Help buying home theater

Things I already have
1) 46 Inch Samsung HDTV with DLP technology
2) 1 Sony DVD player, Progressive scan, Surrond system enables, plays
mp3, picture CDs etc (this does not do HDMI upconvert but has component
out and has crisp picture on TV)
3) AIWA 2.1 300 watt (3 CD changer, mp3 player, 2 Tape Player) -- very
good sound quality
4) Comcast new Motorola HD box with DVR which has component cable,
optical sound , HDMI outets

What are my options to set up a reasonable 5.1 Channel Surround Sound
home theater ?
I presently connected the L R cable to 2.1 aiwa receiver and it sounds
good but not completely surround system.

What all would I need to buy to setup a 5.1 system within $200
completely utilizing what ever I have (DVD player, AIWA 2.1 system if I
can)

Should I buy home theater system which has Receiver/DVD, 5 speakers and
dump by Sony DVD player and AIWA 2.1 system?

What are my options.
I would really appreciate any recommendations

Samsung makes one without a DVD or any receiver components. Downside seems to
be 10% harmonic distortion, typical for Samsung, but extremely high since vacuum
tubes bit the dust. I have a different model (still rated at 10% THD) and I
don't notice it.

--
All the Best
Richard Harison
wrote in message
oups.com...
Things I already have
1) 46 Inch Samsung HDTV with DLP technology
2) 1 Sony DVD player, Progressive scan, Surrond system enables, plays
mp3, picture CDs etc (this does not do HDMI upconvert but has component
out and has crisp picture on TV)
3) AIWA 2.1 300 watt (3 CD changer, mp3 player, 2 Tape Player) -- very
good sound quality
4) Comcast new Motorola HD box with DVR which has component cable,
optical sound , HDMI outets

What are my options to set up a reasonable 5.1 Channel Surround Sound
home theater ?
I presently connected the L R cable to 2.1 aiwa receiver and it sounds
good but not completely surround system.

What all would I need to buy to setup a 5.1 system within $200
completely utilizing what ever I have (DVD player, AIWA 2.1 system if I
can)

Should I buy home theater system which has Receiver/DVD, 5 speakers and
dump by Sony DVD player and AIWA 2.1 system?

What are my options.
I would really appreciate any recommendations




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Logitech Z-5500: very close to your budget, and worth every extra penny. Not
audiofile-grade equipment, but the sound is a lot bigger than the price (and
size of the system). It would be really, really hard to find something
better sounding for that kind of budget. These speakers also include a
digital decoder (Dolby Digital, DTS, even DTS 96/24), so you will be able to
connect your DVD player via an optical or coaxial audio input.

http://www.jr.com/JRProductPage.proc...uct_Id=4003305

Good luck!

Thanks for your feedback.
Richard can you please provide me with some links to the system you
were talking about?

ZVR:
I am looking at the Logitech Z-5500, reviews are good but I saw people
mainly using this for computer and they do look like computer speakers.

Is this system good enough for watching TV. What I dont want to do is
spend $250 now and after a year spend another 400 for a nice audio
system throwing this one out.

Do you think that these speakers are good to keep for long time (2
years to 3 years).

And also how many inputs can it take at the same time (optical input
from DVR, coaxial from DVD, and some kinda input from laptop)?

I would like to plug in the three devices but play only one at any
given time. Can I do that with this system?

I really appreciate your time and help.

ZVR wrote:
Logitech Z-5500: very close to your budget, and worth every extra penny. Not
audiofile-grade equipment, but the sound is a lot bigger than the price (and
size of the system). It would be really, really hard to find something
better sounding for that kind of budget. These speakers also include a
digital decoder (Dolby Digital, DTS, even DTS 96/24), so you will be able to
connect your DVD player via an optical or coaxial audio input.

http://www.jr.com/JRProductPage.proc...uct_Id=4003305

Good luck!

ZVR:
I am looking at the Logitech Z-5500, reviews are good but I saw people
mainly using this for computer and they do look like computer speakers.

To me they look more like home theater speakers than many "surround systems"
you can get at Best Buy for more $$$ than that. Just visit a brick and
mortar store that stocks them and see for yourself... web doesn't do justice
to these speakers.

As for people using them with computers, I guess they are indeed marketed
for that audience but based on my experience they sound much better than,
again, many of the so called "home theater" systems out there.

Is this system good enough for watching TV.

Definitely, and DVD's played on this system will blow you out of the water -
unbelievable sound. These are not toys.

What I dont want to do is
spend $250 now and after a year spend another 400 for a nice audio
system throwing this one out.

Well there is always going to be a better system out there. If you're just
getting into audio world you will find that as time passes you will educate
yourself and become more demanding. At some point everybody upgrades and
your requirements then are probably not going to be the same. However, I
would say that at this price point, this is one of the best buying decisions
you can make. They are really good for all purposes - DVD, music, and games
(if you're into that).

What I could also suggest is that you go to a store that has liberal return
policies, and try one of these (maybe find an open box or something); if
you're not satisfied you can take them back.

Do you think that these speakers are good to keep for long time (2
years to 3 years).

Of course they are, if your requirements don't change (move to a much bigger
place etc).

And also how many inputs can it take at the same time (optical input
from DVR, coaxial from DVD, and some kinda input from laptop)?

I would like to plug in the three devices but play only one at any
given time. Can I do that with this system?

1 optical, 1 coax, and 1 analog. The analog input is 5.1 compatible - 3x
mini jack connectors, like what you find on the Creative sound cards. You
can keep all three sources plugged in (normally you would use the mini jack
connectors for your laptop), and switch between them using the "Input"
button.

Good luck!

1 optical, 1 coax, and 1 analog. The analog input is 5.1 compatible - 3x
mini jack connectors, like what you find on the Creative sound cards. You
can keep all three sources plugged in (normally you would use the mini
jack connectors for your laptop), and switch between them using the
"Input" button.

I forgot to mention that the analog input can be configured as 3 independent
analog sources, 2-channels each, so instead of having one 5.1 input you can
use those jacks to connect 3 separate, stereo sources. I don't use that
myself but I can see how it can be an useful feature.

Samsung.com & follow the "home theatre in a box" links

--
All the Best
Richard Harison
wrote in message
oups.com...
Thanks for your feedback.
Richard can you please provide me with some links to the system you
were talking about?

ZVR:
I am looking at the Logitech Z-5500, reviews are good but I saw people
mainly using this for computer and they do look like computer speakers.

Is this system good enough for watching TV. What I dont want to do is
spend $250 now and after a year spend another 400 for a nice audio
system throwing this one out.

Do you think that these speakers are good to keep for long time (2
years to 3 years).

And also how many inputs can it take at the same time (optical input
from DVR, coaxial from DVD, and some kinda input from laptop)?

I would like to plug in the three devices but play only one at any
given time. Can I do that with this system?

I really appreciate your time and help.

ZVR wrote:
Logitech Z-5500: very close to your budget, and worth every extra penny. Not
audiofile-grade equipment, but the sound is a lot bigger than the price (and
size of the system). It would be really, really hard to find something
better sounding for that kind of budget. These speakers also include a
digital decoder (Dolby Digital, DTS, even DTS 96/24), so you will be able to
connect your DVD player via an optical or coaxial audio input.

http://www.jr.com/JRProductPage.proc...uct_Id=4003305

Good luck!




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Thanks for the feedback ZVR, I will to go a local store which has a
good return policy and will try to hook up the speakers.

Thanks for all the time you have taken in helping me out.

Thanks Richard I will check out samsung.com before I go to a local
store to check Logitech speakers


ZVR wrote:
1 optical, 1 coax, and 1 analog. The analog input is 5.1 compatible - 3x
mini jack connectors, like what you find on the Creative sound cards. You
can keep all three sources plugged in (normally you would use the mini
jack connectors for your laptop), and switch between them using the
"Input" button.

I forgot to mention that the analog input can be configured as 3 independent
analog sources, 2-channels each, so instead of having one 5.1 input you can
use those jacks to connect 3 separate, stereo sources. I don't use that
myself but I can see how it can be an useful feature.