Looking to make my first surround sound purchase

[sasquatch]

Hello..

My wife and I have never owned a surround sound system So I'm sure ANY cheap 5.1 system would sound great to us.

I'm thinking of spending $500. We're not audiophiles like a lot of you folks. We personally don't need a $500 receiver, $500 speakers, $500 woofer, etc. etc. But we do want to have an enjoyable HT experience compared to the non-existant one we've been experiencing for the past 30+ yeasr

I just want a decent 5.1 for the PS3 and Samsung HDTV. HDMI pass through would be perfect I don't want to mess with addt'l optical cables.

Now, I've been looking at the Onkyo HTIBs, specifically the 6200. I also am thinking about the Yamaha V465 combined with Insignia 5.1 speakers

I'd appreciate any additional recommendation/suggestions or any +1s for the above.

Cheers!

[Gimpenstein]

Over here in the UK, Onkyo make a 2.1 system straight out the box, at a resonable cost, which can be upgraded to a 5.1 system.
It also handles DTS HD MA and Dolby TrueHD audio codecs, which is great!

Check out the link

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/173440

[Bizdady]

I really love my Onkyo. I got the HT-S7100 which is almost Identicall the the 6100 minus the speaker stands. I got mine refurbed from Onkyo for about the same price as a receiver. Everything was still new sealed, it just looked like an open box return. Cant go wrong with Onkyo, they have a great product for the price.

[iam1bearcat]

Originally Posted by Bizdady

I really love my Onkyo. I got the HT-S7100 which is almost Identicall the the 6200 minus the speaker stands. I got mine refurbed from Onkyo for about the same price as a receiver. Everything was still new sealed, it just looked like an open box return. Cant go wrong with Onkyo, they have a great product for the price.

THANK YOU BIZDADDY!
I was also looking at a HT that wasn't anything real expensive and right now amazon is selling this set brand new for $669, which is right around my cut off point. And as long as I can figure out how to hook it up to my PS3 and whatnot (I'm terrible with electronics to be honest, haha) I'm be happy with this set up.

[A Tortured Duckling]

Originally Posted by sasquatch

Now, I've been looking at the Onkyo HTIBs, specifically the 6200.

I've owned this HTiB for about 2 weeks now and after watching (and rewatching) +/- 10 movies on it, i can honestly say that i'm beyond happy with this purchase. The sound is super tight, even regular old DD5.1 and DTS DVDs sound great, and the same goes for video games. I paid $530 for it from Amazon.com and it's well worth every penny.

As far as hooking it up goes; this thing was a breeze. HDMI from PS3 to the receiver, HDMI from receiver to the TV, auto-calibrate your speakers with the audyssey feature and you're ready to go.

[HAMP]

I was helping someone else with his HTiB upgrade and I found a few things you may be interested in.


This is a refurb at a great price and this receiver sounds fantastic

Denon AVR-790 for $273.99

Also, I have heard and wanted to get these, but didn't get the chance. They are a recommended set.

Polk RM6750 for $229.99

The total is $503.98

But I know the total value is much much more. The receiver itself is priced $500 new.

There are alot of people who will vouch for ecost.com

Originally Posted by sasquatch

I just want a decent 5.1 for the PS3 and Samsung HDTV. HDMI pass through would be perfect I don't want to mess with addt'l optical cables.

I forgot to address this statement. You will not be using any optical cables with this receiver. You will only need two HDMI cables, one from the PS3 to the receiver and then another from the receiver to the Samsung.

Using the HDMI Cable's instead of the optical cables you will be able to hear HD sound, sound you should be enjoying with the rest of your bluray video experience.

[quest88]

Originally Posted by sasquatch

Hello..

My wife and I have never owned a surround sound system So I'm sure ANY cheap 5.1 system would sound great to us.

I'm thinking of spending $500. We're not audiophiles like a lot of you folks. We personally don't need a $500 receiver, $500 speakers, $500 woofer, etc. etc. But we do want to have an enjoyable HT experience compared to the non-existant one we've been experiencing for the past 30+ yeasr

I just want a decent 5.1 for the PS3 and Samsung HDTV. HDMI pass through would be perfect I don't want to mess with addt'l optical cables.

Now, I've been looking at the Onkyo HTIBs, specifically the 6200. I also am thinking about the Yamaha V465 combined with Insignia 5.1 speakers

I'd appreciate any additional recommendation/suggestions or any +1s for the above.

Cheers!

Check this link out https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=127615

Bluray members Hamp and Nugent have pieced together a rock bottom entry level system. Check out the last page for the latest deal.

[emoxley]

Originally Posted by sasquatch

HDMI pass through would be perfect I don't want to mess with addt'l optical cables.

HDMI "pass through" will require additional optical cables, to get surround sound. They require additional connections for any audio. HDMI "pass through" is for video only, for easy switching.

Between the two you listed, I'd go with the Onkyo 6200. Onkyo gives a lot of bang for the buck. I think that the Onkyo receiver will be easier to setup and use, for a newbie. The Yamaha isn't exactly hard, but from my experience, the Onkyo is a little easier. I also think the speakers and sub that come with the Onkyo are better than the Insignias you linked to. Onkyos are the only brand of HTIB I'll recommend, because they give you a real receiver, with plenty of inputs, and Audyssey auto speaker calibration. They are also very upgradable, which most HTIBs are not.
Good luck with whatever you decide on.

[A Tortured Duckling]

Originally Posted by emoxley

HDMI "pass through" will require additional optical cables, to get surround sound. They require additional connections for any audio. HDMI "pass through" is for video only, for easy switching.

Uhm, this is very WRONG. HDMI is Video as well as Audio through a single cable. He doesn't need a single optical cable for any of his HDMI devices, considering i don't use anything but HDMI either. Like i said, PS3 / BD Player - HDMI - Onkyo 6200 - HDMI - TV, and you're set. In fact, the only way to get the new HD codecs is through HDMI...

[jomari]

im glad you edited your post SBC28, albeit i do have to agree that some older hdmi receivers out there that are labeled HDMI passthrough do need a separate cable for audio.

perfect examples are Onkyo TX-SR506 or the Pioneer VSX-518, or the Sony STR-DH500

[A Tortured Duckling]

Originally Posted by jomari

im glad you edited your post SBC28, albeit i do have to agree that some older hdmi receivers out there that are labeled HDMI passthrough do need a separate cable for audio.

Right, but they don't support the new HD audio codecs, or am i wrong? Besides that, he said you need optical cables for "ANY" audio, which is simply not true, that's all i was saying.

[emoxley]

I didn't say you need optical cables for any sound. Read it again. I said you need "additional connections" for any audio. They could be red and white analog audio cables.
If you'll look on the manufacturers sites, if the receiver is an HDMI "pass through" receiver, instead of an HDMI v.1.3 repeater, it will tell you that you'll need an addition cable for audio. Here is a good example from Sony's site. I highlighted the words, so you can see them. Find them yourself on the page: http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/...52921665788586 Look under the "HD input x 5" heading.

Get versatile HD connection options with five HD inputs. Three HDMI™ inputs (up to 1080/60p capable) let you connect a Sony® PlayStation® 3 entertainment system, Blu-ray Disc™ player, or any other HDMI-capable equipment and get uncompressed digital video (secondary cable needed for audio). Two YPbPr Component inputs (1080/60i capable) provide added HD-capable connectivity and versatility1.

Now, tell me again it isn't so!

Originally Posted by SBC28

In fact, the only way to get the new HD codecs is through HDMI...

That is very wrong. You can also get the HD audio from 5.1/7.1 multi-channel analog connections. Those and HDMI are the only ways of getting the HD audio.
I think you need to read and learn more about HDMI.

[RBBrittain]

Originally Posted by SBC28

Right, but they don't support the new HD audio codecs, or am i wrong? Besides that, he said you need optical cables for "ANY" audio, which is simply not true, that's all i was saying.

No, the poster was correct. AVRs with "passthrough" HDMI merely pass HDMI audio on from input to output; their "HDMI" section is nothing more than an HDMI switch ganged to the AVR's input switch. You will *NOT* get surround sound from an AVR with "passthrough" HDMI unless you have a *separate* optical or coax connection from the BD player to the AVR; even then it's DD/DTS, not TrueHD/DTS-HD MA. (Edit: Or, of course, multichannel analog.)

That's different from HDMI 1.1/1.2 devices (like my HTIB) that don't receive TrueHD/DTS-HD MA bitstreams, but *WILL* receive HDMI audio as PCM or DD/DTS bitstreams. For TrueHD/DTS-HD MA, you'll need a BD player that decodes to PCM; both of mine do.

Of course, there's also HDMI 1.3 AVRs that will receive TrueHD/DTS-HD MA bitstreams as well as PCM and DD/DTS. Since many stand-alone BD players now bitstream but don't decode, that's the kind of AVR to get right now, even though I'm on the "decode" side of the "decode vs. bitstream" debate.

[jomari]

Originally Posted by SBC28

Right, but they don't support the new HD audio codecs, or am i wrong? Besides that, he said you need optical cables for "ANY" audio, which is simply not true, that's all i was saying.

some dont at all. in this case, Emoxley was correct to state that when we generally say HDMI passthrough, this means only the video part would be utilized, and not the audio, thus the initial confusion when HDMI receivers came out, when not clearly indicating it does do both. Most receivers are now HDMI repeating instead of passthrough receivers.

im sure the more knowledgeable ones would be able to assist with this inquiry.