Looking to buy a new home theatre setup+tv

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › Looking to buy a new home theatre setup+tv

JohnMatrix

21 posts

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#82219 25-Apr-2011 10:11

Hello all,I am looking to upgrade my current system of around 8 to 10 years old.
It will be used mainly for movies and music as I have a gaming computer.Budget will be around $2000 for a new telly and about the same for a reciever and speakers.(maybe a bit more)
I was thinking about one of those media boxes as all my movies are on the pc.
The room is medium sized with lots of light.The system would have to go in the corner so the speakers can't be too big,I have a problem with pinking on the tv.
I've had a quick browse around Harvey norman and Noel Leeming,only thing that caught my eye was this

http://www.panasonic.co.nz/viera/plasma/th-p50v20z.html

Listened to a few systems but they were quite tinny and theres far too many.
Hope I've covered everything and I look forward to your replies,Thanks.

SepticSceptic

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#462104 25-Apr-2011 11:19

Sound-wise, I would tend to avoid the "Home Theatre in A Box". These are generally under powered for all but the smallest of rooms. Or live in an apartment or block of flats. Not all are bad, just the lower end ones. Separate audio components will allow you to upgrade as budget allows. If you go separate, make sure that the AV AMP/ Receiver does video up-scaling for everything, otherwise you are running additional cables for video. ie upscale composite video to HDMI. Quite a few don't. But that depends if you have a VCR ( still) or anything else that outputs video in composite or s-video. And the AV box should also support HDMI-passthru ( or similar). Meaning that the amp doesn't need to be fully powered on if you just want to watch the telly without powering up the main AV system.

A set of good slim-line speakers should easily fit your budget.

A good sub is necessary, esp for games and movies. Rumbling tanks and all that :-)

A LAN-connected/USB media player for your movies - there are quite a few around. Seen a few on the deal web sites like 1-day etc. They are much of a muchness as manufacturers keep up with one another in features.

Visit a dedicated audio retailer to get a better idea of what you can achieve, not just the HN / NL box-movers.

my 2c, + change

My thoughts are no longer my own and is probably representative of our media-controlled government

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JohnMatrix

21 posts

Geek

#462107 25-Apr-2011 11:35

Thanks for your great advice.There is a couple of dedicated dealers here in Dunedin so will pop in and see them.

Dunnersfella

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#462109 25-Apr-2011 11:53

Good choice with the Panasonic 50V... except that it's not going to be the 'best' TV for a brightly lit room. Sure the contract filter helps, but that only goes so far. Look for an LED or LCD with a matt finished screen to help you when the sun is shining directly on the TV.
Take a look at an LG LCD, or perhaps one of the Sony KDL55EX500's. The Sony would sit within your budget quite easily.

Before looking at amps, can I ask what else you'd be plugging into your system? Do you have a PS3? A Wii? A VCR? A turntable? And who will be using it? Just you or the whole household etc.
All these things will allow the folk around here to pinpoint the correct receiver for you.
Also, do you want floor standing speakers, or in-ceilings? Stand mounts? Wall mounted?
Give us the info and we'll hopefully point you in the right direction.

timmmay

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#462117 25-Apr-2011 12:17

My recommendations are on this thread

http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=34&topicid=81945

JohnMatrix

21 posts

Geek

#462150 25-Apr-2011 14:18

Thanks Dunnersfella I like the look of the Sony but $3000 on a tv will leave me with about $1500 for the stereo plus cabling.I was leaning towards the amp and speakers.
I would like the amp to be able to hook up to my computer though those media boxes do that I think.
Things plugged into it would be our existing DVD recorder,MySky ,media box thingy and a new Blue Ray/DVD player,maybe a PS2 for singstar.
As for speakers I really don't know.they have a be thinner than my Warfedales but still have some kick.Don't think the missus would want speakers in the walls.
Hope this helps,cheers.

JohnMatrix

21 posts

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#462154 25-Apr-2011 14:23

Cheers for the link timmmay,very helpful.

timmmay

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#462197 25-Apr-2011 16:13

Welcome. People here have a hard on over Panasonic Plasma TVs, I went to a store with them all and trusted my eyes. I suggest you do the same :)

The Wharfdale Vardus are great speakers for the price. I may upgrade the center some time, and maybe the sub, but for $1000 or so on sale they're awesome. Onkyo amps are great value and work really well too, but get pretty warm, so you need to think about cooling if they're enclosed.

JohnMatrix

21 posts

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#462201 25-Apr-2011 16:24

Sweet,so at the moment I'll lock in the Panasonic for the t.v.Now for the amp+speakers.

JohnMatrix

21 posts

Geek

#462210 25-Apr-2011 16:44

Looking at speakers similar to this in size http://www.harveynorman.co.nz/yamaha-5-1-channel-speaker-pack.html

timmmay

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#462230 25-Apr-2011 17:36

My point was don't go by what people say, trust your own eyes!

That looks like a smallish speaker set, though size and performance isn't always directly related. Have a listen to them, and the Vardus I suggested, at L V Martin.

LV were great when I got my TV. I got a Samsung plasma but it buzzed, so they replaced it, then let me trade it for an LCD. The Panasonic plasmas apparently buzz much less than Samsung ones.

JohnMatrix

21 posts

Geek

#462240 25-Apr-2011 18:17

I will definitely look hard before I buy,just heard the Panasonic was very good for the price.
The Varus speakers look good.I have Wharfedales at the moment but they would not fit in the corner if I bought a 50 inch tv,this is why I need something a little smaller.

wmoore

510 posts

Ultimate Geek

#462261 25-Apr-2011 19:53

Dunnersfella: Good choice with the Panasonic 50V... except that it's not going to be the 'best' TV for a brightly lit room. Sure the contract filter helps, but that only goes so far. Look for an LED or LCD with a matt finished screen to help you when the sun is shining directly on the TV.

You could just close the curtains.

"In the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years." -
-- Abraham lincoln

Dunnersfella

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#462282 25-Apr-2011 21:53

The speakers you've linked to will fit the 'nice and slim' aspect you're looking for. But will they have the sound you desire. Trus tyour ears on that one... But I will say, affordable slimline speakers that work well... It's a tough ask. I guess it depends on how demeaning you are of your system.
Remember to take in demo material in store so you can have a listen - maybe look at some of the Polk speakers at Harvey Norman, or maybe KEF's at JB Hifi?
Re: amplifier, a Yamaha RXV667 or Pioneer VSX920 will not only do the business, but they'll offer you great flexibility for the future. They both upscale video if required ( they can take composite video and feed it to the TV over a single HDMI, as well as offering HDMI passthrough for your MySky box - meaning no need to turn on your amp just to watch TV. The Yamaha is more family friendly I suppose, where the Pioneer offers better video upscaling / GUI to my eyes, as well as advanced features like iPod video playback and interweb radio. If it's only you using the amp, I'd head towards the Pioneer. But if the whole family need to use it, grab the Yamahavas it's a piece of cake for people to get their head around.

JohnMatrix

21 posts

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#462326 26-Apr-2011 06:51

Only myself and missus will be using the gear.I like the look of the Pioneer VSX920,don't think it looks too complicated.We are getting a little older now and don't really need huge bass pounding speakers,but if it fits I won't hesitate to buy them.
I'll scribble all this down and take a trip downtown this week.
Thank you very much for your help guys.