Help Me - Suggestions for Home Theatre Setup

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ZeeBOB

26 posts

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#20787 5-Apr-2008 23:35

Hi All,

I was wanting to get some opinions about a home theatre setup i've been asked to put togeather. My friends have brought a fancy house with a speker system and a HUGE TV already installed.

They have the following speaker setup:
Front Left
Front Center
Front Right
Center Left
Ceiling Center
Center Right
2x Kitchen Speakers
2x Outdoor Speakers

I'm not aware of a sub-woofer in their setup unless i missed it when i was doing recon but i don't think there is. I just put all the speakers onto an amp today and they really don't need one. The 8 indoor speakers make a hell of noise without the need of a sub.

The idea is they need a reciever that will:

Allow only certain channels to be on/off - i.e ability to turn the outdoor speakers off
Take multiple inputs (component, HDMI, composite) and use a single output (i.e HDMI or component)
A built in DVD player would be nice but not neccersary.

My plan is the reciever will do all the video switching so that there is no need to use multiple inputs on the TV. They will attach Sky via composite, a DVD player via component or HDMI, and possibly a blu-ray player later hence the reason for an HD output on the reciever and possibly a media center extender.

All of this needs to be purchased at retail so I can setup in the next few days.

All suggestions welcome!

eXDee

4032 posts

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#121423 5-Apr-2008 23:42

1. You want a receiver with 'zoning'. Our onkyo supports Zone2 to set a different input (eg radio) to 2 speakers connected to zone2. Look for one with Zone3 maybe? This means the speakers have to directly connect to the reciever, not an amp.

2. Any decent reciever will do this pretty much, make sure its not just HDMI switching.

3. Ones with bult in DVD players tend to be rubbish it seems also.

Pretty much all the high end onkyos have Zone2 and 3, but i think only do HDMI switching so dont use the audio??

bazzer

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#121437 6-Apr-2008 02:15

Denon AVR-2808 and above will handle three zones, I think. But you might need a separate amp for the other zones.

Dingbatt

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#121452 6-Apr-2008 08:50

Having just been caught out because my current receiver is only HDMI 1.1, I would suggest you make sure that any receiver you buy has HDMI 1.3 and that it supports True Colour and all the HD Audio standards (True HD etc). With more AV equipment heading to HDMI (SkyHD, Blu-Ray, PS3, etc) makes sense for at least 3 maybe 4 HDMI in sockets. The mid range receivers (as opposed to entry level (cheaper) or Reference (way more expensive)) should be able to upconvert your analogue signals to be able to output them through HDMI.
I'm not aware of any receivers that will do the zoning and switching you want and have an in-built DVD player. Seperate components are more flexible anyhow.
Yamaha (the 3800) and Pioneer (LX70) do a couple of moderately priced ($2500-4000) receivers at the moment that may fit your needs. Or there is also the Sonos music system for the other zones.

I would suggest you need to go to a couple of retailers and get them to demonstrate some of the different functions you require, because past experience has taught me that although equipment may say it has certain functions, they are so difficult to access that the people you are setting things up for never bother using them. Some good deals at the moment due stock taking and tightening economic conditions, bargain hard and good luck.

“We’ve arranged a society based on science and technology, in which nobody understands anything about science technology. Carl Sagan 1996

ZeeBOB

26 posts

Geek

#121502 6-Apr-2008 12:51

Awesome, Tanks for all your responses.

The Yamaha 3800 sure has EVERYTHING I would ever need it to do including more! I've also found a dealer that specialises in Home Theatre gear with these in stock and setup in the showroom so i'll be off to have a look.

Just one other question. At the moment the TV is connected to a single composite cable so I definatly want to upgrade them to something better. The plasma TV is a Pioneer PDP-503CMX. It does not have HDMI inputs but it does have a DVI port. What should I consider if i want to use an HDMI to DVI cable? Should I use component instead?

Cheers all!

Goosey

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#121505 6-Apr-2008 12:59

Perhaps the use of wall mounted (in wall or mounted), switches for the kitchen and outdoor speakers with their own volume control.

Im picking all these speakers would be high level, so it would be easy to break the link and install a switch for the outdoor and kitchen.

This is practical but tricky.

Using the reciever to do all the patching can be tricky (as the previous note above says). Why would you bother playing with a hard to get function via ur remote or actually on the unit.

The next thing is that because you hinting you want everything thru ur amp/reciever.... then I would suggest you get a multi-room remote (RF).

otherwise those nights outside will get you always going into the lounge to select music and volume. The phone rings in the kitchen and you have to run all the way to the lounge.

Cheers and just my thoughts.... may as well do it properly.

goose

old3eyes

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#121529 6-Apr-2008 15:23

Adding to what dingbat said. Also make sure that all the AV inputs have both optical and coax audio inputs and that the HDMI can pick off the audio stream. That's one mistake I made. There weas very little HDMI stuff 18 months ago when I bought mine and I didn't know any better at the time....

Regards,

Old3eyes

Dingbatt

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#121756 7-Apr-2008 13:29

ZeeBOB:
Just one other question. At the moment the TV is connected to a single composite cable so I definatly want to upgrade them to something better. The plasma TV is a Pioneer PDP-503CMX. It does not have HDMI inputs but it does have a DVI port. What should I consider if i want to use an HDMI to DVI cable? Should I use component instead?

Cheers all!

Is the PDP-503CMX HDCP compliant? If not then you won't get the benefit of HDMI and you are probably limited to component. Most of the HT receivers when I last looked will upconvert to HDMI, I'm not sure about downconverting HDMI to analogue.

“We’ve arranged a society based on science and technology, in which nobody understands anything about science technology. Carl Sagan 1996