What do you like for a non expensive audio setup for surround sound TV/movies?
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@dashrender said in What do you like for a non expensive audio setup for surround sound TV/movies?:
Definitely a good goal - and one I consider pretty lofty for most folks who are going to read this thread.
Hardly lofty, though, that's the thing. It's often cheaper. The surround sound multi-channel systems are designed to make everyone money - at your expense. If you avoid them, you can do hi fi for way less than the cost of a decent eight channel system. You need half as many speakers, half as many amps, etc. If you put 50% more into each component, you still save a ton.
If your goal is to make a large listening area for loads of people, it's totally impractical. If you are making a listening area for just one person, it's simpler and cheaper.
So the goal isn't lofty, in at least 50% of cases, it is also practical.
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@scottalanmiller said in What do you like for a non expensive audio setup for surround sound TV/movies?:
So the goal isn't lofty, in at least 50% of cases, it is also practical.
Can you give us a parts list of what you would recommend? I was thinking about replacing my receiver with something that has HDMI inputs so I can switch between the DVD player and the kids gaming consoles.
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@mike-davis said in What do you like for a non expensive audio setup for surround sound TV/movies?:
@scottalanmiller said in What do you like for a non expensive audio setup for surround sound TV/movies?:
So the goal isn't lofty, in at least 50% of cases, it is also practical.
Can you give us a parts list of what you would recommend? I was thinking about replacing my receiver with something that has HDMI inputs so I can switch between the DVD player and the kids gaming consoles.
Not likely parts, but maybe overall ideas. I'm a bit out of date. What's your room like? What will the setup need to fit into?
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The room is 11'x17' with the TV on the short wall. I have some Kenwood speakers and a Sony receiver that is 20 years old. The system sounds ok. I was going to just replace the receiver with something that has HDMI inputs instead of the RCA inputs my existing receiver has, then your post made me think there might be something else I should consider.
My main thing is something that any one can just turn on and use without having to press source buttons, etc. I had actually solved that problem years ago with a Logitech Harmony remote, but then the dog got ahold of it...
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@mike-davis said in What do you like for a non expensive audio setup for surround sound TV/movies?:
@scottalanmiller said in What do you like for a non expensive audio setup for surround sound TV/movies?:
So the goal isn't lofty, in at least 50% of cases, it is also practical.
Can you give us a parts list of what you would recommend? I was thinking about replacing my receiver with something that has HDMI inputs so I can switch between the DVD player and the kids gaming consoles.
There's a parts list above in the thread already. The only thing missing is the speakers.
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@mike-davis said in What do you like for a non expensive audio setup for surround sound TV/movies?:
The room is 11'x17' with the TV on the short wall. I have some Kenwood speakers and a Sony receiver that is 20 years old. The system sounds ok. I was going to just replace the receiver with something that has HDMI inputs instead of the RCA inputs my existing receiver has, then your post made me think there might be something else I should consider.
My main thing is something that any one can just turn on and use without having to press source buttons, etc. I had actually solved that problem years ago with a Logitech Harmony remote, but then the dog got ahold of it...
How do you plan to get around pressing the source buttons since you're planning on having more than one source?
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@dashrender said in What do you like for a non expensive audio setup for surround sound TV/movies?:
@mike-davis said in What do you like for a non expensive audio setup for surround sound TV/movies?:
The room is 11'x17' with the TV on the short wall. I have some Kenwood speakers and a Sony receiver that is 20 years old. The system sounds ok. I was going to just replace the receiver with something that has HDMI inputs instead of the RCA inputs my existing receiver has, then your post made me think there might be something else I should consider.
My main thing is something that any one can just turn on and use without having to press source buttons, etc. I had actually solved that problem years ago with a Logitech Harmony remote, but then the dog got ahold of it...
How do you plan to get around pressing the source buttons since you're planning on having more than one source?
The Harmony remotes are really good for this type of thing. Expensive but they make really complex systems easy.
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@dashrender said in What do you like for a non expensive audio setup for surround sound TV/movies?:
How do you plan to get around pressing the source buttons since you're planning on having more than one source?
I meant on the TV. So if the devices you want to use are on, you just press the button/turn the selector on the receiver and the audio matches the video. Right now the audio runs to the receiver and the video goes to the TV since my receiver doesn't have HDMI inputs and can't switch the video.
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@mike-davis said in What do you like for a non expensive audio setup for surround sound TV/movies?:
The room is 11'x17' with the TV on the short wall. I have some Kenwood speakers and a Sony receiver that is 20 years old. The system sounds ok. I was going to just replace the receiver with something that has HDMI inputs instead of the RCA inputs my existing receiver has, then your post made me think there might be something else I should consider.
My main thing is something that any one can just turn on and use without having to press source buttons, etc. I had actually solved that problem years ago with a Logitech Harmony remote, but then the dog got ahold of it...
And they just discontinued Harmony, too.
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@mike-davis said in What do you like for a non expensive audio setup for surround sound TV/movies?:
@dashrender said in What do you like for a non expensive audio setup for surround sound TV/movies?:
How do you plan to get around pressing the source buttons since you're planning on having more than one source?
I meant on the TV. So if the devices you want to use are on, you just press the button/turn the selector on the receiver and the audio matches the video. Right now the audio runs to the receiver and the video goes to the TV since my receiver doesn't have HDMI inputs and can't switch the video.
Ah yes, a decent receiver with full HDMI pass through is all you need there, make the receiver the "brains" of the system.
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@coliver said in What do you like for a non expensive audio setup for surround sound TV/movies?:
@dashrender said in What do you like for a non expensive audio setup for surround sound TV/movies?:
@mike-davis said in What do you like for a non expensive audio setup for surround sound TV/movies?:
The room is 11'x17' with the TV on the short wall. I have some Kenwood speakers and a Sony receiver that is 20 years old. The system sounds ok. I was going to just replace the receiver with something that has HDMI inputs instead of the RCA inputs my existing receiver has, then your post made me think there might be something else I should consider.
My main thing is something that any one can just turn on and use without having to press source buttons, etc. I had actually solved that problem years ago with a Logitech Harmony remote, but then the dog got ahold of it...
How do you plan to get around pressing the source buttons since you're planning on having more than one source?
The Harmony remotes are really good for this type of thing. Expensive but they make really complex systems easy.
yeah, I've had 3 in the past 10+ years.
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@mike-davis said in What do you like for a non expensive audio setup for surround sound TV/movies?:
@dashrender said in What do you like for a non expensive audio setup for surround sound TV/movies?:
How do you plan to get around pressing the source buttons since you're planning on having more than one source?
I meant on the TV. So if the devices you want to use are on, you just press the button/turn the selector on the receiver and the audio matches the video. Right now the audio runs to the receiver and the video goes to the TV since my receiver doesn't have HDMI inputs and can't switch the video.
This is great in idea, not so much in practice. The damned encryption seems to fail as much as it succeeds when switching sources with a middle box like this, at least that's my experience.
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@scottalanmiller said in What do you like for a non expensive audio setup for surround sound TV/movies?:
@mike-davis said in What do you like for a non expensive audio setup for surround sound TV/movies?:
The room is 11'x17' with the TV on the short wall. I have some Kenwood speakers and a Sony receiver that is 20 years old. The system sounds ok. I was going to just replace the receiver with something that has HDMI inputs instead of the RCA inputs my existing receiver has, then your post made me think there might be something else I should consider.
My main thing is something that any one can just turn on and use without having to press source buttons, etc. I had actually solved that problem years ago with a Logitech Harmony remote, but then the dog got ahold of it...
And they just discontinued Harmony, too.
What WHat, WHAT?!?!
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@dashrender said in What do you like for a non expensive audio setup for surround sound TV/movies?:
@scottalanmiller said in What do you like for a non expensive audio setup for surround sound TV/movies?:
@mike-davis said in What do you like for a non expensive audio setup for surround sound TV/movies?:
The room is 11'x17' with the TV on the short wall. I have some Kenwood speakers and a Sony receiver that is 20 years old. The system sounds ok. I was going to just replace the receiver with something that has HDMI inputs instead of the RCA inputs my existing receiver has, then your post made me think there might be something else I should consider.
My main thing is something that any one can just turn on and use without having to press source buttons, etc. I had actually solved that problem years ago with a Logitech Harmony remote, but then the dog got ahold of it...
And they just discontinued Harmony, too.
What WHat, WHAT?!?!
Yeah, like two weeks ago. I swear I read that, it was a big deal.
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@dashrender said in What do you like for a non expensive audio setup for surround sound TV/movies?:
@scottalanmiller said in What do you like for a non expensive audio setup for surround sound TV/movies?:
@mike-davis said in What do you like for a non expensive audio setup for surround sound TV/movies?:
The room is 11'x17' with the TV on the short wall. I have some Kenwood speakers and a Sony receiver that is 20 years old. The system sounds ok. I was going to just replace the receiver with something that has HDMI inputs instead of the RCA inputs my existing receiver has, then your post made me think there might be something else I should consider.
My main thing is something that any one can just turn on and use without having to press source buttons, etc. I had actually solved that problem years ago with a Logitech Harmony remote, but then the dog got ahold of it...
And they just discontinued Harmony, too.
What WHat, WHAT?!?!
OK, Scott's comment is over stated. Logitech is discontinuing service for the Harmony Link, a web based service. The Harmony line is still there.
Yes people are pissed that their still functioning device will die for what appears is no reason. -
@scottalanmiller said in What do you like for a non expensive audio setup for surround sound TV/movies?:
@dashrender said in What do you like for a non expensive audio setup for surround sound TV/movies?:
@scottalanmiller said in What do you like for a non expensive audio setup for surround sound TV/movies?:
@mike-davis said in What do you like for a non expensive audio setup for surround sound TV/movies?:
The room is 11'x17' with the TV on the short wall. I have some Kenwood speakers and a Sony receiver that is 20 years old. The system sounds ok. I was going to just replace the receiver with something that has HDMI inputs instead of the RCA inputs my existing receiver has, then your post made me think there might be something else I should consider.
My main thing is something that any one can just turn on and use without having to press source buttons, etc. I had actually solved that problem years ago with a Logitech Harmony remote, but then the dog got ahold of it...
And they just discontinued Harmony, too.
What WHat, WHAT?!?!
Yeah, like two weeks ago. I swear I read that, it was a big deal.
Right, but that's only one product, and it wasn't 2 years ago, it was a few months ago.
It's definitely a dick move that shows they don't care much about their customers.
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@dashrender said in What do you like for a non expensive audio setup for surround sound TV/movies?:
@dashrender said in What do you like for a non expensive audio setup for surround sound TV/movies?:
@scottalanmiller said in What do you like for a non expensive audio setup for surround sound TV/movies?:
@mike-davis said in What do you like for a non expensive audio setup for surround sound TV/movies?:
The room is 11'x17' with the TV on the short wall. I have some Kenwood speakers and a Sony receiver that is 20 years old. The system sounds ok. I was going to just replace the receiver with something that has HDMI inputs instead of the RCA inputs my existing receiver has, then your post made me think there might be something else I should consider.
My main thing is something that any one can just turn on and use without having to press source buttons, etc. I had actually solved that problem years ago with a Logitech Harmony remote, but then the dog got ahold of it...
And they just discontinued Harmony, too.
What WHat, WHAT?!?!
OK, Scott's comment is over stated. Logitech is discontinuing service for the Harmony Link, a web based service. The Harmony line is still there.
Yes people are pissed that their still functioning device will die for what appears is no reason.They are replacing the Link with the Hub.
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The technology certificate is an encryption certification that expires in the spring of 2018, which may open the product up to potential security vulnerabilities. We've refocused development resources on newer technologies, and therefore, we are not updating the Harmony Link certificate. We first communicated to affected customers in August 2017 that we are offering a free Harmony Hub to replace a Link (if within warranty) or a discount on the Harmony Hub (if out-of-warranty).
Makes me wonder if they used a SHA1 cert and the device doesn't support an upgrade. lol
