New TV, now I need a new Home theatre setup

[Scuba_Dave]

We really don't watch much with the home theater setup running
But my setup is well over 10 years old, Cambridge Sound works speakers, Yamaha receiver RX-V590 (http://usa.yamaha.com/products/audio-visual/av-receivers-amps/rx/rx-v590_black__u/?mode=model)

This is the 1st TV I have bought that did not have RCA jacks out for audio to the receiver
I don't have a Blu-Ray player at present, we have a dual VCR/DVD player that STILL needs 2 separate connections for it to play both :mad:
We don't really buy a lot of movies, I think that will change

I also have not had a HD cable box for a while, so will be upgrading to that soon

Seems I should get a 7.1 system even if I only connect as 5.1 for now
I haven't really looked at this stuff in years
Do most people just go from cable box => blu-ray => TV with HDMI as the "normal" setup
I tend to like to buy "in-store" where I can look at the stuff, that limits me...Best Buy is the local store, might be others
Seems the 7.1 theater setup versions start at $700...that's more then I want to spend right now
So I may end up going 5.1

Ideas ? Pretty sure I can't get the existing receiver to work "for now" ?

I connected right from the standard cable box to the receiver, but it has a delay/echo
There is a delay setting that I turned all the way down on the receiver but still the same problem

[Scuba_Dave]

Found a Sony Blu-Ray system on sale at Best Buy
Plus I can then connect to the Internet thru the Blu-Ray
Decent setup ?

Sony (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Sony+-+1000W+5.1-Ch.+3D/Wi-Fi+Blu-ray+Home+Theater+System/1997349.p?id=1218305633044&skuId=1997349)

[Huskie]

I bought my current AV receiver from Bestbuy a few months ago when it was on sale for $499. I'm not sure if they have them anymore and it is last years model. Supply might be limited.

This is what I got:
Onkyo HT-S7300
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41pq94Xl2BL._SL500_AA300_.jpg

Amazon.com: Onkyo HT-S7300 7.1-Channel Home Theater Receiver and Speaker Package with iPod Dock: Electronics (http://www.amazon.com/Onkyo-HT-S7300-7-1-Channel-Theater-Receiver/dp/B003OQUIIG)

It does 7.1 or 5.1 w/Zone 2 (which I love as it will be providing music to my bar area while the main speakers play something else)

It's LOUD!

It has just enough inputs for my needs, four (4).
It upconverts RCA, Component for all 4 inputs to HDMI out to the projector. No need for anything else plugged into your television but the one HDMI cable.

I bought a separate cheap $100 BluRay (LG?) for my basement set up. I have a sony theater-in-a-box upstairs in the family room but for the basement, I needed to have complete control of what I was viewing without running wires everywhere.

[Scuba_Dave]

Yeah I need a home theatre with a receiver as the main part
I can pick up SD a blu-ray player at some point
Busy cutting wood today, so no trip to BB to see what they have

[Scuba_Dave]

Found a Sony Blu-Ray system on sale at Best Buy
Plus I can then connect to the Internet thru the Blu-Ray
Decent setup ?

Sony (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Sony+-+1000W+5.1-Ch.+3D/Wi-Fi+Blu-ray+Home+Theater+System/1997349.p?id=1218305633044&skuId=1997349)

Just reading the details & it appears a FM tuner is built in too

will not play DivX - not sure how important that is ?

[Huskie]

Just reading the details & it appears a FM tuner is built in too

will not play DivX - not sure how important that is ?

You ripping your own DVDs now?

[Quads]

I wouldn't buy anything that wouldn't play DivX, but that's me.

[Scuba_Dave]

You ripping your own DVDs now?

No...not at all, I haven't burned a DVD movie in years, ah....so DivX can go to the hd....
Seems only the $200+ blu-ray players have DivX
I'm looking for a system for the main room, just surround sound is all I'm really looking for
The addition will have a better system....7.1 etc

[Scuba_Dave]

I think I'm going with the Sony setup for now
With the kid going to bed at 7-8p I don't use the surround sound much
But at least with this I'll have it & a blu-ray player too
I'll move the other speakers out to the sunroom w/the 42" TV

[Scuba_Dave]

Decided against the Sony, went to look at it, speakers look like junk
Maybe they aren't, but I'd rather get a decent AV receiver & then build a system
So....still looking......BB has a 7.1 Yamaha marked $359 in store
I got home & looked online & it is listed at $429 online

Yamaha (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Yamaha+-+735W+7.1-Ch.+A/V+Home+Theater+Receiver/2053148.p?id=1218307635478&skuId=2053148)

[Quads]

Good choice. I'd take Yamaha over Sony *any* day.

[Pablo Sanchez]

Sony. Sucks. Ballz.

[Scuba_Dave]

Frack it...still looking, Yamaha not listed as direct HDTV compatible signal :(

[Scuba_Dave]

My old surround sound receiver is a Sony, over 12 years old & never a problem
Its now out in the pool cabana & still working great
Appears I may still get a Sony, just not the blu-ray setup I looked at
The most use this receiver will see is as a stereo
I'm going to use my old Cambridge Sound work speakers for now
Not sure I will get a blu-ray player.....haven't bought a movie in a while, most of the movies we get now I have SD'd

This Sony will give me 7.1 for the main room at under $200

Sony (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Sony+-+700W+7.1-Ch.+3D+Pass-Through+A/V+Home+Theater+Receiver/2023402.p?id=1218305994884&skuId=2023402)

[Scuba_Dave]

Cancel that one....needs multiple cables if you have a composite/component in device

So....a Pioneer instead ? Has 7.1....just under $300
Seems to have all the options/bells/whistles I am looking for
God I hate looking thru all this stuff :cool:

Pioneer (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Pioneer+-+875W+7.1-Channel+A/V+Home+Theater+Receiver/1799145.p?id=1218293489921&skuId=1799145)

Crap...nope that one doesn't have the sound pass thru when the receiver is off
I'm about ready to give up......this sucks
I can't find a single decent one that has standby pass thru, not even HK

[Scuba_Dave]

OK...last chance.....7.1, pass thru, multi-room, video conversion

But....rated for 6 ohm speakers aaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrr
may not be an issue.....not many reviews out there

Sherwood (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Sherwood+-+700W+7.1-Ch.+A/V+Home+Theater+Receiver/2838746.p?id=1218355300282&skuId=2838746)

[Scuba_Dave]

Wish I had ordered the Digital Toslink audio cable thru Monoprice when I ordered the other stuff
Oh well....maybe I'll order the in-wall speakers at the same time
Maybe I should order some banana plugs at the same time ?
....seems there's different versions...closed/open screw :confused:
...found a review online for the same receiver/connection...so ordering the same kind :p

I can order multiple cables from Monoprice VS buying 1 cable locally
The 42" FP has a Digital audio out too, so might as well get a cable just in case

[jrees]

Yeah, might as well grab a few extra cables from monoprice now. Much cheaper, and the fewer orders you make, the easier the shipping hit is.

Not sure how many HDMI cables you plan to buy, but you might as well order a couple extra of those while you're at it. Much better than running to Best Buy and getting raped when you need one down the road.

[Quads]

Exactly. At $three-fiddy each (http://www.monoprice.com/products/search.asp?keyword=hdmi+cable&x=0&y=0), there's no reason to not have 5 on hand in the 'cable drawer'.

[Scuba_Dave]

My last order I picked up (3) 3' HDMI & (3) 10' HDMI
Debating on picking up a few more
I'll be upgrading to a Blu-ray eventually, probably on each TV
HD cable box will need one on each TV, but usually they send the cable out with the box
Then I'm sure I'll be upgrading the stereo in the sunroom to an AV stereo

Still looking around the Monoprice site to see if there is anything else I need

[Huskie]

I forgot to order digital optical audio cables last time. Got them this time around with a bunch of diff sized HDMI, mini HDMI to HDMI, banana plugs, etc.

Depends on the receiver you find but getting those digital audio cables now might be well worth it. send the audio from cable box (?) to receiver perhaps?

[Huskie]

Wish I had ordered the Digital Toslink audio cable thru Monoprice when I ordered the other stuff
Oh well....maybe I'll order the in-wall speakers at the same time
Maybe I should order some banana plugs at the same time ?
....seems there's different versions...closed/open screw :confused:
...found a review online for the same receiver/connection...so ordering the same kind :p

I can order multiple cables from Monoprice VS buying 1 cable locally
The 42" FP has a Digital audio out too, so might as well get a cable just in case

Oops. Just saw you already mentioned those cables.

Had to get banana clips too. Didn't know the diff until I checked them on monoprice. Watch the video under the description of either one. Shows which is which. Basically, the open is easier but the cable goes through the hole in the side, not the back as in the closed. I ordered 14 pairs of closed.

[Scuba_Dave]

Yeah...going thru all the cables I might need.....
Now I'm wondering if I want to get a 25' SVGA cable so I can have video out from my PC to the TV
I've never had a computer video cable that long, not sure of performance
In the sunroom I could go with a 15' cable for the TV out there
I've never used the old TV for PC video as it was too far away (25')
hmmmm....my video card has HDMI out....does that mean I could run HDMI to my TV ??

[Quads]

hmmmm....my video card has HDMI out....does that mean I could run HDMI to my TV ??

Now you're catching on McFly.

[Scuba_Dave]

I'm getting there.....been over 3 years since I bought my last TV
Even longer since I bought any video/audio equipment
Checked out the specs on the PC video card - ATI Radeon HD 3600
It will run 2 displays.....so I can have the reg monitor & the TV
So stream from the Internet to the TV...Eureka !! Dang...modern Technology :mrgreen:
25' 26 awg HDMI cable less then $18...God I love Monoprice !

Sunroom PC only has reg VGA out, so I'll get a VGA cable for out there
My son may like using the TV as a monitor
Psyched, the PS2 connection is 8' long, so that will reach the TV that is wall mounted in the sunroom
Things are looking up ! Tomorrow I have to finish setting up the sunroom

[Scuba_Dave]

Yeah...I knew this was coming
Wife is bitching about me buying the TV without talking to her 1st
Gee.....I'm sorry...it was a fucking Christmas present
Then she brings up how I complain when she buys more cereal when we have 10 boxes of cereal in the house
....or tells me to buy another bottle of honey when we already have 3 bottles
We have enough ketchup to last 2 years - I shit you not
Can't seem to get it thru her head that FOOD GOES BAD

Never mind the fact that I brought home an almost new 21 cu ft fridge that we were going to have to buy in the Spring
Or the other stuff I bring home that saves us $$ from buying stuff
Of course she has to piss me off right before bedtime, does it every freekin time :mad:

[nuzbim]

SD,
check out Woot® : One Day, One Deal™
(http://www.woot.com) today, they have a 7.1 pioneer on sale, not sure if it's a great deal, but thought you might wanna check it out.

[Scuba_Dave]

Ended up ordering one w/3D pass-thru & Internet connectivity
Might be years before I end up with a 3D TV in this room, but I still have my last stereo after 12+ years....

[Scuba_Dave]

Well, I ended up with a Sony 7.2 & I hate it already :mrgreen:
It doesn't display the FM station when its on, just says FM TUNER
It has 30 presets, which is almost worthless since when you change presets it doesn't tell you what station you are on
Displaying the FM station seems like a pretty basic function, looked thru all the setting NADA
You can of course go in & LABEL each preset, WTF ???
And it doesn't have a switched power outlet for the powered sub-woofer

2nd, whenever I turn the TV on (using the FIOS remote) the receiver now comes on & switches the TV input to the HDMI from the receiver...which is not connected to anything
Wife is going to hate this thing if I can't change these settings

Do all AV receivers do this now ?
I can see where turning the receiver on & switching to the HDMI input for the TV might be a nice option for some people

[Scuba_Dave]

I need to go to Best Buy & look, but normally they are only on display & not plugged in
Makes it harder to checkout the features

Looking at the Pioneer 921 or 1021
One report said the HDMI pass thru on the 921 does not work
Wondering if they just did not connect it right.......need to find the review again

[Quads]

Welcome to Sony's bullshit.
Return that POS.
Go buy the Yamaha.

Our resident general council even said so.
The Perfect Man Cave - View Single Post - New TV, now I need a new Home theatre setup (http://perfectmancave.com/forum/showpost.php?p=322854&postcount=12)

[Scuba_Dave]

Yeah, but the Yamaha states this:

HDTV Compatibility No



How can it Not be HDTV compatible :confused:
It's not until the $500 model that it states HDTV compatible

[jrees]

Sony? Fuck them.....Get a Yamaha. They know their shit. Sony knows how to make shit. All kinds of it....

Where does it state the compatibility Dave? If that info is from Best Buy, I wouldn't believe their site. I would go to the Yamaha site for any info you need.

I can't imagine any receiver from a company that knows receivers would release one that isn't HDTV compatible.

[Scuba_Dave]

Sony? Fuck them.....Get a Yamaha. They know their shit. Sony knows how to make shit. All kinds of it....

Where does it state the compatibility Dave? If that info is from Best Buy, I wouldn't believe their site. I would go to the Yamaha site for any info you need.

I can't imagine any receiver from a company that knows receivers would release one that isn't HDTV compatible.

Yeah, I'm more then willing to bet its just the way Best Buy input the data into there spec sheet
Also found out the HDMI pass-thru works on a lot of these with the receiver in standby mode, uses 1.2w
So I think people reporting it not working were using a UPS/power strip or something else that fully shut off power to the receivers in question

I've almost decided on the Pioneer VSX-921-K
One main question is...Do Most Modern/new Receivers show the station your are tuning in on the Receiver display ?
Sony only shows it thru the TV, which seems idiotic
This is the one I looked at earlier & then a review said the HDMI pass-thru does not work
Once the Man Cave etc is finished off a better AV stereo setup will go up there w/net capabilities

Thanks for everyone assistance with this, I'm way behind the times on this stuff

Pioneer (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Pioneer+-+875W+7.1-Channel+A/V+Home+Theater+Receiver/1799145.p?id=1218293489921&skuId=1799145)



My 2nd Monoprice order arrived - cables, so I am going to connect my PC to the TV
Prawn on a 55" screen......cumming up

[jrees]

Prawn on a 55" screen......cumming up

http://images.wikia.com/prawnhub/images/d/df/Going_to_be_a_Fairy_Prawn.jpg

?

[Scuba_Dave]

My 2nd Monoprice order arrived - cables, so I am going to connect my PC to the TV
Prawn on a 55" screen......cumming up

Not tonite....I ordered a 25' HDMI cable, room is less then 19' length
BUT, HDMI connection on the TV is at the far end away from the hole in the wall, so I needed moar...
I figure a 35' cable is what I will order, I'd hate to order a 30' & have it be too short
Oh well......WPP

I could run it direct across the carpet while the wife is at work tomorrow
At least get a chance to...play around with it ;)

[Scuba_Dave]

My 3rd order from Monoprice in less then a month

One 35' HDMI & (3) 6' HDMI
...anything else I should order...I have plenty now...rather not order again
Dunno if this order will arrive by Christmas now, not paying for next day or Priority

...freekin 3's were too short to go from the receiver to the TV
They have to put the HDMI connection on one end of the TV instead of the middle :(
Wife has no knowledge of the receiver upgrade, she will never know most likely
They are all black & look the same.....she never turns on the home theater setup

[Scuba_Dave]

I brought the Sony back & picked up a Pioneer 7.1 receiver - VSX-921-K
I installed the banana clips & Digital audio cable
Tested out & it works, now I just need to set the 30 presets
And run thru the automatic room setup
Dunno if the wife will notice, unless the MIL mentions I installed a new stereo
I have a different center speaker in the basement, not sure if it is better, will need to check
I still need 2 more speakers for the full surround setup
And then I can connect 2 more speakers for a 2nd room....maybe the kitchen

Now I just need the long HDMI cable to connect the PC

[Scuba_Dave]

And it doesn't have a switched power outlet for the powered sub-woofer

I did not find a single receiver at a decent price that had a switched power outlet
Found an online manual to my Klipsch sub & it has an auto-power down mode, so even if it is plugged in it shuts off after 15 minutes without a signal
I saw a red LED on the front, thought it was on
Turns out red = off & it turns green when its on
Not sure how much power it draws when its off, hopefully not much just for the LED

[NathanJax]

Glad the Pioneer works for you. I've had great success with them.

[Scuba_Dave]

Just as an FYI a guy on an AV forum I joined found that the setting to change the Sony to display the FM channel on the front of the receiver
Instructions were on page 108 in the manual :rolleyes:
Nice, but I'm not reading thru 100+ pages of a manual to start using an FM receiver
Oh well.....the Sony did have a LAN connection which would have been nice to test

I need to run a connection from my antenna to the antenna on the back of the receiver
Every know & then it loses the signal
One of the downsides of the cement lath wall system, really kills signals

[Quads]

FM.
That makes me laugh.

[Scuba_Dave]

FM.
That makes me laugh.

Yeah I still listen to FM, I see no reason to turn a PC on or anything else to listed to a stereo
And actually that is to display ANY info on the front of the receiver VS using the TV as the display for the Sony menu

[Scuba_Dave]

Finally Recd the 35' HDMI cable & connected the PC
I have video on the TV, but do not have any sound from the TV
The HDMI cable should carry audio & video
But....I'm thinking the video card on the PC only sends video
Not a big deal I guess......

[Scuba_Dave]

OK, figured it out
I have to select the HDMI as the audio device
I was hoping I could have both enabled at the same time, but I guess not

[Quads]

srs+ly?

[Scuba_Dave]

srs+ly?

SRS+ly What ?