Some friends of mine asked for my help... (1 Viewer)

[Mike Schmitz]

Some friends came to me for some advice in buying a home theatre set-up for "J," and just the DVD/Reciever/Speakers in the case of "S" (she already has a 52" HDTV ready set). For starters, we went to Best Buy to shop around. After getting a few model numbers down, I have a few questions...
In general, should we go with Best Buy, Soundtrack, or "The Big Picture?" Or should we look for someone else?
Here are the models "S" decided she wanted to get, all from Best Buy.
Sony 5-disc DVD/CD/SACD
(Model DVPNC650V) $199.99
Sony 5.1 Dolby/DTS 500W receiver
(Model STR-DE885 Silver) $379.99
Bose speakers
(Model AM10II) $749.99
Adding in $169 to install everything, but not including the warranty coverage, it would total $1,499.96, excluding taxes. Are these good models at decent prices, or should we look elsewhere?
At Best Buy, where they are selling DirectTV satellite dishes and service, we were told that satellite was our only hope of getting HDTV at all, and that cable just wouldn't cut it. Are satellite dishes capable of better resolutions than cable in general? Specifically for our area, are Dish Network or DirectTV better than AT&T Digital Cable?
We were also told that to get resolution better than 480p, we would also need to buy a HD tuner. The only one Best Buy sells is a $600 Samsung model. Should we get the Samsung from Best Buy, or look elsewhere? Will a cheaper HD tuner be less effective?
Also, "S" currently has DirectTV and is moving to a new house. She doesn't like the price she'll have to pay to upgrade to HDTV. Should she try to negotiate a new price with DirectTV for moving/upgrading to HDTV, or should she just start over with Dish Network?
Then there's what "J" wants. She'd like to get a 42" or so HDTV for under $1,500 and s Home Theatre package for between $1,500 and $2,000.
Soundtrack had a Hitachi (Model Number: 43FDX15#) for $1,499.95, but that may have been a Labor Day-only sale. They also have a Mitsubishi (Model Number WT46809 #) for $1,999.95, and a Panasonic (Model Number PT47WX42 #) for $1,599.95.
"J" also wanted to get the HT setup from Soundtrack, either the $1,499.95 Klipsch / Denon package, or the $1,999.95 Definitive Technology / Sony ES package, which can also play SACD.
Here's the details on the two packages at Soundtrack:
Klipsch/Denon: DENON AVR-1403 Receiver, DENON DVD900 P-scan player,
Klipsch Speakers
Center: SC.5
Rear channel: SS.5,
Subwoofer: KSW10
Main Speakers: SB2
$1,499.95
DT/Sony ES
Sony DVPNS755V DVD player
Sony STRDA1ES Receiver
Definitive Technology Speakers:
BP6B Tower Speakers
PCC2 Center speaker
BPX 1.2x BLK bi-polar speakers (rear)
PS100TLBL 250 watt powered subwoofer
$1,999.95
Gah. Sorry for the length of the post.

 

[Garrett Lundy]

"J"..."S"???

Admit it Mike, you're working undercover for the [B}MIB[/b]!

 

[George Martin]

Mike you might also check out Audio Visionaries,to name one, or some of the other HT specialist in Denver or make the drive to CO/Springs and check out The Sound Shop, or one of our other 4 HT specialist.

 

[Robert_J]

Also, "S" currently has DirectTV and is moving to a new house. She doesn't like the price she'll have to pay to upgrade to HDTV. Should she try to negotiate a new price with DirectTV for moving/upgrading to HDTV, or should she just start over with Dish Network?

D* may give her $100 off an HD receiver if she mentions switching to Dish (E*). She can try D*'s mover program and request an 18"x24" dish at the new house. Remeber with E*, you have two satellite dishs for HD. Some people don't like their house to look like NASA.

-Robert

 

[Ted Lee]

dunno much about the tv stuff, but i can say with complete confidence that the denon/klipsch package is the one i would get. if you hung me by my ears, i might think about the sony es/def tech package.
i would not, under penalty of death, pay 1500 for that sony/bose package.
so there!

 

[Mike Schmitz]

Sorry it took me this long to reply. I'm easily distracted... ::cough::

Mike you might also check out Audio Visionaries,to name one, or some of the other HT specialist in Denver or make the drive to CO/Springs and check out The Sound Shop, or one of our other 4 HT specialist.

George, where is Audio Visionaries? And what are the other A/V Specialists in Colorado? I'm assuming they're in the phone book, but they have no web pages?

 

[Mike Schmitz]

Robert_J:

The DirecTV HD receivers will work with satellite and OTA.

So DirectTV has a HD tuner built into all their recievers?

 

[Mike Schmitz]

Ted Lee:

i would not, under penalty of death, pay 1500 for that sony/bose package.

Is there something wrong with Bose, or with pairing Bose with the Sony ES?

 

[Ted Lee]

hey mike!
well, i guess what i was trying to say is that i would definitely take the denon/klipsch package. you're getting a solid receiver paired with solid speakers.
i'm not a big fan of sony es stuff (even though i used to own a complete ES system). the stuff just didn't impress me too much. it's not bad and as far as sony goes, it's the only line i would even touch.
i would NEVER buy "mainstream" sony audio gear. that's why i said i would never get the sony/bose package. i don't feel the sony gear performs well at all, and i've had some pretty extensive hands-on experience with that stuff. pair that with bose speakers (which i've also owned several models) and imo, it's not a good combo.
again, i should stress these are my own opinions. you really owe it to yourself to audition for yourself and see what you like best. i've owned sony es and bose, but i think you can do better.
let me know if you have any other questions! hope i'm clarifying instead of confusing!

 

[ChrisWiggles]

ROFL....YES. So that this thread doesn't degrade into flaming anti-Bose war, i'll will put it nicely. Bose is the MOST overpriced peice of crap excuse for a sound system out there today. Never, EVER should ANYONE, or anyone you know, or have ever had contact with, EVER buy ANYHING from Bose. And I second the negative on that sony receiver. My recommendation is to get out of Best Buy, and do it FAST. The second system looks quite fine, although IMHO, I think klipsch gets too much credit. If you really want the best for your money, they can easily be beat. I always recommend Paradigm, I don't think you can find ANYTHING that can beat them for budget stuff. Find a REAL audiophile store and sit down and audition some real speakers. You (your friends) will never look back. And hopefully, one day they'll laugh every time they see a Bose logo, or someone showing off their little sony receivers