New TV, now need new reciever...

[arameth]

Just picked up a new Samsung 5054 for my first big TV...gotta say it's nice to have this after using a 32" tube for several years, all the while suffering while all my friends and family were already enjoying their big TV's.

Anywho, I now realize that my current AVR (an Onkyo 530? I believe...was part of a box set which I find to be adequate) has no HDMI input/outputs.

So here's my current setup:

Samsung 5054
Comcast Cable HD box w/ HDMI output
Toshiba DVD w/ HDMI
Onkyo 530 (no HDMI)

Where I want to go in the immediate future:

Samsung 5054
Comcast box w/HDMI
Toshiba DVD /w HDMI
- New Reciever - w/ HDMI
- HTPC - w/ HDMI


I'd ideally like to run HDMI cables from the Comcast box, the DVD, and the HTPC to the reciever, and then a single HDMI cable to the TV. So as far as I can tell, I'll need at least 3 HDMI inputs, and 4 would probably be better to be safe for any future needs.

The reciever that was recommended to me was the new Onkyo 606...looks like a nice unit to me, and has 4 HDMI inputs. Can anyone see any problem with my setup and this reciever? Also, if I were to switch out the TV for a new LCD that can do 1080p, I want the reciever to be able to handle this in the future (provided that I get a Bluray or something else capable of pushing 1080p signal...I don't think cable can do this currently).

I sometimes get the feeling that the AV industry makes much of this technology as confusing as possible...much like the PC industry does at times. I've visited avsforum, and got a headache from reading the info there....wayyyyy to much information...total overload. I'm just wanting to plug in my cable, DVD and PC into the reciever, run another cable to the TV, and want a nice picture and decent sound. Is that too much to ask?


Thanks!

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Yeah, the 606 should handle that just fine.

It will also handle the new audio formats over HDMI if you do get that Bluray player.

 

[vi edit]

With 4 HDMI inputs and the high def audio support, the 606 is a great value at ~$460.

 

[arameth]

Thanks to both for responding. I really do like my current Onkyo, and I'm thinking this should be a nice step up. I'll start hunting for a good price on this unit.

As far as speakers, I'm thinking these need to be refreshed as well. I have the standard speakers that came with the HTIB box...and again, they seem OK, with the exception of one speaker possibly being blown out (making funny rattling sound from rear left). I wanted to start upgrading...so the mains and rears will be first. Being that I'm on a budget, cost is an issue. For the mains, I have read countless recommendations for the Polk R50's. I'm not sure what to use for the rear L/R. Also, any suggestions on the speaker front? After that, any suggestions for center and sub? And since the Onkyo 606 is a 7.1 system, will I need to get L/R front channel satellite speakers, or will I be ok with 5.1?

Thanks!

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

I was going to suggest speakers as well, but wasn't sure if you had the budget for it.

Have you taken a look at my sticky thread?

I would suggest using your current speakers (at least the working ones) as your surrounds (or surrounds + rears if you have enough working ones). No need to go 7.1, 5.1 will work fine.

Concentrate on upgrading the front three speakers and the subwoofer.

If you're the kind of guy who likes to upgrade things, you might want to just upgrade either the front three speakers or the sub and "do it right the first time".

 

[shortylickens]

I have a 200 dollar reciever from Sony and it does just fine, though I did need to spend 30 bucks on an HD switch.
Overall I am happy.

 

[arameth]

Just went through your sticky thread...just got a real education...i totally missed it before, but I'm really glad I've read it now.

One thing that really hit home:

"The center channel is far more important and handles something like 70% of the sound from a typical DVD."

I had absolutely no idea on how important the center channel is...and seems to be a weak point in my current setup. I'll be investing eventually in a much better center channel to match the Polk R50's I'll be getting. Subwoofer is a given...and will also get a refresh.

Can't emphasize to anyone else going through a refresh or new purchase to read the sticky thread....well worth the time to read and the information is in my opinion well laid out and concise. One could do the avsforum thing, but it seems that they suffer from information overload, and it's harder to get an actual answer or opinion for AV newbies.

Thanks!

 

[vi edit]

If you are looking at the R50's, then look at the Polk CSR center. I think Fry's/Outpost has it for around $80. It's a very nice speaker for the $$.

I have a $150 Polk CSi3 and I think I actually prefer my friends $80 CSR over it.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: arameth
Just went through your sticky thread...just got a real education...i totally missed it before, but I'm really glad I've read it now.

One thing that really hit home:

"The center channel is far more important and handles something like 70% of the sound from a typical DVD."

I had absolutely no idea on how important the center channel is...and seems to be a weak point in my current setup. I'll be investing eventually in a much better center channel to match the Polk R50's I'll be getting. Subwoofer is a given...and will also get a refresh.

Can't emphasize to anyone else going through a refresh or new purchase to read the sticky thread....well worth the time to read and the information is in my opinion well laid out and concise. One could do the avsforum thing, but it seems that they suffer from information overload, and it's harder to get an actual answer or opinion for AV newbies.

Thanks!

I'm glad it was helpful.

It's too bad that in so many systems the center channel is almost an afterthought to the front left and right speakers. The motivation to keep it small and out of the way of the display often result in some not so great designs

 

[gcmmia]

I'm putting together my 1st home theater with my new Panasonic TH-50PZ85U 50" plasma.
I'm also looking @ the OnkyoTX-SR606
This is my plan:

Connect my Philips DVD player's HDMI Out to the Onkyo's HDMI 1 In.
Connect my SA 8300HD cable DVR's HDMI Out to the Onkyo's HDMI 2 In.
Connect my PC's video card DVI Out (with DVI-to-HDMI cable) to the Onkyo's HDMI 4 In.
Connect my PC's sound card Optical Out to the Onkyo's Optical 1 In.

Finally, the Onkyo's HDMI Out will go to my Panasonic TH-50PZ85U plasma's HDMI 1 In.
There will be no game console.


I hope these connections will let me:
Play mp3 files &/or CDs from my PC thru my 5.1 speakers with adjustable volume.
View my PC desktop on the plasma TV to browse my files or the internet with adjustable volume.
Watch TV thru the cable DVR.
Watch DVDs.

I checked the Onkyo TX-SR606 manual (downloaded @ http://www.us.onkyo.com/download/own...m?cat=Receiver)
and I think this setup could work, but I've never used an AVR before.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: gcmmia
I'm putting together my 1st home theater with my new Panasonic TH-50PZ85U 50" plasma.
I'm also looking @ the OnkyoTX-SR606
This is my plan:

Connect my Philips DVD player's HDMI Out to the Onkyo's HDMI 1 In.
Connect my SA 8300HD cable DVR's HDMI Out to the Onkyo's HDMI 2 In.
Connect my PC's video card DVI Out (with DVI-to-HDMI cable) to the Onkyo's HDMI 4 In.
Connect my PC's sound card Optical Out to the Onkyo's Optical 1 In.

Finally, the Onkyo's HDMI Out will go to my Panasonic TH-50PZ85U plasma's HDMI 1 In.
There will be no game console.


I hope these connections will let me:
Play mp3 files &/or CDs from my PC thru my 5.1 speakers with adjustable volume.
View my PC desktop on the plasma TV to browse my files or the internet with adjustable volume.
Watch TV thru the cable DVR.
Watch DVDs.

I checked the Onkyo TX-SR606 manual (downloaded @ http://www.us.onkyo.com/download/own...m?cat=Receiver)
and I think this setup could work, but I've never used an AVR before.

That should all work.

Note that Music tends to be stereo so it would be played back as 2.1 on your system unless it's multichannel music (like DVD-A) or you apply some sort of surround processing (like Dolby Prologic II)

 

[gcmmia]

Thanks for your quick reply!

 

[gcmmia]

to YOyoYOhowsDAjello or others:

If I could prevail upon your expertise once again:

For my above listed setup, I've not yet built the PC. Since I won't be gaming,
the only video Out to HDMI I need is to browse my PC desktop @ 1920x1080, or possibly to add on a BD drive at some point for Blu Ray disk playback to the plasma through the Onkyo AVR.
I also want high quality sound from my high-bit rate mp3 and flac audio files to go thru optical audio from a sound card to the Onkyo's Optical audio input to play to my Mirage speakers.
I don't intend to do any video encoding or recording with this PC (my other PC's can handle that.)
Do you have any suggestions on a motherboard/CPU/video card/audiocard setup for me?

I've been considering an ASUS P5E-VM HDMI LGA 775 Intel G35 HDMI Micro ATX Intel Motherboard (http://www.newegg.com/Product/...Item=N82E16813131237); a HT OMEGA CLARO 7.1 Channels 24-bit 192KHz PCI Interface Sound Card (http://www.newegg.com/product/...item=N82E16829271002); and a Intel Pentium E2200 Allendale 2.2GHz 1MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor (http://www.newegg.com/product/...?item=N82E16819116063) with 2GB Corsair DDR2 800 RAM and a cool & quiet Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD6400AAKS 640GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive (http://www.newegg.com/product/...x?item=N82E16822136218 ).

Any suggestion to upgrade/downgrade would be greatly appreciated.

 

[kalrith]

Originally posted by: vi edit
If you are looking at the R50's, then look at the Polk CSR center. I think Fry's/Outpost has it for around $80. It's a very nice speaker for the $$.

I have a $150 Polk CSi3 and I think I actually prefer my friends $80 CSR over it.

The CSi25 is also a perfect match for the R50. I think the new CSR is pretty much the same thing. You can often find them for a good price on ebay. I have the CSi25 paired up with two R50 up front and two R15 for surrounds, and I'm very pleased with the sound for the price. I paid $82 shipped at Fry's for mine.