Thread: Any Home Audio Geeks Out There?

I'm considering getting a 7.1 home theater system, and I'm curious if any of you have a receiver that you really like.

My TV and Blu Ray player are both newer model Sony units, so I think I'd like to stay with that brand so I don't have remotes all over the place. I've been reading how some receivers have an iPhone app that allows you to control it right from your phone which I think is pretty cool. The streaming Netflix and Pandora capabilities are pretty cool too.

For something like $200-$300 I can pick up a pretty decent Sony receiver from Amazon.

Does anyone have anything they'd recommend?

I dont recommend sony but some of their higher end receivers are nice. Id go with some definitive technology speakers or even some Martin logans for the 7.1 set up though.

So after a TON of research on systems, I did indeed decide to stay with Sony. I can control everything from one remote if I choose.

I bought an STR-DN2010 receiver and an Onkyo speaker surround system. Absolutely incredible! I have no regrets thus far.

Not really a fan of sony but speaker placement is key. but alot of things can determine the sound in a home enviroment room size carpet hardwoods etc

Originally Posted by Bacon

I dont recommend sony but some of their higher end receivers are nice. Id go with some definitive technology speakers or even some Martin logans for the 7.1 set up though.

I know this is an old thread/post, but I've got the DefTech Pro600 monitors and Pro800 sub and they're good for HT/gaming, but not so much for music. I'm actually looking at a ML dynamo sub right now though I'll probably go w/ the rythmik F15 to pair w/ my Bowers & Wilkins 684, HTM62, 685 and 686s, powered by a Denon AVR-2112CI receiver (which is awesome as well)

B&W speakers are absolutely incredible for listening to music of any kind...so much more clarity and warmth over the deftechs, and they sound better for HT IMHO as well.

Nice to see someone else has good taste in home audio equipment

sony sucks in all areas but thats just me and 20 years of experience. do i blame you for keeping a theme going...no but i think it was done for the wrong reason. most univeral remotes can be programmed to work with whatever equipment you have or buy.

personally im a denon and focal/JMlabs person with a very close second going to dynaudio.

Pc600 is a good set up, great deal for $800, retail of course. I'm looking to go with a set of definitive sm55's and maybe a vsx50 for my bed room set up. Waiting until the 50gt50 Panasonic plasma comes in to see if it's worth the money.

Originally Posted by superspec

sony sucks in all areas but thats just me and 20 years of experience. do i blame you for keeping a theme going...no but i think it was done for the wrong reason. most univeral remotes can be programmed to work with whatever equipment you have or buy.

personally im a denon and focal/JMlabs person with a very close second going to dynaudio.

Couldn't agree more, besides the ps3 I don't own a single Sony product. Their tvs are waaay overhyped and I'll take a Panasonic plasma over a Sony anyday. I love my Denon receiver, though I'm partial to B&W for home speakers and JL Audio for car speakers/amps.

Originally Posted by Bacon

Pc600 is a good set up, great deal for $800, retail of course. I'm looking to go with a set of definitive sm55's and maybe a vsx50 for my bed room set up. Waiting until the 50gt50 Panasonic plasma comes in to see if it's worth the money.

Yeah, for htib its a good setup and not too expensive for the quality you get w/ DefTech. Though luckily I'm only using 2 of those for rears atm, w/ B&W 684 fronts and B&W HTM62 center w/ 685s coming soon for rears & 686s for sides. The Pio vsx50 is nice, pretty much the same as my Denon 2112ci...Yeah, I should've waited on the new Panasonics, but I went ahead and bought the gt30 about a month ago...almost bought the vt30, but all they had was 65" and I wanted the 55", though it wasn't that much cheaper dammit now I'm thinking about it again lol

I love you guys!
To me, sony is like honda. Reliable but not the best. And their TV's are way over-rated.
Anyway, I prefer Yamaha receivers. I have one and it is great. My speakers are the polk satellites, which are marginal, but were free hand me downs.
My buddy has the definitive technologies power towers and says the saame thing as sean. Very good for movies but not the best for music.
In a reasonable price range you can always get klipsh speakers and a yamaha receiver. I wouldn't settle for anything less. You are talking about buying something that will be around for 20+ years, so make it count!

If you're going to settle for klipsche go for a set of Energy, made by the same company but you lose that horn based tweeter that makes your highs too high and gives you a more natural sound. Just an opinion

Originally Posted by britewhite

I love you guys!
To me, sony is like honda. Reliable but not the best. And their TV's are way over-rated.
Anyway, I prefer Yamaha receivers. I have one and it is great. My speakers are the polk satellites, which are marginal, but were free hand me downs.
My buddy has the definitive technologies power towers and says the saame thing as sean. Very good for movies but not the best for music.
In a reasonable price range you can always get klipsh speakers and a yamaha receiver. I wouldn't settle for anything less. You are talking about buying something that will be around for 20+ years, so make it count!

Yamaha receivers are great, I used to have one a while ago and it was awesome. I've owned Yamaha, Denon and Pioneer and though I prefer Denon, I'd take a nice Yamaha or Pio elite in a heartbeat as well.

Your buddy is absolutely correct DefTech supertowers are great for movies and have built in subs, but they extra bass they provide can mix too much w/ the mids and highs causing it to sound a little muddy.

Originally Posted by Bacon

If you're going to settle for klipsche go for a set of Energy, made by the same company but you lose that horn based tweeter that makes your highs too high and gives you a more natural sound. Just an opinion

This ^^ Energy will be a much better sounding speaker than the Klipsch, which like Bacon said, have horn tweeters that can be very harsh at higher volumes...I love it when people actually know what they are talking about