Need help finding a good Surround Sound System for under $1000

[Zipzap713]

So my Dad wants a Surround Sound System for his birthday, and we're able to spend up to $1000 on it. He wants the best available for that price and it needs to include all the speakers and a AV Reciver.

We don't care if it is 5.1 or 7.1 as long as it is under $1000. Although 5.1 might be better by the size of the room.

We also pose a bit of a problem. Our TV doesn't have HDMI but we want to get the HD Audio from the PS3. The Reciever also needs to connect our TV via Component Cable. (Or if necessary HDMI/DVI)

The inputs/outputs we want on the Reciver need to include:
2 HDMI Input/1-2 HDMI Output
3+ Component Input/2 Component Output


Currently and seriously considering:
http://www.amazon.com/Onkyo-HT-SP908...3875536&sr=8-5 Onyo HT-SP908 7.1 Home Theater System.


Any other information you need to help me, just ask.
So can anyone help?

[dobyblue]

Sorry but you're never going to get great sound from wireless speakers.

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by dobyblue

Sorry but you're never going to get great sound from wireless speakers.

Check this site. They sell high end wireless speakers.

http://store.hometheater2u.com/wireless.html

[crackinhedz]

Sorry but you're never going to get great sound from wireless speakers.

I agree.

but if the OP insists, then check out:

KEF Universal Wireless Kit

...its pricey, but from a high end manufacturer. So quality should be improved.

[crackinhedz]

Originally Posted by Zipzap713

We also pose a bit of a problem. Our TV doesn't have HDMI but we want to get the HD Audio from the PS3. The Reciever also needs to connect our TV via Component Cable.

The PS3 can send the video through Component and audio through HDMI at the same time. So you can buy a new HDMI receiver without having to upgrade the TV.

As a Receiver/speaker package for under $1000 check out:

Onkyo HT-SR908 ($770)

...you can always upgrade speakers down the road if the ones included don't cut it...but you'll probably be surprised.

[crackinhedz]

does the TV have a DVI connection?

[cpgator]

Originally Posted by crackinhedz

I agree.

but if the OP insists, then check out:

KEF Universal Wireless Kit

...its pricey, but from a high end manufacturer. So quality should be improved.

In all fairness, that is not a link to wireless speakers - it is a kit to make regular speakers "wireless". However, it actually adds more wires to the mix. And while the audio is fine, it is not as good as wired speakers as they noted in the review.

[pvalley77]

Well, you could get the Onkyo HT-SP908 for about $770 shipped on Amazon.. which includes the TX-SR605 reciever (2 x HDMI inputs , decodes both True-HD and DTS-MA lossless audio codecs, 90W per channal), the SKS-HT750 7.1 surround speaker set, I believe the DV-SP405 upconverting DVD player, and the iPod dock... plus all speaker wiring etc...

Or...

You could do what I'm doing which is get the TX-SR705, which has 1 more HDMI input, is THX certified, is 100W per channel, and can fill in the two extra channels in 5.1 surround in order to turn it to 7.1 surround.. which the 605 can't do (I got a 705 refurb off www.shoponkyo.com for 479 shipped during president's day sale but you can consistently get it for between 550 refurb or 615 new). Then use the PS3 as both blu-ray player and Upconverting DVD player, and buy the SKS-HT750 speakers separately for about 360 shipped off amazon.

Or...

You could do the above but skip the SKS-HT750 and do what folks here suggest and buy two front speakers first, then a center... and then surrounds... and build the system incrementally like that with higher end speakers... which frankly is what I would do if I were not moving to Brazil and had to get my Home theater packets to be under 500 bucks to move one trip at a time to avoid import tax when I move... (electronics over 500 bucks is taxed at a 50% rate applied to the TOTAL VALUE )

As you can tell from above.. I'm a bit biased towards Onkyo .

[Zipzap713]

Originally Posted by crackinhedz

does the TV have a DVI connection?

Yes

Originally Posted by crackinhedz

The PS3 can send the video through Component and audio through HDMI at the same time. So you can buy a new HDMI receiver without having to upgrade the TV.

We might use that if PS3-HDMI-Receiver-Component-TV doesn't work. Which I'm not really betting that it will. So using both cables could be a workable solution.

Originally Posted by pvalley77

1.Well, you could get the Onkyo HT-SP908 for about $770 shipped on Amazon.. which includes the TX-SR605 reciever (2 x HDMI inputs , decodes both True-HD and DTS-MA lossless audio codecs, 90W per channal), the SKS-HT750 7.1 surround speaker set, I believe the DV-SP405 upconverting DVD player, and the iPod dock... plus all speaker wiring etc...

Or...

2. You could do what I'm doing which is get the TX-SR705, which has 1 more HDMI input, is THX certified, is 100W per channel, and can fill in the two extra channels in 5.1 surround in order to turn it to 7.1 surround.. which the 605 can't do (I got a 705 refurb off www.shoponkyo.com for 479 shipped during president's day sale but you can consistently get it for between 550 refurb or 615 new). Then use the PS3 as both blu-ray player and Upconverting DVD player, and buy the SKS-HT750 speakers separately for about 360 shipped off amazon.

Or...

3. You could do the above but skip the SKS-HT750 and do what folks here suggest and buy two front speakers first, then a center... and then surrounds... and build the system incrementally like that with higher end speakers... which frankly is what I would do if I were not moving to Brazil and had to get my Home theater packets to be under 500 bucks to move one trip at a time to avoid import tax when I move... (electronics over 500 bucks is taxed at a 50% rate applied to the TOTAL VALUE )

4. As you can tell from above.. I'm a bit biased towards Onkyo .

1. We might conisder that deal. A good price. Has the 605 Reciever which has the specks we need. But it comes with the Upconvert DVD Player which we don't really need since we have a PS3, but the cables it comes with can always be salvaged

2. I'd rather have the reciever new than refurbished. I've always been iffy about getting a system/console used/refurbished. The package looks like a better deal even though it comes with a Upconverter and iPod dock (We don't have an iPod, although one will probably be gotten sometime in the future). And the Onkyo 705 filling in the extra two speakers isn't really neccesary. The room is so small (16'x14') there are good chances missing those two channels during 5.1 won't be very noticeable.

3. Unfortunatley my dad wants to have the entire package at one time, so building it over time is out of the question.

4. lol. You sound just a little biased

Originally Posted by dobyblue

Sorry but you're never going to get great sound from wireless speakers.

We just got the thumbs up to have the wires go underneath the house, so we now don't need to have the speakers wireless.

So it really looks like the Onkyo HT-SP908 7.1 Home Theater Package is the best for our money. I'll have to talk with him more to confirm if that is what he wants.

[yellowblanket]

ummm...get an adapter for your tv

you could try sr605 onkyo for $400, maybe even cheaper now. That'll get you the trueHD 1.3 HDMI
Fluance 5.1 set up, lot of people knocking these canadian speakers because of its cheap price but make no mistake, these thing carries clean loud punch.
it's $300 plus shipping
The subwoofer, i'd go with H100. Front firing and it's very good. You should be able to pick that up for $215 plus shipping that what i paid a while ago, maybe cheaper now.

hope it'll help

[crackinhedz]

I had to re-read your post again because I completely missed the Obvious.

We also pose a bit of a problem. Our TV doesn't have HDMI but we want to get the HD Audio from the PS3. The Reciever also needs to connect our TV via Component Cable. (Or if necessary HDMI/DVI)

You simply need to connect an HDMI cable from the PS3 to the Onkyo Receiver, and then an HDMI-DVI cable from Receiver to the TV.

You will output both audio and video from the PS3 HDMI = @ up to 1080p/Lossless Audio

[Zipzap713]

Originally Posted by crackinhedz

You simply need to connect an HDMI cable from the PS3 to the Onkyo Receiver, and then an HDMI-DVI cable from Receiver to the TV.

You will output both audio and video from the PS3 HDMI = @ up to 1080p/Lossless Audio

Alright. So I could use the HDMI-DVI Cable for use with surround sound and for those times Surround Sound needs to be off, I can have the component plugged in for audio from the TV only.