Home theater component advice

biged571 · 05-09-2007, 10:29 AM

I am interested in setting up a home theater and need some advice. The room I am in is about 12.5 feet by 19 feet. I am looking at the Panasonic PT-AX100U because of the 2000 lumen capacity. I'd like a HD DVD player - Toshiba HD-A2 looks like the entry level for me. I will also have a comcast HD input. I'm not sure how to best spend the remaining $1100 of my component budget.
Projector - $1500
106" screen - $300
HD DVD player - $400
Receiver -
Speakers -

The Onkyo TX-SR604 receiver ($450) looks to have a couple of the features I am interested in (IPOD integration, dual room, satellite ready). That puts me at about $650 for speakers. Instead of trying to go cheap on 7 speakers and a sub, should I cut back on the receiver and stick with 5.1 systems? Any model recommendations on the receiver or speakers would be greatly appreciated!

JohnRice · 05-09-2007, 10:46 AM

What I would personally do is skip the HD-DVD player for now. You will still get a great picture with standard DVD and the extra $400 is much better spent on speakers at this point. You could get an SVS 5.1 speaker system and the Onkyo receiver. Then, just wait out the HD wars for a bit and get into HD discs later.

Putting over 2k into the visuals and only 1k total in the audio is just not a good proportion.

adam613 · 05-09-2007, 11:47 AM

I'll defer to the experts on the audio stuff, but I highly recommend the Panasonic PT-AX100U. I have owned a PT-AE900U for about 8 months and I can't find enough good things to say about it. Easy to use, bright, and excellent quality for the price range, even at maximum zoom. My current living room has a throw distance of just under 12 feet, and I get a 98" image (I'm projecting onto a white wall). From what I understand, the PT-AX100U produces even better images, so it'd be hard to go wrong with it.

bassman99floyd · 05-09-2007, 12:25 PM

As John said, and I always read your replies John, because you know your stuff, hold off on the HD-DVD player. Spending more money in speakers, will always pay off in the long run.

The reason to not buy a HD-DVD or Blu-Ray player at this time, is eventually one format will win over the other as the format of consumer choice. Like when Beta and VHS players were competing, VHS won. All those who bought a Beta player, had to throw it out, and buy VHS.

Speakers are very important to quality sound. The TV you picked out, I'm sure is a great choice. What we're saying is the $400 you would use to get a HD-DVD player, that cash should go into better speakers.

You don't need to buy all the speakers at once. Buy quality, when you can afford it, and add more later on, when you get more money.

biged571 · 05-09-2007, 12:51 PM

Thanks for the feedback all. I'll stick with my standard dvd for now.

Any recommendations on a particular make/model of in-ceiling or in-wall speakers in my price range? With little ones running around, I definitely prefer them to the free standing or even wall mount variety.

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Chris Moe · 05-09-2007, 01:36 PM

My brother has a pair of Paradigm in-wall speakers and they sound very good. I am not sure the cost of them though, but Paradigm is usually a good bang for the buck. I love my Paradigm system.

JohnRice · 05-09-2007, 04:32 PM

Matt, I strongly recommend just wall mounting some decent bookshelf speakers over in-wall models. For one thing, you can angle them for better sound, and you can mount them high enough to be out of danger. The surrounds should be mounted within a couple feet of the ceiling anyway, unless you have an unusually high or vaulted ceiling.

Jimmy, that gave me a chickle. I can't remember. Did I annoy you at some time? I only ask because I seem to manage annoying most people at some point.

bassman99floyd · 05-10-2007, 11:10 AM

John, who remembers the past? I meant that sincerely when I wrote that. No hidden agenda. We might've had a disagreement in my wording of THX from another post, no big deal. You do give sound ( no pun intended) advice, and I do like reading your suggestions.

Like recommending bookshelf speakers, because you can aim them better. I wouldn't have thought of that, so I like when you point out things like that.

I'm fortunate to be married to a beautiful lady, who didn't mind at all full size speakers. I built my HT with B&W Nautilus line, and the sound is incredible.

John , thanks for sharing your wisdom with us, and keep up the great work. You da' MAN!!

Jimmy