I'm hoping some of you knowledgeable electronics types can steer me toward a reasonably priced, good quality large-screen TV with audio/video receiver, DVD/CD player, and adequate speakers. Can I expect to get anything serviceable for around $5000? Do I really need HDTV? Would I be crazy to buy a 51-in. TV from Costco?

My apologies if I'm posting this on the wrong forum.

cal

 

Check out that new Bose all in one system - DVD/CD/MP3 receiver/amp. Its around $1000 something to consider. Polk DS7200 is another consideration - excellent.

I'd say hold off for a little while on the HDtv until more content is out.

 

DLP (Digital Light Processing) from Texas Instrument Viewsonic project PJ1075 only $3000.00 and a Sony DVD Dream Theatre with integrated stands for $900.00. There you go under $5,000.00. The Projector is pretty cool and can display some ridiculuously large picture. The screen itself is $279.00. 109" screen display like a small movie theatre.

Tan

 

Cal, Costco is a great place to start. I would recommend a good size (53" or bigger) Sony HDTV from them, which will run you $2000-$2500. While HDTV programming is still pretty scarce, within a few years more and more things will be going towards it. The need for a set in 16:9 (the "widescreen" format) is debateable - a TV with equivalent area in 16:9 will be quite a bit more expensive than a standard 4:3 set. Plus the 16:9 is only really useful with DVDs at this point.

Costco also carries good receivers and DVD players. Besides my Sony TV, I have a Sony receiver and Pioneer DVD player all bought from Costco. Sure, there is higher end gear, but Costco's better stuff is more than adequate. A good reciever/DVD player pair will run you $ 4-6 hundred.

Now the last thing, speakers, are the one thing that I do NOT recommend you get at Price Club. Most of their stuff is KLH or Pioneer, which is pretty bad quality. Better to make a trip to Circuit City, Good Guys, or even a custom sound shop (I know a couple good local ones if interested) - and give a listen to the nicer Infinity, Klipsch, or Energy speaker systems. Really good speakers can start to get pricy, and my only recommendations here are:
If the speakers are primary for movies, concentrate on a good center channel. All the most important work of a movie soundtrack (dialogue) falls on the center channel.
If the system is mainly for musical reproduction, get the best pair of tower speakers you can.

I have heard some really nice setups that just blow the mind. Now if only I had the $$!

Good luck!

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by calc
[B]I'm hoping some of you knowledgeable electronics types can steer me toward a reasonably priced, good quality large-screen TV with audio/video receiver, DVD/CD player, and adequate speakers.

 

Ok... My fortay here...

I wouldn't buy a TV at Costco, only because if something goes wrong with it, getting service will be harder. Most of the big chains have their own service teams who can come out. You'd be surprised how many projection sets need service right away due to jarring of guns in shipment (used to sell them in college)

You can pick up a high definition ready projection TV for 2400 or so in a Sony or Hitachi, which are both good. Toshiba is nice as well. Panasonic makes some a little cheaper which also look nice, but I have no idea how they hold up. Circuit City, Best Buy, Good Guys, etc. I think Mitsubishi is the best, but I've only seen a 46 inch or so at the 2500 price point. Try to get a 16:9 if you can afford it.

Roughly this will be half of your 5000 budget. Next critical item is a DVD player. Do not buy one of the all in one systems. This is a HUGE mistake. If you get a high definition ready set, get a progressive scan DVD player. The best one for the money is a Panasonic thats a little over $200. The next step up would be a Sony for the 699 price point. I'd say stick with the Panasonic.

I would also suggest a good quality receiver to go along with your set. My recommendations are Yamaha, Denon, and Onkyo. The higher end models will give you excellent digital decoding (Dolby Digital & DTS), probably with 6.1 channels. Dont skimp here. No matter what anyone tells you, the functionality and quality will pay for itself in the long run. You will know your getting a good receiver when you pick it up. It should be heavy. My Yamaha weighs nearly 50lbs. A local store was clearing out a Yamaha RXV-3000 for $999. Do some research go look in a local store, and then go to www.pricescan.com and find the cheapest price. This should run a minimum of $800.

Speakers are a judgement call. I personally own 5 B&W speakers and a Velodyne Sub. This setup would run about $3000 alone. You need to go listen to speakers, carefully, and make a decision. I like my B&Ws, but PSB, Polk Audio, NHT, Paradigm, Klipsch, and Infinity (HIGH END ONLY) are all good. Find something that you like. I would also try to a get a subwoofer. Again listening is key. I like Velodyne, because I tend to think they provide a clean bass note, which is controlled.

All total you should be right around $5000. Good luck!

 

Let me add this as well.

If you decide against projection, I would advise looking at Sony Wega or Panasonic TAU tvs. They are the best on the market in direct view. Minimum home theater size is 32 inch.

Also... Don't skimp on cables. Get Monster or go to www.bettercables.com and get what you need. It does make a difference.

 

Wow! Thanks for all the quick and useful responses.

Keith D (and others)--could you possibly specify model numbers for the components you're recommending? Maybe there's only one $200 panasonic DVD player with progressive scan, but if there are a couple, I might find myself dealing with a salesman who'd pawn off the lower quality one.

I recognize that you can spend a fortune for speakers AND that I'm not a true audiophile who can tell a lot of difference between speakers. I'm looking at a recent Good Guys flyer advertising A/V receiver &speaker combinations of Yamaha/Klipsch, Denon/Klipsch, Sony/Boston & Yamaha/Energy Reference from 900 to 2500 bucks. The Denon/Klipsch, which is in my range at $2000, has a 6-ch. 90W rcvr with Dolby Digital, Pro Logic and DTS-ES, plus a 6-speaker surround system, including a powered subwoofer. Does this sound like something that would do the job for me?

tnguyen0567, I have a 9x12 room set aside as my "media room," so a projector seems like overkill to me.

Thanks again to all for your help.

cal

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by KeithD
[B]Let me add this as well.

If you decide against projection, I would advise looking at Sony Wega or Panasonic TAU tvs.

 

I just bought a Mitsubishi 65" Widescreen HD-Monitor (the new terminology for HD ready) for $2800. The advantages of this TV are:

1. Since the HD Tuner is not located within the TV, if the standard is changed before finalized (as it has been "finalized" twice already) then I'm not paying for an obsolete HDTV tuner. Plus HDTV programming is pretty weak right now unless you watch CBS or ABC prime time sitcoms and drama shows, Leno is the only thing NBC broadcasts. I'll buy a tuner when I can get the NFL, NBA, NHL, FOX shows, NBC shows, or more than one channel of HBO in HD. Keep in mind you will also have to put up an antenna on you roof.

2. The Mitsu's are the only HDTVs out there that can be taken apart into two easily moved pieces, necessesary for tight hallways, doors, stairwells. Its much easier 150 pounds at a time.

3. It is way bigger than any direct view TV, and unlike front projector setups can be viewed during the day, in sunlight, and can even adjust its brightness and contrast level automatically.

4. Large number of inputs allow me to use the very best connections from my DVD player and XBOX, and frees up my reciever.

5. Split screen function lets me watch any combination of movies, TV, and games.

6. One of the most important differences between Mitsu and the others is that the company has promised that when HDTV is fully implimented with copy protection and the like, they will upgrade any one of their TVs, for less than a $1000, making them future proof. One reviewer in a recent home theater magazine wrote that because of this he had almost exclusivly recommendend the Mitsubishis to his friends.

As for picture quality, they are right up there with the big dogs, Pioneer might be a little better, but you won't really notice the difference in day to day use.

I have experience with Sony ES recievers and have had no problems. If you cannot possibly fit a center rear speaker in your theater (as I cannot), forgo 6.1 for the cheaper 5.1 models.

For speakers I highly recommend Definitive Technology, they are nothing short of AMAZING.

$5000 bucks should buy you a $2500 TV, $700 reciever, $300 DVD, and $1500 speaker set. Don't forget you can spend more on one part now and add the other parts later.

and...as was mentioned above, don't skimp on cables, and use component inputs whenever possible, I was surprised to find out how much better than s-video they were!

Damn, this is the longest post I've ever written!