Too much research and still confused on what to buy... Please help (1 Viewer)

[Jeff Stevenson]

Hello All, I am still trying to figure out which receiver and speaker set I should get and it seems like the more research I do the more confused I get. Here are my needs: - surround sound in my living room for watching TV and Movies. I have 2 kids so we don't get to go to the movies a lot and what it at home - enough HDMI inputs to meet current and future needs (right now I have a DirecTV, Wii, DVD player and a WD TV Live player, might be getting another game system or streaming player) - 2 Zones, want to be able to have the kids watching TV inside while I listen to music in the backyard while BBQing - great sound and video (right now have an old Panasonic SA-HT290 which has no HDMI) - room calibration included Don't really want to break the bank on this, neither my wife or I really blast the volume up all that much. I was looking at the following: Sony STR-DH820 receiver Sony SS-CN5000 center speaker Sony SS-CN5000 front and rear speakers Sony SA-W3000 sub woofer The reason I am looking at Sony is because I work for them and can get a good discount, the entire package above would cost me $640 so I would like to try and stay within that price range. (give or take $50) One thing I think is missing from the above is a couple extra HDMI inputs but again don't think that's a deal breaker. Thanks for your help. Jeff

 

[gene c]

There are so many options out there it can make your head spin. Sounds like your's did . Don't worry, it happens to everyone. You listed the same model numbers for the fronts and surrounds as the center. Mistake? Center speakers usually don't make good fronts and the SSF-5000's (did you mean those?) are kinda large for surrounds. Those Sony speakers are average at best but those who have them seem very satisfied. Same with the receiver. But finding a receiver with a powered Zone 2 for around the same price would be difficult, but not impossible. Newegg has the Pioneer speakers on sale 2 towers, 2 surrounds and a center would be $280 shipped. http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100008225%2050001167&IsNodeId=1&name=Pioneer Best I could find as an option for the receiver Onkyo's 508 is last years model and it's $179 + sh from ac4l as a refurb but it has Zone 2. I'd take it over the Sony 820 but not by much. http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/ONKTXSR508/Onkyo-TX-SR508-7.1-Channel-3-D-Ready-Home-Theater-Receiver/1.html You would need a sub like this one from Partexpress ($115 shipped) http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=300-635 Total would be $610, but that's from three different sellers and with a last years refurbished receiver, and marginally better than what you listed. You're killing us with that Zone 2 thing. Almost 1/2 the budget on the receiver is usually too much. But no receiver is a bargain if it can't do what you need it to. How about the Pioneer speakers with the Sony 820 and Sony subwoofer?? Now my head is starting to spin.

 

[Jeff Stevenson]

I must have pasted the wrong number for the front and rears, this is the right number: SS-B3000 I currently don't have a second zone but thought it would be a nice feature to have because we do like the backyard a lot but I guess I can just pull out the old boom box if needed lol or I can just use my old Panasonic SA-HT290 if that opens things up to better systems for the living room

 

[Jeff Stevenson]

Damn research is killing me! Now I am leaning towards the Pioneer SP-PK21BS speaker package: http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PUSA/Home/Speakers/Home+Theater+Speakers/SP-PK21BS So if I do that with the $272 Sony reciever that would bring me up to $671 Getting better?

 

[Jeff Stevenson]

Now I've been looking at receivers and this is what I have found, which one would give me the best bang for my buck and come closest to my needs in your eyes: Sony STR-DH820 $272 w/SP-PK21BS speaker package: $671 http://store.sony.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&productId=8198552921666303777 DENON AVR-7 $259.99 w/SP-PK21BS speaker package: $659 http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/DENAVR791/DENON-AVR-791-7.1-Channel-A/V-Home-Theater-Receiver/1.html#!specifications Onkyo TX-SR608 $269.99 w/SP-PK21BS speaker package: $669 http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/ONKTXSR608/Onkyo-TX-SR608-7.2-Channel-3-D-Ready-Home-Theater-Receiver/1.html#!more Onkyo HT-RC360 $279.99 w/SP-PK21BS speaker package: $679 http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/ONKHTRC360/Onkyo-HT-RC360-7.2-Channel-Network-A/V-Receiver/1.html DENON AVR-1911 $299.99 w/SP-PK21BS speaker package: $699 http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/DENAVR1911/DENON-AVR-1911-7.1-Home-Theater-3D-Multi-Source/Multi-Zone-Receiver/1.html Onkyo TX-NR609 $319.99 w/SP-PK21BS speaker package: $718 http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/ONKTXNR609/Onkyo-TX-NR609-7.2-Channel-3-D-Ready-Network-A/V-Receiver/1.html

 

[gene c]

Get the Pioneers from Neweg.com. Two pairs of bookshelves ($70 X 2) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882117405 Center ($60) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882117404 BIC F-12 sub from Amazon ($190) http://www.amazon.com/BIC-America-F12-475-Watt-Subwoofer/dp/B0015A8Y5M/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1330200965&sr=1-1 Sony 820 ($272) = $662

 

[gene c]

I like the Denons over the Onkyo's because they have a more advanced version of Audyssey, MultEQ vs 2EQ. The 791 and 1911 are almost identicle if I'm remembering things right. One is sold in big-box stores and the other in electronics stores. Lunch time :yum:

 

[Jeff Stevenson]

So Denon over Onkyo's but would you do Denon over Sony? The one thing I do like about the Onkyo's is the 6 HDMIs and all three models above appear to all have internet as well Hope you are enjoying your lunch, I just order a pizza for my kids

 

[gene c]

Sometimes I forget that others might be interested in things I'm not . MultEQ is really the only reason I would get Denon over Onkyo. If Onkyo has things you need that the Denon's don't then by all means get what works for you. In reality, they're all be good enough for what you will be using it for. The Sony would be O.K. too but most members would take the Denon or Onkyo over a Sony. The ES series are much better. And I think Onkyo is the best selling brand of receivers so they must be doing something right. But Onkyo did have a few issues with the x08 models, including the factory refurbs from ac4l so I thought I'd better mention it. If you ever narrow it down to a couple of receivers then download their manuals off their websites and give them a quick going over before you buy. And yes I did. Got a 7" roast beef at TOGO's (local subway sandwhich shop). No onions or peppers .

 

[Jeff Stevenson]

So looking everything over I am looking at the following: Onkyo TX-NR609 http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/ONKTXNR609/Onkyo-TX-NR609-7.2-Channel-3-D-Ready-Network-A/V-Receiver/1.html Pioneer SP-BS21-LR (2x) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882117405 Pioneer SP-C21 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882117404 BIC America F12 http://www.amazon.com/BIC-America-F12-475-Watt-Subwoofer/dp/B0015A8Y5M/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1330200965&sr=1-1 Total package price of $710 The reason I am leaning towards the Onkyo is for the extra HDMI inputs as well as the front input which I can use with my digi cam showing the family photos, also it has my 2 zones Now for the rear speakers, will I be able to hang them from my celling? (that's my current placement for them)

 

[gene c]

It doesn't look like they have any wall-mount hardware built into them. If you want to hang them from the ceiling then you're going to have to be creative. They also have curved cabinets which isn't going to help any. The back of the speaker is flat (a couple of inches maybe) so you might be able to screw in a wall mount but I'm really not sure. Most people would cringe at the thought of screwing anything into a speaker but....

 

[Jeff Stevenson]

I think if I got a couple of these it would work, just have to screw in two holes to each speaker http://www.crutchfield.com/p_121AM25W/Pinpoint-AM25-White.html?tp=586 what do you think? Or should I look for rear speakers that already have mounts?

 

[gene c]

I'd hate to see you start looking all over again. You're not going to find a better deal than those Pioneers for $200. Those mounts can handle the weight. But it's your call. Most small speakers either have a key slot or a 1/4" threaded insert for wall mounting. Neither of those would really help you much anyway for mounting to the ceiling. Not very many speakers came with their own mounts. Too bad Athena doesn't make the Point 5's anymore. They came with real mounts. I have a set but they're not in very good condition cosmetically. http://www.athenaspeakers.com/products/point-5-series/

 

[Jeff Stevenson]

I think I'll just get the mounts and stick with these speakers, thanks for your help! Does anyone know how I of a CAT5 wireless adapter I can use with this system instead of running a long cable?

 

[Jeff Stevenson]

I think I just found what I was looking for: http://www.amazon.com/Cisco-Linksys-WET610N-Dual-Band-Wireless-N-Adapter/dp/B001QVQ7JU/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1295371800&sr=1-1