anyway. The logitech's have served me well, I guess I'll continue to use them until I can buy some truly good components. I just saw that deal and though to myself "hey that would be nice." Maybe I'll get an xbox 360 instead.

 

[Excelsior]

Originally posted by: Wuzup101
Unfortunatly I don't have the normal speaker wire version of the 5500s... I got them shortly after they came out. Actually to be quite honest, after looking at the size of the speakers in the 780 package, I'm not sure that I would really want them anyway. The logitech's have served me well, I guess I'll continue to use them until I can buy some truly good components. I just saw that deal and though to myself "hey that would be nice." Maybe I'll get an xbox 360 instead.

Or wait till a newer revison of the 360 comes out to avoid the first set of bugs...and yeah, definitely just keep the 5500s until you can build up a better system yourself.

 

[Wuzup101]

Yeah dammit, see that's why I don't really want to get a 360 now either. I mean they have "work arounds" for the majority of the problems which are caused by the power brick overheating. But personally I don't think I should have to take extra care to make sure the powerbrick is somewhere cool (IE kept on the top of a box for better airflow. I'll probably wait until MS can design something that will work at room temperature in places where a power brick is normally found (IE: hidden with probably not so great air flow).

 

[Excelsior]

Originally posted by: Wuzup101
Yeah dammit, see that's why I don't really want to get a 360 now either. I mean they have "work arounds" for the majority of the problems which are caused by the power brick overheating. But personally I don't think I should have to take extra care to make sure the powerbrick is somewhere cool (IE kept on the top of a box for better airflow. I'll probably wait until MS can design something that will work at room temperature in places where a power brick is normally found (IE: hidden with probably not so great air flow).

Thats what I would do..but what do I know.

I got one of the last revisions of the original Xbox and I have been very pleased.

 

[Wuzup101]

Yeah, I have a modded version of one of the latest revisions of the Xbox and I'm very happy with it. I'm a recovering Halo addict...