Opinions

[needsumhelp13]

I am new to the site and Home theatre in general. I usually just let my tv speakers handle everything. I currently have a Samsung 1080p 120mhz TV, Comcast Cable, PS3, Wii, 360 and I was looking for a recomendation for a receiver/surround sound. Not looking to break the bank. Questions:
1. Does the receiver handle all the HDMI inputs instead of TV?
2. Does your TV then always work off the same input and you just change what you are doing on the receiver?
3. Are they any good wireless speaker options out?

I am sure these are basic questions for most so Thanks in advance.

[Beta Man]

Originally Posted by needsumhelp13

. Not looking to break the bank..

how much is in "The Bank" ???

[Fors*]

Originally Posted by needsumhelp13

I am new to the site and Home theatre in general. I usually just let my tv speakers handle everything. I currently have a Samsung 1080p 120mhz TV, Comcast Cable, PS3, Wii, 360 and I was looking for a recomendation for a receiver/surround sound. Not looking to break the bank. Questions:
1. Does the receiver handle all the HDMI inputs instead of TV?
2. Does your TV then always work off the same input and you just change what you are doing on the receiver?
3. Are they any good wireless speaker options out?

I am sure these are basic questions for most so Thanks in advance.

First welcome to the site! HT is alot of fun and there is a lot to know, so good luck in the future. To answer your questions:

1) Yes, the receiver will handle the inputs based on what type of receiver you get. A good solid starting receiver is an Onkyo if you ask me, both for price and performance. The inputs would be HDMI1 (could be from your Comast box to receiver input), HDMI2 (could be your PS3 to the receiver input), Component1, Component2, etc...

2) Yes, the receiver will be the "nerve center" if you will. I consider it the brains to my HT. Changing the inputs here will change which "activity" you want to do....watch TV, play/watch with the PS3, etc...

3) This is cannot help you with as I never have had satellite speakers. Depending on your budget, they are not highly recommended due to quality concerns some have. But for some, anything else may not be possible.

I hope this helps you in some degree, as this is my 2 cents, and good luck again!

[Beta Man]

also...

"NO" there are no good wireless speaker setups available, but there are some very nice small/satellite speakers available.

[repete66211]

Originally Posted by needsumhelp13

I am new to the site and Home theatre in general. I usually just let my tv speakers handle everything. I currently have a Samsung 1080p 120mhz TV, Comcast Cable, PS3, Wii, 360 and I was looking for a recomendation for a receiver/surround sound. Not looking to break the bank. Questions:
1. Does the receiver handle all the HDMI inputs instead of TV?
2. Does your TV then always work off the same input and you just change what you are doing on the receiver?
3. Are they any good wireless speaker options out?

I am sure these are basic questions for most so Thanks in advance.

1.) It can. Unless it's video processing sucks it should. This is assuming you are talking about a receiver capable of HDMI switching, not just HDMI pass through.
2.) Yes
3.) This depends. I use the Rocketfish Wireless fix. It's a Best Buy product that'll cost you about $100. Basically you hook it's powered transmitter to the rear speaker terminals on the receiver and it transmits the audio signals to a powered receiver that you have your rear speakers plugged into. I've never had any problems with buzzing, interference, delay, etc. If I had a complaint at all it'd be about the power. The specs say they'll handle 25W/channel. So it's not a fix for the problem of running speaker wires to rear speakers, it's just a workaround.

As far as recommendations go, check my signature. I'm a bit of a newbie myself and have found the Onkyo TX-SR606 to be a fine receiver for my home theater purposes. I used to have the Polk Audio RM6750 speaker setup, but I recently upgraded. So I recommend all that I have below with perhaps a couple of exceptions. The Polk Monitor 60s are $130 each on newegg.com now and some people prefer a more different sub. Newegg and the Polk Direct store on eBay is where I bought my speakers. Amazon is a good place for both speakers and receivers. Bluejeanscable.com and monoprice.com are good sources for cables and connectors.

[needsumhelp13]

Thanks for the repsones. I have a follow up question.

What is the difference between HDMI switching and pass through?

[SlmShdy1]

HDMI switching is when your receiver will process the sound coming from the HDMI cable and send it out to the speakers. HDMI passtrough is just that. It passes the audio and video to the TV so no sound will come out of your speakers. If you wanted sound on a HDMI passthrough system, you'd need an optical cable or analog cables.

[StimpsonJCat]

Originally Posted by needsumhelp13

Thanks for the repsones. I have a follow up question.

What is the difference between HDMI switching and pass through?

Pass through will only "pass" the video/audio through the AVR and will not read the information. So you would have to run a seperate optical cable to the AVR for Audio.

A higher level AVR will have the ability to read/decode the video/audio. For video it might be able to upscale, etc. For audio it can read the audio stream and play it (either a LPCM signal or decoding a Bitstream).

[rlf3911]

We need a $$$$ amount your ready to spend on the receiver, then we could let you know what capabilities your gaining at each price point.

[needsumhelp13]

Price??? Problem is I dont really know what price gets me a good product. I guess the more I think about it I am willing to spend what it takes to get a good surround sound system (speakers and all). Just dont know enough to pick it out. Thanks again.

[Coov]

I did mine just under $700 including a receiver...

Onkyo SR605 - 240.00 evilbay
Polk PSW110 sub- 110.00 evilbay
Polk M20s fronts- 79.99 x 2 Newegg
Polk R150 backs- 85.85 Amazon
Polk CSR center- 99.99 Amazon
monoprice for cables and wires

You'd want to go Onkyo SR606 with the more HDMI inputs in your case...

It is a pretty inexpensive setup considering, but sounds amazing. Go do some auditioning around town, then find the better price online. Do a lot of research right here on this site. The guys will help you out if you have any questions... but believe me, most questions have already been asked so dig a little. Have FUN!!!

[needsumhelp13]

So after looking around it seems a lot of people on this site have or suggest an Onkyo receiver so I will start to research starting with that brand. Hopefully I can find one with 3 or 4 HDMI inputs. Question about HDMI cables: read a lot of the HDMI sticky and know that HDMI cables are mostly all equal. A few times people posted that they are equal unless they are long. The reason I ask is that I will be running an HDMI through my wall and its possible it will need to be 20 to 25 feet long. Does it still not matter the brand at that length. Thanks

[repete66211]

Originally Posted by needsumhelp13

So after looking around it seems a lot of people on this site have or suggest an Onkyo receiver so I will start to research starting with that brand. Hopefully I can find one with 3 or 4 HDMI inputs. Question about HDMI cables: read a lot of the HDMI sticky and know that HDMI cables are mostly all equal. A few times people posted that they are equal unless they are long. The reason I ask is that I will be running an HDMI through my wall and its possible it will need to be 20 to 25 feet long. Does it still not matter the brand at that length. Thanks

The Onkyo TX-SR606 is the Model T of HD home theater. As such the demand has really kept the price up. Currently on Amazon it's going for more than it did when I bought mine seven months ago. Onkyo is coming out with a 607 model this year so hopefully that will drive down the price on the 606 a bit.

[drago3451]

Originally Posted by needsumhelp13

So after looking around it seems a lot of people on this site have or suggest an Onkyo receiver so I will start to research starting with that brand. Hopefully I can find one with 3 or 4 HDMI inputs. Question about HDMI cables: read a lot of the HDMI sticky and know that HDMI cables are mostly all equal. A few times people posted that they are equal unless they are long. The reason I ask is that I will be running an HDMI through my wall and its possible it will need to be 20 to 25 feet long. Does it still not matter the brand at that length. Thanks

I have a 25' monoprice HDMI cable going to my projector and I have not had one quality issue. As far as lengths greater than that IDK I have no personal experience with them.

[needsumhelp13]

I was looking at a 5.1 receiver. I am leaning towards an Onkyo since it had been suggested a couple times so far. Is it better to buy a Home theatre package (speakers and receiver) or buy a receiver and then speakers separately?

[squirrel101]

receiver and then seperates most important being your front towers and center channel, if you don't mind spending around a 1000 for a receiver then i would look at the Pioneer Elite stuff the 94txh has 4 hdmi inputs and 140watts x 7 for around 1100.00 on ebay but you may find a local HT guy that'll cut you a deal.

[repete66211]

Originally Posted by needsumhelp13

I was looking at a 5.1 receiver. I am leaning towards an Onkyo since it had been suggested a couple times so far. Is it better to buy a Home theatre package (speakers and receiver) or buy a receiver and then speakers separately?

Get a decent receiver and then some good speakers. The Onkyo 606 is a good receiver. What constitutes good speakers varies from person to person so do your research. If you go with sub-par speakers the "upgraditis" is just going to settle in that much faster. I started with the Polk RM6750 5.1 speaker set and while it's a fine setup for basic home theater it didn't take but six months before I was compelled to get something better. So save yourself a couple hundred and build your setup piece by piece.

There are some great deals on older model speakers on newegg.com and eBay. A good setup will cost you about $450 plus a subwoofer. Decent subs can range from $200-$350. All told, cables and all, you can get a good home theater system for around $1,100 if you play your cards right and have some patience.

[ThriceBB]

Originally Posted by needsumhelp13

I was looking at a 5.1 receiver. I am leaning towards an Onkyo since it had been suggested a couple times so far. Is it better to buy a Home theatre package (speakers and receiver) or buy a receiver and then speakers separately?

i think youre in trouble lol. i started out the same way as you back in like november. i didnt want to spend too much. just wanted to get a nice little bedroom setup. started looking at the onkyo 606 back when it was going for like $250 on amazon. next thing i know the fever hit me. i start spending as much time as possible on this site chatting with the many experts on home theater. next thing i know im hitting the checkout button to my Marantz receiver and spending almost triple the cost of what i originally intended spending on the onkyo. then i decided to order the elemental designs A2-300 sub. now my polk T90e's are sitting in front of me as i watch tv and ive got my polk center and surrounds on order. all in all ive spent sooo much more than i ever wanted to, and i couldnt feel better about it! this hobby really is an addiction and once it has you, it wont let go. welcome to the site!! youve come to the right place...

[needsumhelp13]

Ok so does the Onkyo 606 had the HDMI switching as suggested. i see their is a newer version (607). There is really a ton of onkyo options and I am not sure which one to go with...I have decided the I am willing to spend between 750 and 1000 on the reciever. Any suggestions on a recv?

Thanks

[Steve]

Originally Posted by needsumhelp13

Ok so does the Onkyo 606 had the HDMI switching as suggested. i see their is a newer version (607). There is really a ton of onkyo options and I am not sure which one to go with...I have decided the I am willing to spend between 750 and 1000 on the reciever. Any suggestions on a recv?

Thanks

If you're willing to spend that much, then definitely step up from a 606. It has one weakness, IMO, and that is a lack of pre-out connections. Without pre-outs you can never use a separate amp. This is a great receiver other than that one feature. Take it from someone who failed to plan ahead and bought a receiver with out pre-outs (Onkyo 605).

With your budget, you can get a top-notch 7.1 receiver with any and all features you need, plenty of power, pre-outs, 4 or more HDMI inputs, HDMI switching/processing/upscaling, multiple zones, etc. And there are several excellent brands in your price range, including Onkyo, Marantz, Denon, Yamaha and Pioneer, in no particular order.