Blue Ray - Theater in a Box

Hello...

Well, I know you can some great componets and get killer sound, but for my purpose, I don't need this for the room I'm putting this in.

Anyway, I couldn't find a forum for this cause it involves speakers, surround sound and the blue ray player. Anyway, I bought this:

Samsung HT-AS720ST Blu-Ray 5.1 Channel Home Theater System (Set of Seven, Black)

from amazon, have it at home in the box, however just printed the return receipt becase another vendor on Amazon has it cheaper and they won't refund my money so I have to re-buy it. I literally on had it for 3-4 days, but that's a different story...

I don't want to spend $1000, but I want some decent. Since I have to buy something else at this point anyway, is there anyting else I should consider???

Thanks...

First thing is, this doesn't contain a BD player and its name is misleading as hell.

You should consider the Onkyo HTiB as they look to offer the most value to go with performance. This (http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/ONKHTS6100/Onkyo/HT-S6100-7.1-Channel-Receiver/-Speaker-Package-BLACK/1.html) is probably the minimum you can pay to have something that will take advantage of all of BD's audio capabilities such as TrueHD and DTS Master Audio. The lesser lines should still sound good as well and would be a clear choice for me over the Samsung unit if a strict budget is of importance. The BD player is going to run you between $200-$300. And the ones I'd consider are:
Panasonic-DMP-BD35K (http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-DMP-BD35K-1080p-Blu-Ray-Player/dp/B001GAOYCS/ref=pd_ts_e_4?ie=UTF8&s=electronics)
Sony-BDP-S350 (http://www.amazon.com/Sony-BDP-S350-1080p-Blu-ray-Player/dp/B001A4LVYY/ref=pd_ts_e_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics)
Samsung-BD-P1500 (http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-BD-P1500-1080p-Blu-ray-Player/dp/B0014H16V0/ref=pd_ts_e_2?ie=UTF8&s=electronics)
The Sony and Panasonic are probably toss ups in the quality department and that being great(at least pretty good).
The Samsung looks to be a good player also and is currently cheaper but Samsung's support is not as good as Panasonic and Sony.

First thing is, this doesn't contain a BD player and its name is misleading as hell.

What the!!! OK, so I'm an idiot, yeah, totally confused with the name, I just went onto samsung (dot) com to check it out and yeah, this is just a theatre system, no player... That's dumb too because it was in the catogories when I was looking as a 'theatre in a box with DVD' - I guess we all know what happens when you assume something...

Anyway, so it looks like that is out... What should I consider? I'd like a blue ray, but I'm OK with an up converting system. I'm hanging my TV on the wall, so I'd really like to be able to only run 1 HDMI cable to the TV, so I'd like to come out of my cable box, into the surround sound unit/DVD player, then from there out to the TV...

Any thoughts, comments or suggestions would be greatly appreciated... Amazon is already on their way to pick this unit up...

LJ

I know you said you did not want to spend $1000, but what is your realistic budget? One system I would recommend is the Onkyo TX-SR606 receiver for starters. It has 4 1.3a HDMI inputs and upconverts analog in to the single HDMI out going to your TV. Perfect for a wall mount setup and in onsale at Amazon for $348 shipped:yippee:.
http://www.amazon.com/Onkyo-TX-SR606-Channel-Theater-Receiver/dp/B0015S8PGW/ref=pd_bbs_3?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1224685923&sr=8-3
That takes care of your receiver.

A nice set of Polk RM6750's for around $225 shipped is a very nice inexpensive 5.1 speaker set that will exceed most if not any HTIB speaker systems in the range.
http://www.amazon.com/Polk-Audio-Channel-Theater-Speaker/dp/B0002WTK4S/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1224686157&sr=1-2

And finally a standalone Blue Ray player like the Panasonic BD30K for around $250 shipped.
http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-DMP-BD30K-1080p-Blu-ray-Player/dp/B000Y634SU/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1224686361&sr=1-3

All this will run about $850 shipped I believe, but well worth it in the long run and under your G note threshold. You can find a bit better speakers for around $100 or so more, but those Polk's will do the job quite well and fit rite into your budget zone. Again the Onkyo 606 will work great with your wall mount setup and you will love the lossless Dolby True HD sound with BD's......

I'll bet this would be to your liking and I have read very positive reviews of this system. http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=9714955&sourceid=21837609664131743571

I'll bet this would be to your liking and I have read very positive reviews of this system. http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=9714955&sourceid=21837609664131743571
I'm not trying to start any fights.:hithere: I'm interested in why you recommended this product over your pet Onkyo systems? You can get the 6100 HTiB and a Panasonic BD player for the same price. Panasonic system easier to use for a novice maybe?

I'm not trying to start any fights.:hithere: I'm interested in why you recommended this product over your pet Onkyo systems? You can get the 6100 HTiB and a Panasonic BD player for the same price. Panasonic system easier to use for a novice maybe?

Much easier for the novice, less setup and configuration confusion and from what I have read, seen and heard, a very good overall system. Pet Onkyo?

Much easier for the novice, less setup and configuration confusion and from what I have read, seen and heard, a very good overall system. Pet Onkyo?

After looking at the specs I'm even more confused with this recommendation. No HDMI inputs, one optical input, no video inputs. I think if someone has enough ability to get on the net and ask questions, we can walk him through a simple setup with real components if he runs into any problems vs someone spending $800 on a gimped system when a great system could be had to the same price or slightly more, maybe slightly less. :what:

I'm not trying to start any fights.:hithere:

Anyone who starts a thread by saying that IS trying to do exactly that!

The OP asked a simple question and I responded to them according to what they were looking for.

If you don't like my response hatt, tough luck as it wasn't for you it IS for the OP.

Anyone who starts a thread by saying that IS trying to do exactly that!

The OP asked a simple question and I responded to them according to what they were looking for.

If you don't like my response hatt, tough luck as it wasn't for you it IS for the OP. I'm just trying to get someone the most bang for their buck. The Panasonic system is clearly inferior to a real quality receiver and real quality BD player. Given that they are the same price, one of the choices would be a foolish one. You did also read where the OP wants to use HDMI throughout his system. Please explain how to hook up a cable box with HDMI to the Panasonic setup.

I'm just trying to get someone the most bang for their buck. The Panasonic system is clearly inferior to a real quality receiver and real quality BD player. Given that they are the same price, one of the choices would be a foolish one. You did also read where the OP wants to use HDMI throughout his system. Please explain how to hook up a cable box with HDMI to the Panasonic setup.

Whatever you think Mr. know everything. The only thing inferior here is your attitude.

This is a better source for the system I mentioned - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882103397&nm_mc=OTC-17exta6&cm_mmc=OTC-17exta6-_-Home+Theater+in+a+Box-_-Panasonic-_-82103397
and it got glowing reviews from several professional magazines including Home Theater Magazine the October 2008 issue.

Another link for an even better price - http://www.jr.com/panasonic/pe/PAN_SCBT100/

Please explain how to hook up a cable box with HDMI to the Panasonic setup.

Connect the cable box with HDMI to the TV and optical digital audio (Toslink) to the Panasonic receiver. Since there are no HD audio codecs sent via cable a HDMI cable isn't necessary for sound.

Connect the cable box with HDMI to the TV and optical digital audio (Toslink) to the Panasonic receiver. Since there are no HD audio codecs sent via cable a HDMI cable isn't necessary for sound.
I'm hanging my TV on the wall, so I'd really like to be able to only run 1 HDMI cable to the TV:hithere:

Of course you could do that. But that isn't what he wanted and goes against your novice recommendation, now you're up to two different kinds of cable, having to switch inputs on the TV and HTiB. After you hook up that ONE component it is going to get tricky hooking up anything else if you ever wanted to. For $800 the Panasonic system is about the poorest choice you could come up with IMO.

:hithere:

Of course you could do that. But that isn't what he wanted and goes against your novice recommendation, now you're up to two different kinds of cable, having to switch inputs on the TV and HTiB. After you hook up that ONE component it is going to get tricky hooking up anything else if you ever wanted to. For $800 the Panasonic system is about the poorest choice you could come up with IMO.

What an arrogant and ignorant post, as usual. Grow up.

What an arrogant and ignorant post, as usual. Grow up.:lol: You've done a lot of posting in this thread. One thing that you forget to post is anything supporting why someone should buy an $800 gimped HTiB and pass up a real system with superior everything for the same price. I know no(0) video inputs and one optical input is plenty for you but...

Both Hatt and Loves2Watch have good points. But ultimately what the consumer wants rules here.

I would spend the $800 buying seperate components and would be happy. I wouldn't mind turning on an AVR, then turn on the DVD player and then setting inputs on an AVR.

But my wife would be and is happy with an HTIB. Turn it on, put in the movie and start watching. Very simple and easy.