Looking to buy surround sound system. I need help

[Jerkface Killah]

Hey gang. I figure it's time to look at buying a receiver and surround sound speakers to take advantage of the audio in my games and movies. I already have a 40" Samsung so I just need an audio setup.

I appreciate good sound, but I feel a little in-over-my-head when looking at some of the specs on receivers. Receivers have video processing power? Do I need that? How do I make sure it has enough power to drive the speaker I buy? I'm sure there are things I should know, but I'm out of my element here.

I just need some recommendations on a good starting point. Maybe some explanation of common features of new receivers. I will take suggestions for brands and models of both receivers and speakers (5.1). I'll probably be willing to spend about $1,000 for everything.

Any input is appreciated.

-Jonathan

[gtmtnbiker]

I have this system:

Yamaha RX-V765BL 665 Watt 7-Channel Home Theater Receiver


Polk Audio RM6750 5.1 Channel Home Theater Speaker System (Set of Six, Black)


It's fine for my needs. I don't really blast the music out or anything like that. I still need to figure out why I don't always get 5:1 sound. I need to sit down and read the manual.

I do know that I get great sound when playing a PS3 or xbox 360 game. You can hear the surround sound effect.

I don't play music on it other than occasionally hooking up the ipod touch to it. The main purpose of the system is to replace the sound coming from the speakers. It also acts like an HDMI input selector. I have 4 different HDMI inputs and 1 cable going out to the TV.

[Jerkface Killah]

I have this system:

Yamaha RX-V765BL 665 Watt 7-Channel Home Theater Receiver


Polk Audio RM6750 5.1 Channel Home Theater Speaker System (Set of Six, Black)


It's fine for my needs. I don't really blast the music out or anything like that. I still need to figure out why I don't always get 5:1 sound. I need to sit down and read the manual.

I do know that I get great sound when playing a PS3 or xbox 360 game. You can hear the surround sound effect.

I don't play music on it other than occasionally hooking up the ipod touch to it. The main purpose of the system is to replace the sound coming from the speakers. It also acts like an HDMI input selector. I have 4 different HDMI inputs and 1 cable going out to the TV.

Thanks for the links. They look good and are withing my price range. I have a question about your speaker setup. It looks like those speakers use regular speaker wire. Is that considered an analog connection, or is it all digital? I don't know one way or the other.

Thanks,
Jonathan

[winds]

That's analog. I haven't looked too much into home setups, but I would say analog would be the better route to go. You'd want the receiver to have the digital-to-analog converter in it instead of each of the speakers seperately (if they had a digital connection). That way, in theory, the receiver would have the better converter instead of needing 1 per speaker.

[kingdomheights777]

Welcome to the crazy world of home theater gear.
This is what i will do for you...a good, better , best tier. And will not be far off from your $1000.00 budget.

Good: TOTAL PRICE $779.98
Polk Audio RM510 5.1CH High Performance Surround Sound Speaker System with 10" powered sub.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6882290174
$399.99 on New Egg

AV/ Receiver
Onkyo TX-SR609
Plenty of wattage to push those RM5 Satellite speakers above. Plus this baby can be used with bigger speakers which i will post on down the line.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6882120177
$379.99 New Egg

Better TOTAL PRICE $829.95
Polk CS1 (center speaker) $79.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6882290210

Polk Monitor40 Pair (Left and Right) $149.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6882290202

Polk monitor30 pair (Rear Surrounds) $119.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6882290200

Polk PSW10 Powered Sub $99.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6882290034

AV/ Receiver
Onkyo TX-SR609
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6882120177
$379.99 New Egg

BEST TOTAL PRICE $1259.95

Polk CS20 Center Channel $149.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6882290107

Polk Monitor60 (Front L and R) $299.99 Pair
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6882290206

Polk Monitor50 (Rear L and R) $199.99 Pair
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6882290204

Polk PSW505 Sub $229.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6882290130

AV/ Receiver
Onkyo TX-SR609
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6882120177
$379.99 New Egg

[Jerkface Killah]

That's analog. I haven't looked too much into home setups, but I would say analog would be the better route to go. You'd want the receiver to have the digital-to-analog converter in it instead of each of the speakers seperately (if they had a digital connection). That way, in theory, the receiver would have the better converter instead of needing 1 per speaker.

Thanks for the clarification on those speaker cables. Why do you say analog is the way to go? Most of my inputs will be digital. PS3, 360, Mac mini (eventually), cable box. I think the only analog input will be my Wii.

Thanks,
Jonathan

[fastbilly1]

kingdomheights is spot on with the Onkyo TX-SR609. It is the one I am planning on buying, just waiting on a price break or a flush of cash.

[Jerkface Killah]

Welcome to the crazy world of home theater gear.
This is what i will do for you...a good, better , best tier. And will not be far off from your $1000.00 budget.

Good: TOTAL PRICE $779.98
Polk Audio RM510 5.1CH High Performance Surround Sound Speaker System with 10" powered sub.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6882290174
$399.99 on New Egg

AV/ Receiver
Onkyo TX-SR609
Plenty of wattage to push those RM5 Satellite speakers above. Plus this baby can be used with bigger speakers which i will post on down the line.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6882120177
$379.99 New Egg

Better TOTAL PRICE $829.95
Polk CS1 (center speaker) $79.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6882290210

Polk Monitor40 Pair (Left and Right) $149.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6882290202

Polk monitor30 pair (Rear Surrounds) $119.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6882290200

Polk PSW10 Powered Sub $99.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6882290034

AV/ Receiver
Onkyo TX-SR609
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6882120177
$379.99 New Egg

BEST TOTAL PRICE $1259.95

Polk CS20 Center Channel $149.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6882290107

Polk Monitor60 (Front L and R) $299.99 Pair
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6882290206

Polk Monitor50 (Rear L and R) $199.99 Pair
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6882290204

Polk PSW505 Sub $229.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6882290130

AV/ Receiver
Onkyo TX-SR609
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6882120177
$379.99 New Egg

Wow, that's pretty comprehensive. I appreciate the time you took to get the links. You must think a lot of that receiver to include it in the "best" setup. Looks nice and the price is right. On a related topic, what are "banana plugs" and are they different from regular speaker wire connections? I saw them on amazon while looking at receivers

Thanks again,
Jonathan

[Jerkface Killah]

kingdomheights is spot on with the Onkyo TX-SR609. It is the one I am planning on buying, just waiting on a price break or a flush of cash.

Maybe Black Friday or Cyber Monday.

[fastbilly1]

I highly suggest reading through Home Theaters for Dummies. I read it a couple years ago and it helped me out quite a bit.

Banana Plugs are a different kind of connector that is less likely to break then say a spring connector and offer better quality audio.