Starting on a new Home Theatre Setup

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Mprezd

119 posts

Master Geek

#73605 17-Dec-2010 10:12

Currently I have a Samsung 7 series 3d led and an older Samsung plasma as well (in separate rooms with the older plasma hooked up to a dedicated htpc with a nas)

I'm space limited in the place I am in at the moment, but looking to start building up some hardware for a home theatre setup.

Currently the 3d tv is hanging on my bedroom wall and is hooked up to an xbox 360 and a pc. The pc sits on a desk to the side of the head of my bed and is running via hdmi to the tv (with a separate 22 inch lcd for a monitor), the tv is at the foot of the bed, as is the xbox 360 (currently sitting on the floor and is annoying because it is a: messy and b: gets in the way whenever I walk there e.g. making the bed). I have a 2.0 setup of speakers for the pc at the moment, and have my xbox 360 sound running through the tv, with a set of 7.1 turtle beach headphones also hooked up to the xbox and the pc.

What I would like to do is have the xbox, the headphones (which are connected via usb to the xbox) and the pc all on the desk. I did think it would be nice to have both the xbox and the pc able to use either the tv and the monitor if at all possible, but I also currently have the pc display split over 2 screens.

Speaker wise, I have nothing of note and probably can't afford to buy anything at the moment. Given that I am space limited a bit as well means I can't do a lot. I have 2 old DAVS300 http://www.amazon.com/Sony-DAVS300-Home-Theater-System/dp/B00004VVUN units including the 10 speakers and 2 subs which I could use.

I had been looking at an Onkyo TX-NR708 which I can get from JB Hifi for under $1,600, but which obviously doesn't have dual hdmi outputs. I could possibly forego the dual output option, but it seemed like a good deal.

I realise that pretty much anything I get will be overkill, but in terms of starting with components that will last me a while, does anyone have any recommendations?

Cheers

edit: I had also thought about the Yamaha Aventage RX-A1000 as a dual output option

And DLNA/Network capabilities are an almost requirement

Masterpiece

247 posts

Master Geek

#418500 17-Dec-2010 13:44

As space saving measure why not get a xoner type sound setup and drive the theatre speakers from the PC. A PC with a good video card can also output to 2 places at once.
Drop in a BD drive aswell and you have a complete space saving setup.

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Mprezd

119 posts

Master Geek

#418515 17-Dec-2010 14:11

Masterpiece: As space saving measure why not get a xoner type sound setup and drive the theatre speakers from the PC. A PC with a good video card can also output to 2 places at once.
Drop in a BD drive aswell and you have a complete space saving setup.

I have a bd drive. I have issues at the moment with not being able to play 3d blurays which may be because of the HD5770 I have, but it is fine for all my main needs so I didn't want to drop money on another card just to 'test' whether the 3d issue I was having was as a result of the card or not. It passes powerdvd's test.

The sony speakers have a strange figure 8 proprietary plus on them which I was simply going to rip off and use the 2 wires to connect to the receiver. While I am technically ok on building pcs etc, rewiring things are totally foreign to me. I assume if I got a soundcard I would need to rewire the speakers to 3.5mm jacks?

I guess spending $350 on a xonar hdav1.3 deluxe and a high end video card (possibly an HD69xx series card) is still cheaper than a receiver. It is just then the long cables I have running everywhere that is the issue.

Dunnersfella

4083 posts

Uber Geek

#418642 17-Dec-2010 19:58

Just a heads up... but the sub woofers on your Sony unit are passive (not powered) so will not just 'plug and play' with a new amplifier. The Sony is a loud / thump thump unit, that, in my books is not ideal for a bedroom situation. The 'strange figure 8' may well be your impedence rating, what is the number next to it? 4? 6? 8? Personally, I'd look to go for a smaller, quality set of stand mount speakers. Heck... I'd got for a 2.1 setup... And use your headphones if you want to simulate surround sound - it's a bedroom after all!

Another speaker option, would be the likes of the Yamaha sound bars. They come in a couple of different sizes, and can offer a fairly decent soundscape (not true surround sound of course) - yet don't require a messy cable arrangement. Combine it with a AVR, flick your Sony unit off on Tardme... but yourself a nice, small (musical) subwoofer like a Velodyne HTQ-8 and you'd be away and laughing... if the soundbar is your thing.

If you're looking for an amp, there are some good Yamaha amps like the Aventage and the 2067 to consider. And the positive of picking up an amp like that means you can have some benefits in the future where you can send sound to a second zone etc.

Mprezd

119 posts

Master Geek

#418736 18-Dec-2010 08:48

yeah thanks, I knew the subs were passive. Sorry the figure 8 thing was supposed to say plug, but probably not explained well. The plus looks like this: http://www1.21hifi.com/revhifi/20000505/h011.jpg

The only reason I was really looking at using the davs300 speakers was because I don't think I can afford to get speakers at the moment if I get a good quality receiver. It was very much a temp solution and a good way to tidy the room a bit

in terms of a sound bar are you meaning something like this?

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Electronics-photography/Home-audio/Speakers-and-stands/Home-theatre-sets/au...

Looking on trademe I could probably find something cheap to get started. This looks ok: http://www.trademe.co.nz/Electronics-photography/Home-audio/Speakers-and-stands/Other/auction-340956... and then just add a sub like this:http://www.trademe.co.nz/Electronics-photography/Home-audio/Speakers-and-stands/Subs/auction-3402167...

Can't flick the sony unit off though as the dvd player/amp is dead. Could possibly get someone interested in the speakers, but this won't be a bedroom setup forever.

Dunnersfella

4083 posts

Uber Geek

#418928 18-Dec-2010 22:27

Okay - so odds on your speakers will be next to useless when plugged into a decent amp.
The impedance may be funky... but as they're off a home theatre in the box, odds on they simply won't play well with an AVR.

I've seen the Yamaha soundbars in stores for the same price as that Trademe listing too - but yep, that's exactly what I was referring to.

Mprezd

119 posts

Master Geek

#418948 19-Dec-2010 00:21

thanks, if you could tell me some places where you have seen them it would be good. Rung a couple of places about soundbars and seem to get nowhere

timmmay

20429 posts

Uber Geek

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#419027 19-Dec-2010 11:21

I was looking for a soundbar six months back, I found them very expensive in NZ compared with the US.

Dunnersfella

4083 posts

Uber Geek

#419151 19-Dec-2010 18:56

Saw them in Harvey Normans - Yamaha.
I think the over one was in Powerstore during their garage sale... it was either a B&W or a Marantz... I forger which.
But the one at Harvey's was $700 and was the same one you linked too... but in black.