I dont want a combo cause that is just crap ...I am looking for individual units ..

My total budget is around 700-800 dollars, I am thinking that it should be good enough.

Home Theater

1. Is 7:1 really any better than 5:1, I dont want my living room to look like a showroom of speakers.

2. What power should I look for? is 900 W too much or just good enough?

3. How many devices input slots is a good number?. I currently have cable Box, DVD player, Media Center PC, PS2 hooked up to my current one and when I bought Wii, I had to route it through my DVD input cause I did not have any more input slots left in my current home theater system.

4. I am assuming that all new brands come with wireless rear speakers. Is that a right assumption or do I have to pay extra for that feature.

5. How many HDMI inputs, new systems offer? How many at least should I look for?


Blue Ray DVD Players

1. Can they play normal DVDs?

2. Do i really need BD interactive feature (or whatever it is called)?

3. What is the major difference between 150 dollar ones vs 300 dollar ones?

Thankooo in advance

best blue ray?
get the playstation.

PS: rear speakers? khi khi khi khi

^ Ps3 is not the best blu ray player though, and you'd have to diss out a little extra money since its primarily a gaming console... also, you'd have to buy the $25 blu ray remote control seperately...

Go for 7.1! try cambridge sound works, they might fit into that budget...

I use PS three of my kids for blue ray playing. Their game controllers are wireless so one of them works as remote.
I bought my Bose homestyle sound system 8 years ago it is 5:1 works perfectly.

Originally Posted by Spock

^ Ps3 is not the best blu ray player though, and you'd have to diss out a little extra money since its primarily a gaming console... also, you'd have to buy the $25 blu ray remote control seperately...

Go for 7.1! try cambridge sound works, they might fit into that budget...

ps3 is heavily subsidized almost as a loss leader by sony to have that become the industry standard which they succeeded in, and with this you not only have a dvd player but a gaming console as well. TLKs questions do not make him sound like some AV purist and for that a 2 in 1 works great.

Originally Posted by X2

ps3 is heavily subsidized almost as a loss leader by sony to have that become the industry standard which they succeeded in, and with this you not only have a dvd player but a gaming console as well. TLKs questions do not make him sound like some AV purist and for that a 2 in 1 works great.

My only thing is .,. with PSP, Wii and PS2 already in my home, buying PS3 will make me look like some energy drink drinking, Doritos munching, full time lunatic gamer, that I am not ...

I am aware of the strengths of PS3 but if that is not an option, what should be my next pick. I am assuming that I should stick with Sony brand as they are the owner of BD technology but is that assumption true?

I am not completey ruling out PS3, just asking for another option ..

and can I play normal DVDs on BD player

So I bought a Yamaha home theater system (RX-V565). This thing has 4 HDMI inputs and plenty of Composite and Component type inputs. 540 watts output, which is pretty decent . Over all, I like it very much

I was looking for wireless rear speaker home theater but none of the stand alone home theater systems have that option (only those that have integrated DVD player come with that feature).

Also bought Samsung Blu ray player. Cool stuff.

Went a little over my budget but generally I am happy with the purchase.

^ that sounds exactly like my configuration... now tell me you got some cool Yamaha tower speakers to go with that and that you have a Sharp Aquos television - then we're all set with our almost twin home entertainment systems.