New to audio and don't know anything

[tek]

I consider myself somewhat tech savvy, but I've never cared about audio my whole life. I've started realizing that I'm missing out on a lot, and so i want to take the leap into some decent audio.

To start off I have my PS3 connected to my Sony KDS-50A2000 via HDMI, and audio coming out of the tv, nothing exciting. So i live in a small one bedroom apartment and would like to respect my neighbors to an extent. I'm not looking for anything that is going to shake by body and the building (yet)... I know NOTHING about setups or technology so i ask any of you...

What is a good starting point for all of this? I don't want to spend more than a few hundred at the most. I see this as almost a "starter kit" so i don't want to get to over my head. Also any ideas of good ways to do my own research would be good. (i've done a fair bit of web surfing but it all goes over my head.)

So any suggestions for receivers, speakers, ways to learn this on my own would be greatly appreciated. I'm excited to get into the audio game.

Thanks in advance

[crackinhedz]

Sony STR-DG810 ($299) 5.1PCM & 3 hdmi inputs

Polk Audio RM6750 ($250)


...at the very least you should get the receiver and then buy your speakers gradually if needed. Easy way to not piss off neighbors...don't turn it up too loud.

[Rike255]

For a few hundred you won`t be getting much of a home theater.

My advice is not to buy everything at once. If you cheap out and buy something you`ll move then likely regret it in the future and have to spend more money to replace it.

Decent home theater systems cost upwards of $1500-$2000 and the sky is the limit. Take your time and research all your components. Make sure they`ll do everything you want and may want.

I`d start with an AV receiver and a pair of front speakers. Good luck man!

[Erman_94]

Originally Posted by crackinhedz

Sony STR-DG810 ($299) 5.1PCM & 3 hdmi inputs

Polk Audio RM6750 ($250)


...at the very least you should get the receiver and then buy your speakers gradually if needed. Easy way to not piss off neighbors...don't turn it up too loud.

im very new at this as well and i was wondering what you could do with just the receiver and no speakers? probably a really dumb question, but i am clueless with audio

[fattyslimslim]

Polk Audio RM6750 ($250)

That is the speaker set he recommended to go with the Sony receiver.

[richterbon23]

you can look at it and press all the buttons but that is about it.

[Moefiz]

Crackin, you recomended the Sony DG810....hook up to a S300 what kind of audio can I get out of it...meaning pcm,dts etc...

thanks for your help

[Erman_94]

Originally Posted by richterbon23

you can look at it and press all the buttons but that is about it.

So how can you tell which speakers are compatable with your receiver? Or does any speaker system work with them?

Also, how do the speakers connect to the receiver? Through HDMI or wireless or what?

[Beta Man]

Originally Posted by Erman_94

So how can you tell which speakers are compatable with your receiver? Or does any speaker system work with them?

Also, how do the speakers connect to the receiver? Through HDMI or wireless or what?

Any receiver mentioned is made for standard speaker wire. Just buy a 75 foot spool of speaker-wire, or more or less, whatever you need, cut to length, and connect away. You don't need a speaker "system" you can start with a couple fronts, and add later. It's all up to you, but you don't need any optical, HDMI, etc. to go from speaker to receiver. You'll want HDMI from BR to Receiver, then from Receiver, to T.V.

[Snowgod]

I suggest you get a Crutchfield catalog and start looking at all of the possibilities. With audio, you can spend a little and get a little or you can spend more and get more. Most good audio systems cost more than most want to spend but it is worth it most of the time. Little speakers sound small usually but that doesn't mean that they are all bad. Klipsch, Mirage, Polk and Hsu Research all make various sized speakers at prices low to high but it also helps to know what you are going to have for speakers so you can buy a receiver that can provide enough power. Efficient speakers (Klipsch) can be run from low power amps but many say they sound too bright, whereas less efficient speakers can require more power but they may sound more natural to your ears and that is the final point. Your ears are different than mine and it takes time and experience to learn what your ears like.

[Erman_94]

Originally Posted by Beta Man

Any receiver mentioned is made for standard speaker wire. Just buy a 75 foot spool of speaker-wire, or more or less, whatever you need, cut to length, and connect away. You don't need a speaker "system" you can start with a couple fronts, and add later. It's all up to you, but you don't need any optical, HDMI, etc. to go from speaker to receiver. You'll want HDMI from BR to Receiver, then from Receiver, to T.V.

I currently own a Samsung Home Theater System (HT-TQ72, 1000 Watts) that came with my TV that I have hooked up to an upconverting DVD player...

So if I had an HDMI from my BR to reciever and receiver to TV would I be able to connect these speakers to the AV receiver and receive HD audio with my Blu Ray player?

[crackinhedz]

Originally Posted by Moefiz

Crackin, you recomended the Sony DG810....hook up to a S300 what kind of audio can I get out of it...meaning pcm,dts etc...

thanks for your help

the Sony S300 is capable of Uncompressed PCM, which is found on many Bluray movies.

(as well as standard dolby digital and dts)

[crackinhedz]

Originally Posted by Erman_94

I currently own a Samsung Home Theater System (HT-TQ72, 1000 Watts) that came with my TV that I have hooked up to an upconverting DVD player...

So if I had an HDMI from my BR to reciever and receiver to TV would I be able to connect these speakers to the AV receiver and receive HD audio with my Blu Ray player?

this system will not process HDMI audio meaning you will not get HD audio.

(unless it has Multichannel Analog inputs?)

[crackinhedz]

Originally Posted by Erman_94

So how can you tell which speakers are compatable with your receiver?

receivers have what is called an Ohm rating...usually receivers in the US are between 6 to 8 Ohm (numbers can also go lower, but 6-8 is safe for beginner explanation)...so you want speakers that are match or higher ohm than the receiver.

Using speakers that have a lower ohm rating than the receiver could cause it to overheat and malfunction.

[Beta Man]

Originally Posted by crackinhedz

receivers have what is called an Ohm rating...usually receivers in the US are between 6 to 8 Ohm (numbers can also go lower, but 6-8 is safe for beginner explanation)...so you want speakers that are match or higher ohm than the receiver.

Using speakers that have a lower ohm rating than the receiver could cause it to overheat and malfunction.

Crackin' is absolutely correct, but I was under the assumption that any speakers you'd consider purchasing, or have access to purchasing, would fall into the parameters of your basic receiver (or the Onkyo suggested)

[Beta Man]

Originally Posted by crackinhedz

this system will not process HDMI audio meaning you will not get HD audio.

(unless it has Multichannel Analog inputs?)

Your best bet is the new Onkyo if you're trying to run HDMI for audio.

[crackinhedz]

Originally Posted by Beta Man

Crackin' is absolutely correct, but I was under the assumption that any speakers you'd consider purchasing, or have access to purchasing, would fall into the parameters of your basic receiver (or the Onkyo suggested)

generally they do.

however, some people like to buy or take speakers from an HTIB and use them with their newly aquired Receiver...and most HTIB speakers Ive seen are low rated ohm (for instance 3ohm). Its just good practice to match ohm rating.

[Erman_94]

So to receive HD audio I must buy a speaker system with multichannel analog inputs and an AV receiver with HDMI?

[crackinhedz]

Originally Posted by Erman_94

So to receive HD audio I must buy a speaker system with multichannel analog inputs and an AV receiver with HDMI?

no, you would need to buy a new HDMI Receiver and some speakers to go with it. Hence the advice I gave in post #2.

Originally Posted by crackinhedz

Sony STR-DG810 ($299) 5.1PCM & 3 hdmi inputs

Polk Audio RM6750 ($250)


...at the very least you should get the receiver and then buy your speakers gradually if needed. Easy way to not piss off neighbors...don't turn it up too loud.

[Erman_94]

thanks for all the help crackinhedz...i just have one last thought...

if you have to connect an HDMI from your BR to a receiver and another to your TV wouldn't the video not look as good as it would if there was only one connection from BR to TV?

i see now why audio would because the TV would only output 2 channels, whereas 5.1 and 7.1 systems are much better, but what about video?

i have a feeling i have no idea what i'm talking about