Hello all, I've used this site/forum for many audio/video answers, which I must thank you all for, and decided to register. I've been doing some research, and my motives for getting a home theater system is because I recently purchased the Samsung UN55C7000 55" LED 240hz 3D tv and the speakers on there tend to vibrate the back panel when my buddies and I jam on rock band for PS3, and also I've read in a couple of places that if you have a home theater receiver, the rock band calibration lag is eliminated. I've been researching home theater receivers as I have very minimal knowledge of this equipment, but I've read that video quality may be decreased when going thru a receiver and I would like to choose something where this doesn't happen or is barely noticible. The picture on my new tv is nothing short of amazing and I'd like to get the best picture possible out of it. The only pieces of equipment I'd have plugged into the receiver would be my PS3 and my HD Time Warner cable box. I live in an 800 sq. ft. one bedroom apartment, so I'm not looking for super high end, or the loudest system, but I would like something midrange. I'm looking to spend no more than 5 or 600 bux on a receiver, I have floor standing speakers that are old as dirt, but I'll upgrade those pretty soon. Please let me know of any suggestions and help you may provide. My apologies for the lengthy post!
Where were you researching? Going through the receiver hasn't degraded the video in years. Onkyos give the best bang for the buck now days. Here is the one I'd consider in your price range: http://www.amazon.com/Onkyo-TX-SR70...=sr_1_16?ie=UTF8&s=aht&qid=1277988854&sr=1-16 It decodes the HD audio over HDMI, so you can hear the HD audio soundtracks from blu ray movies. It has plenty of inputs. It has Audyssey auto calibration, which does very well. This is definitely the kind of receiver you need with a ps3.........
I was reading editor and user reviews on CNET, but as I was going back looking for reviews that I've read, I think I was just misreading and/or misunderstanding what they were saying, as I believe the poor video conversion they were talking about was converting from an analog signal to 1080i or 1080p, I've pasted example reviews below. Also I just noticed that the reviews I had read, were reviews from 2008 and 2009! I really appreciate you taking the time to reply and offer your suggestion JVC. I've checked out the receiver and it looks pretty awesome. Next paycheck I'm definately going to get it and I'll be sure to let you know what I think of it. My next steps are to research what type of speakers to get and what gauge or type of wires I should use. I'm sure I'll have more questions but I'll do some research on my own and if I have questions I'll be sure to search the forums and if I don't find anything I'll post in the proper forum. Again, I really appreciate your help and input JVC, please see the below reviews to see what I meant by the video degradation. "Review that I read for Onkyo TX-SR607" If you can overlook its poor analog video conversion, the Onkyo TX-SR607 offers up a ton of HDMI connectivity and excellent sound quality for a midrange AV receiver. "Here's another for Yamaha HTR-6260BL" Yamaha's HTR-6260BL includes more features than its predecessor, but it doesn't sound as good, has poor video upconversion quality, and doesn't let you assign digital-audio inputs.
The speakers I recommend are these: http://www.svsound.com/products-sys-sbs_black.cfm These are very good speakers, and come with one of the best subs you can get, for the price. SVS and HSU are known to be the top two sub manufacturers. Being an internet direct company, they don't have the overhead the stores have, and there's no third party middleman adding his profits to the price. So, you can get a lot more speaker and sub for your money. I use 14 AWG speaker wire for all speakers. You can get a 100 ft. spool from Lowe's for about $25. No need for expensive wiring. Digital cables such as HDMI, Optical, and digital coax, can be gotten cheap from: http://www.monoprice.com/home/index.asp Stay far away from "Monster" brand cables! They work ok, but are extremely overpriced. The Onkyo 608 (new model), is better than the 607. Yamaha is ok, but I prefer Onkyo, personally.
Thanks again for your suggestions JVC! Can you tell me if the Onkyo TX SR707 will pass a 3D signal? If not, do you have any recommendations for a receiver that can pass 3D Signal? I've read reviews for the Sony STR-DN1010 receiver but, as it is with all reviews, you either hear it's the best thing in the world or it's complete garbage. Even one review I read said they replaced this Sony receiver with the Onkyo TX SR-608! So again, I'm looking to you and the forums expertise for suggestions and recommendations. Also, I'm looking to order the receiver and speakers this weekend (July 10th). Unless you recommend a better receiver than the Onkyo TX SR-707, I'm going to purchase that, as well as these speakers here...http://www.amazon.com/Onkyo-SKS-HT540-Channel-Theater-Speaker/dp/B000GU78Z4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1278344124&sr=8-1. I've read nothing but great things about these speakers for their price and the only complaint that I've read is that the subwoofer may be too large for some. The speakers you recommended might be out of my price range for now, but I'll definately consider those speakers in the future as an upgrade. Let me know what you think sir, thanks!
The Onkyo TX-SR707 does not do 3D. 3D requires HDMI 1.4a, and the 707 is HDMI 1.3a. The Onkyo TX-SR508 does support the 3D technology: http://www.amazon.com/Onkyo-TX-SR50...ef=sr_1_5?s=aht&ie=UTF8&qid=1278345492&sr=1-5 Of course, if you can swing it, the TX-NR808 is even better: http://www.amazon.com/Onkyo-TX-NR80...ef=sr_1_1?s=aht&ie=UTF8&qid=1278345855&sr=1-1 The TX-NR708 (new model of the 707) supports the 3D also: http://www.amazon.com/Onkyo-TX-NR70...ef=sr_1_2?s=aht&ie=UTF8&qid=1278345855&sr=1-2 You can see all of Onkyo's receivers, and see their features here: http://www.us.onkyo.com/prod_class.cfm?class=Receiver Good luck!
