Help on home theater set-up?

[Bluebang707]

Hi guys, I scavenged this forum lately and you guys seem like experts on whats up in the audio world. I am a noob audio person and I want to buy a home theater sound system for my 62' hdtv and PS3. I have a budget around 600. Suggestions on receiver along with speaker packages would be really awesome. I need a receiver that uses HDMI from PS3 > Receiver > TV and still have trueHD?

[sheedoe]

I think you should increasing your budget a bit. It would be tough to get 5 channel speakers, receiver, and subwoofer at that price. But I'm sure it is possible if you look around on ebay, but a $50 speaker wouldn't be able to produce a very good HD sound imo. I think you should have a minimum of 1k for a complete setup.

[aramis109]

Well, he's posting in the HTiB section, so perhaps some recommendations along those lines would be good as well.

Check out Onkyo's HTiB offerings- they have several that can do HD audio decoding. Outside of that, if you want to look at separates, there are some better options out there than HTiB's.

[Mr. HiDef]

if I were you I would get these speakers http://www.amazon.com/Polk-Audio-Cha...2551192&sr=8-1


and a onkyo 606 for the receiver, it will sound better then any htib

[cdot2four]

I love when the OP gives a budget and then people ask him to double it

[BUBBASAX420]

THIS SYSTEM IS IN YOUR RANGE AND SOUNDS GREAT FOR THE MONEY, THEY ALSO HAVE A THX CERTIFIED HTIB FOR 799 ON LINE AT VANS ETC



http://www.onkyousa.com/model.cfm?m=...ss=Systems&p=i

[Bluebang707]

If I had more money what speaker package would I get with the TX-SR606? And what wires should I buy from?

[Bdogg]

I just got the 606 and the polk 6750 for under 600. But that was on sale, keep your eyes open for sales.. try 6ave.com they have good sales, when they have sales...

[Bluebang707]

It seems like anything else would bring me over 1,400$ if I get a Synergy Quintet III and the Klipsch sub-10 with the receiver.

I think I will settle for the Polk RM750 and Onkyo 606. Do you guys know what wires I need to buy from monoprice? And the 606 doesnt have pass-through right? I want to use an HDMI cable from a PS3 to the receiver, and then have the receiver output video to the TV through another HDMI cable, while still being able to process the sound to the speakers?

Or does this receiver require that I use the PS3 HDMI to TV for video and an optical cable to the receiver for sound? I want my family to experience trueHD sound.

[surfdude12]

no, the 606 does have HDMI pass-through.

1st HDMI cable: PS3 output to 606 HDMI input
2nd HDMI cable: 606 HDMI output to TV HDMI input

when you turn on PS3, also turn on the 606 and select video1,2 (e.g. video 1 if you have 1st HDMI cable in 606 HDMI-in1). i make sure i have the TV volume off too. you should then have a picture and sound.

EDIT: and no, i wouldn't advise using the optical cable from PS3 to 606 for sound (although you could), because i don't believe you can get PCM/DolbyHD/DTS-HD that way, only through the HDMI from PS3 - 606. The HDMI cable passes sound and video together.

[Bluebang707]

Surfdude ur awesome
Should I purchase 14 gauge bare wires or does it work if I use bare wires with pin connectors to hook up to the receiver and to the speakers?

[surfdude12]

Originally Posted by Bluebang707

Surfdude ur awesome
Should I purchase 14 gauge bare wires or does it work if I use bare wires with pin connectors to hook up to the receiver and to the speakers?

i just use bare wires, turn them at the end and slip them through the holes behind the red/black knobs in the receiver/speaker, then tighten the red/black knobs to secure the wires in place. can't say this is better than a pin connector, my audio guy connected it that way, and thats just how i connect it now.

[aramis109]

If you want to terminate the wire, use banana plugs on the 606. Pin connectors are for spring-clip type connectors. They're purely for convenience and looks, and don't really provide any kind of benefit.

...personally though, I love them. They make plugging things in and moving it around so much easier.

[Santeria]

Originally Posted by sheedoe

I think you should increasing your budget a bit. It would be tough to get 5 channel speakers, receiver, and subwoofer at that price. But I'm sure it is possible if you look around on ebay, but a $50 speaker wouldn't be able to produce a very good HD sound imo. I think you should have a minimum of 1k for a complete setup.

Lies!! if u search hard enough u can get my setup for under $850!

[Bluebang707]

I ordered the Onkyo 606 from Amazon for 400$ and the Polk Rm6750 from Newegg for 246 and 300ft of 14 gauge wire for 50$ plus 2 hdmi 1.3 cables for 11 dollars. I also bought a a pair of stands for 40$! I cant wait to receive them

Speaking of which I dont understand why the back of the Polk subwoofer has a Speaker Level Input and a Speaker Level Output. I wonder which one u use.. but I guess the manual will explain it.

[Blu_Ray_Fan]

Originally Posted by Bluebang707

Speaking of which I dont understand why the back of the Polk subwoofer has a Speaker Level Input and a Speaker Level Output. I wonder which one u use.. but I guess the manual will explain it.

You don't use any of them, unless your receiver doesn't have a sub pre out. Which the 606 does. Which also means you forgot to buy a subwoofer cable.

[aramis109]

Speaker level inputs would not be used. I mean, you can, but it's a lot of extra wiring and setup on the speaker levels with no real benefit.

You'd use the line-in inputs with an RCA cable- preferrably a shielded one like this. You can then just go to the white/left input, or use a y-splitter if you prefer. You'll get a +3db gain, but otherwise no real benefit. I used one on mine (had the same sub for awhile) and it may also help waking up the sub from the "auto" setting.

[Bluebang707]

Woah you guys just saved my from my audio noobness.
I really appreciate the help and I quickly ordered a belkin pureAV mono subwoofer cable! I look forward to listening to this awesome (not so expensive) surround system.