Audio setup help!! Noob questions!!

[king_patrick_7]

I currently have an older Samsung HTIB 5.1 system and was looking to upgrade. I recently got a best buy gift card, so ideally I'd like to get something from there. I was thinking of getting a new receiver to start and go from there. I also have a PS3.

The receivers listed on best buy canada's website are:

http://www.bestbuy.ca/catalog/subcla...gon=&langid=EN


I thought the Sony STR DG720 looked pretty good, is this a good receiver?

Also 2 quick questions:

1. will my old speakers be able to connect to this receiver? I plan to eventually upgrade my speakers as well when I get more money to spend.

2. Unfortunately my TV only has 1 HDMI input. I assume the HDMI will carry the audio and video from the PS3 will go into this receiver and then into my TV... but will I be able to hook up my HD Satelitte into this as well?

I do have one pic of my "basement" set up in my gallery, but it may be a little dark.
Thanks for any help I can get!

[Twitch9]

Originally Posted by king_patrick_7

I currently have an older Samsung HTIB 5.1 system and was looking to upgrade. I recently got a best buy gift card, so ideally I'd like to get something from there. I was thinking of getting a new receiver to start and go from there. I also have a PS3.

The receivers listed on best buy canada's website are:

http://www.bestbuy.ca/catalog/subcla...gon=&langid=EN


I thought the Sony STR DG720 looked pretty good, is this a good receiver?

Also 2 quick questions:

1. will my old speakers be able to connect to this receiver? I plan to eventually upgrade my speakers as well when I get more money to spend.

2. Unfortunately my TV only has 1 HDMI input. I assume the HDMI will carry the audio and video from the PS3 will go into this receiver and then into my TV... but will I be able to hook up my HD Satelitte into this as well?

I do have one pic of my "basement" set up in my gallery, but it may be a little dark.
Thanks for any help I can get!

As for your speakers if they use standard speaker wire and don't have any special connection to the receiver your currently using you should be fine using them.

I would pass on the sony and look into Denon 789 or the onkyo, better in almost every way over that sony model, just more money.

[king_patrick_7]

Originally Posted by Twitch9

As for your speakers if they use standard speaker wire and don't have any special connection to the receiver your currently using you should be fine using them.

I would pass on the sony and look into Denon 789 or the onkyo, better in almost every way over that sony model, just more money.

Thanks... I know very little about receivers, what would the denon or onkyo have that the sony wouldnt? better all around sound?

[Beta Man]

Originally Posted by king_patrick_7

Thanks... I know very little about receivers, what would the denon or onkyo have that the sony wouldnt? better all around sound?

better sound quality at comparable price points in my opinion (and that of many others too)

I would go with Denon over Onkyo on that front too.

[Twitch9]

Originally Posted by Beta Man

better sound quality at comparable price points in my opinion (and that of many others too)

I would go with Denon over Onkyo on that front too.

I agree the Denon is a great receiver, you should be able to find the 789 for around $400-$500 just make sure you get it from an authorized dealer or your warranty will be void. The Denon receivers where the number 1 rated consumer receiver this year and have out sold every other brand. You will get allot of people suggesting the onkyo receiver as well, again in your price point another fine receiver.

[SlmShdy1]

Since Best Buy doesn't carry Onkyo, your best bet would be Denon. As for your speakers, if they use regular speaker wire, then you should be fine. If you have speakers that use a specific connection and if worst comes to worst, you could always cut the connectors off and strip the cover off to reveal speaker wire.

Now if you decide to go with the 789 like what was suggested, you'll be able to hook everything up to the receiver and just run one HDMI cable to the TV. You mentioned your satellite box. What kind of connection does it use?

[brettallica]

Make sure your speakers are of correct impedance, or you will (or could) blow your amp. The STR-DG720 is 8Ω, and most HTiB speakers are 4Ω, or less in some cases, Samsung included. That combination would be potentially dangerous, and I'd hate to see you ruin your new amp — regardless of which make and model you choose in the end — with some crappy speakers.

[SlmShdy1]

I have a Pioneer HTiB package that I got from Walmart a few years ago and the speakers are 6Ω. It should say on the back of the Samsung speakers.

[king_patrick_7]

Originally Posted by SlmShdy1

Since Best Buy doesn't carry Onkyo, your best bet would be Denon. As for your speakers, if they use regular speaker wire, then you should be fine. If you have speakers that use a specific connection and if worst comes to worst, you could always cut the connectors off and strip the cover off to reveal speaker wire.

Now if you decide to go with the 789 like what was suggested, you'll be able to hook everything up to the receiver and just run one HDMI cable to the TV. You mentioned your satellite box. What kind of connection does it use?

Originally Posted by brettallica

Make sure your speakers are of correct impedance, or you will (or could) blow your amp. The STR-DG720 is 8Ω, and most HTiB speakers are 4Ω, or less in some cases, Samsung included. That combination would be potentially dangerous, and I'd hate to see you ruin your new amp — regardless of which make and model you choose in the end — with some crappy speakers.

Thanks for the help so far!

I just looked at the back of my speakers, they all show "3Ω" although I dont even know what that means. I'm assuming its bad lol.
My Samsung model is the HT-TQ72 and ALL the speaker connections are the type with 2 small wires (red and black) to hook them up you need to hold down the part on the receiver and then plug it in... I hope you know what I mean.
I've noticed on newer receivers many will only have that hook up for the surround speakers.

My satellite connection is also HD.

[king_patrick_7]

Just Looked up what Best buy had and the Sony DG-720 is $299, or I could get the Denon AVR-689 for $100 more.

[brettallica]

Originally Posted by king_patrick_7

Thanks for the help so far!

I just looked at the back of my speakers, they all show "3Ω" although I dont even know what that means. I'm assuming its bad lol.
My Samsung model is the HT-TQ72 and ALL the speaker connections are the type with 2 small wires (red and black) to hook them up you need to hold down the part on the receiver and then plug it in... I hope you know what I mean.
I've noticed on newer receivers many will only have that hook up for the surround speakers.

My satellite connection is also HD.

It's not "bad" but it does mean that you should consider upgrading your speakers along with your receiver. I was in the same predicament "to a T" when I upgraded my a while back. I had leftover HTiB speakers with 4Ω impedance rating, yet (what I think is) a kickass brand new amp with a rating of 8Ω. Instead of risking blowing out my amp, I just bought new speakers. My wife loved this, of course.

Your smaller speakers and amps are usually going to have lower impedance ratings, that's all. You just need to make sure your speakers match your amp.

[king_patrick_7]

Originally Posted by brettallica

It's not "bad" but it does mean that you should consider upgrading your speakers along with your receiver. I was in the same predicament "to a T" when I upgraded my a while back. I had leftover HTiB speakers with 4Ω impedance rating, yet (what I think is) a kickass brand new amp with a rating of 8Ω. Instead of risking blowing out my amp, I just bought new speakers. My wife loved this, of course.

Your smaller speakers and amps are usually going to have lower impedance ratings, that's all. You just need to make sure your speakers match your amp.

So basically having an 8Ω amp and 3Ω speakers may blow the amp?
Would it help if I upgraded certain speakers as well if i couldnt afford to do them all right now? Or really should I just wait longer and buy everything at once instead of upgrading piece by piece?