Which will I be better off getting?

[RandellG]

Should be buying my new system today. I have it narrowed down to, two things.

First the Onkyo HT-SP908 7.1 Channel Home Theater System which comes with the 605, dvd player (don't need it), iPod dock (don't really need it) and SKS-HT750 speakers. The HTiB is 763.49

My second option and the one I'm leaning more to is the Onkyo TX-SR805 7.1 Channel Home Theater Receiver and Onkyo SKS-HT540 7.1 Surround Sound Speaker System witch totals to 979.92. I may just go with the 705 if I go with this option.

I just wanted to get final thoughts from all. Want to know why you think I should go with one and not the other. Thanks in advance

[Detroit Tigers Fan]

Get the 805 it's only $200 more and that way you won't be worried how much you're missing out on if you get the 605. Always go for Gold.

[Chickengas]

The speakers in HTIB's are usually crap. Why can't you buy a 605 or 705 and some decent speakers?

[Detroit Tigers Fan]

The speakers in HTIB's are usually crap. Why can't you buy a 605 or 705 and some decent speakers?

Oh yea I forgot to add what he said...also if you're in a somewhat smaller space but you want big and clear sound get what I got....you will love them.

[Crypter]

dude....don't flake on the speakers. ANy Home Theater system is only as good as the speakers. If anything I would say buy the BEST speakers you can afford now and get a cheap receiver. Then when you have more money buy a decent receiver.

[joey0480]

The onkyo speakers are average. They aren't complete crap but they aren't anything to rave about. For budget speakers though, they are decent.

[joey0480]

though, i forgot to add, their subs tend to lack...for better words...but otherwise they aren't bad.

[RandellG]

OK before I continue with the main part of this post I want to ask. Will hooking my A3 and PS3 to the 805 (think I'll get this over the 705) make the video look any different (better/worse)?

OK back to speakers. I was just looking at these.

Front- Sony SS-B3000 Bookshelf Speakers with 8" Woofer (Pair)
Back- Sony SS-B1000 5.25" Bookshelf Speakers (Pair)

Side- Polk Audio RC80i 2-Way In-Ceiling Speakersor Polk Audio RC60i In-Ceiling / In-Wall Speakers
Center- Pure Acoustics QX-900 Dual 5-Inch Center Speaker

With the front and center speaker having a Sub built in do I still need to buy one? Then again I can always use my old pioneer sub.

With the 805 (709.94) I'm looking to spend as close to 1,000 as possible to 805 and speakers. I know I won't be able to get the best but can upgrade over time.

The Polk Store on AMZ has a lot of stuff I like but I don't know nothing about them.

As a final question should I just buy the Onkyo SKS-HT540 7.1 Surround Sound Speaker System and upgrade overtime or just buy it and keep it? I've red good reviews on it (CNET Review)

Or do you suggest something else? I already got my HDMI 1.3 cables (x3) and going to order me some banana plugs (x7) and extra speaker wire Monday.

[RandellG]

Bump... Read last post.

[GardenVariety]

Yeah, spend the money on good speakers and then go for the better receiver.

[Mr. Purple]

I don't claim to know everything about speakers, but what I did when I was in your situation was to get the receiver (I got the 705) and the SKS-HT750 speaker package (the one that normally comes with the HT-SP908 HTiB). Everything sounds pretty good, but what I plan to do is over time upgrade the speakers (probably to Aperion).

[Arkadin]

sorry bra, gotta say neither.
would NEVER buy HTIB personally.
imo not near enough people on here put the necessary $$ into speakers.
I see it day after day.
there is just NO way to get around the fact that good home theater has a certain price.

[Crypter]

Look I wil say this one last time..... trust me on this.

If you are not spending at least 75% of your total budget on the speakers then forget about it. The lossless audio, the differences from the 605 to the 805 won't matter one bit if you get low-end speakers. PERIOD.

[RandellG]

OK I've pretty much decided what I'm gonna get. I've made room for upgrades i the future. Thanks for all the help

I do need to ask one more thing (for now) I'm gonna order me some banana plugs. Will I need 7 or 8 of them? I don't know if I will need one for the sub or not.

Oh wait there is another question. Where can I find some cheap speaker stands/wall mounts?

[cmdrdredd]

OK I've pretty much decided what I'm gonna get. I've made room for upgrades i the future. Thanks for all the help

I do need to ask one more thing (for now) I'm gonna order me some banana plugs. Will I need 7 or 8 of them? I don't know if I will need one for the sub or not.

Oh wait there is another question. Where can I find some cheap speaker stands/wall mounts?

The sub won't need them as ir should connect to the subwoofer output which is a plug much like an RCA plug but only one wire. You just need a good quality wire rated for LFE usage. Don't have to spend a ton on it though IMO.

As people have said, speakers make the system. You can have a cheap 50watt stereo receiver running some really nice floor standing speakers from any major brand and it will sound pretty good to most people. A HQ big bucks receiver running little $50 speakers won't sound special. That being said, there is a quality difference in receivers. Many have higher quality DACs and support more inputs and some even have Component to HDMI switching and video up-conversion features which is kind of useful.

My recommendation is get the best speakers you can readily afford into your budget. Then I'd grab a receiver...upgrading that component later which is easier than upgrading piece by piece, your speakers. The most important speaker in any home theater is the sub IMO.