Help setting up 7.1 ch. system

[skatinkamel]

Hi this is my first post ,but anyways i have the BD-350 and i am pleased with the video quality on my samsung lcd (1080p), but recently ive been investigating 7.1 channel sound systems to get high quality audio along with my video. At the moment i have a 5.1 channel system but no receive. I was wondering how to setup up a receiver to achieve Dolby trueHD and what is an affordable route to go to achieve high quality sound seeing as im 17 and dont have thousands of dollars to put into my system. i plan to spend about 600 for the reciever. Also where would you recommend i get speakers for 7.1. im kinda new to setting up audio. so thanks for any help i recieve.

[dolphinc]

Originally Posted by skatinkamel

Hi this is my first post ,but anyways i have the BD-350 and i am pleased with the video quality on my samsung lcd (1080p), but recently ive been investigating 7.1 channel sound systems to get high quality audio along with my video. At the moment i have a 5.1 channel system but no receive. I was wondering how to setup up a receiver to achieve Dolby trueHD and what is an affordable route to go to achieve high quality sound seeing as im 17 and dont have thousands of dollars to put into my system. i plan to spend about 600 for the reciever. Also where would you recommend i get speakers for 7.1. im kinda new to setting up audio. so thanks for any help i recieve.

Look at Denon or Onkyo. They both have great receivers in that price range. I have a Denon 789 and I love it. Also Yamaha makes a great inexpensive receiver as well.

[lokimonoxide]

Yeah for that price I got a rx-663 Yamaha and it's amazing. Not 7.1ing the sound but bi-amping my bowers and wilkins 684 and it sounds really good. Def recommend Yamaha.

[dolphinc]

Originally Posted by lokimonoxide

Yeah for that price I got a rx-663 Yamaha and it's amazing. Not 7.1ing the sound but bi-amping my bowers and wilkins 684 and it sounds really good. Def recommend Yamaha.

I picked up a Yamaha 565 from Best Buy last weekend for a second HT I added and I love it. It has great sound and I have to admit that I really love my Denon but the Yamaha was WAY easier to setup.

[skatinkamel]

thanks both receivers look good for my price range. i most likely will get a 5.1 system for now. i was wondering if you knew what it meant if the BD 350 doesnt have a built in decoder for DTS-HD Master Audio and if the reciever would decode the audio.

[kpkelley]

Just means that you need to have the player bitstream the audio over the hdmi cable to your receiver, otherwise the player will downconvert it to the DTS core track embedded.

[skatinkamel]

so when you bitstream do you just run your hdmi cable from your bluray player to your receiver's audio in?

[Rob J in WNY]

Originally Posted by skatinkamel

so when you bitstream do you just run your hdmi cable from your bluray player to your receiver's audio in?

Welcome to the forums, skatinkamel.

I have the Sony BDP-S350, and I decode lossless audio (Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio) with a Pioneer Elite SC-05 receiver.

True, the BDP-S350 does internally decode Dolby TrueHD and does not internally decode DTS-HD Master Audio, so bitstreaming the audio to a lossless-capable receiver is necessary to hear it in all its glory, and that's not going to be a problem at all with your $600 budget.

All good receiver recommendations so far, but I'm surprised no one has yet mentioned Pioneer. The Pioneer VSX-1019AH-K would be a great 7.1-channel receiver well within your price range. Of course, you can operate it as a 5.1 system until you decide to go 7.1. It will decode lossless audio from your Sony BDP-S350 and has some pretty nice features, such a 4 HDMI inputs and Pioneer's own MCACC room acoustic calibration/correction, which is pretty thorough.

Here's a link to the Official Pioneer VSX-1019AH-K Manufacturer Page:

http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PU...s/VSX-1019AH-K



When connecting your Sony player to your receiver via HDMI, you just connect an HDMI cable from the output of your player to an HDMI input on your receiver. Then you connect an HDMI cable from the receiver's HDMI output to the HDMI input on your TV. So, you'll need two HDMI cables.

To get your Sony BDP-S350 to "bitstream" the audio for receiver decoding, you go into the Sony's menu and change the BD Audio Setting to "Direct" instead of "Mix." Also, just to be sure, make sure the Audio Output Priority is set to "HDMI" and the Audio (HDMI) is set to "Auto."

You can get some really nice deals on Polk Audio front, center and surround speakers from Newegg.com. Prices fluctuate quite a bit on the site (not infrequently they'll have some awesome 1 or 2 day specials), but are among the best on the web for getting a great deal on some nice, entry-level speaker gear.

If you have not had a chance to sample lossless or uncompressed PCM audio on a decent system, then you'll be in for a treat. The spacial quality and purity of sound will amaze you.

[skatinkamel]

Thanks! that pioneer looks amazing. the price is good too. ive been researching the Polk Audio speakers and are the bookshelf speakers the front left and right speakers? i was wondering if you thought i should setup a 7.1 ch system? do many blurays run in 7.1? also do you know what DTS-HD Master Audio 6.1 is? btw nice setup Rob J!

[crackinhedz]

skatinkamel, what kind of speakers do you currently have?

reason I ask, is because it is not wise to use (generic) HTiB speakers with a regular receiver. The ohm levels could be off and that would not be good for the new receiver.

[skatinkamel]

Has anyone used the Sony STR-DG820 7.1 receiver? It is for sell at my best buy for 319. is it worth it? heres the link to the receiver:

http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/...52921665364791

[CYMBOL]

The Onkyo's are just great for their price-range and do everything you want, and then some.

This one should fit your price.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw...&sprefix=onkyo

I have the Onkyo 706 - no complaints.

A friend just bought the 607 and loves it.

Hope you find the one you're looking for.

[FSUGeoff]

Originally Posted by skatinkamel

Has anyone used the Sony STR-DG820 7.1 receiver? It is for sell at my best buy for 319. is it worth it? heres the link to the receiver:

http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/...52921665364791

That reciver only accepts LPCM, it won't decode the HD formats. Take a look at the Onkyo 607. I have the 606 and it has been great, decodes everything. (even though my ps3 does all my decoding)

[skatinkamel]

ok, today i found a harman kardon 7.1 channel receiver on clearance for 300$ i think this is a great deal ,but wanted to know how you guys felt about harman kardon and their products before i commit. i will post the product specs as soon as i get them.

[skatinkamel]

http://www.harmankardon.com/product_...3550HD&sType=C this is it.