marimba

I'll recommend a few subwoofers...I started with a Paradigm PS1000, then upped to the Seismic 12...and last weekend brought home a Servo 15...all are great at their pricepoint, but the Servo 15 is the one to have. Find an audio retailer in your area that allows for in-home auditions and try a few out to see what really works for you before buying.

I'll second the recommendation for Paradigm products. Check into their lower cost options if the Reference series are above your budget.

Sure, Onkyo 605 (on clearance as the new models are now out) Sony PS3 and whatever Paradigm speakers fit your budget (http://www.paradigm.com/) HDMI cables from monoprice.com.

Yeah, I dig my 80 gig version. I'm more into the movie and audio playback capabilities than using it for games. I would recommend it just for that. I really see the PS3 more as a media hub that just happens to play games.

I dunno...I think that in the end the 2 hybrid children will be dropped off on earth to become Adam and Eve like figures. The other cylons and humans destroy each other. The children start an entirely new human race which eventually creates Cylons and the entire process begins over again.

Sundown, I do understand your point, but rest assured that my new Samsung 1080p TV blows the Sony 720p/1080i TV I just sold away in every way. I promise that it is not just or only perceivable on video games. I just don't want a few hundred dollars saved now to cause a lot of regret a little while down the road if David Hingten decides to get a blu-ray player or some other future HD media player. I had convinced myself that 720p was good enough...and it really wasn't in the end. 1080p really is the way to go in this situation IMO. Wes, The 120 hz TVs simply redraw the screen at a higher rate. For instance, on my TV, when watching a movie with the Auto Motion Plus turned on, the tv actually interpolates an entirely new frame between the normal 60 hz frames. So, with AMP on, you get actual movie frame, interpolated frame, actual movie frame, etc, etc. With AMP off you get actual movie frame, a repeat of that same frame, new actual frame, repeat of the same frame, etc, etc. Either way you choose, pictures seem to have a more "solid" look to them. With the AMP on, some movies appear to have a video like smoothness to the motion on-screen. It's almost like a 3D effect. Take for instance the last Pirates of the Carribean, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, and Sunshine. All of those look incredible when watching with the AMP turned on to the low setting. When viewing Pan's Labyrinth I usually turn the AMP off, because the AMP seems to impart an "unreal" aspect to the picture. It's hard to describe, but at least you can turn it off or adjust it to your preference. On another note, I too am a notorious bargain shopper. When shopping for speakers I always first ask if there are any store demo models. You will be suprised at how many audio retailers are willing to discount those 20-50% off of the retail. I saved $300 on my Millenia 200 because one of them had a cosmetic crack in one of the glass bases...I contacted Paradigm directly about a replacement base, and later when the sales rep for my area contacted me he sent a new base out to me free of charge. I also spent 3 weeks dropping into Circuit City, Best Buy and Fry's every 2-3 days until I finally stumbled onto a returned Onkyo 605 at Fry's. I saved money there as well. When buying the TV, I found a salesman at Circuit City who was willing to sell me the TV for $1600, but then didn't have the TV in stock...I had him write the price and all the other info down on a card then proceeded directly across the hi-way and got Best Buy to price match. Why only 16 gauge speaker wire in the rear? Well, my living room is tiny, and the wife didn't want to have 12 gauge sticking out of the wall. Since she didn't complain and actually encouraged me to get what I wanted, some concessions I made happily. As far as speakers go...the only really important factor is that YOU like how they sound, no matter how much you pay for them.

David Hingten, please do yourself a favor. Save up for a little while longer and purchase a 1080p capable television. You will be happier in the long run because you will retain more flexibility for use with newer technology like Blu-ray players. (Not to mention better picture quality) Last year I purchased a 1080i/720p television that I ended up quickly replacing. I had convinced myself at that time that 1080p capable TVs were just a marketing ploy since most HD content available at that time was 720p/1080i...I didn't foresee that Blu-ray would rise up an make me NEED a 1080p tv. Hmm, speakers...I myself have been a fan of Paradigm speakers for about 15 years. I think that for the money it is very difficult to get better performance. Some people I know enjoy the sound of Definitive Technology, (it's just not my cup of tea) but I know that they also build a good quality product. Polk products have never sounded "right" to me. I know, people are gonna want to roast me for that statement. But, before you do, just allow me to say that I have the opportunity to listen to real live music played every single day. I have a side business arranging marching band shows and clinic-ing middle and high school concert bands. I play percussion in 2 local community groups (band and orchestral) and used to be on staff with a drum and bugle corps. That usually means that I get to hear at least 7 music rehearsals per week. To me, for the money, Paradigm offers the most natural and true to the actual sound of real performances speakers available. Now, I don't think that they are the absolute end-all performance wise but if you can, please give them a listen. I think that you will be pleasantly surprised at some of their offerings. Cable wise...I now just use 12 gauge copper for the fronts and 16 gauge for the rears (the low cost kind from Ace hardware). For years I used different Audioquest products, and some of the high-end Monster cables (junk). My HDMI cables are the ones from monoprice.com. After years of 3 watt single-ended triode tube amps and Linn turntables I am far happier with my current audio/video set up than ever before. My current set up: Samsung LNT4071f Onkyo 605 Playstation 3 (80 gig/2.30 firmware) Paradigm Millenia 200 front Paradigm millenia 20 center Paradigm ADP surround Paradigm PS1000 sub (ver. 4) soon to be replaced by Servo 15 3 HDMI cables from MonoPrice.com 12 and 16 gauge stranded copper speaker wire from Ace Hardware - the stuff on the big spools that they sell by the foot.

2.30 update due April 17...come on April 17th!

The PS3 actually has a setting to enhance dialog buried in the system settings. Give that a try. Otherwise, bump up the volume of your center channel just a bit.

Ah, one of the 2 "missing" features will be implemented, resume play! Now Sony needs to get on the ball and release DTS-HD Master Audio update along with bitstream output of both DD True HD and DTS-HD via the HDMI or optical. Then I can get the little Dolby True HD icon on my receiver to light up and see which component sounds better, the PS3 or the Onkyo.

I did buy it, but luckily with a few Rewards coupons from Best Buy...So I paid $16 for the blu-ray. It was worth that much, but I'm glad I didn't pay more. I watched it twice then gave it to my little brother.

Yeah, My current favorite is the 120 hz certified Monster Cable HDMI used for 120 hz LCD tv's. The TV's only accept 60 hz input signals and either double the frame rate or interpolate new frames to reach the 120 hz framerate. Any normal HDMI 1.3 cable will be more than adequate. My new Samsung LNT4065 looks great using $12 cables from Monoprice.com There is no way I would ever spend over $50 for any cables anymore. (and this is coming from a guy who used to use Kimber cables/Tara Labs/Nordost/audioquest cables to connect my turntable to my triode tube amps) System currently consists of: Samsung LNT4065f Onkyo 605 Sony PS3 80 gig 3 HDMI 1.3 cables from Monoprice.com Paradigm Millenia 200, Millenia 20, Cinema ADP and PS1000 (soon to be replaced by Servo15!) Phillips Pronto tsu2000 + usb IR remote dongle from Nyko BlueWave remote.

OK, I've purchased all my other crap, so now it's time to get the new higher quality monitor...I've been to several local stores, but keep being drawn to the same set where ever I see it. It's the Samsung LNT4671F. I've read some good things and read some bad things in various searches so far. Does anyone have any first-hand knowledge with this particular TV?

Ok, thanks for clarifying VT 1010. I now have the HDMI output set to LPCM and the Dolby TrueHD Icon is visible in the display of the PS3 when watching the Blu-ray of 300, and the PCM MULTICH HDMI indicator on the Onkyo is also lit. This sounds fantastic. I have also installed the 2.10 update on the PS3 which seems to have improved the video quality in the 1080i automatic setting. At some point in the future I will purchase a 1080p capable television, but for the time being I am wholly satisfied. I hope that the HD-DVD Vs. Blu-ray debate comes to a swift end with Blu-ray being the winner. I see it as the true next step in video/audio playback instead of the incremental increase that HD-DVD seems to be. (but, then again I'm biased now that I'm the owner of a Blu-ray player.) If anyone else has any setting magic as far as upscaling of standard DVDs that I should try, please do post them! Thanks again.

Ok, now I'm excited...I picked up a open box Onkyo 605 at Fry's over the weekend and a 80gig PS3 along with the Nyko blue-wave IR remote at Gamecrazy this morning. Tonight after hook up and update I'll pop some popcorn and we'll all settle in for some blu-ray goodness. Tell me again how to set up the PS3 so that it will pass the Dolby TrueHD bitstream via HDMI to be decoded by my Onkyo?

Cool, all of this is great information. I had no idea that there was an IR adapter for use with the PS3. Although I am not a gamer, my kid would be happy to have a PS3 at home to play with when he is not playing x-box 360. So, I could get a PS3, Nyko IR plug-in, and Onkyo 605...and have access to all of the features I want plus some other added benefits! BTW, I wasn't trying to knock the Harmony remotes in any way in my earlier post. I have only used one for like 5 seconds. I was trying to convey they they were easily programed, because my son (who is 14) can easily manipulate/program one with no experience.

I love my Pronto. It is/was one of the best purchases I ever made. It has lasted through several equipment changes. It is uniquely flexible and allows for the learning of every single button on an original remote control. You can stack pages of controls and move between them using the up and down control arrows. You can reformat the button layout as you wish, label them however you wish and control any IR component completely. You can set up macros to control your components to the nth degree to simplify your life. As an example, My wife can pick up the remote, press the "Watch DVD" macro on the home screen and the remote will turn on the television, turn on the DVD player, open the disk tray, turn on the receiver, select the dvd input, return to a default volume, then dim the room lighting (yes, I purchased one of those IR dimmer switches) the remote will then return to page 2 of the DVD control screen where the transport controls are located so that you can play/pause/skip through menus on the disk. the Volume hard buttons are set to control the receiver volume and the Channel +/- buttons then revert to quick chapter +/- buttons. All that is left for her to do is place the disk in the tray and give it a little push to close the tray. If she wishes to continue watching a previously begun movie you just press the macro for "Resume DVD movie" and you pick up where you left off. Now, it does take a lot of time and effort to program, but once correctly done, it is well worth it. The only experience I've had with the Logitec Harmony is that my brother owns one of the $100 base models. I know that they are very simple to set up, because my 14 year old son programs it for him on his laptop. However, he did have to manually add a button for the pop-up menu on his new Samsung BDP-1400. So, all in all, I would say that the Pronto is more difficult to set up, but in the end will offer you greater control. If you want a easier solution that may not offer you complete control, go with the Harmony. I actually managed to save a bunch of money on my Pronto by purchasing a refurbished unit.

Thank you JsARCLIGHT for your words of wisdom.

OK, I got the answer I was looking for (taken from DTV forum): "Hi, I wonder if anyone can help, and I apologize in advance if this question has been asked many times before. I just my got a 40gig PS3 yesterday, and have hooked it up to my onkyo 605 amp via hdmi. When watching spiderman 3 blu-ray last night and having selected the dolby true hd soundtrack, the display on the 605 showed 'multichannel dvd'. Should the 'dolby true hd' icon appear on the 605 display (if there is one)? After a fair bit of reading, I think I have answered my own question. I am led to believe that the 'dolby true hd' light on the 605 will not light up as it is being decoded in the PS3 and passed on to the 605 as multichannel PCM. Please correct me if I am wrong. So what I am hearing is 'dolby true hd'?. Yep!" OK, so the player decodes...and so does the receiver, but since the receiver is only seeing a multichannel PCM passed to it via HDMI 1.3 it responds by illuminating the multichannel DVD icon in lieu of the Dolby true HD indicator because the receiver isn't doing the decoding work it's self. You can then listen to the glorious HD audio (I'm not interested in listening to anything in prologic, even prologic II or prologic IIx). Just out of curiosity, what A/V receiver is JsARCLIGHT currently using? I did explore the idea of using a PS3 as a video source, but eventually ruled it out because if the inability to control it remotely using any conventional IR remote (in my case a Phillips Pronto). I try to really research items in advance to ensure an integrated home theater that can be easily operated from one control interface because, let's face it; Who wants to use 3 remotes to turn on equipment, adjust inputs, control volume and a source component? My wife would kill me of she had to use more than one remote to watch TV or a movie or have 4 remotes cluttering up the living space. I'm a bit on the practical side as well. I want to purchase components that help to ensure I don't need to buy a new player in 3 months because something new came out.

Right...What I'm trying to do is preserve the fidelity of the Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD master audio bit-streams and be able to listen to them WITHOUT a loss of quality. Does anyone know of any equipment that will allow me to do so now? I know that for the time being there is not a lot of content available, but still want to gain access to the highest resolution surround sound formats that are available through the Blu-ray format in hopes that I will not have to purchase another player or receiver in the near future.

Ok , riddle me this Batman: I'm more interested in sound quality than video quality. What I'm puzzling over is the new Dolby true HD and DTS HD surround formats and how to pass them successfully. These players decode the format: Sony bdp-s1, Sony bdp-s500, Samsung bdp-1400...These 3 A/V receivers decode as well: Sony da5300es, Sony da4300es, Onkyo 605...But, no one that I have spoken to can tell me with any certainty that you can actually access and listen to those formats. It is currently my plan to replace my current receiver with either the Sony BDP-s500 + Sony da5300es or Onkyo 605 to save a few bucks. Do any of you have any knowledge to help steer me in one direction or the other? I'm trying to be as future-proof as possible.

Ok, I'm just excited because I just got new speakers... Paradigm millenia 200 for the fronts, milennia 20 for the center, millenia ADP for the rear, and a PS1000 sub. All being driven by my old school Denon AVR 5700, Sony DVP ns77 (I'll buy a HD DVD or Blu-ray player once the "format war" is decided), Sony 42" 3 LCD TV, (no, not one of the 1080P ones, it only does 720p and 1080i. I went round and round about this TV, but finally bought it because although 1080P IS available for HD DVD and Blu-ray players, there does not seem to be a standard for 1080P Television broadcasts) and my trusty old Phillips Pronto TSU 2000. It's a bit of a hodge podge as I have to upgrade bit by bit. While I do watch a lot of anime, my real love is drum and bugle corps. I've been in heaven since DCI has been issuing DVD releases of the finals shows. The system allows me to get closer to the performances. I've just recently begun teaching front ensemble for a new start up corps in Austin, and it's great to get to listen to a real hornline again. Anyway, I hope to get all Rotel electronics over the next year or so.

I'll just stay real quiet about my Sony TV, Phillips Pronto remote, and Paradigm Reference speakers...

I just want a Hygogg figure. (And yes I know there is a model, I have one)

I watched all 6 episodes of MS igloo last night. I must say that I found this to be one of the most enjoyable of all of the animated Gundam series. The thing that strikes me most about the UC Gundam series is its ability to portray both sides of the One Year War. During the episode with the Mobile Diver, I wanted the Zeon to destroy the launching Salamis and Magellans. I was frustrated by the constant sense of defeat that the crew of the 603 and Jountheim must have felt, and I wanted for them to finally have some success. It was also cool to see the colony and the Zeon fleet on their way to perform Operation British.