new ascend system... what to get

[BGHD]

I'd also suggest first picking between either the Yamaha and Pio, then also purchasing the Panny xr57. If the cheaper Panny works for you, then great, you saved a bundle of cash to put towards some DVD/music/PPVs, etc. If not, at least you can rest assured you gave the cheaper one a chance.

It's difficult to compare A/V equipment until you play with it in your home for several weeks.

[greggle31]

ok here it is...after exhaustive searching...onkyo tx-sr703 and tx-sr-803 one has hdmi one does not.....opinions on these recievers or onkyo as a whole, i have heard nothing but good things...lemme have it.....also how about these against the entry level pioneer elite vsx-80txv? i wanna buy this thing soon lemme know what u guys think....thanks again fellas

[bikeman]

Onkyo and Pio are comparable. I have an Onkyo that I use in a two channel set-up. It gets the job done. Those are some nice receivers that you're looking at. Let us know when it's up and running.

David

[greggle31]

what would u guys all rather have? a 5.1 setup with 5 340's, a 7.1 system with 340 l/c/r and htm 200's out back...or a 5.1 system with 340's l/c/r and 170's out back?

[curtis]

Do you have the room to properly place five CMT-340SE's?

What will the system be primarily used for? HT or music? Percentages?

[greggle31]

Ive got a room that is approxomately 15x13 with a couche on the back wall and monitor on the far wall in front of the couch. Im not sure how I want to mount the rears yet. There is a space in the rear corner of the couch because it is a sectional so I thought maybe a tower back there.

[greggle31]

system will be 60% ht and 40% music.......with Ht i am more critical sound wise.... music i like to sound good, but its usually just blasting while im hanging out. With my Ht i am very critical of how things sound and tend to get much more involved int he experience.

[BGHD]

what would u guys all rather have? a 5.1 setup with 5 340's, a 7.1 system with 340 l/c/r and htm 200's out back...or a 5.1 system with 340's l/c/r and 170's out back?

I'd say 7.1 is out. If you can swing 5x 340s, god bless ya, but it sounds like a bit much for that size room.

How about 340 LCR + 200s sides for 5.1? I used to have 340 LCR, 170 sides and 200 rears (I know, kind of a hodgepodge) in an ~15x18 room for 80/20 HT-DirecTV/music use. I recently dropped back to 5.1 swapping the 200s for the 170s. I did this because I wasn't blown away by 7.1 over 5.1, and for the smaller form factor of the 200s. Admittedly I'm no audiophile, but I really don't notice a major dropoff in SQ, even for 5.1 DVD-A/SACD. The 200s are holding up nicely as surrounds and they're more appealing to the WAF. Bottom line: don't discount the 200s.