CrazyCollector04 Help Create & Hook Up My Home Theater Surround Sound System thread

[CrazyCollector04]

I'm looking to buy the best available surround sound system. I've recently bought a 65 Inch DLP HDTV with 1080p, a PS3, and I've also changed to DirecTV. I'm mainly looking to get the best sound quality from games and blu-ray movies played via PS3. What are some suggestions and why??

PLMK

THANKS

[DavePS3]

It all depends on budget really. Aftewr that, it's a matter of tweaking the system properly for the accoustics of the room. Many times it's not so much WHAT you have but what you DO with what you have. If you're in the 1500.00 to 2500.00 range, go to an small independant store and get fixed up with a receiver like Yamaha, Denon or Onkyo and get real speakers, not plastic ones just because they're small. At least get a good bookshelf speaker and most importantly, get a good subwoofer. Spend at least 700.00 on a sub because cheaper subs will bottom out or "fart" on lower frequencies. The more expensive subs do what they do more effortlessly and you don't realize how much cheap stuff strains, until you hear one that doesn't.

If your budget is higher, consider high-current receivers like Adcom, Arcam or even Cambridge Audio and get floor standing speakers for the fronts. The center channel needs to be a good match to the fronts or your voices will sound muffled or like a tin can in comparison.

Remember that most software (movies) are in 5.1 with a handfull like the LOR trilogy (extended cut) in 6.1, so don't feel like you're missing out if you don't get 7.1 - it's a gimmick in receivers but software doesn't drive it.

[nhaase]

I don't know if $700 on a sub is a must, I have a 10" 420-watt Klipsch that is regularly $400; it sounds great and hasn't let me down yet. It impressed me very much when the T-Rex shows up in Jurassic Park.

Like Dave said, budget is the big thing. Once I figured out my budget, I looked to maximize it by matching the speakers and receiver. If you buy all your speakers from one company, they make them in a series with matching or close-to-matching wattages, so look on company websites for those. For the receiver, I wanted to match the output power as much as possible with the speaker input power. Getting a weak speakers and strong receiver or vice versa doesn't maximize your budget. Don't do that unless you plan on upgrading one or the other soon.

I put the center channel at equal importance with the sub, since you need to hear the movie.

Above all, if you're in an apartment, mind your neighbors! Nothing will make you more angry than having to keep your powerful system at low volume because they want to call the cops. I am on the third floor, and have concrete floors, so the sound doesn't travel. I had The Matrix on one Wednesday night, and the helicopter blew up against the building at about 12:30am, and I had the volume up VERY high, and nobody said a thing to me, but at the time I thought I might get a knock at the door.

[donricouga]

For subs, try velodyne, I bought a 12" $600 sub on sale at Fry's for $290. It handles the low frequencies very nicely. If you are going for a receiver setup, Marantz and Harman Kardons are among the best in terms of sound quality in my opinion. I personally have owned both and can attest to that.
It all depends on your budget. If you have a deep pocket, buy a seperate amplifier and use your receiver as a preprocessor. Polk has nice sounding speakers for decent price too. Check out their LSi series and at 4 ohm impedance it would be a good idea to buy a seperate amplifier that can drive those speakers.
Higher budget ? Go for floor standing speakers perhaps made by Vienna acoustics.

[CrazyCollector04]

Okay let me ask this question. If money wasn't a matter what would you consider getting with the equipment I already have (mentioned above) and what I'm wanting out of it?

PLMK

THANKS

[nhaase]

I'm in grad school, and therefore on a tight budget. I've got HD cable, PS3, and a 56" JVC 1080p HDILA TV, and I bought floor speakers rated at 110 watts. I think, with the size TV you've got, you'll want floor speakers since you're at quite a distance. My sound system cost ~$1750 all together (I found some great New Years' sales, otherwise it would have been north of $2500).

With you asking about it w/out money being an issue, going the way of amplifiers and such is the best way, and I can't speak too much on that since I've got about 4 years before I have that money to spend.

[THE STUD]

Man whatever with the yamaha and denon
Marantz and HK are the best recievers that I've heard, better than yamaha, pioneer elite, sony, denon, and lots others. Best speakers you can get are JBL. It all depends on that budget too. You can get the average guy JBL's at the nearest BEST Buy. IF your looking for high end look at the studio series, or the K2 if your insanely rich, as well as the project array series. JBL has more choice than anyone I think.

[BOSS10L]

If you're looking for the best around, don't even bother with a receiver, get yourself an amplifier and a pre/pro.

[cdblu]

i bought a bose lifestyle 35 around 3 years ago cost me 2300 . its really easy to set up and its self calibrating, so it automatically adjusts itself

[CrazyCollector04]

I'm looking to get the best available surround system, with money NOT being my main concern, what should I go with? I've got a link to my exact television set below. I've currently got my DirecTV cable hooked up to one of the two HDMI inputs. I also have my PS3 taking up the other HDMI input, so with that being said... What should I do for the best available surround sound system, who's main purpose would be for playing games and watching Blu-Ray dvds?

Here is the link to my exact TV:
http://www.mitsubishi-tv.com/j/i/183...1.html?cid=383

PLMK

THANKS

[CrazyCollector04]

I'm considering getting this system to go with my 65 Inch DLP 1080p and my PS3. The main purpose of the speaker system would be to play games and Blu-Ray Disc.

Here is the link to my exact TV:
http://www.mitsubishi-tv.com/j/i/183...1.html?cid=383

Here is a link to the System:
http://www.bose.com/controller?event...surround_index

PLMK if you think this is a wise decision or not!!!

THANKS

[theknub]

if money is not a concern, i'd be looking at anthem processing, b&w nautilus speakers, some mono block amps.... but what i have in mind is ~500k

[Aaron]

Bose is the way to go! I do not own a Bose home theater system, but I have heard them at my local home theater store. I own a pair of Bose computer speakers and have never heard sound that even comes close to the clarity of them, exept the Lifstyle 48 system.

Bose Lifestyle 48 System

[jswilli1]

I agree with Aaron on Bose, I have had my Acoustimas speakers since 1995 and still push them hard. No Distortion, just clean crisp sound. Depending on the space you have in your room satellite speakers are easier to work with than cabinet speakers. Speaker separation is paramount for surround sound to work best, if you have children mounting the bose satellite speakers from the ceiling protects them from fingers! The bass module can be hidden anywhere in the room. I would also recommend the use of a amplified subwoofer for the lower end of the spectrum, this is the .1 in a 5.1, 6.1, or 7.1 surround setup. The newer bose modules are far superior to the modules 10 years ago which is why i enjoy having the subwoofer. Definetely find a Bose outlet store or retailer for a full demostration! I have been extremely happy with my Bose speakers and they were a great investment. My center channel is not a satellite speaker as I upgraded it to the Bose center channel speaker (can't remember the number). Hope this helps and like Aaron listed the Bose Lifestyle system above, this systems makes setting up surround easy especially if you don't like "tweaking" components to achieve the perfect sound. Secondly I would like to stress that you use Fiber Optic cabling if possible since this covers your 5.1 DTS and Digital function. The standard RCA cables don't work for this and some recievers do not support HDMI so you can lose big time on the sound you are trying to achieve. I too have HDMI but my Sony ES reciever does not support HDMI so I use F.O. from my PS3 to the receiver as well as F.O. from my Directv to the Reciever. The Bose Lifestyle does support F.O. cabling. Good Luck!

Forgot to add that I have dual pane windows in my home and yes they do rattle! The neighbors next door were ready to pop some popcorn at 1am so they could finish hearing the last hour of Lord of the Rings.

[theknub]

bose makes some nice equipment that works great for most average people. however, if money is not the concern and he understand what he is doing and can work the equipment, there is no way i'd recomend a bose system. it is good for what it does, but i would challenge any bose system to even come close to matching my system. it really depends on what people are willing to spend and we can go from there.

[Werewolk Killer]

If you need really small speakers then Bose are the best of the litter. If not then a good set of bookshelves or tower speakers. A av receiver and powered sub will sound better. Ultra small speakers have a weaker mid range than larger ones. A 6 1/2" mid bass drivers are the best for male vocal reproduction.

The tv is a no brainer, you should go with it. I have not had any customers complain about the picture or the quality of the set.

[clyon]

If sky is the limit then:

Speaker:

http://www.klipsch.com/products/list...g-systems.aspx

or

http://www.harmanaudio.com/search_br...BFS&market=HOM

A/V:

http://usa.denon.com/ProductDetails/AVReceivers.asp

or

http://www.yamaha.com/yec/avreceiver...&CNTYP=PRODUCT

[ThirtyFive54]

I'd say Definitive Technology towers for the fronts and rears and a Marantz receiver. i have a pioneer elite that i like alot but i wanted a Marantz. I would've gotten the Def Tech surrounds but i got a deal on my Cambridge stuff. Bose stuff i over priced and you can do SO much better for what they cost.

[CrazyCollector04]

Originally Posted by Werewolk Killer

If you need really small speakers then Bose are the best of the litter. If not then a good set of bookshelves or tower speakers. A av receiver and powered sub will sound better. Ultra small speakers have a weaker mid range than larger ones. A 6 1/2" mid bass drivers are the best for male vocal reproduction.

The tv is a no brainer, you should go with it. I have not had any customers complain about the picture or the quality of the set.

Quality is the main factor!!! Not Money, Not Size, Not Anything just looking for the best available sound but I need an exact model!!!!

[Blue]

Especially with speakers it's a very personal choice, but Bose could not be called high end.