Major Home Theater Overhaul

[jmlalit5]

I currently have a 32 inch 1080i Insignia HDTV, with no HDMI inputs and only sound through composite cables. I want a total upgrade, 1080p, better brand, HDMI, good surround sound speakers and receiver. Screen size doesn't have to be huge, just no smaller than what I currently have.

I've been looking around on this site: http://reviews.cnet.com/televisions/?tag=promo.tv

The only thing I've been able to decide on so far is to get HDMI cables from monoprice.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

[crackinhedz]

Whats your budget for each?

For HDTV:

Pioneer Kuro PDP-5080 HD or Sony KDS-55A3000




For the Receiver you should consider:

Onkyo TX-SR605 ($400+free shipping)

or...

Onkyo HT-SR908 ($760+free shipping) ...which is also an Onkyo 605 with Onkyo brand surround speakers.

[jmlalit5]

Thanks! I figured I would end up going with Onkyo, heard only good things about both of those.

OK that takes care of sound, however the TV issue still remains. Those may be a bit out of my price range, part of that may just be the screen size. I am willing to stay in the 30-40 inch range though.

[crackinhedz]

40" BRAVIA® V series LCD Flat Panel HDTV ($1,699)

[MacDaddyOJack]

Originally Posted by crackinhedz

40" BRAVIA® V series LCD Flat Panel HDTV ($1,699)

+1 I have the 46V3000 and I absolutely love it!

[Zaphod]

As far as TV's, if you can wait, I would until the summer or before Christmas. For one the new TV models typically are announced late spring. Second, the prices of HDTV's are projected to fall 15% or more this year. The longer you wait the newer the technology and the cheaper it will be. The same thing for receivers. The new models are usually announced between March and April and are usually available around June-August. At that time you can usually get the current models at clearance prices. Just a thought...

[jmlalit5]

Originally Posted by crackinhedz

40" BRAVIA® V series LCD Flat Panel HDTV ($1,699)

Hey, that looks pretty sweet! Not a bad price either. You may have just found me a new HDTV. Thank you very much!

[jmlalit5]

Originally Posted by Zaphod

As far as TV's, if you can wait, I would until the summer or before Christmas. For one the new TV models typically are announced late spring. Second, the prices of HDTV's are projected to fall 15% or more this year. The longer you wait the newer the technology and the cheaper it will be. The same thing for receivers. The new models are usually announced between March and April and are usually available around June-August. At that time you can usually get the current models at clearance prices. Just a thought...

Yeah, I wasn't planning on purchasing until the end of the year.

[Josh]

The closer get to the Superbowl, the better sales will get on TVs. If you aren't adverse to Rear Projection, look for a Sony SXRD. I have one and it is stunning. Plus, they are stopping production, so they will all be on heavy discount soon. I have already seen them at some retailers for $700 off MSRP (which is a lot considering they're only around $2000 to begin with.

[crackinhedz]

Originally Posted by jmlalit5

Hey, that looks pretty sweet! Not a bad price either. You may have just found me a new HDTV. Thank you very much!

you could probably find it cheaper elsewhere online.

[crackinhedz]

Originally Posted by Josh

The closer get to the Superbowl, the better sales will get on TVs. If you aren't adverse to Rear Projection, look for a Sony SXRD. I have one and it is stunning. Plus, they are stopping production, so they will all be on heavy discount soon. I have already seen them at some retailers for $700 off MSRP (which is a lot considering they're only around $2000 to begin with.

also a very good suggestion...Ive heard nothing but good things from the SXRD rear projections.

[Amel]

I would go in this order dor the TV

LCD, Samsung or Sony
then match the BD player
and get a Onkyo receiver

[jmlalit5]

Originally Posted by crackinhedz

you could probably find it cheaper elsewhere online.

Just checked Amazon and the price was a good bit lower there.

[nhaase]

Originally Posted by crackinhedz

Whats your budget for each?

For HDTV:

Pioneer Kuro PDP-5080 HD or Sony KDS-55A3000




For the Receiver you should consider:

Onkyo TX-SR605 ($400+free shipping)

or...

Onkyo HT-SR908 ($760+free shipping) ...which is also an Onkyo 605 with Onkyo brand surround speakers.

That Pioneer Kuro is not 1080p, it only has 768 lines, so don't get that one if you want true 1080p.

[crackinhedz]

Originally Posted by jmlalit5

Just checked Amazon and the price was a good bit lower there.

$1,500 +free shipping

[jmlalit5]

Originally Posted by crackinhedz

$1,500 +free shipping

Oh, I must have been looking at a different TV. Same brand, size, resolution, and color: http://www.amazon.com/Sony-KDL-40V25...0598843&sr=1-2

[jmlalit5]

Originally Posted by Josh

The closer get to the Superbowl, the better sales will get on TVs. If you aren't adverse to Rear Projection, look for a Sony SXRD. I have one and it is stunning. Plus, they are stopping production, so they will all be on heavy discount soon. I have already seen them at some retailers for $700 off MSRP (which is a lot considering they're only around $2000 to begin with.

An incedible deal, but I think I want to stick with an LCD.

[bhampton]

Get a Sony Black Pearl Sxrd Front Projector

http://www.hometheatermag.com/frontp.../1107sonyvw60/

Then Get a nice Denon AVR

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

Add some Paradigm Speakers

http://www.paradigm.com/

And you would be mostly done.

Monoprice is the place for your HDMI cables.

-Brian


p.s. My current system is Sony G70 CRT Front Projector, Older Denon AVR, Paradigm Speakers... And when and if I upgrade,.. I'll just upgrade with more of the same only higher end.

[Durentis]

Originally Posted by bhampton

Get a Sony Black Pearl Sxrd Front Projector

http://www.hometheatermag.com/frontp.../1107sonyvw60/

Then Get a nice Denon AVR

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

Add some Paradigm Speakers

http://www.paradigm.com/

I was just about to suggest nearly the same thing. After seeing the quality (and size/$) from front projection, I'll never go back to a TV. I love my BenQ W9000.

As for the Denon.. I found them to be about comparable to the high-end Pioneer except more expensive and read that they're the low-end Marantz brand. When Marantz was pointed out to me and I dug into them a bit, they seemed far better than the usual receivers suggested around here (Pioneer, Denon, Onkyo, Yamaha..).

I just ordered a new Marantz SR-8002 (SR-7002 + toroidal transformer) for ~$1700 CAN for my own setup. (And the wait is killing me. )

And yes.. Paradigm makes damned good speakers.

I don't recall my cat ever perking up in movies with cats and stuff before. Now she's all over the speakers and darting across the room as the 'meows' move. Not to mention chasing the rat and pawing at the wall as it runs back and forth across the Ratatouille menu. (Cheap A/V quality specialist..?)

[bhampton]

Marantz is certainly great.

I've only ever had 1 Marantz Receiver but it was killer.

-Brian