Home Theater Setup- Overall help needed!

[Silverwing]

I've tried to save up and buy things needed to improve my home theater setup. Below is a list of things that I'm currently using. Any help on what I should change or could be a much better help (or any input at all for that matter) would be appreciated. Thanks. This is what I am using:

2 Mythos One Speakers (Definitive)

The ProCinema 600 Speakers (4 Definitive speakers, one center speaker, and a sub with a built in amp)

Denon AVR-1507 Home Theater Receiver (no hdmi support)

50-inch Panasonic TH-50PZ700U 180p Plasma HDTV

Panasonic DMP-BD30 Blu-ray Player (came with tv is it better then a ps3 when watching movies?)

I also have a Playstation 3, but do not use it for blue-ray movies (is that a mistake?)

My recently purchased Mythos speakers are great and the deal I got for them was far too good to pass up. However they do over power my other speakers. Although I can still her the rear speakers pretty clear, it's the side speakers (LS, RS) that seem to do nothing noticabley.

My receiver is where I think my problem is, well more of an issue then a problem. I do not have HDMI inputs in my receiver thus I'm using optical for all my sound. Also my Blu-ray player isnt the best (not giving Dolby TrueHD).

Again any help for what I should upgrade or simple things that I already own and can change like auido settings or what not would be great. And when/if making suggestions for upgrading please make them somewhat reasonable in price Thanks again!

[Canada]

Does the Panasonic player have analog outs. Because if it does the Panasonic is the best bet just hook it to the analog in's an you should be good to go, for advanced codecs.

[VinnAY]

I'd upgrade the receiver to something with 3 HDMI inputs and decoding of DTS HD-MA/TrueHD. You should be fine with just that upgrade, the BD player being able to bitstream those codecs above is a minor afterthought. If you set that player to PCM into your new receiver, everything will be just fine.

I'd upgrade that receiver before anything else.

[Silverwing]

Im using a coaxial output for audio on my player. Is that good enough?

And as for upgrading my receiver do you have any in mind or ones that you would recommend? Thanks for all your help

Edit: I meant audio not video.

[Fors*]

Originally Posted by MAD7334

Im using a coaxial output for video on my player. Is that good enough?

And as for upgrading my receiver do you have any in mind or ones that you would recommend? Thanks for all your help

You'll want to use HDMI to get the highest PQ (1080p) from your player. If you want tru blu picture quality, get a HDMI cable.

Thus, this leads me to your next question, you would need a new receiver obviously, thus for getting minimal needs accomplished (decoding the high end audio codecs, 5 HDMI ports (4 in/1 out), Audyssey, etc...) a good price can be had for the Onkyo 606. It can be found for around $300 as a refurb if you look around. I believe it can be found for a little under $400 new too.

[kpkelley]

Originally Posted by MAD7334

Im using a coaxial output for video on my player. Is that good enough?

And as for upgrading my receiver do you have any in mind or ones that you would recommend? Thanks for all your help

HDMI will enable you to take advantage of the hd audio codecs on the disc, rather than legacy dd and dts.

Since you are familiar with Denon, anything from the AVR-789 or higher or AVR-1909 or higher will be able to decode the HD audio codecs being bitstreamed(over hdmi) by your BD player.

[Silverwing]

Originally Posted by forsberg21

You'll want to use HDMI to get the highest PQ (1080p) from your player. If you want tru blu picture quality, get a HDMI cable.

Thus, this leads me to your next question, you would need a new receiver obviously, thus for getting minimal needs accomplished (decoding the high end audio codecs, 5 HDMI ports (4 in/1 out), Audyssey, etc...) a good price can be had for the Onkyo 606. It can be found for around $300 as a refurb if you look around. I believe it can be found for a little under $400 new too.

I made a mistake. I'm using that output for sound. I'm using HDMI for video. I have an HDMI cable going straight to my tv from my bluray player. I have a Coax cable going from my blu-ray player to my receiver.

[Fors*]

Then what KPKelley said, use HDMI and get a receiver that decodes the higher end audio codecs.

EDIT: changed "player" to "receiver".....just making sure you are all paying attention ....thanks kpkelley.

[kpkelley]

Originally Posted by forsberg21

Then what KPKelley said, use HDMI and get a receiver that decodes the higher end audio codecs.

Fixed.

[Silverwing]

Ok so I should just upgrade my receiver. Thanks a lot everyone. Just to ask one more question though. Should I get another blu-ray player or is mine fine? Also is the Playstation 3 a better player then the one I have?

[kpkelley]

Originally Posted by MAD7334

Ok so I should just upgrade my receiver. Thanks a lot everyone. Just to ask one more question though. Should I get another blu-ray player or is mine fine? Also is the Playstation 3 a better player then the one I have?

Your blu-ray player is just fine, with HDMI audio output set to bitstream you will finally be experiencing everything your blus are capable of. The real question you should be asking is if a receiver is enough, or should you go to seperates? I guess that would be for another thread.

Whether or not the ps3 is better or not is subjective. Personally I like using a standalone player for blu-ray playback.

[Silverwing]

Originally Posted by kpkelley

Your blu-ray player is just fine, with HDMI audio output set to bitstream you will finally be experiencing everything your blus are capable of. The real question you should be asking is if a receiver is enough, or should you go to seperates? I guess that would be for another thread.

Whether or not the ps3 is better or not is subjective. Personally I like using a standalone player for blu-ray playback.

What do you mean by "seperates"? And I agree with your response to my ps3 question. I'd much rather use a standalone player as well. I just wasn't sure if my blu-ray player was good enough so I kinda threw that ps3 question in there lol.

On a side note I happened to see you are from MA too. Dont you just love this weather? Where is the warm weather!? Thanks for you're help

[Hammie]

Originally Posted by MAD7334

What do you mean by "seperates"?

Separates are when your processor is separate from the amplifier. Your receiver acts as both the processor and amplifier in one nice package. The main benefit to separates is that you can upgrade one without having to upgrade the other. The other benefit is that you get better electronics when you move to separates.

[Silverwing]

Originally Posted by kpkelley

HDMI will enable you to take advantage of the hd audio codecs on the disc, rather than legacy dd and dts.

Since you are familiar with Denon, anything from the AVR-789 or higher or AVR-1909 or higher will be able to decode the HD audio codecs being bitstreamed(over hdmi) by your BD player.

I was looking at the recievers you mentioned and thought id look around some more for some deals. I can get the Pioneer Elite VSX-01TXH for a good price. My question is if this reciever is better then the two Denon ones you mentioned?

[Silverwing]

*bump*

[Phil Taylor]

Originally Posted by MAD7334

I was looking at the recievers you mentioned and thought id look around some more for some deals. I can get the Pioneer Elite VSX-01TXH for a good price. My question is if this reciever is better then the two Denon ones you mentioned?

Pioneer makes very high quality audio gear as does Denon. Take a look at the features of each and see which you like best vs. the price you can find for each and then make your decision. Quality-wise it's a toss-up - they are both vary fine manufacturers.