Samsung HT-AS730 vs. Sony HTSS380

[Brandon_Storm]

Hey all,

Figured I'd make my first post on here colour me quite the ass.

I am admittedly a huge newbie and a broke musician when it comes to AV stuff and when I got my big TV I got a great deal on a Samsung HT-AS730ST to go along with it since I knew the built-in speakers wouldn't cut it.

My first home theatre system, yay me. I'd be lying if I said the sleek look didn't have something to do with it:



Now, I'm still broke, but feel like with a potential 3D TV on the way (c'mon Santa!) I need to get a new system.

Enter the Sony HTSS380 (also very pretty):

Cheap and has good reviews, but is it better than this Samsung one I have? I worry about the passive subwoofer. Again, I have no idea what I'm doing. For a musician, you'd think I'd have more understanding of audio equipment, but alas.

I had 2 follow-up questions for the adventurous.

1) Are there any other receivers by anyone similar to this form-factor Sony one? Although I think that is great looking and space efficient, I do wonder what kind of detriments are to be had.

2) Around the $300 price point, is there anything else I should be looking at?

Well, been browsing around and adding to my collection for about 3 years here, so I'm happy to finally go for a dip here on the forums.

Thanks!

P.S. Just realized I could add a pole for people who want to weigh-in but are too lazy to tell me why... so people like me usually, in other words.

[Brandon_Storm]

My first thread and I posted it in the wrong section, didn't I?

Or are people just really quiet around here?