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Home > Archive > General Discussion > September 2003 > Home Theater Systems
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Home Theater Systems
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| Boulware5 2002-10-30, 3:39 pm |
| I am considering purchasing a Dolby Digital receiver and speekers in order to plug my TV, VCR, XBOX, DVD player (The Xbox IS currently my DVD player). I don't know much about it. I'm looking for suggestions as to what to look for, best place to buy it, your experiences with it, etc.... | |
| Slinky 2002-10-30, 4:09 pm |
| Dolby Digital is OK, but Digital Theater System (DTS) is better if you want surround sound. Most receivers nowadays come with DTS already built in so you don't need to worry about it. Home theater systems are kind of like computers as far as prices are concerned. You can get a basic system for around $500 (which is very low end obviously) to a super high end system that costs $10k+ (THX certified), but it all depends on how much you want to spend. Do you want a "shake the walls" system or an "casual listening" one? That all factors in to the cost, lots of power=lots more $$$. When I got into it I spent around $2,500 and that got me pretty decent sound and I can shake the walls with it if I want to. I recently bought a Sony STR-DE985 receiver to replace my other one and I think I paid like $399 for it at Circuit City. It has optical inputs which are nice for my X-Box and DVD players. Though my DVD player doesn't support DTS.  I recommend buying a receiver that has digital connections, you won't be disappointed.  The frequency response of digtal sound is 100x better than analog. The highs are much crisper and the lows are tighter. Some of the good brands to look at buying would be Sony, Harman Kardon, Onkyo, and Denon. All of those companies are very reputable and make quality components. You can get a pretty decent entry level receiver for about $400 or so and will do more than you will ever probably need.
I would check into what electronic stores you have in your area, ie Circuit City, Best Buy, etc. If you have any dedicated stores check those out as they tend to have a bigger selection and usually have mutliple sound booths setup so you can listen to the different combinations of components. That helps out alot in the decision process if you can hear it before you buy it. | |
| Deja-vue 2002-10-30, 5:04 pm |
| Boy, this is a way to complicated matter...
I built my System (18 feet wide x 6 feet tall) back in 1997, and i had to do extensive research.
Tok me 3 Month to built, i actually build the Room around the System.
This Forum is too small to describe the possibilities.
If i had to do it all over, i'd go with Dolby Digital EX 6.1.
DTS was coming on strong, but the available Titles are just not enough.
Looks like, it is going to be Dolby Digital.
This is also the Sound used in the upcoming HDTV Format.
Direct TV already sends out most of their Programs in DD. But new Movies, like Star Wars " Attack of the Clones" comes in DD EX.
We'll have to wait and see.
For an Reciever, i'd go with Pioneer or, if you got some Money to spend, check out Yamaha, some Recievers cost as much as a small Car, and i will not even start with the Speakers.
There is Forums for this Subject, right here:
http://www.hometheaterforum.com/htforum/index.php
and Prices are excellent on Pricewatch.com
I spend a little more than $25000 on my System, and i am a "small fish", when it comes to real Freaks, who spend more than $100 000 on a good setup.
Let us know, which one you bought. | |
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| Deja-vue 2002-10-30, 6:09 pm |
| lol.
Home Theater has been a hobby of mine the last 20 years.
all of the woodwork you see was done by myself.
there is a couple of additions now in there, not shown in the picture.
A Sony SAT-60 ( Tivo) with 2 80 gig hard drives.
When my wife bought it for my birthday, i didn't hook it up, but carried it into the lab and threw out the measly 40 gig hard drive ( only gives you 35 hours recording), and added two 80 gig harddrives. ( total 168 hours).
i am a freak.
Stock to me is never good enough. | |
| Boulware5 2002-10-30, 10:43 pm |
| Thanks for the info. I'm a newbie at all this. Question...Im currently using my Xbox for my DVD player. Do you know if I play DVDs on my Xbox (connected to the receiver), will it support all those goodies you mentioned such as DTS and Dolby Digital 5.1?
BTW, I saw some receivers for around $200 on ebay. I need to read more into those because that seems too cheap to include a lot of the stuff you said. | |
| NetChild1985 2002-10-31, 5:27 am |
| Deja-vue, when I consider to buy a Home Theater System, you'll be the first person who I'll ask for opinion. | |
| Deja-vue 2002-10-31, 9:30 am |
| Netchild: i will be happy to help out any time.
Boulevard:
I am not too familiar with the X-Box, but if it plays DVD's, it should also have an optical output, to connect via fiber optics.
As Slinky stated before, optical inputs on the Reciever are a must have, for DD and DTS.
If the X-Box doesn't have them, still buy a Reciever with optical inputs, just in case you replace the DVD player some day.
Remember:
Even though the Offers on E-bay sound very good, check out some reviews on Home Theater Magazine here:
http://www.hometheatermag.com/
Finally, once you know what you want, compare prices on pricewatch.
Those dinky RCA wires, that come with the X-box or any Reciever, DVD player or VCR, belong in the Trashcan.
The Cables should be at least Monstercables, check 'em out here:http://www.monstercable.com/
The Speakercable should be the biggest, you can afford, Monster has some pretty good ones, but the same Quality is available at your local Home Depot for $99 a roll.
Don't forget a good Surge protector, just like you use it on your Computer, a UPS would be even better, i use a Lineconditioner from Panamax.
Like i said, there is a lot to learn about Home Theater systems, we're just scratching the Surface. | |
| Teck Shark 2002-10-31, 9:33 am |
| quote:
Originally posted by Deja-vue
Boy, this is a way to complicated matter...
I built my System (18 feet wide x 6 feet tall) back in 1997, and i had to do extensive research.
Tok me 3 Month to built, i actually build the Room around the System.
This Forum is too small to describe the possibilities.
If i had to do it all over, i'd go with Dolby Digital EX 6.1.
DTS was coming on strong, but the available Titles are just not enough.
Looks like, it is going to be Dolby Digital.
This is also the Sound used in the upcoming HDTV Format.
Direct TV already sends out most of their Programs in DD. But new Movies, like Star Wars " Attack of the Clones" comes in DD EX.
We'll have to wait and see.
For an Reciever, i'd go with Pioneer or, if you got some Money to spend, check out Yamaha, some Recievers cost as much as a small Car, and i will not even start with the Speakers.
There is Forums for this Subject, right here:
http://www.hometheaterforum.com/htforum/index.php
and Prices are excellent on Pricewatch.com
I spend a little more than $25000 on my System, and i am a "small fish", when it comes to real Freaks, who spend more than $100 000 on a good setup.
Let us know, which one you bought.
Sweet setup Deja! Looks a lot like mine, without all the wood! I've setup my entire basement Family Room just like a Theatre -because it's shaped like one  . Speakers all the way across the walls... all the way to the back!
Boulware5,
I've been servicing receivers & speakers for a few years now & I can tell you that Sony & Yamaha receivers are by far the best for sound quality & durability, but they come at a loftier price tag. Pioneer makes a nice receiver too. Stay away from the cheap ones!!! Expecially those sub $100 DVD Players. They aren't worth the scrap metal they're made out of.
As far as speakers go, It really doesn't matter. But JBL & Bose are the best. We rarely ever have to service Bose, but man are they expensive. Sony & Cervin Vega make nice speakers too. Yamaha isn't too bad, but they have a real problem with their tweeters. Again stay away from cheap crap, like KLH... all they'll give you is a headache.
Deja & Slinky hit most of the other things to look for. Any decent receiver should support Dolby Digital & DTS. The key to remember is cables. You can spend all the money in the world on hardware, and if your cables suck, so will the quality of your sound. So spend the extra money on the nicer cables, MonsterCables are the best. Use Optical cables whenever you can, their sound qualiy is far superior. Also don't forget a good Surge protector or UPS.
Have fun assembling your home theatre system... I had a blast doing mine! I love anything to do with electronics! 
I've pieced together many setups, for family & friends... Feel free to PM or email me with any other questions you might have. I'd love to help... I can tell you all the goods & bads... since I have sold & serviced most brands. | |
| Slinky 2002-10-31, 9:59 am |
| The X-Box does support Dolby Digital. If you buy the Monster A/V cable it will have another connector on it so you can hook up the Lightwave 100x optical cable to the receiver. | |
| Slinky 2002-10-31, 11:05 am |
| I've heard before that digital coax connections are better than optical. My ears aren't that tuned in to be able to hear any difference though, so I don't know. | |
| Teck Shark 2002-10-31, 2:19 pm |
| They both produce such high quality sound that it would be hard to tell a difference, if any.
In theory a Digital Coax could be considered better because even a cheaper cable will perform outstanding unless it's unshielded. This is where the quality of the cable really becomes the issue. Many fiber optic cables use generic fiber, which limits the amount of light that passes through the cable. This is where you get your signal loss and "jitter." So you need to spend the extra money for a quality Optical cable, to greatly reduce the chance of signal loss or jitter. That's why digital coax cables have the edge, because they are somewhat cheaper, and give you similar quality of sound.
It's been my experience that a high quality Optical cable will give you the highest quality sound possible. At least that's what all the manufacturor's say! But it comes at a price. Truthfully, either cable sounds incredible! | |
| Boulware5 2002-10-31, 11:03 pm |
| Good info. I think I will hold off for a little while. When you add up everything (receiver, cables, speakers) it's a bit out of my price range right now. | |
| Teck Shark 2002-11-01, 9:10 am |
| quote:
Originally posted by Boulware5
Good info. I think I will hold off for a little while. When you add up everything (receiver, cables, speakers) it's a bit out of my price range right now.
I know what you mean. Still paying off the credit card! | |
| Deja-vue 2002-11-01, 9:53 am |
| Didn't mean to scare you off, Boulevare5. | |
| RUSH2112 2002-11-01, 9:16 pm |
| Hey Boulware5,
If you are on a budget you might want to look into this. I have the DTT3500 for my PC and it kicks butt. Hope this helps | |
| Boulware5 2002-11-01, 9:25 pm |
| quote:
Originally posted by RUSH2112
Hey Boulware5,
If you are on a budget you might want to look into this. I have the DTT3500 for my PC and it kicks butt. Hope this helps
This dont include a receiver to plug all your cables into does it? | |
| RUSH2112 2002-11-01, 10:18 pm |
| check this out
info | |
| Deja-vue 2003-09-16, 11:51 am |
| I wonder if Boulware5 ever built that Home Theater System.
I just upgraded mine a bit with a Pioneer DVF727 (301 DVD-Changer)and a DVR-7000
(DVD-Recorder).
A Pain was to remove the VCRs (don't use VCRs anymore) and fit the new Components into the Wall.
Just waiting for the HDTV-TiVo now and then replace the TV.
....it never stops. | |
| Boulware5 2003-09-16, 12:25 pm |
| Wow this thread goes away back. No I never got a home theater system. Did get a ReplayTV system instead. (it's like Tivo only with more features and some say better picture quality) | |
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| Da-aamn Deja .... how does one say FARK I AM JEALOUS ;-)
I'm considering a Samsung Plasma right now - guess I need to revive my woodworking skills and cre4ate something similar. | |
| Deja-vue 2003-09-16, 5:40 pm |
| I have seen the Samsung Plasma Screens at the last COMDEX Show...up to 65 inches.
But way too expensive for me.
Time will bring them down, i am sure.
As for the Woodworking skills... i learned as i built it...had to make a few extra Trips to the local Home-Depot to get more 4X8 Sheets of Wood. | |
| ruscorp 2003-09-16, 7:37 pm |
| Oh crap, you said "home theater".
Don't you know Deja-vue is going to be all over you. | |
| Deja-vue 2003-09-16, 7:40 pm |
| quote:
Originally posted by ruscorp
Oh crap, you said "home theater".
Don't you know Deja-vue is going to be all over you.
Home Theaters are just a Passion of mine. | |
| ruscorp 2003-09-16, 7:57 pm |
| quote:
Originally posted by Deja-vue
Home Theaters are just a Passion of mine.
Is it a girl or boy. |
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