Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with hometheater and audio

Receive me.

wordsmith — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 10:38:59 -0800

I'm looking for a home audio receiver + speakers to serve a few different purposes. Can you help me find a good one? I'm piecing together my home theater, and need to buy a decent receiver that will do the following:

1) At least 5.1 audio -- including support for a (powered?) sub.
2) Multiple speaker selection; I have outdoor speakers that I'd like to hook into this as well. Ideally, I'd be able to listen to whatever either indoors only, outdoors only, or both. Do receivers ever support three channels? Eventually, I'd like to hook up a third set of speakers in the basement, and be able to switch between all of them.

What brands should I be looking at? Links to specific receivers that do what I need it to do would be appreciated.

Budget: under $250.

Help me hook up a new HDTV to an old(ish) stereo receiver?

Dr. Wu — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 15:03:39 -0800

Can you help me connect my optical-out DVD players to my new HDMI-in HDTV? This is the kind of thing that drives me bananas.

Just got a nice, brand-new Sony HDTV, with several HDMI-in ports. I would like to get the highest resolution I possibly can out of my video components -- generally DVD. In the past, when I had an older, analog TV, I just used the stereo receiver as an A/V switcher, for which purpose it works very well. But now this functionality has been compromised by the new array of input/output jacks.

Here's the setup:
- The two DVD players I have (one "regular" and one multistandard) both have optical-out ports. I have an old laserdisc and an even older VHS player hooked up to the system, too, but I'm not terribly concerned about them right now.

- I have all audio and video components running through a good, but eight-year-old, Sony A/V receiver. LP/tape/VHS/LD are connected via regular old component RCA plugs, which are just fine. The CD player and the two DVD players can connect to the receiver with optical cables -- which I prefer to use whenever I can. They work well and provide good sound.

- The problem is that the new HDTV does not have any optical-in ports. (If it did, I'd just run the sound from the DVD players through the receiver, and the picture, via optical cable, right to the TV. But I can't do this.) It does have composite-in and component-in, but no optical-in. And the receiver has only composite-out.

The receiver I have is a Sony STR-DA 333 ES. The manual, in PDF form, is available on this page; click "primary user manual" and go to Page 5.

The HDTV I have is a Sony Bravia KDL-46VE5. The manual doesn't seem to be online, but you can find the details here by clicking on "Specifications." (The site will not allow me to access that page directly.)

- The upshot of all this (if you're still with me) is that my only current option is to run all video components into the receiver, and thence to the TV via a crappy composite video cable. Which would sort of defeat the purpose of the 1080p set that I just bought. (We don't have any sort of cable, satellite, or other TV, so this new HDTV is really just going to be used as a monitor for movies on the DVD players.)

What I would like to do is get the highest possible resolution (the HDTV can handle 1080p/24f) when I watch DVDs. Is there a simple, inexpensive way to convert the optical signal to HDMI?

I can imagine several options:
1. I find a magical converter device that can handle multiple optical inputs and output HDMI. This device would be a switcher, so I could run optical cables from both DVD players into it, and then a single HDMI cable from the switcher to the HDTV.

2. If it's cheaper, I certainly don't mind eschewing with the idea of the switcher box and just getting two separate optical-to-HDMI cables, one for each DVD player.

HOWEVER: the problem I foresee: What about the audio??
I want to run the audio from the DVD players through my stereo system, which has a nice 5.1 setup. HDMI handles both video and audio, right? So if I choose either option above, will I be locked into using the speakers built into the HDTV? Or would I then just add another cable, so that the setup would look something like this:

DVD optical out --> HDMI cable --> HDMI in to HDTV --> TV audio out --> receiver. (In which case the audio running from the HDTV to the receiver would be component, yes? Which would be a step downwards, yes?)

I am reasonably good with stuff like this, but the age disparity between the new HDTV and the older stereo system is giving me a headache.

What's the best, cheapest, most reliable way for me to get the highest-quality picture from the DVD players onto the TV, and still get the room-shaking audio through the stereo?

Should I just buy a new multistandard, HDMI-out DVD player? If I did, I could connect it right to the HDTV, but I'd still have the audio problem that I detail above.

*****
Related questions, for masochists and/or AV geeks:

- Let's say I solve this problem above. I'm still left with an LD and a VHS, both of which I still use occasionally, that will be unconnected. Is my best bet with these just to run A/V to the receiver, and thence to the HDTV via component cables?

- I'd like to minimize the number of A/V component switchers. Ideally, I'd still like my receiver to be the one and only device that switches between ALL a/v components. And what's nice is that I can split the audio and the video signals -- that is, I can listen to the CD player while watching the signal from the VHS, if I so desire. Is there some way I can use this functionality to refrain from buying any further switchers?

Should I buy a home theater in a box, or should I buy speakers and a receiver separately?

Grither — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 10:57:09 -0800

Should I buy a home theater in a box, or should I buy speakers and a receiver separately? My fiancee and I are moving into a new apartment soon, and would like to upgrade our home theater system when we do. I was wondering if anyone had any pros or cons for the home-theater-in-a-box type systems like this one, or should I piece it together myself? Should I avoid certain brands, or are they all basically the same? I'm no audiophile, but I would like a system that is 7.1 channel for some future proofing. If it helps, here is what I will be hooking up to it:
PS3
Sharp Aquos 37" 1080p LCD HDTV (will probably upgrade this soon, too)
Wii
Potentially my PC

Is there anything I should keep in mind? Will there be any compatibility issues if I upgrade to a newer TV of a different brand? Do they have wireless systems so I don't have to mess around with wiring all over the place (though the reason I want to do this now is so I can properly wire it up before we set all our furniture up in the new place). I'm looking to spend less than $1,000 on the receiver and speakers, if that's possible.

MacBook and Home Theater

cmoj — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 12:29:51 -0800

Any ideas about a wireless (or at least fairly elegant) MacBook Pro/1080p projector entertainment system setup? So, I've got a fairly new MacBook pro with a DMI-I hookup and all that. I run the audio through an old-fashioned stereo amplifier into old-fashioned floor speakers, and the video through a new-fangled 1080p projector. I also have a mostly adequate Logitech wireless keyboard/mouse.
How can I use this setup without ensnaring my laptop in a web of cables? Well, only four, but it still takes long enough to connect and disconnect that the point of having a laptop is diminished.

I'm looking for essentially this:
Bluetooth or equivalent audio that will go to RCA connectors... adapters are okay as long as I'm not losing too much quality.
Bluetooth or equivalent 1080p video (maybe the hard part).

Help a noob get a basic surround sound speaker system that will be worth the effort.

dino terror — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 12:55:16 -0800

Help a noob get a basic surround sound speaker system that will be worth the effort. I've never had a surround sound system but I think it could be better than just my TV speakers for things like playing PS3 games and watching Blu-Ray movies that I'm willing to throw say $400 bucks at it.
My PS3 supports DTS HD Master Audio, the latest thing in the world of stereo system upgrades, and my HDTV has these new fangled jacks for digital optical audio.
I am not an audiophile. I just want to experience the sensation of spatial audio ie. hearing the bad guys coming up behind me.
I am thinking: 5.1 channels, doesnt need to be powerful as the living room is average sized and I'm not a fan of cranking up the volume. I just want to make sure that everything will support the surroundsound instructions, ie. so that when a bad guy is behind me it actually comes through the rear speakers because this information makes it from my PS3 to my rear speakers. Whether it has to be Dolby, DTS, or analog, I dont care.

Best places to talk Home Audio?

Phyltre — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 20:42:05 -0800

What and where are the best audio/home theater discussion groups/forums for someone wanting to learn about said items? I'm working in big-box retail (and loving it, thank you very much), and there are some extremely tempting Employee Accommodations available to me. I've been looking at home audio a lot recently, and this cements it--I'm definitely buying when the components cost between 50 and 75% less than retail.

The catch is, I don't know very much about home audio. I've googled the models, and gotten some information. I've googled for audio and home theater forums as well (with tons of results), but I don't know who to trust or respect. That's where I need your help. What and where are the best audio/home theater discussion groups and forums, so I can get good advice and not waste my once-a-year accommodations purchase or, at worst, buy the wrong thing and burn the house down?

(Because I know you'll ask: My preliminary plan is to get a Harman Kardon AVR-144 receiver with two Klipsch RF-82 floorstanders and an RW10d sub. Price to me: roughly $700 for everything. Yes, this will be an ad-hoc 2.1 system on a 5.1 receiver, but I'm not buying everything at once for budgeting reasons.)

DIY Balanced Audio Cable-O-Rama

Skorgu — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 10:36:34 -0800

What's the best balanced audio wiring stuff, and where do I get it all? I'm wiring up some speakers. I want to build custom audio cables (and eventually in-wall conduit and fancy faceplates) that will run under a drop ceiling to the speakers. The total run is ~25'. I'll be running balanced audio cable from a line-level converter to the balanced ins of my speakers, so I need balanced wiring. I'm not afraid of a soldering iron or of spending money, as long as I get what I pay for. I don't need any new devices, mixers, or converters, just the cable.

I'd like to eventually use Neutrik combo connectors on the wall plates, but for now is there an advantage to 1/4" TRS over XLR connectors? I've heard that certain brands of cable and connector work better together than others. Is there any truth to this, and if so, what brands/combinations do you recommend? What about shielded cable? Grounding the XLR sheath? Can I run audio cable alongside ethernet cable in one conduit?

Finally, if anyone has any horror/success stories about this sort of thing (including where you got good prices!), please share!

Good audio setup for a Home Theater PC?

mmcg — Wed, 12 Apr 2006 23:57:06 -0800

What's the best combination of soundcard, speaker bundle and/or receiver I can get to work with a standard PC running MediaPortal that I'm using as a HTPC? I'm by no means an audiophile, and all I'm really concerned about is nice, loud 5.1 that'll sound good to someone who listened to a lot of really loud music in high school and college.

Ideally I'd like the computer to be able to send whatever type digital audio you might find on a DVD to the speaker set up, but all the hype put out by companies like Creative Labs has me confused. Do I need a soundcard and a set of 5.1 computer speakers, or a soundcard and a receiver and a set of home theater speakers, or what? I'd love to hear specific product recommendations if anything has built setups similar to this, and, again, I'm looking for functional and affordable rather than, you know, German and shiny.

How hard are in-wall speakers to add to an existing finished room?

mathowie — Wed, 17 Aug 2005 14:45:37 -0800

I'm thinking about moving to a more minimalist home theater -- in-wall speakers, all components in a nearby closet, nothing in the room except the TV attached to a wall. I'm not finding much in the way of resources for doing this in existing construction. Anyone ever try something like this? Everything I've found when researching seems to be at either ends of the home theater spectrum. They either cover the basics of how a $300 home theater goes together (like wiring and connections) or they talk about new custom home construction and loading up your walls with tens of thousands of dollars worth of custom stuff. There's nothing in the middle for someone wanting to spend a grand for a simple setup that isn't home-theater-in-a-box.

I've found the IR repeaters/blasters/eyes for mapping remote commands in a room to the components elsewhere (~$100-200), and I've found some cheap racks to put in a closet (~$200) to hold the components. I can find in-wall speakers (down to about $80 per speaker), but everything seems to be designed for new construction, for bare studs.

Is it a tremendous cost/pain to add speakers to existing finished (stud construction) walls? Will those $80 speakers cost $800 after labor, repainting, and construction?

Is it something I can do myself? I can't seem to find any books on home theater for do it yourselfers, but seems like it's all pretty simple stuff like cutting holes in drywall and fishing wires down to the crawlspace.

Long-distance Digital Audio

SweetJesus — Mon, 01 Aug 2005 13:31:17 -0800

Audiofilter: What is the cheapest way to get pure digital sound from a computer 10~15 feet away from a surround sound system? I'm running a 25 foot HDMI cable out of the back of my PC for video, which is snaked up around the wall to travel 15 feet into the back of my HDTV. I've just bought a new surround sound system, which works absolutely fantastic, but I'd like to get digital sound out of my computer and into the back of the receiver. The only two digital options for inputs on the back of the receiver is TOSLink and digital coxal cable. I'm looking to buy a new sound card for the PC anyway, so it will have at the very least TOSlink and digital coax. I know TOSLink doesn't like to be fooled with too much (too many strange angles will break the fibers), and they both seem to be really expensive at lengths >12 feet.

I'd rather not pay hundreds of bucks for cable. The 25 ft HDMI cable I bought cost about 40 bucks, which is around the amound I'm looking to spend on audio cable.

I was thinking ethernet cable may be an option, because it's digital, cheap and snakeable. Is this idea foolish, or are there people hacking audio adaptors for ethernet cable?

What is the best way to go about this?

What speakers should I spend $10,000 on?

joshuaconner — Mon, 11 Apr 2005 04:16:39 -0800

HomeTheaterFilter: My friend currently owns a Rotel surround receiver and DVD player and six B&W 600 series speakers. He wants to upgrade speakers, and has budgeted $8,000-10,000 to do so. Should he, or is there another part of the system that needs upgrading more urgently? And if speakers are the way to go - keeping in mind that high-end home theater can be highly subjective - what should he get?

Can we get a decent set of 5.1 speakers for the Onkyo TX-SR500 receiver for <$200?

muckster — Mon, 27 Dec 2004 16:12:37 -0800

We are looking to buy a set of 5.1 speakers for this receiver, but we're pretty clueless. Can we get something decent for around $200?

What's an audioplayer with a good UI (readable at 800x600), with a remote, which manages playlists?

daver — Sun, 28 Dec 2003 13:37:48 -0800

Audio player (.mp3, etc) with 10 foot U/I (readable on a TV screen at 800x600) which manages playlists, and can be used with a remote? Oh yes, must be wife-friendly. I've setup a Home Theater PC with myHTPC. Now I'm finding that the music playback options aren't really a good replacement for my 5 year old CD changers. Any body find something reasonable for this scenario?

I've been playing with WinAmp, but the version I have (a late 2 series version I believe) doesn't handle playlists well on for 10 foot U/I (text is tooooo tiny). I've been pointed to muzicman, but it looks a bit over the top for my needs. I'd be happy to use Girder if necessary (especially if anybody has a set of controls setup for snapstream), but I've got the Hauppauge remote (runs from irremote.ini) for now...

good, small, inexpensive speakers

dobbs — Fri, 19 Dec 2003 14:25:30 -0800

Looking for good, small, inexpensive speakers... I'm considering getting some 3.0 or 4.0's from noHr because, I'll admit it, I like how they look and they seem to get good reviews. I will hook them up to my "Home Theatre" which is an average 27" television and an above average DVD player. Does anyone have experience with noHr or can anyone recommend a different brand? Thanks!