Just to add to what MrLabGuy said, it is "voice matching" that you are looking for. You should be OK if you buy speakers of the same brand and series. I tend to like JBL's myself.

Speakers are important and Bose is good for HT in a box low key solution, not when you use a decent receiver. Also get yourself a good sub.

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EDIT: Only need 2 HDMI inputs on receiver



What I was going to do is put PS3/DVD/Cable Box into TV source, but PS3 does DVD upconversions, blu-ray player etc so I only need 2. I know that HDMI carries audio as well, but I've seen some receivers that do not support audio over HDMI, thats why i made that comment.

So, is there anything wrong with running all my HDMIs to the TV instead of the receiver? And running audio output from TV? I'm guessing I may lose some quality in audio, because I would be going out from TV to rcvr using the red and white cables. Am I losing true surround doing that since it's left and right outputs? If so, I'll look for receiver with 3 HDMI inputs.


I will probably go for 5.1 - my space may not allow for 7.1 placement.


I'll concentrate my budget on 3 mains as suggested. Also, I'll wait to purchase sub. I've given myself a month to make my decision.. so I'll keep researching.

I can pick up quickly - but may be asking dumb questions on terminology/technology lol. This is different than the networking/server world.

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I see. Well, if you want to switch video on your TV and switch audio on your rec'r, sure that will work (two separate remotes or a universal). You are just completely defeating the purpose of HDMI which is to have A/V in one cable and able to switch A/V in one place at the same time. But yes it will work. It would be a more elegant solution if you buy a rec'r that can switch all the A/V for you.

Also, why are you running audio from your TV? The sources come from cable and PS3, so I don't understand how you are running audio from the TV unless you mean you are going to use the HDMI audio from PS3 to TV then to Receiver. There would be no quality loss because it is digital, but you are potentially setting yourself up for a HDMI "lip sync" and "handshake" nightmare by introducing an extra HDMI components in the chain that does not need to be there.

What you really want is Source to Receiver (where it is switched) then to TV. Or, PS3 & Cable--> Receiver--> TV. That takes 3 HDMI cables.

Sounds like a good starting plan. There are plenty of 5.1 and 7.1 rec'rs in your budget, and many in that range will do HDMI switching. Also I'm sure you know, a 7.1 amp can run a 5.1 speaker system just fine... and give you flexibility down the road to add more speakers, or to run a 2nd zone/room with those extra two channels. So don't pass up a great deal on a 7.1 rec'r just because you plan to use 5.1 decoding right now.

edit: Ps.. beware of the receivers that say they have HDMI video switching, only to find out that audio is not included, like the 1017.

Good luck and have fun!

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OK - great info! Thanks.


This is the plan then. A nice clean solution to change sources.

Thanks for the help! I'll post more once I start getting out there and finding some stuff. Already found a few good dealso n eBay.

bose lv20/30 i believe is a good option to look at nice and compact

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Thanks for this discussion. Have been contemplating this same subject. Will have the summer to finalize what to get. Maybe by then Blu-Ray will have a multi-disc player. (Yes, I am beyond lazy for wanting to quickly switch to the 2nd disc of a long movie) My problem is the sound carries through the townhouse walls. Had to isolate the sub from the concrete slab common for the building. (a thick rug was not sufficient) I, too, find voices too soft or drowned out by the music. I have to admit some of that is due to hereditary hearing loss in the speech frequencies. Present solution is headphones.

Any ideas on economical soundproofing?

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Get Paradigm speakers... Great quality...

What you should do is set a HDMI cable from all your devices to your TV. Then, use Optical Audio cables for 7.1 sound to your receiver. Then, get one of those Logitech Harmony remotes and set it up so that at a push of a button (ex. It will turn on your tv, amplifier/receiver, dvd player and set the tv to video input 3 and amp to dvd mode)

I heard a pair of Boston Accoustics in the store the other day. Look like crap, but DAMN, great sound!

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