New to HT

Re: New to HT

Hi Kerry,

While the Onkyo is very nice, for about $200 more you can get an Onkyo 606 receiver and a much better speaker package. Check out SVS: SVSound - Complete Systems.

Can't comment on the TV. I'm hopefully done TV shopping for a few years.

Re: New to HT

I read that the difference between the Samsung A750 and A650 is the extra memory storage for use with a computer i think. Oknyo is coming out in april with a new reciever model the 607, with 7.2 surround. Watch what receiver you get cause you might want HDMI capabilities.

Re: New to HT

Kerry,

The 706 is THX Select certified. Not sure about the 606.

Based on the price of the 9100 in the US, an Onkyo 606 and the SVS package would be about $200 more. Of course I'm not in Canada, so the prices may vary. The reason I point this option out is the upgrade you will get over the Onkyo speakers.

You could go with an Onkyo 576 as well, but if you get Blu-Ray in the future, you will have to get one that decodes the new formats.

Also, check out Axiom speakers (axiomaudio.com). Their prices start higher than SVS, but since they are in Canada, it may be cheaper for you. I'm pretty sure SVS has a Canadian distributer as well.

Re: New to HT

In that case, the Onkyo 576 will work for you.

Re: New to HT

LiveStrong so what have you decided?

Re: New to HT

I've never read the manual for one of Onkyo's HTiBs, but I'll bet one advantage they have over a pieced-together system is that the owner doesn't need to guess at the crossover points and other important receiver/speaker integration issues.

Re: New to HT

Kerry: choosing crossover points for an HT system's satellite speakers and subwoofer is sort of a gut instinct i.e. experience + science process. I'll admit right up front I am no expert on it but do know one thing: IMO the 80Hz crossover setting mentioned here so much is not applicable to all sat+sub systems. I regularly see blown out midwoofers on the tiny sats so preferred by A/V retailers for their demo systems, systems with 80Hz used as the crossover point (to make sure I pulled up the receiver's speaker setting menu) and see forum posts about fried sats that seem to involve the same issue.*

This is actually something I have wanted to start a thread about for awhile now, something along the lines of "My sat is rated to reach down to 50Hz - what is a safe but still good-sounding crossover setting for it?" But frequency response graphs are sometimes shall we say overly optimistic, so maybe the question should just include the size of the woofer(s) to make it easier to answer?

If it helps any, I have heard a couple of Onkyo's HTiB systems and liked the way they sounded, including the subwoofer (AFAIK Onkyo builds their own drivers, which helps with sound quality and pricing). They weren't audiophile quality but more importantly, didn't produce any *irritating* sound either, something that strange as it seems also requires engineering skill to design and build. This is just me, but if a system produces a sound that "jumps out at you", there's a good chance you'll tire of it quickly after just a few days.



* blown tweeters can also result: while a high system crossover point may save the midwoofer, the tweeter's crossover - which is built into the cabinet - is not changed, so if someone really cranks up their receiver there's a good chance the tweeter may be sent too much power....and tweeters usually blow with very little audible warning ----> usually in a system with no bass filters activated, when overloaded the woofers will generate audible noises (harshness or very obvious "clunks" that are produced by the cone banging against its frame) to indicate this condition, causing the owner to jump out of his La-Z-Boy beer in hand and turn down the volume.

Re: New to HT

The Onkyo 9100 comes with Audyssey (as do a lot of newer receivers). Takes the guesswork out of choosing a crossover.

Re: New to HT

IMO you will be much happier with a good 5.1ch system vs a so-so 7.1ch system. Most people do NOT need 7.1 channels in their HT. Additionally, it is very difficult to accommodate so many speakers in a non dedicated space (due to windows, doorways, etc.,). Think very carefully about your decision... a receiver + speakers (vs a HTIB) will likely give you a lot more for your $$$.

Re: New to HT

Kerry, there is another option available to you, that will make watching movies fun too with just a bit - relatively speaking - less involvement but is much easier to deal with.

A stereo HT system.

1 receiver

2 speakers

1 source

No calibration needed. No finicky set-up menus to deal with. And from an aesthetics point of view, a clean & elegantly simple system that doesn't overwhelm a room. And despite the lack of marketing, stereo is not a "dead" technology.

What you don't get with a stereo HT system: directional sound effects with newer action/adventure films; extreme low bass sound effects*; people seated off center of the TV will not hear center-sourced sounds exactly from the center of the screen. And I have never seen component or HDMI source switching on a stereo receiver.....yet. Most do have composite video switching (VCRs & older camcorders and game consoles) but for best picture quality from a dvd, BD player or digital cable box - via component or HDMI - you would need to connect those directly to the TV.

---> To avoid the switching issue, you could buy a 5.1 channel receiver and configure its speaker management system for stereo operation.**

Otherwise, even a $300 2.0 channel HT will sound incredibly better than any set of TV speakers, there is no comparison whatsoever. I run a 2.0 system in my living room for three years now and enjoy listening to it (just finished watching the final Battlestar Galactica episode on it actually).

Besides the switching issue, the only other fundamental drawback might the fact the speakers cannot be those really tiny models that fit in the palm of your hand. The smallest I would advise using is something with a 6.5" woofer or dual 5.25" woofers. Anything smaller and they won't sound full/rich enough to create that HT "feeling".




* standard dvd players (and I think BD players) as per dvd consortium standards deliberately delete the .1 channel - also called the LFE or low frequency effects channel - when they take a 5.1 soundtrack and mix it down to stereo and send it to the player's left/right analog output.

** this will also enable the use of a subwoofer - a 2.1 system - but that can start making things complicated quick. BUT.......if the left/right speakers are large enough - something with dual 8" woofers for example - and whenever a 5.1 receiver is set up for stereo operation, it takes the .1 channel from whatever 5.1 source and combines it with the left/right channels. So depending on the capability of those speakers, you will experience X portion of those rumbly sound effects many movies include. I know because I ran my system with no sub for nearly four years i.e. a 4.0 channel system (no center channel either).

Re: New to HT

A few 2.0 receivers to check out:

Pioneer Elite SX-A9, just introduced a couple years ago, along with two hi-end CD players. Includes a USB input.

Onkyo TX-8255 The 50 watts per channel this piece of gear produces is much more gutsy than the 50 watts/channel a plasticky $200 HTiB produces and can still cause walls to vibrate!

And the very popular (on audio forums anyway) Sherwood RX-4109, which still includes a phono input for a turntable.

Re: New to HT

Kerry,

I can't see the setup - you will have to list it here.

Ported subs can generally go lower (great for HT) and take fewer watts to power. SVS subs absolutely rock!!!

Going with 5.1 would not be a big deal. Most movies are still 5.1. Plus, you really have to have a good room layout for 7.1 to work correctly. Basically, you need a good bit of room behind your seats. Also, any 7.1 receiver is capable of 5.1 as well.

Re: New to HT

Kerry,

The 706 is a very nice receiver. Lots of features and good power.

I did hear the speakers you mentioned. I do not own them, so I can't comment much, but if I was looking for bookshelves, they would be on my short list. The problem is what I like vs what you like may be very different. You really need to listen to them yourself. SVS gives you a month or so to decide....