minckster

Never owned a stereo. Get me started?

I've never owned a stereo in my life, know absolutely nothing about audio, and am overwhelmed now that I'm looking for speakers and a receiver to go along with my HDTV and new, beloved HD TiVo. Anyone want to get me started? How should a newbie compare one system to another, other than looks and price? Suggestions for speakers and receiver welcome!

Here's some relevant information:

TV: Samsung LN-S3251D LCD

Programming Sources:

1. Series 3 TiVo (HD) receiving over-the-air digital broadcasts only
2. Panasonic S52K DVD Player (SD) (May replace w/ Toshiba HD-A1)

Both connected to TV via HDMI. All have optical digital audio out.
Watch dramas, thrillers, sitcoms, news, & some sports.

Objectives:
!!! Stop using closed captioning to understand dialog.
!!! Use the TiVo remote only, as much as possible.
!! FIddle with receiver as little as possible after setup.
! Surround sound might be cool. Low expectations that it works at my price point.
Listen to country music streamed through TiVo (128bps MP3s)

TV Viewing Area: 10' x 11' within 10' x 26' room. Very thin walls, floors and ceilings. I have to think about the neighbors.

Price point for receiver & speakers: $500 - $1000. The Panasonic SA-XR57S is $300 from Amazon. Reading this forum makes me think that might be a reasonable start.

Thank you for any assistance!

John Garcia

Re: Never owned a stereo. Get me started?

$1K should be fine, and I think one of the Panny digital receivers might be a good choice too. Once you are done with that, I'd probably shoot over to HSU and check out the VT-12 + STF-2 or STF-1 package. That, plus shipping and your receiver will likely be just over $1K, but should be a very good starting system.

Not sure about the TiVo remote, but if it isn't programmable, you aren't going to be able to use it for everything. I'd look at a nice programmable universal remote like the Harmonys from Logitech.

"The trouble with the world is not that people know too little, but that they know so many things that ain't so." - Mark Twain

HT: Marantz SR-8300, MA500 monoblocks x 2, 5X GR Research A/V-2s, Adire Audio Tempest sub, Denon 2900, Oppo 980H, Toshiba HD-A2, RC2000MkII remote, Panamax 5100, Panamax Max2 sub, Slim PS2, PS3 60G + 320G USB

Bedroom: Marantz PM-7200 Integrated, GR Research A/V-1s, Sony 222ES SACD, RC3200 remote, Panamax M8EX

Audio: Audioquest * Video: Bluejeans

My DVDs My HT