School me on Home Theater-in-a-box? Need some suggestions to look at

Hi all,

I am going to be researching some Home Theater-in-a-box systems but wanted to get a jump start here by soliciting for some recommendations that you've all had practical experience with (good experience)?

Presently I have a JBL SCS500SAT surround speaker setup married to a Harman Kardon AVR 146 receiver. System works out fine except for the fact the AVR 146 does not process digital data through HDMI, it just "passes" through the data requiring me to have separate connections for audio and video. Here's where the problem lies.

We recently moved into a new home that has a wall mount above the fireplace and is wired in the wall with an HDMI cable, red/green/blue component wires in addition to two sets of analog red/white audio and yellow video. In my old place using an optical cable for the audio was no problem, but for this new setup it's not an option because of the placement of the hidden wiring that comes out of the wall from the TV mount. I cant run an optical to where I have a tower that will house my receive and a blu-ray DVD player (that I have NEVER used). So I am guessing that my only option is to find a receiver (or system-in-a-box that processes HDMI data so that I do not need separate audio/video connections?

Am I wrong in this thinking or correct? I am by no means an audiophile, nor remotely close to being an electronics guru. I actually do not like setting up all of this stuff myself.

Crutchfield is a great place to start but their HT products are basically separate components and are pricey. I was thinking just going Best Buy (which is where I bought my first system) to gather intelligence and see if I can snag something on Amazon Prime. I'm not looking to spend a fortune here, I've already done that in purchasing this house and then all of the stuff we've needed since. Budget is really no more than $400 if I can swing it, I'd like to sell my current setup to help offset the cost. I havent' even begun looking so I'm not even aware of what I am getting myself into price wise for a home theater system in a moderate budget. Maybe $400 isn't even in the same realm, I don't know.

Thanks for reading and for any information/recommendations you can provide!

Edit: I do not care about 3D just to be clear.

Justin

I'd be tempted to use adapters that can be had from here:

www.monoprice.com

http://www.monoprice.com/Search?keyword=hdmi+adapter

first step is to decide what you want it to do. you have bluray and you have I would guess some form of sat/cable receiver and want a receiver to switch them. if you are never using the bluray and don't plan on it, run the hdmi to the tv and use the red/white pair back to the audio input on your receiver and job done, no money spent. if you are happy with the current sound, then no reason to step to 5.1digital sound.

won't take advantage of the bluray output, but you can also run hdmi from sat/cable to tv, use the rgb from bluray to other tv input and then connect tv to one receiver input and bluray audio outs to another input and done. again no money spent but really not taking advantage of bluray quality and still no 5.1 sound.

if you want a new setup, go to bestbuy and tell the guy what you have. they will be able to show you several sets from different manuf. that will have a small amp/switching box for 2-3hdmi inputs, a 5ch speaker system and a powered sub in the $4-500 range that will sound good. it'll be easy to install, easy to switch and be a solid tv setup, although lack the quality of sound if you enjoy music on a 2ch mode..
one other option is to check craigslist if you live in a metro area. lots of audiophiles switching gear all the time and might be able to find a 7-900 setup for 4-500 that's gently used. find the right guy to demo it and they will also love to walk you through how to install and setup as well. did that with the guy that bought my old polk setup. we talked for almost 2hrs on the system.

my .02 at the end of the day... budget $69 for the harmony remote control if you havent.. http://www.logitech.com/en-us/produc...te-650?crid=60
that remote is the shizznit at controlling a multi-piece setup, great pricepoint, easy to use and even easier to program. It's my 3rd harmony and the best one yet. bought it 2 months ago..

Quote:

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Originally Posted by kaneboats

I'd be tempted to use adapters that can be had from here:

www.monoprice.com

http://www.monoprice.com/Search?keyword=hdmi+adapter

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I'm not following you on what any of those adapters would do for me.

And after doing some prelim research I may just need a new receiver, rather than choosing a HT in a box and replacing the whole system. Others seem to enjoy the JBL system I have and to be honest I never really had a problem with it.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by sandm

first step is to decide what you want it to do. you have bluray and you have I would guess some form of sat/cable receiver and want a receiver to switch them. if you are never using the bluray and don't plan on it, run the hdmi to the tv and use the red/white pair back to the audio input on your receiver and job done, no money spent. if you are happy with the current sound, then no reason to step to 5.1digital sound.

won't take advantage of the bluray output, but you can also run hdmi from sat/cable to tv, use the rgb from bluray to other tv input and then connect tv to one receiver input and bluray audio outs to another input and done. again no money spent but really not taking advantage of bluray quality and still no 5.1 sound.

if you want a new setup, go to bestbuy and tell the guy what you have. they will be able to show you several sets from different manuf. that will have a small amp/switching box for 2-3hdmi inputs, a 5ch speaker system and a powered sub in the $4-500 range that will sound good. it'll be easy to install, easy to switch and be a solid tv setup, although lack the quality of sound if you enjoy music on a 2ch mode..
one other option is to check craigslist if you live in a metro area. lots of audiophiles switching gear all the time and might be able to find a 7-900 setup for 4-500 that's gently used. find the right guy to demo it and they will also love to walk you through how to install and setup as well. did that with the guy that bought my old polk setup. we talked for almost 2hrs on the system.

my .02 at the end of the day... budget $69 for the harmony remote control if you havent.. http://www.logitech.com/en-us/produc...te-650?crid=60
that remote is the shizznit at controlling a multi-piece setup, great pricepoint, easy to use and even easier to program. It's my 3rd harmony and the best one yet. bought it 2 months ago..

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I do not have a cable/satelitte STB. I do not pay for cable nor do I want to. My Mohu Lead Ultimate antenna picks up 55 channels from Charlotte and since we barely watch TV as it is this suffices.

I would really prefer not having to resort to analog audio. I have a nice speaker setup and a nice room for it with everything all pre-wired (even F/R and surrounds) so I'd like to be able to have it setup correctly.

Good point about checking CL, hadn't thought of that even though I've been scouring it for other stuff we need for the home. I have had the Harmony One in the back of my mind for years now but just couldn't pull the trigger on a +$150 remote control. You like the 650 I assume? I would LOVE to get rid of the multi-remote setup I have going on now, what a fiasco!!

Just a receiver $249.99
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/yamaha-5...&skuId=8046066

Or Pioneer $249.99
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/pioneer-...&skuId=7606045

I will take your advice and just head to BB and bring my owner's manual for the receiver and system and see what they say. It's better than trying to do all this research myself since I don't know anything about it....

What do you want from your sound system?

Friends don't send friends to Best Buy for a nice home theater system, but maybe you don't want a nice system.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by maxpower220

What do you want from your sound system?

Friends don't send friends to Best Buy for a nice home theater system, but maybe you don't want a nice system.

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What do you mean "what do I want?" I want what anyone would want. Nice clear loud sound. I know what you are asking, but I just want to set up my system without having the need to see wires where everything else is pre-wired in the wall. What does a "nice" system consist of? If your talking high-end then no I do not want a high-end system. HT-in-a-box is more than sufficient for my needs.

max I would disagree with you. I just replaced my onkyo txds838(15years of faithful service) with a yamaha 675 from best buy. price was one of the lowest I could find. granted I don't consider it real high end, but if cig was looking for something beyond what bestbuy sells, he probably wouldn't be asking for advice on here. bestbuy owns magnolia and ships to stores. I would consider them on the moderate side of high end systems...

cig.. if you are happy with the speaker sound, then just go invest $3-400 in a decent hdmi-switching receiver and keep them. ht in a box isn't going to give you anything different if speakers are still good. this leaves you with the $$ for that remote. I would highly recommend it. I replaced my old harmony with this new one and difference is night and day. if it was my money, I'd spend it on either yamaha(first choice) or onkyo. yamaha seems to have a little better rep. onkyo will have a few more features for the $$ but doesn't sound like that's important to ya and they have had a few quality issues on some of the newer units.

on an unrelated note, assuming you have a sub? that makes all the difference imo to a setup.

Can you go wireless with a blue tooth system?

Heard this was Aewsome for the tv system.

http://www.crutchfield.com/p_018SOLO...nd-system.html

I do have a sub, the JBL came with a 10" subwoofer.

Wireless with Bluetooth? Is the technology there yet to deliver sound as good as wired? My LR is already wired up. Maybe wireless for the bonus room if I ever get around to it down the road.

That Bose system only accommodates "up to" a 42" TV. My Sharp Aquos is 46", and in a few months I'm upgrading to 55" or so.

everyone says wireless but there's a reason high end systems use cable that can run as much as a grand for a 5ft section. wireless is convenient but it'll never be as clean as wired imo.

cig, in the end you need to ask yourself what do you really want.

are speakers fine, if so just replace av receiver and done.
if speakers are not fine(or just tired of them and want something new) then ht in a box is probably going to be the easiest and cleanest replacement for everything(including bluray) and will fit within your price requirements. now if you were going to spend a grand, I'd say go separate receiver and get a 5.1 speaker system. if you listen to music at all, get a solid set of fronts and a matching center and a small set of rears. if only for tv, then a matched 5.1 system from polk, denon or the such would be a great setup. on one hand you mention not watching a lot of tv, but then are going to go from 46(a great size) to "55 or so" so guessing tv watching time is somewhat important so I would really ask what your end goal is and go from there. if tv time is important, I'd tell you to rethink the budget and perhaps do it in stages. receiver now and speakers later if you don't mind the jbl's for a winter.

Good advice sandm! I did find a yamaha rx-v671 here in Charlotte for $275 which seems like a good deal considering what I saw review wise and price even though it's a discontinued unit. It's BNiB.

We don't watch "tv" per se a lot , but do enjoy movies. The 46" is a bit small for the spot above the fireplace which is why I'd like to upgrade (it's 7 or 8 yrs old). That will be next march though come bonus time.

I really like my yamaha receiver. it's not near as powerful nor as musical as the onkyo it replaced, but they really were in different price classes. the yamaha does a great job at passing hdmi's to the tv and extracting the audio portion. that's a good deal and I'd snap it up. when you replace the tv, might look then at a new speaker setup? I've heard some of the higher end 5.1's and they do bring the action to life. getting a good solid sub is really the foundation of the setup imo so if you shop that route, spend a fair amount of time going over that piece of it. lots of technology going toward 7.1 and 9.1 but imo, that's more for dedicated theater rooms that have a single entrance/exit than a family living room or great room.

You could wait till Black Friday and or Cyber Monday in a month. You might be able to snag a deal on a set? You can do most of your ordering online now rather than wait in lines at the store.
This Onkyo refurbished set might work?
https://www.shoponkyo.com/detail.cfm...il=1&ext_war=1
You might even be able to get it for $199?
- Must be a Club Onkyo member
- $249.00 Club price, $49.80 taken off at checkout with code COLU
- FREE shipping, but must pay tax - YMMV based on state
- One year warranty

Here is a 7.1 package for $399
https://www.shoponkyo.com/detail.cfm...il=1&ext_war=1

Here is a real cheap setup on Groupon for $65. Not for me, you get what you pay for with that one. But just in case that's what you had in mind?
http://www.groupon.com/deals/gg-rca-...rce=GPN&z=skip

Here's an update:

Kept setup the same. It's not as "clean" as if like concerning all wires hidden but I hooked it all up today, mounted the front left and right surround speakers and it's working good. Hooked up the sub and it will do for now. The optical audio cable is the one thing that just sits out there but oh well.

Going to keep my eye out on CL, that Yamaha 7.1 receiver I posted before is still available so maybe he'll go a little lower since it's been sitting there for 3 weeks.

I'll post a pic in a bit. Making steaks on the grill right now!! Yum!!!!