Seeking Receiver recommendations

Well I plan to buy this:
http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Samsu... d=k39085&mid=
The Samsung 50" DLP 780p.

Apparently it doesn't have audio outputs. But that's fine, since I
need a receiver anyway everything will get plugged into it.

I'm leaning heavily towaords the Onkyo receiver
http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Onkyo... d=k39085&mid=
i think this is the one ninphan mentioned for $399.

2 HDMI inputs that's all I need. 1 for my HD cable and 1 for my dvd
player.

On Nov 19, 1:21 pm, Cognitive Distortion wrote:
Well I plan to buy this:http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Samsu...n-HDTV-HL-T507...
The Samsung 50" DLP 780p.

Apparently it doesn't have audio outputs. But that's fine, since I
need a receiver anyway everything will get plugged into it.

I'm leaning heavily towaords the Onkyo receiverhttp://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Onkyo-HT-SR800-7-1-Channel-Home-Theate...
i think this is the one ninphan mentioned for $399.

2 HDMI inputs that's all I need. 1 for my HD cable and 1 for my dvd
player.

I have to second that recommendation for the Onkyo receiver. I
recently advised someone to get that same system and they are
thoroughly pleased with it. It has great front speakers (for a HTIB
anyway) and also came in as a Top pick in consumer reports home
theater tests.
True, that it doesn't come with a DVD player, but you can get an
upscaling player for less than $100 now. This was connected to a
Samsung 50" Plasma via HDMI from both the DVD player and HD sat box.
Also, don't forget that most of the sources (DVD players, sat boxes,
etc.) don't correctly decode (or even send) surround sound if you go
to the TV with the HDMI. HDMI 1.3 is supposed to correct this (I
think), but I still had to use optical (and/or coaxial) digital audio
cables in addition to the HDMI cable to get everything to work right.
monoprice.com is your friend for cables.
As mentioned above, two HDMI inputs, one output, also three component
video inputs, three S-video, and three composite video inputs. Along
with quite a bit of stereo inputs (seven maybe?), two digital optical,
and two digital coaxial inputs. Along with a seven channel analog
surround sound input for any player that supports that (HD player,
SACD, DVDaudio, etc.). Plenty of connections/inputs both audio and
video, along with the ability to map both a digital and an analog
input to a video channel to get both video and audio switching through
the receiver.
Oh, and it sounds incredible. Active sub-woofer helps a lot.

Thanks Doug.

I have a problem wrapping my brain around what you said: " Also, don't
forget that most of the sources (DVD players, sat boxes,
etc.) don't correctly decode (or even send) surround sound if you go
to the TV with the HDMI. HDMI 1.3 is supposed to correct this (I
think), but I still had to use optical (and/or coaxial) digital audio
cables in addition to the HDMI cable to get everything to work right."

OK I'm confused.

The Onkyo receiver doesn't have audio pass through. What does this
mean? That I will connect my dvd player HDMI from player to receiver,
but then have to ALSO connect audio cables from player to receiver,
right? Whereas normally HDMI would do both, right? But in this case
for this receiver HDMI input is only video, right?

"Cognitive Distortion" wrote in message
...
Sorry if this is not quite HDTV related, though it is somewhat, and
the reason I'm asking here is I'm hoping those of you who have HDTV's
also have home theaters and can recommend a decent receiver.

My receiver at home is a stero and 2 speakers where the standard def
dvd player hooked into so when I watched movie the sound came through
the speakers. It's the poor man's home theater that why this time
around I want to do it right with an (HD?) receiver and surround sound
for the first time!

I will have HD Comcast Cable coming in, so that will go right to the
receiver. I also need to get HD DVD player, which also gets hooked up
to the receiver.

Then 2 HDMI connection's out from the receiver to watch the
aforementioned cable and dvd's on the HDTV.

The TV's audio should hardly ever get used since the receiver will be
doing that.

Am i visualising my connections correctly here?

I would like to do surround sound for the first time ever as I am a
movie buff, dramas, action, whatever watching with the lights out.
Sorry I'm just getting excited and ahead of myself heh.

Any recommendations anyone can provide would be appreciated!

Thanks again!

Might check out the JVC RX-D302B (black) or the RX-D301S (silver)
No HDMI inputs, but any input into it ( composite, or s-video)gets
upconverted to component. Also has USB input, so you can input audio from
your computer, either via usb cable or wirless transmitter (included).
7.1 output.
Does not have inputs for phono, or cassette.
Has in/outs for DVR.
Has ability to hook up a SACD, discrete 5.1 inputs.

Works for me, and I can stream audio from net to reciever.

On Nov 19, 3:00 pm, Cognitive Distortion wrote:
Thanks Doug.

I have a problem wrapping my brain around what you said: " Also, don't
forget that most of the sources (DVD players, sat boxes,
etc.) don't correctly decode (or even send) surround sound if you go
to the TV with the HDMI. HDMI 1.3 is supposed to correct this (I
think), but I still had to use optical (and/or coaxial) digital audio
cables in addition to the HDMI cable to get everything to work right."

OK I'm confused.

The Onkyo receiver doesn't have audio pass through. What does this
mean? That I will connect my dvd player HDMI from player to receiver,
but then have to ALSO connect audio cables from player to receiver,
right? Whereas normally HDMI would do both, right? But in this case
for this receiver HDMI input is only video, right?

That's not the Onkyo I was recommending.
The TX-SR605 is the one you should be looking at - it's a designated
receiver, not an HTiB.

Cognitive Distortion wrote:

Well I plan to buy this:
http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Samsu... d=k39085&mid=
The Samsung 50" DLP 780p.

Apparently it doesn't have audio outputs. But that's fine, since I
need a receiver anyway everything will get plugged into it.

I'm leaning heavily towaords the Onkyo receiver
http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Onkyo... d=k39085&mid=
i think this is the one ninphan mentioned for $399.


That is a HTiB (Home Theater in a Box), and I highly doubt that is what
anyone here is recommending.....

2 HDMI inputs that's all I need. 1 for my HD cable and 1 for my dvd
player.




--
Ric Seyler
Online Racing: RicSeyler
GPL Handicap 6.35

http://www.pcola.gulf.net/~ricseyler
remove –SPAM- from email address
--------------------------------------
"Homer no function beer well without."
- H.J. Simpson

On Nov 19, 3:00 pm, Cognitive Distortion wrote:
Thanks Doug.

I have a problem wrapping my brain around what you said: " Also, don't
forget that most of the sources (DVD players, sat boxes,
etc.) don't correctly decode (or even send) surround sound if you go
to the TV with the HDMI. HDMI 1.3 is supposed to correct this (I
think), but I still had to use optical (and/or coaxial) digital audio
cables in addition to the HDMI cable to get everything to work right."

OK I'm confused.

The Onkyo receiver doesn't have audio pass through. What does this
mean? That I will connect my dvd player HDMI from player to receiver,
but then have to ALSO connect audio cables from player to receiver,
right? Whereas normally HDMI would do both, right? But in this case
for this receiver HDMI input is only video, right?

That's not the Onkyo I was recommending.
The TX-SR605 is the one you should be looking at - it's a designated
receiver, not an HTiB.
http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Onkyo...oductDetail.do
It has 2 HDMI 1.3a inputs and one output. It will accept both video
and audio across HDMI and will decode all the new audio codecs.
The only thing it can't decode is DSD, but most SACD players output
PCM anyway.
It can accept 7.1 PCM up to 24-bit/192kHz which is more than anything
puts out on the market right now as Blu-ray, DVD-Audio and HD DVD are
all limited to 24/96 at 7.1

You would want your DVD player and your cable/satellite box hooked up
to the Onkyo receiver with HDMI cables and then one HDMI cable from
the receiver to the HDTV.

You can get 10ft HDMi 1.3 compliant cables for less than $5 each at
Monoprice.com - there is no difference at 10ft between these $5 cables
and $500 HDMI cables when it comes to performance, so don't get ripped
off.

Go to http://www.monoprice.com and type HDMI into the search box and
then narrow it down to "HDMI Video Cables" - the 10ft HDMI 28AWG
cables should be around $4.91 each.

On Nov 19, 4:18 pm, ninphan wrote:
On Nov 19, 3:00 pm, Cognitive Distortion wrote:





Thanks Doug.

I have a problem wrapping my brain around what you said: " Also, don't
forget that most of the sources (DVD players, sat boxes,
etc.) don't correctly decode (or even send) surround sound if you go
to the TV with the HDMI. HDMI 1.3 is supposed to correct this (I
think), but I still had to use optical (and/or coaxial) digital audio
cables in addition to the HDMI cable to get everything to work right."

OK I'm confused.

The Onkyo receiver doesn't have audio pass through. What does this
mean? That I will connect my dvd player HDMI from player to receiver,
but then have to ALSO connect audio cables from player to receiver,
right? Whereas normally HDMI would do both, right? But in this case
for this receiver HDMI input is only video, right?

That's not the Onkyo I was recommending.
The TX-SR605 is the one you should be looking at - it's a designated
receiver, not an HTiB.http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Onkyo...el-Home-Theate...
It has 2 HDMI 1.3a inputs and one output. It will accept both video
and audio across HDMI and will decode all the new audio codecs.
The only thing it can't decode is DSD, but most SACD players output
PCM anyway.
It can accept 7.1 PCM up to 24-bit/192kHz which is more than anything
puts out on the market right now as Blu-ray, DVD-Audio and HD DVD are
all limited to 24/96 at 7.1

You would want your DVD player and your cable/satellite box hooked up
to the Onkyo receiver with HDMI cables and then one HDMI cable from
the receiver to the HDTV.

You can get 10ft HDMi 1.3 compliant cables for less than $5 each at
Monoprice.com - there is no difference at 10ft between these $5 cables
and $500 HDMI cables when it comes to performance, so don't get ripped
off.

Go tohttp://www.monoprice.comand type HDMI into the search box and
then narrow it down to "HDMI Video Cables" - the 10ft HDMI 28AWG
cables should be around $4.91 each.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Ninphan - yes, I stand corrected and thanks for clearing things up. I
mixed up my Onkyo receivers and got excited when I saw the htib.

And thanks again Ninphan and someone else for mentioning
monoprice.com ! you guys are great around here.

OK well i'm just gonna have to pony up the extra $ and grab the better
receiver then.

Do you or anyone have speaker recommendations? I don't need a super
subwoofer to annoy the neighbors besides I don't listen to stuff super
loud like that anyway.

Cognitive Distortion wrote:
On Nov 19, 4:18 pm, ninphan wrote:
On Nov 19, 3:00 pm, Cognitive Distortion wrote:





Thanks Doug.
I have a problem wrapping my brain around what you said: " Also, don't
forget that most of the sources (DVD players, sat boxes,
etc.) don't correctly decode (or even send) surround sound if you go
to the TV with the HDMI. HDMI 1.3 is supposed to correct this (I
think), but I still had to use optical (and/or coaxial) digital audio
cables in addition to the HDMI cable to get everything to work right."
OK I'm confused.
The Onkyo receiver doesn't have audio pass through. What does this
mean? That I will connect my dvd player HDMI from player to receiver,
but then have to ALSO connect audio cables from player to receiver,
right? Whereas normally HDMI would do both, right? But in this case
for this receiver HDMI input is only video, right?
That's not the Onkyo I was recommending.
The TX-SR605 is the one you should be looking at - it's a designated
receiver, not an HTiB.http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Onkyo...el-Home-Theate...
It has 2 HDMI 1.3a inputs and one output. It will accept both video
and audio across HDMI and will decode all the new audio codecs.
The only thing it can't decode is DSD, but most SACD players output
PCM anyway.
It can accept 7.1 PCM up to 24-bit/192kHz which is more than anything
puts out on the market right now as Blu-ray, DVD-Audio and HD DVD are
all limited to 24/96 at 7.1

You would want your DVD player and your cable/satellite box hooked up
to the Onkyo receiver with HDMI cables and then one HDMI cable from
the receiver to the HDTV.

You can get 10ft HDMi 1.3 compliant cables for less than $5 each at
Monoprice.com - there is no difference at 10ft between these $5 cables
and $500 HDMI cables when it comes to performance, so don't get ripped
off.

Go tohttp://www.monoprice.comand type HDMI into the search box and
then narrow it down to "HDMI Video Cables" - the 10ft HDMI 28AWG
cables should be around $4.91 each.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Ninphan - yes, I stand corrected and thanks for clearing things up. I
mixed up my Onkyo receivers and got excited when I saw the htib.

And thanks again Ninphan and someone else for mentioning
monoprice.com ! you guys are great around here.

OK well i'm just gonna have to pony up the extra $ and grab the better
receiver then.

Do you or anyone have speaker recommendations? I don't need a super
subwoofer to annoy the neighbors besides I don't listen to stuff super
loud like that anyway.

I'm not following that. A properly set up sub-woofer is no louder than
any other speaker except at very low frequencies. You don't have to play
them loud to get the effect.

A good sub will add realism and depth to any action movie and many
documentaries. If you are getting small satellite speakers, a decent sub
will be required for any real bass at all.

If your receiver has a sub-woofer output, consider a self powered sub.
If not, I would recommend something in the 10-12" range since you may
not have enough power to drive something larger effectively.

I make do with twin 15", long throw drivers each in its own acoustically
sealed cavity with a dedicated 400 watt amp. I do like it loud and I
don't have to buy seat shakers:-)

Matthew

--
"All you need to start an asylum is an empty room and the right kind of
people". Alexander Bullock ("My Man Godfrey" 1936):

On Nov 19, 4:16 pm, Ric Seyler wrote:
Cognitive Distortion wrote:
Well I plan to buy this:
http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Samsu...n-HDTV-HL-T507...
The Samsung 50" DLP 780p.

Apparently it doesn't have audio outputs. But that's fine, since I
need a receiver anyway everything will get plugged into it.

I'm leaning heavily towaords the Onkyo receiver
http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Onkyo...el-Home-Theate...
i think this is the one ninphan mentioned for $399.

That is a HTiB (Home Theater in a Box), and I highly doubt that is what
anyone here is recommending.....

2 HDMI inputs that's all I need. 1 for my HD cable and 1 for my dvd
player.

--
Ric Seyler
Online Racing: RicSeyler
GPL Handicap 6.35
/~ricseyler
remove -SPAM- from email address
--------------------------------------
"Homer no function beer well without."
- H.J. Simpson

Actually, I was recommending the HTiB. It is a surprisingly good
receiver for the money. The speakers for the front (L, R, Center) are
dual full range 5" cones with a separate tweeter in each speaker. Not
super fantastic speakers, but great for the money. The surround
speakers do come up a bit short, but they work (single 3.5" speakers
in each). The sub is an active sub, 10" I think, maybe 8". Plenty
loud, and crossover adjustable in the receiver with level adjustment
on the sub.
My comment about the audio not passing through the HDMI apparently
only applies to this HTiB receiver. From the manufacturer's website:
http://www.us.onkyo.com/model.cfm?m=...ss=Systems&p=i
A separate audio connection is required for digital surround sound,
even from HDMI sources.

So those are some cons to the system. Although, if you don't mind the
additional audio connection, and you don't really want to pick out
your own speakers right now, this is a good choice (especially with an
active sub, not seen in a typical HTiB setup).
If the single cable is important, and you WANT to pick out your own
speakers (and have the budget for that), then go with the stand-alone
receiver.