Sort of a tricky question for people who really know their stuff.

[stobbart]

I know this must have been discussed before but my searches come up with nothing. Let me explain:

If you look at my HT pics you can see that I have spent more money on Criterion DVD's then my entire HT, well as some of you may know (by my speaker topic posts) I am doing a total upgrade. New tv, speakers (cables and interconnects) and possibly a new receiver (people seem to be all over the board on the ability of my receiver) and hell even a couch, any ways back on topic. I will stick with a 2 channel set up because basically I cant fit a 5.1 in my room unless it is some htib deal and I am not doing that. I want to get good, quality equipment (for my budget). I am using a ps3 and was wondering if the audio settings for this hooked up with my old Hitachi SR-2004receiver will produce a good HT experience?

Since the receiver does not use hdmi I will most likly end up doing audio out from the new tv I get (either Pioneer Kuro or Panasonic TC-P54V10). So all of this put together, will the audio experience from this setup even benefit from blu-ray or will it still be limited to DVD audio quality?

I dont really know if that makes sense, I am completly new to this and may have made this more confusing then it is, sorry if this is the case. Basically I'm just wondering if when I watch blu-rays using audio out (unless someone has a better idea on how to hook this up to my receiver) hooked up to the Hitachi, will sound experience be better then trying to fit a 5.1 in my room? Since it is small 12x12, I read that a 2 channel will sound a lot better in small rooms with good stuff then medicore 5.1 in a small room.

Or will getting a new receiver that can accept a HDMI cable and running this to 2 channels be better?

[prerich]

A new receiver is definately needed! Don't put the sound out via your TV (HTIB sound is better than Tv sound). What's your budget - there are very good 5.1 systems out there that are modestly priced. Tell me your budget and I will make some suggestions.

[Nick4Blu_81]

Originally Posted by stobbart

I know this must have been discussed before but my searches come up with nothing. Let me explain:

If you look at my HT pics you can see that I have spent more money on Criterion DVD's then my entire HT, well as some of you may know (by my speaker topic posts) I am doing a total upgrade. New tv, speakers (cables and interconnects) and possibly a new receiver (people seem to be all over the board on the ability of my receiver) and hell even a couch, any ways back on topic. I will stick with a 2 channel set up because basically I cant fit a 5.1 in my room unless it is some htib deal and I am not doing that. I want to get good, quality equipment (for my budget). I am using a ps3 and was wondering if the audio settings for this hooked up with my old Hitachi SR-2004receiver will produce a good HT experience?

Since the receiver does not use hdmi I will most likly end up doing audio out from the new tv I get (either Pioneer Kuro or Panasonic TC-P54V10). So all of this put together, will the audio experience from this setup even benefit from blu-ray or will it still be limited to DVD audio quality?

I dont really know if that makes sense, I am completly new to this and may have made this more confusing then it is, sorry if this is the case. Basically I'm just wondering if when I watch blu-rays using audio out (unless someone has a better idea on how to hook this up to my receiver) hooked up to the Hitachi, will sound experience be better then trying to fit a 5.1 in my room? Since it is small 12x12, I read that a 2 channel will sound a lot better in small rooms with good stuff then medicore 5.1 in a small room.

Or will getting a new receiver that can accept a HDMI cable and running this to 2 channels be better?

Getting a receiver that accepts an HDMI input will give you the best experience. Always think about what you may do in the future. Right now your content with a two channel audio set up. Then one day your reading thread after thread on bluray.com about Dolby TrueHD, DTS HD, and all the uncompressed lossless audio that could be had if you had just chosen to upgrade your receiver. Im a firm believer that a true high definition movie experience is 50% PQ and 50% AQ. Blu looks amazing and the sound possibilitys are just as amazing. Good luck my friend.

[Hammie]

Most TV's will only pass a 2.0 signal to a receiver.

Bite the bullet and get a new receiver. BTW, what speakers are you looking at? I may have seen in another thread but my brain is mush right now.

In the end, a good to excellent receiver will make even a two channel setup sound better than what it sounds like you want to do with your current equipment.

[Rob J in WNY]

Stobbart,

You've got the PS3, so why not, as previously suggested, get a surround receiver with HDMI interconnects and multichannel surround? What's really nice is that your PS3 can internally decode lossless audio and send that lovely sound to even a budget 5.1 or 7.1 channel receiver via HDMI (as PCM).

You don't have to hook up surround speakers, either. You can run a new receiver with two fronts only, but I would highly recommend at least getting a center channel speaker. If you can work in a small, budget-minded powered subwoofer, the improvement in your overall experience will be greater that way. In the future, you can add surround speakers (for 5.1 channel surround) and surround-back speakers (for 7.1 channel sound).

Shoot, I'll bet you can work in even a small pair of surround speakers in your small room. You're just starting out, so you don't have to go big. Although there is some real truth to a good 2-channel setup being superior to a mediocre 5.1 channel setup, I still say that at your point in the game, if you wish to make a better investment in your front main speakers, that's great, but for just a little more, you can add a budget center channel and 2 surround speakers to really open up your cinematic audio experience. You can always upgrade from small surrounds in the future (and there's no doubt you likely will).

I have to apologize. I don't mean to press you in a direction you are resisting to go in, but it's just too nice that you already have a PS3, which opens you to less-costly HDMI multichannel receiver options (you don't need a receiver which internally decodes Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio - your PS3 already can do it), which leads to 5.1 channel surround in a small room, which leads to 7.1 channel surround later! LOL. Welcome to the madness!

[SlmShdy1]

If you're cramped for room and want to think about going with 5.1, look into Cambridge Soundworks. They make tiny but really good speakers.

[stobbart]

I was looking to spend about 3000 on my speakers. I would just upgrade piece by piece if I was going to go for surround. But looks like I need to add a receiver to that list. But should I get that before my new speakers? I think I will get the speakers first because they will sound better then my current ones, then blow me away when I upgrade my receiver. Then I can add a center and sides and at long last a rear if I want down the line.

[Nick4Blu_81]

Originally Posted by stobbart

I was looking to spend about 3000 on my speakers. I would just upgrade piece by piece if I was going to go for surround. But looks like I need to add a receiver to that list. But should I get that before my new speakers? I think I will get the speakers first because they will sound better then my current ones, then blow me away when I upgrade my receiver. Then I can add a center and sides and at long last a rear if I want down the line.

You can do alot with $3000.

[Beta Man]

I'd focus on a the best fronts possible..... most of the audio from the films you have or seem to be interested in, will come out via criterion with Mono or Stereo tracks...... so you want to cater to your tastes.

Start with $3000 for a good pair of towers with a good low end, and add the center when funds allow.