Rate my Home theater set up

[Easywolf32]

What do you guys think of my setup? I know it's a bit old but just curious.

I bought this Toshiba TV in Christmas '03 as well as the JVC Receiver. The Precision Acoustic Surround Speaker package I bought last year. The PS3 is of course new. I also need to upgrade my satellite receiver to an HD one.

What would you modify first?

TV:

http://www.amazon.com/Toshiba-46H83-46-HDTV-Projection/dp/B000093URM

Receiver:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00008VEKB/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

Surround Speaker Setup:

http://www.bestbuy.ca/catalog/prodde...8&catid=20323#

I'm using THX certified speaker wire and I've connected the PS3 to the TV with an DVI/HDMI cable. The receiver does not have an HDMI port so I'm using an optical cable.

[Zaphod]

Depends if you prefer the video side or audio side...but to catch up to today's tech, everything must go and be replaced...

The only thing that you may be able to keep is the surround sound system as long as your new receiver doesn't push beyond 110 watts.

A huge cheap upgrade on the receiver side is the Onkyo 605 for $379.99 at Amazon.com.

Then replace your existing cables with HDMI cables from Monoprice.com.

[Easywolf32]

Originally Posted by Zaphod

Depends if you prefer the video side or audio side...but to catch up to today's tech, everything must go and be replaced...

I am basically missing 1080p and 7.1 audio, I have 1080i which looks fantastic and 5.1 and DTS which is pretty good. I'm not a new gadget must have everything right away geek, I think this could last me for at least another 3-5 more years.

About the receiver, I may want to change that soon, good advice. I could use HDMI audio and 7.1 sound. Than i'll have to get new speakers as well.

What ever happened to the days of keeping a TV for 20 years, geeez/ No wonder the credit crunch is on the horizon.

[The Guardian]

Save up and replace the TV and the receiver at the same time. Unless you get a receiver that will convert HDMI video to component, in which case upgrade the receiver first.

[musicman1999]

A new reciever will make no difference if you don't replace your speakers.You should spend about 30 percent of the value of your system on speakers.


bill

[The Guardian]

That's not true. Sure the speakers aren't the best but a better receiver will get more out of them. Not to mention getting HD audio codecs. And he'll want his setup finalized (at least with the receiver) before he shops for speakers so he can get ones that match his system properly, and be happy with the final result.

Always start from the source and move outwards. In this case he (presumably) wants to stick with the PS3 as the source, so move out to the reciever next, and from there to the TV and speakers.

[T-Town Oil]

i agree with guardian. its always good to start out with a firm foundation (receiver) and build on it. if youre looking for ideas i would say try the pioneer elites. just got mine and am thoroughly impressed

[musicman1999]

Speakers always have the biggest influence on your sound, buy good speakers first, a good receiver or source will not make crappy speakers sound good.

bill

[The Guardian]

Originally Posted by musicman1999

Speakers always have the biggest influence on your sound, buy good speakers first, a good receiver or source will not make crappy speakers sound good.

bill

I don't really feel like writing this all out again, so I'll just quote my post from the last time this subject came up.

Originally Posted by The Guardian

I have to disagree with putting speakers ahead of the "source".

Assuming you are getting HDMI into your receiver with the codecs bitstreamed, the receiver is the "source".

Let's say you bought insanely good speakers... $25,000 each. And hooked it up to the Onkyo 605 that everyone around here loves. It would sound like crap. Why? Because the speakers are so good you can hear the flaws in the sound from the receiver. Ok, that's an extreme example, but it illustrates the point.

An example of putting your money in the source... I was at a home theater show a few years ago, PSB Speakers was having a blind listening test. They had some speakers hidden behind a thin black sheet so the sound could come through but you couldn't see the speaker. They played some music and asked people to guess how much these (I believe brand new) speakers cost. The average was about $5000 on the guesses I believe.

In reality, they were PSB Alpha's, at $199 per pair. http://www.psbspeakers.com/products/...ha-LR1-Monitor

The secret? They had an amazing source, the source system was about $10,000 I think.

The moral of the story... a great source and amp can get great sound out of almost any speaker.

As for the room - you usually can't do much about it... and the newer receivers can partially compensate for it I believe.

P.S. I have nothing against Onkyo, just used it as a popular example.

[Bourne1]

Speakers should be your last upgrade. I would upgrade to a nice receiver that has HDMI video/audio passthrough first. After I would get a better television with 1080p. It's a significant difference. After, I would get some decent speakers. Trust me though on the receiver. I regret not spending the extra couple hundred dollars on a better receiver. I'll be punished for that bad decision when I upgrade to either an Onkyo, Denon, or Harmon Kardon this coming spring.

[musicman1999]

Well guys we will just have to agree to disagree.I come from the audio side and i have just as many examples that give the opposite result.The main point i was trying to make is that your system needs balance.If you have a 20k system it makes no sense to spend 1k of that on speakers, the audio side is just as important as the video.


bill

[cpgator]

Originally Posted by musicman1999

Well guys we will just have to agree to disagree.I come from the audio side and i have just as many examples that give the opposite result.The main point i was trying to make is that your system needs balance.If you have a 20k system it makes no sense to spend 1k of that on speakers, the audio side is just as important as the video.

bill

I agree with you. A nice receiver will make little to no difference with those speakers. My advise is to get a nice set of speakers first, and get the very best you can afford. I nice set of speakers can last for many years, while receivers and TVs need to be replaced or upgraded much more often.

Once you get a good foundation (speakers), you can start upgrading the other componets as funds allow.

[The Guardian]

Of course you wouldn't spend so little. I'm not saying good speakers aren't important. I'm just saying buy them last.

[cpgator]

Originally Posted by The Guardian

Of course you wouldn't spend so little. I'm not saying good speakers aren't important. I'm just saying buy them last.

And I am saying buy them first.

[crackinhedz]

definitely the receiver first. Your TV is 1080i...thats good enough for now. Speakers? well, yeah you may need some new ones too, but at least you have speakers.

The receiver is your weakest link at the moment. Check these out:

HDMI Receivers (can be found for cheaper online such as amazon, but its a start)

You can send audio via HDMI to the receiver, while sending Video via Component or HDMI-DVI. (the PS3 is a bad mofo!)

[Sonny]

Im sayin get a Panny 65'' plazzy, onkyo 805(or better of course , but not necessary), bad ass speakers, Ps3 & Panny BD30 , Toshi A20(very optional LOL! ) , Scientific Atlanta HDDVR 8300, monoprice 5x1 HDMI Switcher & Tons Of there HDMI cables! & of course a Harmony Logitech 1000 touch screen remote OHOHOHMMMMM... Sit BACK AND PIMP THAT $HIT Your life will be simple & sweet as hell!! Believe me I know!!

[Sonny]

Originally Posted by Sonny

Im sayin get a Panny 65'' plazzy, onkyo 805(or better of course , but not necessary), bad ass speakers, Ps3 & Panny BD30 , Toshi A20(very optional LOL! ) , Scientific Atlanta HDDVR 8300, monoprice 5x1 HDMI Switcher & Tons Of there HDMI cables! & of course a Harmony Logitech 1000 touch screen remote OHOHOHMMMMM... Sit BACK AND PIMP THAT $HIT Your life will be simple & sweet as hell!! Believe me I know!!

^ ^ ^

[Clark Kent]

Buy the speakers first. Good speakers today are still going to be good speakers five years from now. Things like receivers can become obsolete in eighteen months very easily(think of all those receivers released just a year ago that can't decode the advanced audio tracks).

[kingofgrills]

I'm an audio guy, but in your case I would recommend first upgrading your satellite receiver to HD. Receiving a native 1080i signal will do wonders for your TV.

I would then spring for your receiver, then the speakers. Find the receiver you want then see if you can audition multiple speakers to go with it. Matching the right speaker / receiver combo is critical. Given how much receivers have to do these days (surround processing, HDMI switching, sub woofer cut-off and phase control, etc.) it will be harder to find a receiver with the right bells and whistles to match a particular set of speakers you already plunked your money down on.

Start with the satellite receiver first since you already have the set. New satellite receivers will do a much better job with non HD video than your TV will given its age.