New at Surround Sound- Need some help

NDyse10

Hello all,

I am not familiar audio terms and lingo and really anything to do with it at all. I have a 42 inch Samsung plasma TV and know a lot stuff regarding the video portion, but I now that I have a nice TV I want a nice surround sound system to hook it up to.

I am a college student so I am not able to buy something super super expensive and right now am interested in something that will give me good quality sound, but I do not need all the extra gizmos.

Would someone be willing to maybe give me some help? On a how to about buying an entry level surround sound system?

What I am interested in is to buy a A/V Reciever seperatly and then get all of the speakers I want/need after that.

Here are some of my questions:

1. If I buy a A/V reciever will I be able to hook that up to my HDTV and then be able to get surround sound for my gaming and movie purposes? I use my Ps3 to play video games and I also use my Ps3 for blu-ray and movie watching.
2. Would I able to hook my ipod touch to an entry level A/V reciever?

Thanks for your help.

Overall I just really want to learn about surround system so I can make an informed purchase.

Bigloww

What is your budget exactly? And are you looking for something to get buy while in college the next few years or something you would like to keep for the next 5+ years? If the latter and $400ish is within your budget, I would suggest the Onkyo HT-S6100. I comes with everything you need including a good set (for a HTIB) of 7.1 speakers. HDMI with Dolby True HD/DTS HD-MA decoding for PS3/Blueray. Can easily be set up as a 5.1 by leaving out the 2 extra speakers.

http://www.accessories4less.com/make...e-Black/1.html

1. Yes, as long as you have 5.1 speakers as well.
2. Yes. Some HTIB/receivers are Ipod ready and can connect rite up. Some require an additional Ipod dock. The 6100 requires a dock that runs around $50 or so. But I just connect my Ipod to my 360 and work via the TV and my harmony remote or 360 controller. Works great and better than a dock IMO. I assume the PS3 does the same.

__________________
Commit to the Indian..

In Loving Memory of Junkie, The Rizz, Eagle and the Boys.. They are gone (wasted in fact) but not forgotten..

oblioman

damn Bigloww,,ya just doomed the kid forever. ya turned his dorm room into a party/video lounge. Other than that,,,great advice!

NDyse10

Ok so the link that you included was the Onkyo HT-S6100 correct?

If so, I have a question. My question is what is the difference between the Onkyo HT-S6100 and this:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Sony+-+B...&skuId=9238844

I am pretty sure there is a difference, but I do not know what is the difference.

Also you mentioned that with the Onkyo system I would be able to hook that up to my Ps3...what connections would I use to do this? And would everything I need to hook it up to my Ps3 come in the Onkyo system?

Also, I am assuming with this Onkyo system I could hook this up to my TV for surround sound while watching TV?

My next question is this:

Lets just say I got this reciever: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Pioneer+...&skuId=9238915

First off is that a "good" reciever? Also if I were to get that what kind of speakers would I have to get?

Thanks a lot to everyone.

Loves2Watch

Sony makes some of the worst audio equipment available. Nothing else needs to be said. The Pioneer isn't on the same level.

__________________
Theater 1 - Panasonic TH-85PF12U Plasma TV, 6 Conrad Johnson LP275M Amps, Anthem Statement D-2 Pre/Pro, 6 Thiel SCS4 Speakers, 2 REL T-1 Subs, Infinity Interlude 120S Sub, Simaudio MOON Orbiter Universal Disc Player, ELP Laser Turntable, 2 Dish Network ViP 622 DVR's, Oppo BDP-83 Blu-ray Player, Onkyo DV-HD805 HD DVD Player.
Friends don't let friends buy Korean brand TV's.

Bigloww

Yes, the link I posted is for the 6100. You need to scroll down a bit to see. The 6100 is a very nice system that has many features found in more expensive setups. As Obby stated, perhaps a bit much for a dorm room, but since you have a 42'' plasma I say go for it. It does have a volume knob so no worries. You can rent the room out for movie night.. And it is future proof so will do nicely for a while after your college days are over.
The 6100 has 3 HDMI inputs so you can hook your PS3 to the receiver that way and any other HDMI device you may have. Then 1 single HDMI out from the receiver to the TV is all that is needed. How do you get TV (cable or OTA)? You can connect the digital optical out from the TV to the receiver for SS if you like.
As Love's stated, I would stear clear of the Sony HTIB's if at all possible. The Pioneer receiver is decent for $200, but the Onkyo is a much better receiver. After adding speakers and a sub, it will cost the same or more than the 6100 with a sub par receiver.

__________________
Commit to the Indian..

In Loving Memory of Junkie, The Rizz, Eagle and the Boys.. They are gone (wasted in fact) but not forgotten..

NDyse10

Ok so my next question is this:

Lets just say I get the Onkyo 6100 you listed: If I wanted to, in the future, purchase better speakers...would I be able to use those speakers with the Onkyo 6100 reciever? So I guess to put it in an easier way...could I mix and match speakers if I wanted to?

Also I noticed that the website you posted only has 1 left in stock, but I won't have enough for that until christmas time. Are there any other websites that sell that setup or does that website restock its inventory?

Bigloww

Yes, you can by a different 5.1/7.1 speaker package and add if you like. It is not the best idea to mix and match SS speakers, but you can. I think you will be quite surprised when you hear these puppies. They pack quite a punch and sound very good for what you pay.

These are factory refurbished units from Onkyo. They come with everything as new like the speaker wire and audessy calibration mic. It comes with a FULL 1 year warranty from Onkyo and a 30 day return/exchange from accessories4less. So most likely they will get more before the end of the year, but can't say for sure. Amazon and Newegg have it and the new 6200 new and in stock for around $150 more ($550).

__________________
Commit to the Indian..

In Loving Memory of Junkie, The Rizz, Eagle and the Boys.. They are gone (wasted in fact) but not forgotten..

NDyse10

First off I want to say thank you very much for you help Bigloww.

I just have one more question and I think I get it:

So I get this Onkyo 6100 set up. How exactly would I set it up with my Ps3? Like do I just plug all the speakers into the correct slots and stuff and am I good to go? And does a Ps3 support a 7.1 system or will only 5 of the 7 speakers (plus the subwoofer) play?

Bigloww

Yep, just attach the speakers and sub via the diagram that comes wih the setup. Then attach whatever components like the PS3 to the receiver. You will want to use HDMI for the PS3 to the receiver like I mentioned above. I assume you are already using HDMI from the PS3 to the TV now, correct? Just plug it into 1 of the 3 HDMI inputs on the Onkyo instead, and then 1 HDMI out to the TV.

You will want to upgrade the speaker wire that comes with the 6100 if you go that route because it is thin and not very good. You can get a 100 ft.roll of 16 awg for around $12. Also, you can find HDMI cables for around $5 here as well. Great place. Whatever you do, don't over spend on $50+ Monster crap.

http://www.monoprice.com/products/pr...seq=1&format=2

http://www.monoprice.com/products/pr...seq=1&format=2

As far as 7.1 goes.... There is not very many movies on Blue Ray that are 7.1. Most are 5.1 and Dolby True HD or DTS HD-MA. But there are some. You can simulate the other 2 channels by using DPLII I believe. But I doubt 7.1 is gonna work in a dorm room anyway. I would stick to 5.1 and add the other 2 speakers when you get a house or apt..

__________________
Commit to the Indian..

In Loving Memory of Junkie, The Rizz, Eagle and the Boys.. They are gone (wasted in fact) but not forgotten..

NDyse10

Ok so basically I just don't hook up two of the speakers (the middle back ones or w/e)?

Regarding the speaker wire: How would you "replace" it? And why does it matter if the ones that come with are thin and not very good? I guess I don't understand that at all. Just like everything else to do with audio.

Bigloww

You have the center speaker, front right and left , and surround right and left. that is the 5. The .1 is the sub. The 2 surround backs are the speakers you add if you want 7.1 so those are the speakers you want to leave off.
Here is a diagram of a 7.1. Just take off the 2 BS's and your 5.1. Not that LFE is the sub..

http://i.afterdawn.com/storage/pictu...nels_large.gif

As far as the speaker wire goes, you don't have to replace it, but thicker gsuge wire is better. Especially for longer runs like the surround speaker and if you crank the receiver up. In a dorm I woulsd think you can get away with using the stock wire, but thicker is better in most cases.

__________________
Commit to the Indian..

In Loving Memory of Junkie, The Rizz, Eagle and the Boys.. They are gone (wasted in fact) but not forgotten..

NDyse10

What I mean is how do I actually go from taking the stock wire off and putting the new speaker wire on?

Loves2Watch

The wire is not connected to anything, it is packaged loose in the box. No problem substituting different wire...

__________________
Theater 1 - Panasonic TH-85PF12U Plasma TV, 6 Conrad Johnson LP275M Amps, Anthem Statement D-2 Pre/Pro, 6 Thiel SCS4 Speakers, 2 REL T-1 Subs, Infinity Interlude 120S Sub, Simaudio MOON Orbiter Universal Disc Player, ELP Laser Turntable, 2 Dish Network ViP 622 DVR's, Oppo BDP-83 Blu-ray Player, Onkyo DV-HD805 HD DVD Player.
Friends don't let friends buy Korean brand TV's.

NDyse10

Ahh ok. So I can just purchase different wire and that wire will come with the necessary hookups to plug into the reciever and into the speakers themselves?