Could use some help chooseing new HT equipment

[Exoptable]

This was alot easyer to figure out a few years back. Now its a bit more confusing! Basicly I have speakers. The rest needs replacement. I'd say I'm looking for high end stuff but I think whats really high end I dont even know about and isnt advertised.

For starters I need a blu-ray player. I dont know what to get at all. I hear the sony's dont like to play copyed stuff. The pioneer elites look nice but I also gather from this board that some sort of version 1.1 and 2.0 is comming out soon? so I guess I should wait? if waiting is the right way to go whats the absolute cheapest functional player I can get just so I can watch the dvd's untill the new models are out.

Heres what I have now. I have a JVC D-series 36" crt. Great tv but its on its way out. starting to get lines in it and all. I have some old sony 450disk cd/mp3 change that I'll keep. I have very original sony 5 disk dvd player that I guess will be replaced with the blu-ray player. my reciver is a worthless sony str-de985. I think its 100watts a channel and wont drive my speakers very well. I have a slightly older sony str-de935 downstairs that I think is 110watts a channel with the exact same speakers. the 935 sounds better. I guess the 985 dosent have enough power to drive the speakers? The speakers are mirage omni 260's front and surround, an omni CC center, and a velodyne dls-3750 sub. The 260's can take 200watts at 8ohm I think. the CC is 150. I was going to get a dennon 4xxxci but now that there mainstream I dont know if they are still any good. And after reading the forums maybe the flagship onky or yamha? or should I just get pre amp/amp setup? I'd of course prefer to not spend much but I'd like to get something good. also if running 260's for surround is a bad idea id consider new speakers back there. Lastly I need a TV. I cant decide between plasma or LCD. And not sure what brand to go with. Looking for 50-65"
Sorry for the long post but thanks in advance for the info.

[Imakida]

For the TV 50 - 65", I would suggest a plasma (espicially if you use it essentially for movies).
For the blu-ray player, you could go with the panasonic DMP-BD30 (profile 1.1) or the PS3 (I would suggest the 40gb)
For the A/V receiver, you have to purchase one that can process the signal over HDMI. The pickyest peoples seems to prefer when the signal is decode by the receiver. I think that for now, only the Onkyo receiver can decode the newest DTS-HD Master audio and the Dolby True HD.

Hope that helps..

[Downhere]

Well, for Blu-ray players, I can only recommend the new Panasonic BD30 which is a profile 1.1 player or the Playstation 3 which will soon be upgraded to profile 1.1. Both will upscale your old DVD's so you won't have any worries there.

As for a receiver, Sony receivers are definitely not great so changing that will be a big improvement. If you want a receiver with the newest codecs and all the Denon you were looking at is a quality receiver. You definitely will be buying a high quality machine with that. You can also look into the Onkyo, Pioneer Elite, Marantz or Yamaha receivers. Some model numbers to check would be the Pioneer Elite VSX-92 or 94TX, Onkyo SR805 875 or 905, Marants SR7002 or 8002 or the Yammay 1800.

As for a display, either Plasma or LCD would be fine. You can also look into the new LED DLP displays from Samsung, they can be had for a good price and a good size.

[sokrman14]

If money allows, go with the new Denon bluray player when it is released early next year. It will have at least profile 1.1 and it should be the highest quality player in regards to audio and video. If you are willing to spend the money on the elite, then get the denon for just $200 more.

[Exoptable]

I looked at the onkyo tx-nr905 and it looked pretty nice, and cheap compaired to what the dennon used to be. However I think that dennon 4xx8ci? whatever the newest one had a huge price drop from the old costs. Is that 905 the top onkyo model? Sounds like you guys think a reciver is the better way to go then a preamp/amp setup.

My tv concerns are this. I saw a DLP next to a plasma and the plasma was just so much crisper. LCD dosent have true black, can have ghosting, and as the backlight gets old it actually changes the color spectrum. However it dosent burn in and I think it lasts longer? Plasma dosent last all that long, and can burn in. But I think has a cleaner, crisper picture. As all of this is in my bed room the TV is on all the time mostly with just regular channels. it gets alot of use and I view it from off angles.. very off angels. Thats why the omni speakers. there is no sweet spot in my room.

[sokrman14]

I would actually recommend separate pieces, most people just cant afford them, nor can they usually find ones that decode the new audio formats.

[Downhere]

Originally Posted by sokrman14

I would actually recommend separate pieces, most people just cant afford them, nor can they usually find ones that decode the new audio formats.

Ditto, but that is why I didn't mention it. There aren't any at the moment that have the new codecs and only a couple can accept PCM via HDMI.

The Onkyo 905 is a good receiver and the Denon 4308ci is as well. I know that the Denon goes for around $2000 and I believe the Onkyo does as well.

[quetzalcoatl]

Just a FYI the Onkyos are nice but be aware they run very and I mean very hot. They are designed to take it from what I have read but that does not mean the rest of the stuff in your rack is. And being from computers I always prefer electronics to run coolers.

You are dead on in both the benefits and detrements of the TVs out there. You just have to decide on what you want and are willing to deal with. Also plasmas tend to reflect more light so if you are in a area with bright light hitting the screen you will get alot of reflection. And you saying it is on most the the time I think a LCD would be better for you.

Blu-ray cannot argue with what has been listed. Would not wait for the Denon though start enjoying now. And since you are getting a new receiver the panasonic is the best buy for a standalone out there.

Consider the Elite receivers my 94 has worked great and runs cool as well. And I believe the top of the line Onkyo is the 975 but they seem hard to find.

[Exoptable]

my room is allready 10 or so degrees hotter then the rest of the house and thats only with the light, computer, and tv. No reciver turned on. on onkyo's website the only numbers at least larger then 905 are a tx-8522 and a tx-8222 I have no idea how they fall in the lineup. the 905 seemed there top. But how do they sound? When dennon first released the CI I listened to the 4xxx6? i never remember the modle numbers. Anyway I listened to both that denon and a comperable yamaha. I just liked the way the denon sounded more.

Heres what I do. I like action movies lots of explostions and all. Comedys. I also like dvd concerts. Mostly rock and classical/opera. So really clear sound is important.

With LCD how is the picture? hows the ghosting when playing games or watching fast actioned movies/sports? how is the detail when watching a big budget movie?

[Downhere]

Originally Posted by Exoptable

Heres what I do. I like action movies lots of explostions and all. Comedys. I also like dvd concerts. Mostly rock and classical/opera. So really clear sound is important.

I have to agree with quetzalcoatl about the Pioneer Elite. You should definitely look into it and it's a bit cheaper than the Onkyo or Denon unit. It's got a great sound for movies, very clear and precise yet has a nice warmth for music as well. It has a very musical sound for music, if that makes sense.

[quetzalcoatl]

Newer LCD handle action much better than they used to. I would reccommend the XBR4 as a great choice for a TV that is a LCD. Not sure maybe that was a older model I just know I had seen is somewhere. If you liked the sound of the Denon go with it. Just listen to them and see what is out ther now. Sound is a very sujective thing as to what you like in a receiver.

[Exoptable]

I could be wrong but cant that soundbe greatly influanced by the speakers? I dont think the omni's are made anymore and I know no one around here carrys any mirages anymore.

Sounds like at least for a TV that LCD is worth giving a another hard look at. For the blu-ray player im kind of leaning twords getting a cheap one now and waiting untill maybe the middle of next year to see what new versions come out. that and the prices seem to be dropping quickly on them still.

I'll have to go out and listen to the recivers again. I have to go out and find a place that sells them too! my speakers probably arnt that good. I'll just have to see if they have something comperable.

[sokrman14]

Depending upon where you live you can still get the Mirage Omni's. I work for Magnolia in Southern CA and we carry them. I really dont think they are that great. In the same price range look at Definitive Technology, The Quad L-ite system is actually one of the best rated speaker systems under 2K. They look great too, I have their floorstanders. Give us a budget and I bet we can all crank out great systems for you. Feel free to Private Message me, or probably any of us if you want extensive help from any of us.

[quetzalcoatl]

Well with sales the Panasonic can be had for sub $450 from what I have seen and with a new receiver you would get all the lossless codecs. Of course the speakers impact the sound but if you find a good shop they will let you compare even in your home. I had a local shop like that I hate that I moved from there. You just need to be buying and tell them upfront.

But also at this point we are just over a month away from CES and who know what will come out from it and how quickly. And this market is become so much like the high end computer market buy the time it hits the shelves it is already a generation behind.

[Exoptable]

I really do apprciate everyones help. I just want to make that clear.

The reason I got the omni's was because I felt they really did sound good from all angles. Such as right now the left speaker is about 2 feet to my right and 2 feet in front of me. The right speaker is on the other side of my tv from there. Im looking at the tv from about 4 feet away at a 45degree angle. Thats where I usualy am in relation to my equipment.

I'd prefer to keep the omni's if I can. I'd like a GOOD reciver or amp/preamp setup because this will be the third one ive bought in 7 years and I really dont want to get another one for at least 10 years. id love to get the reciver or whatever I need and TV for under 5000 but that may not be possable.

[Exoptable]

Originally Posted by quetzalcoatl

Well with sales the Panasonic can be had for sub $450 from what I have seen and with a new receiver you would get all the lossless codecs. Of course the speakers impact the sound but if you find a good shop they will let you compare even in your home. I had a local shop like that I hate that I moved from there. You just need to be buying and tell them upfront.

But also at this point we are just over a month away from CES and who know what will come out from it and how quickly. And this market is become so much like the high end computer market buy the time it hits the shelves it is already a generation behind.

thats what im afraid of. Thats why I got out of the computer industry. I dont have to get anything right now either. Like if the recivers will be making an important change can wait. Same with anything else.

[quetzalcoatl]

You can do it for 5K if you go to 46 on the screen. I will list retail prices so you can do better.

46 XBR4 $3300
Panasoinc 30 $500
Elite 92 $1300

So a total of $5100 and you can do better with sales and discounts.

[Exoptable]

thats actually under since I wasnt really including the blu-ray player in that. cool

[quetzalcoatl]

Originally Posted by Exoptable

thats what im afraid of. Thats why I got out of the computer industry. I dont have to get anything right now either. Like if the recivers will be making an important change can wait. Same with anything else.

As far as I know there are no new audio codecs comming. But of course we would not know until they are announced. With Blu-ray there will be profile 2.0 comming sometime next year which is interactive stuff really. So your choice on if that is important to you. It seems like things are slowing down some and since none of the real hi end companys are even making 1.3 receivers yet we might be safe for another year or two.

Good luck and if you list where you are you might get some suggestions on where to buy.

[Exoptable]

whoops. sorry forgot to fill out my profile.