PS3 Audio Setup Advice: Starting from Scratch

[Snah]

Hmm.. Seems Sony has some new receivers that get released in May. Maybe I should wait and see how well these perform.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1000208

4 HDMI ports for $400. Not too shabby if true.

[Petra_Kalbrain]

Originally Posted by Snah

Hmm.. Seems Sony has some new receivers that get released in May. Maybe I should wait and see how well these perform.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1000208

4 HDMI ports for $400. Not too shabby if true.

Ya, but Sony's receivers and speakers don't always test well on their sound throughput. Of course, this being a new unit, it is difficult to tell if they have advanced their tech at all. At the same time, for $400 from Sony? That's not a good sign. Sony tends to make their best products in price ranges that supercede what you would expect to pay... but that's how you know that you are getting quality Sony product.

Because Sony audio is sort of a toss at the dartboard of quality, I'd stick with looking at Yamaha, Onkyo, and Denon receivers. They tend to have a much higher percentage quality output on their systems.

And, the Bowers & Wilkins speakers that I mentioned are very compact. BUT, if you decide to consider them remember too that they don't come with floor stands. They come with bookshelf stands and wall mount brackets. They are relatively easy to mount on the walls if you take care in the process.

[Snah]

Sony has bad receiver quality? Hm. That's news to me. I'll just have to wait for the reviews.

[cawgijoe]

Originally Posted by Snah

Sony has bad receiver quality? Hm. That's news to me. I'll just have to wait for the reviews.

This is a carryover from years gone by. There was a time that Sony receivers were not very good.....I beleive that time is gone.

Check the web for reviews.

[King03]

I have a Sony STR-DG1000 and I have no complaints. For $3k, you can get a high end Sony receiver and some decent speakers. Don't forget to budget for wires and connections.

I recommend not wasting too much money on over-priced Monster accessories, I think $150 for an HDMI cable is the ripoff of the century. The $20 one from Sam's Club works just fine... You should spend a few bucks on speaker wire.

Also, make sure to get a receiver with lots of HDMI connections. Mine only has 2, which is only enough for the cable box and the PS3. If you have any other high-def components, you'll need a switch. Best to just have lots of HDMI ports available.

[john_nemesh]

Originally Posted by Snah

Hmm.. Seems Sony has some new receivers that get released in May. Maybe I should wait and see how well these perform.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1000208

4 HDMI ports for $400. Not too shabby if true.

I am not a fan of Sony for home audio and have never liked their sound compared to other brands in the same catagory. Don't just buy to match brands with the PS3, listen yourself and make up your own mind.

The first thing you really have to do is set your budget. Think realistically and make a list of what you want the system to do. Keep in mind that most people will not upgrade a receiver for 5 years or more, make sure you have all of the connections you can reasonably expect to use in this time. The Sony you mention may have 4 HDMI inputs, but probably are switching only...make sure that the HDMI inputs can process sound as well (see below).

If this is going to be your "primary" system, and you plan on keeping it 5 years or longer, I would recommend spending at least $1000 on your AVR. I know that sounds like a lot, but dropping below that mark usually means missing out on connections, features, sound quality, or all of the above.

If you are going to be replacing it before 5 years, try around $500-600. Also keep in mind that used gear can be had fairly cheaply. I would much rather have a used Denon AVR-3806 than a new AVR-1908!

I would look for a system that supports sound over HDMI, but do not worry if it supports DTS MA-HD or TrueHD, as the PS3 will convert everything to PCM (this means that 1.1 or 1.2 HDMI will work just fine! Great if you plan on buying used!). Also look for a receiver that will transcode component to HDMI. This will allow you to run a single cable between the A/V receiver and the TV.

You should also LISTEN (if at all possible) to the receiver with your choice of speakers. Having a speaker that is bright or harsh in the upper end could be perfectly listenable with the right amp, and totally horrible with the wrong one. Just because 2 different brands are at the same price or have the same wattage rating does NOT mean they sound the same!

The best advice I can get for buying this stuff...don't shop for the gear, shop for a dealer! Find someone that:

1) You trust
2) Is authorized to sell the products you are looking for
3) Is knowledgeable
4) Is trained and has the tools and resources to properly install the system

You can save a few bux shopping online, but in my experience, it is NOT WORTH the few dollars you save if the system is not installed and configured properly, is composed of mis-matched components, or is not able to be serviced when it breaks.

Hope this helps you! Good luck and have fun!

[bootman]

You could get by with a receiver like the Yamaha RX-V661.
While it does not decode HD Audio, your PS3 can and the unit will process PCM from the PS3 easily.
As far as speakers, they all sound different, not only at a store, but at your home.

Try to buy those that give you a 30 day money back deal so if you don't like them in your home you can get something different.
Sure starting with a good brand is always a good idea, but the room interaction between your ears and speakers is hard to determine via a forum.

Some good online stores that offer a 30 day trial are:

http://www.hsuresearch.com Horns provide high volume for little power
http://av123.com/ These always get good reviews and the Rocket line is very affordable.
http://www.axiomaudio.com/ Very nice and well made speakers.
http://www.orbaudio.com/ I have these. I like them but they may not be enough for your application.

Any one of these offer speaker packages in your price range.
They all sound different, but only you can decide which sounds best in your room and to your ears.

Good luck and happy shopping.

[ranma]

Sorry for hackjack your post, however, I don't want to open a new thread for some FAQ :P

Can I get 5.1 PCM through optical from PS3? My receiver doesn't have a HDMI interface, I don't want to use lossy format for my receiver. and I find if I sent bitstream for optical on ps3, and I chose PCM 5.1 in BD menu, I only got 2.0 sound.

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by ranma

Sorry for hackjack your post, however, I don't want to open a new thread for some FAQ :P

Can I get 5.1 PCM through optical from PS3? My receiver doesn't have a HDMI interface, I don't want to use lossy format for my receiver. and I find if I sent bitstream for optical on ps3, and I chose PCM 5.1 in BD menu, I only got 2.0 sound.

To get 5.1 lossless audio from PS3, you need an HDMI cable. With optical cable, you can only get lossy Dolby Digital and DTS Digital.

[bootman]

Originally Posted by ranma

Sorry for hackjack your post, however, I don't want to open a new thread for some FAQ :P

Can I get 5.1 PCM through optical from PS3? My receiver doesn't have a HDMI interface, I don't want to use lossy format for my receiver. and I find if I sent bitstream for optical on ps3, and I chose PCM 5.1 in BD menu, I only got 2.0 sound.

This has been discussed many times before and a quick search would show that you only get 2ch of PCM via the optical out.