Home Theater help?


My husband and I are not at all knowledgeable about any of the new(or old) technology in Home Theater systems and/or Flat panel television, but are looking to purchase new equipment for our home. The consultant at our local electronics store is a Magnolia Home Theater rep and is suggesting the following: Pioneer Elite 1080p 50" plasma with a Denon AV receiver w/HDMI and in wall speakers, as well as a Pana Max power conditioner. This system is very costly and sounds like more then we might need with technology that is not yet available? If anyone has any feedback it would be greatly appreciated. Thank You!
lel

Showing 1 response by donbellphd

lel,

I'd go with one of the higher-end Denon receiver (3800 series) and a Denon CD, SACD, DVD player that links to it for surround SACD sound. I think 5.1 is the way to go, expecialy for movies and certain TV shows (CSI Miami is especially appealing in HDTV and 5.1, as well as many of the series on HBO and Showtime). I agree that, while a Pioneer Elite is nice, a Panasonic is more cost effective and nearly as nice. Try to match the speakers across the front. Get a good sub for the LFE in movies and TV, and as a LF supplement for music. Monitors, i.e. smaller than floor standing speakers, should be fine if the sub is good. I'd be disinclined to tie myself to inwall speakers. Monitors can be fit unintrusively into your design.

db