Home Theater System Recommendation

**tchelo** · **11-19-07, 10:57 PM**

Hi Everyone,

I am a beginner on this Home Theater stuff...I intend to take advantage of this Hoiliday to buy my Home Theater.

The idea is not buy the top models but the ones with good quality and name.
My main focus will be on the TV. I want to buy a Samsung 46"LCD HDTV 1080P LNT4665F .
The rest of the Home Theater (receiver, speakers, subwoofer and HDDVD????) I am thinking to spend less money, meaning not buying the top and expensive brands.

Can you help me figure out which of the those (receiver, speakers, subwoofer and HDDVD???? could fit/match better to have a fair quality of sound and image.

THANK YOU IN ADVANCE!!!

**Sonnie** · **11-19-07, 11:39 PM**

Hi Tchelo and welcome to the Shack!

We can give you recommendations, but ultimately your ears will have to determine if everything is right for you.

What is your budget for the receiver, speakers, subwoofer and HD-DVD player?

**tchelo** · **11-20-07, 12:14 AM**

Thanks!
I don't want to spend more than 800.00 on that...one important thing is, the HomeTheater will be in my Living Room, which is not a room exclusive for the Home Theater, so I just want a good option of sound but not that Professional one (meaning my wife will kill me if I ruin her living room decoration...)

I have another question: Does the HD DVD come together with the Home Theater System or I would need to buy a HD DVD a part from the Home Teather System? Let's say that I pick this one Sony - 1000W 5.1-Ch. XM-Ready Home Theater System/Upconvert DVD http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....=1184369167013 I would need to buy a HD DVD cause this one is not one of them, right?

Sorry for so many questions...I just want to be understand ASAP this thing before the Holiday...

Would be this a good option or there is another similar option

**tchelo** · **11-20-07, 12:19 AM**

Just adding a little thing...

Does exist wireless speakers?

Do you recommend those?

**Sonnie** · **11-20-07, 01:10 AM**

I would not consider wireless and I probably wouldn't consider that Sony system either... you are paying for a DVD player that you won't need... and yes you'll still have to buy a separate HD-DVD player.

Another member purchased this Onkyo HT-SR800 7.1 Home Theater Entertainment System and was very happy with it. It's considerably less and you get free shipping as well.

Then you can pick up a Toshiba HD-A3 720p/1080i HD DVD Player and be under $600 total.

Spend the difference on HD-DVDs...

**Sonnie** · **11-20-07, 01:16 AM**

If you need smaller speakers you could look at a combo system from Panasonic and Polk...

Polk Audio RM6750 5.1 Channel Home Theater Speaker System

Panasonic SA-XR55S Home Theater Receiver

**tchelo** · **11-20-07, 01:45 AM**

That's great, Sonnie!

Couple of questions, though...The quality of the Sony one not so good?What would be the downside of it?

Do the ones you just recommended better than Sony in terms of better sound (meaning better experience and loundeness...I guess the Sony one is 1000W but I could not find this feature on the other....)?

Thanks again for the recommendations...

**Sonnie** · **11-20-07, 07:38 AM**

Here's the info on the Onkyo system. It's 110wpc.

I've just not seen too much info on Sony systems, but have heard good things about the Onkyo. I won't say the Sony is necessarily inferior because I don't know that for a fact... but I still would not buy it. You won't need 1000 watts... you won't need the 110wpc either... not for your application. Any of those systems are going to provide you with plenty of power.

**tchelo** · **11-20-07, 12:55 PM**

Thank you for all the attention, Sonnie!

Now I will just wait for the Black Friday and see what deals I can get!

Cheers

**tonyvdb** · **11-20-07, 01:11 PM**

My personal opinion is that you go with the Onkyo system over the Sony. You will not be disappointed. Onkyo has a better product than most and bang for buck you cant go wrong.

**tchelo** · **11-20-07, 02:03 PM**

I will wait the tomorrow paper to see where I will buy my HDTV. I would like to take advantage to also buy in the same store the Home Theater System.

If the picked one were BESTBUY, for example, I haven't seen any Onkyo there (at leats in the website)...if I could not find it there, which model/brand I should go with?

**tchelo** · **11-20-07, 02:16 PM**

You really seem an expert on that, so let me double check something...
I intend to go with a 46 inches and seems the Samsung 46" HDTV LCD 1080p LNT4665F is a good choice.
What you think about that?
Is there other players that I could get the same thing (meaning quality) or higher paying less?

**JCD** · **11-20-07, 03:54 PM**

I'm going to take a different tack on this one.. why not go for a 2.1 channel system instead? You can upgrade both the sub and the mains and not have to worry about the wiring messing with the decor of the room. If your wife is anything like mine, you won't be able to put the speakers where you need to get a good 5.1 field, but you MIGHT be able to get a good stereo placement with a sub for the oomph on the low end. Maybe a paid or SVS SCS-01 or SBS-01's with a PB10-NSD. Pair that with a decent receiver and you've got an extremely acceptable system. Similar lineups from Paradigm, Klipsch, PSB, etc would also be an upgrade. Although, you should stick with SVS for the sub.

Just playing devil's advocate..

JCD

**tonyvdb** · **11-20-07, 04:35 PM**

Quote:

tchelo wrote:

If the picked one were BESTBUY, for example, I haven't seen any Onkyo there (at leats in the website)...if I could not find it there, which model/brand I should go with?

Denon is always a good safe choice, Yamaha is also a good bet. I know that Bestbuy sells them.
JCD has a good point, There are also some speaker systems that use only one speaker cabinet that is placed on top of the the TV that has multiple drivers that are controled by an internal processor to simulate full surround. The Yamaha YSP400 works very well in that sort of situation.

**tchelo** · **11-20-07, 11:56 PM**

Sonnie, I just came back from BestBuy and I got the 46" HDTV Samsung 1080p LN-t 4665F....I could get a better deal in the VideoOnly but the Sales guys was kind of a jerk and I decide to spend more money to have a better assitance and more time in the buying experience.

Now I just need to think a little more on those recommendations...thanks again!

**Sonnie** · **11-21-07, 12:02 AM**

Congrats on the Samsung... you got a nice unit...

Jacen's idea on getting better mains and a sub with a receiver is a good option to consider.

**tchelo** · **11-21-07, 12:17 AM**

JCD,

Thank you for your help! I think you got my concern about the decoration experience that my wife has created in our living room...ahahahah...while she is watching HGTV I am concerned about my HDTV (for us brazilians those two words are very tricky when spelling....).

Now I am in that part of the game that I really don't understand some acronyms

If you have a time available, can you give the model name/brand (pictures like Sonnie did aso well...this helps a lot!) of those you mentioned...I am sorry for having so little knowledge on that...

I still hope to get some good deal for HD DVD (or just I get Blue Ray???) and Home Theater System in the Black Friday...

Thanks in advance!

**mechman** · **11-21-07, 01:17 PM**

Here's an excellent deal on a Onkyo Home Theater System in a box at Tiger Direct. If you don't mind ordering on the internet...

Onkyo Deal

mech

**tchelo** · **11-21-07, 02:44 PM**

Mechman,

Very good tip! 399.00!!!

One question though: I found the model ONKYO HT-SR800 7.1 Channel Home Theater System in the Circuity City for the same price. Which one is the better?
I think both cases (specially the one I just told you) have so big units and may jeopardize our Living Decoration...Let's say I want to spend less than 300 dollars on the Home Theater System (remembering that I will buy a HD DVD, so I don't mind to not have a DVD player along with the Home Theater System), which one you would recommend?

I found the below ones good deals for the Black Friday (and seems they have small units...) but I don't understand how good are their qualities:

Sony 1000 WATTS 5 -Disc Home Theater System - 249.99 (why do they have so many Discs?)
Sony 800 WATTS Home Theater System - 149.99 ( liked the price!!!)

Remember I have the 46" Samsung HDTV 1080p and I would like to spend less but use the features of this unit...

Again, I am sorry for being so stupid on this things...

Thanks (I am loving this website!)

**tonyvdb** · **11-21-07, 03:00 PM**

Quote:

tchelo wrote:

I found the below ones good deals for the Black Friday (and seems they have small units...) but I don't understand how good are their qualities:

Sony 1000 WATTS 5 -Disc Home Theater System - 249.99 (why do they have so many Discs?)
Sony 800 WATTS Home Theater System - 149.99 ( liked the price!!!)

Dont go by the Watts rating, this has little to do with how loud it will go or for that matter how good it sounds. The Sony systems will not sound as good due to the size and quality of the speakers. The build quality of the Sony system will also not be as good as the Onkyo by a long shot.
The 5 disc HTR is just for ease of use if your listening to CDs or watching DVDs this way you dont have to get up and change them as often.

**Sonnie** · **11-21-07, 03:12 PM**

If you buy the Onkyo deal mech suggest... order it via the Shack for the same price...

And the Onkyo HT-SR800 that you found at Circuit City is only $389 via the Shack with free shipping. Saves you the taxes you'll pay at Circuit City.

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