Need a new entertainment system

[Cutty72]

I have a panasonic 50" plasma 720p. It was the 2nd best TV on the market when I bought it (per a bunch of different sources) #1 was the same TV in 1080p. Couldn't afford the 1080, and don't have anything that would give me the full use of it anyway, so

Originally Posted by Ebbs15

Go LCD over plasma... 1 they're cheaper, 2. they're lighter (my dad's plasma I can't lift by myself it's a 50"... my friend had a 50" LCD that weighed like 50lbs) and 3. the picture quality is just as good if not better in some cases than plasma.

Not anymore. The price gap is almost nil, pretty much depends on brand. I can lift my plasma myself, just don't cause it's akward.
True, the quality is about equal now.

From everything I've seen/heard/read... 49" or less, LCD. 50" or more, plasma

[OneSickPsycho]

A Ridgeline member says:

Originally Posted by hofffam

I disagree completely about Bose. Absolutely.

Massively overpriced, built cheaply, very clever, marketed extensively, and not nearly as innovative as people think. Mediocre bass, low maximum volume, and gimmicky soundstage.

I would buy a Denon or Onkyo receiver and a matched set of speakers from KEF, Atlantic Technology, Paradigm, Definitive Technology, PSB, or Mirage (for starters). Buy the new $399 Panasonic Blu-Ray player.

[Amber Lamps]

Originally Posted by OneSickPsycho

A Ridgeline member says:

Did someone say Onkyo? They have been at the forefront of Receiver design for decades. They use a massively over-sized transformer and top shelf dac's. If I were not as into music as I am,I would have gone Onkyo all the way! I still like the Boston Acoustics speaker set-up btw... Oh and I see by his speaker list you didn't mention the budget.....

[Porkchop]

I have a YAMAHA reciever!!!! Sweet stuff, but i'd rather have an R6....

[Mr Lefty]

Originally Posted by OneSickPsycho

A Ridgeline member says:

the reciever I quoted him was a denon.... I like Deninitive Tech speakers... but to keep it under budget I went with klipsch... which are very good IMO also.

Onkyo and Harmon Kardin are very good recievers... would have chosen either had best buy had them for the same price as the Denon I listed (didn't look too hard, just found Denon and linked)

pretty much anything you find in Magnolia Audio/Video is good shit... PRETTY MUCH

[Porkchop]

Originally Posted by Ebbs15

the reciever I quoted him was a denon.... I like Deninitive Tech speakers... but to keep it under budget I went with klipsch... which are very good IMO also.

Onkyo and Harmon Kardin are very good recievers... would have chosen either had best buy had them for the same price as the Denon I listed (didn't look too hard, just found Denon and linked)

My dad has a denon reciever, its good. But my Klipsch/THX personal computer speakers/woofer.... can you say loud???

[R1up0n1]

I myself love the plasma displays over LCD... I just like the bright vibrant color and quality. My fiancee and I bought a 42" Samsung Plasma earlier this year. I honestly think Samsung has the best, crisp clear picture out of any other. I see a lot of displays, I install a lot of displays, and I get to play with a lot of displays. Samsung is FTW.

As far as the audio system goes... Yeah Bose is nice because they are small and compact with nice sound, however the price is way too much. I would recommend going with another receiver like a Yamaha and some other small speakers with a subwoofer hidden in your living room.

[Gas Man]

Originally Posted by Ebbs15

the reciever I quoted him was a denon.... I like Deninitive Tech speakers... but to keep it under budget I went with klipsch... which are very good IMO also.

Onkyo and Harmon Kardin are very good recievers... would have chosen either had best buy had them for the same price as the Denon I listed (didn't look too hard, just found Denon and linked)

pretty much anything you find in Magnolia Audio/Video is good shit... PRETTY MUCH

I went to the Magnolia room at BB today. Got more educated...

Now I'm looking at a Denon reciever that will do all my upconverting... run everything into it and one HDMI to the TV.

Include Dolby Pro Logic IIx, Dolby Digital Surround EX, DTS ES Discrete 6.1 and 6.1 Matrix, DTS Neo:6 and DTS 96/24. Also provides high-definition support with Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital+ and DTS-HD decoders.

BADASS!!!
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....=1217634016170

And a set of Definitive Tech speakers. I think these were the ones. Still need to get my email from the Magnolia tech. About $800 for the 5 speakers and powered sub
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....=1190678281548

Then run a Denon DVD player... maybe get a blue ray later...

Be about $1750 with those 3 pieces and 100' of monster cable speaker wires...

On the tv...

The guy said we could go plasma if glare not an issue. I got a doorwall in the room and the cut out to the kitchen...

The tv is on the east wall facing west. So no direct light. The mag tech was talkin about all the lcd tv's that go on sale are "entry level" tvs. But damn.. I got a $3.5-$4k budget... nearly $2k on sound... want to keep the tv under $2k.

Going to call a bud that works for mag/geek squad. See if he can line me up this setup under discount. If he can, throw him some cash for the help.

What's your take on this idea? Sound system look good to ya? Then if its good, think its ok to go less than magnolia room on the tv?

[Mr Lefty]

if he can hook ya up AWESOME! if not... try talking to the guy at mag... see how much he could hook ya up with the entire package for. as for "entry level" do this test

look have them put a blue ray movie on... watch a sceen... then watch it on another tv... then another... see which one looks best TO YOU. if you can tell the diffrence between the 2999 tv and the 1399 and it's enough for the upgrade well... then go with it... if not... you've saved yourself some $ that you can put to your kitchen.

no need to upgrade if you can't tell the diffrence. The same goes for sound. the only reason I warned you about Bose, is for the money... you can get a better system.

There's nothing wrong with having a $500 sound system and a $1399 tv... if it sounds good and looks good to you... that's all that matters...

[Gas Man]

Yeah that's not a bad idea... on the tv testing... I need to also spend some time at Circuit City and see what they have... trying to do homework now and buy later