home theater help needed gang

hayaku · #1 08-09-2007, 02:47 PM

wasssup ya'll

so its time for a retro on the home theater situation at home since its been 6-7 years since i bought my last system and it can't do hdmi and all that fancy stuff. i'm also way out of the loop on what is good and not.

so, here's what i've done so far:

TV - Pioneer Elite Pro-150FD (avail in sept)
Receiver - Pioneer Elite VSX-94THX (avail in sept)

I need speakers. to make it worst, i am virtually tone deaf so audiophile quality doesn't make sense for me since i can't tell a C from a C sharp. i do hear sound and perhaps different sounds, but i sure can't tell you what note it is.

parameters: max of 2500 on speakers only (2 fronts, center, sub, surround (5.1) or (7.1) system).

must be avail to buy online because if i go in a store as confused as i am, they will definitely try to upsell me on something way more then i need but am too puzzified to know what to do...

Thanketh gang!

5Xwen · #2 08-09-2007, 03:46 PM

Definitive Technology speakers look and sound great with a plasma. Check out the Mythos line.

http://www.definitivetech.com/loudsp...os/mythos.html

hayaku · #3 08-09-2007, 03:50 PM

funny you said that - i just priced out some mythos:
mythos 5 for the fronts
mythos 3 for center channel
mythos gem for rear surround
supercube ii for the sub

which runs just under 2500... i'm thinking about picking this up. do you have them? should i get the mythos 6/8 for wall mount fronts instead of the mythos 5 floorstanding ones?

thx

5Xwen · #4 08-09-2007, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hayaku

funny you said that - i just priced out some mythos:
mythos 5 for the fronts
mythos 3 for center channel
mythos gem for rear surround
supercube ii for the sub

which runs just under 2500... i'm thinking about picking this up. do you have them? should i get the mythos 6/8 for wall mount fronts instead of the mythos 5 floorstanding ones?

thx

Wall mount vs. floorstanding is a personal preference, however, floor usually sounds better. IF you're not big into audio as you suggested I would get what looks best in your room. I have Mythos for my Pio plasma and B&W for the home theater room.

Ishniknork · #5 08-09-2007, 09:55 PM

While I like the Pioneer Elite series plasma's, check out this review on the new Panasonic models.

Seriously, read it.

http://hdguru.com/?p=100

ncx · #6 08-09-2007, 04:00 PM

Your choice of gear is fantastic. Congrats. Nothing compares to Elite plasma.

Def Tech is awesome but with your budget that would push you into their entry line other than the smaller Mythos. I agree with 5Xwen, the Mythos look and sound killer, you can opt for the gloss black finish that matches Pio Elite stuff. The Mythos 1's are about $900 each though. You would have to go into the smaller ones.

Your room size, volume preferences, and speaker-type/size prefs, are really needed to make any specific speaker recommendations.

One tip... look at close-out speakers. Mid-level and high-end brands can be found heavily discounted because a new model is out, etc. I have purchased Mirage, Def Tech, Vienna Acoustics, and Energy for less than half price. Many other brands can be found discounted.

Example:
Just picked up a pair of Mirage Omni 550's for $399/pair for my friend. These were $1000/pair last year. Link. You can get two 550s, two 350's or 150's, and a 150c center would be under $1k. Then get a Mirage (or SVS!) sub for $600-700 and you would be rocking and under budget.

That is not a recomendation for you, just an example. There are so many ways you could go. For really specific advise from those in the know, you really need to state your preferences and room size/shape/wife limitations.

Good luck and have FUN.

ncx · #7 08-09-2007, 04:14 PM

ps. www.onecall.com has heavily discounted stuff a lot of the time. Right now they have some big discounts on Polk, Boston Acoustics, Infinity, KEF, and some others... up to half off. Great place to buy from... exc cust. service.

edit/addition: If you are really sold on the Def Tech Mythos Five's this may help. It's a review of the Mythos Five, gems, and s-cube II: http://www.definitivetech.com/review...vu_TPV7805.pdf

B-Line · #8 08-09-2007, 11:51 PM

I have two Panasonic plasma's. One in the bedroom, one in the living room. The one in the living room is 65", 1080p,.. It cost me three arms, two legs, and my first born male child.. And it was worth every penny.

The picture is amazingly, amazingly great. I have not a second of regret. When I was in the store, I was comparing it to the Pioneer Elite. They both were running 1080p signals. The Pioneer Elite, while in my mind, was the second best tv in the store, it didn't hold a candle to the Panasonic. I wish it did though, would have saved a couple K..

B

LeMansX5 · #9 08-10-2007, 12:07 AM

Agree with ncx's expert suggestions.

I may be doing the tech refresh of my HT soon.
AV Receiver is the heart of home theater, so get a good one. I am waiting for the Yamaha RX-V2800 /RX-V3800 which will have HDMI 1.3a. Denon and Onkyo are also good. Should go at least 7.1 to be tech up-to-date.

I have heard on AVS forum that Velodyne speakers are also good for the money.

noncom23 · #10 08-10-2007, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by B-Line

I have two Panasonic plasma's. One in the bedroom, one in the living room. The one in the living room is 65", 1080p,.. It cost me three arms, two legs, and my first born male child.. And it was worth every penny.

The picture is amazingly, amazingly great. I have not a second of regret. When I was in the store, I was comparing it to the Pioneer Elite. They both were running 1080p signals. The Pioneer Elite, while in my mind, was the second best tv in the store, it didn't hold a candle to the Panasonic. I wish it did though, would have saved a couple K..

B

B,I guess you saw this one...

http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product... e=&lang=en-US