Home theater req. or home audio forums?

I know some of you guys are into car audio but, is anyone into home audio? I'm looking for a new A/V surround sound reciever and can't make up my mind.

I'm prob. going with a sony str-de-885. I'm tring to stay in the $400 range. The sony has everything I want but doesn't have 5 channel stereo. This is a must for listening to a nascar race.

Anyone know any good home audio forums?

I am very much into home theaters also.... Here is a link to a decent review forum.... It is written by people like you and me (the general public).... I cant stand those biased magazine articles.... After you buy the equipment you can write your own review on what you think of the item....

http://www.audioreview.com/Reviewscrx.aspx

I really cant help you for the price range you are shopping.. Have not really reasearched that price range.... I have not bought retail store (best buy e.t.c.) stuff in years....

Here is my current set up....

Rotel RSP-1066 7.1 Surround Preamp/Processor
Rotel RMB-1095 High current five channel amplifier 200x5
Magnepan (Magneplanar) 1.6 mains
Magnepan (Magneplanar) MGCC2 center
Magnepan (Magneplanar) MGMC1 surrounds
Bob Carver Sunfire Sub (True Subwoofer Mark IV)
Pioneer ELITE DV-37 Progressive Scan DVD Player
Pioneer ELITE PRO-620HD 58" High Definition TV

Home Theater has been a weak spot for me since I was about 19....I am a big movie buff... At 31 now, I dont know what my wife is going to be more mad about the money I spent on the car or the Home Theater.....

As for Sony, they make decent stuff, but a couple people I know that had Sony stuff had a problem with a subwoofer hum at low levels.... But the problem was taken care of when I convinced them that dirty electricity was the cause... I had them run 2 dedicated circuits from the fuse box of there main box... 1 20A circuit for the subwoofer and 1 20A circuit to run the rest of the stuff in there racks.... After putting on there own dedicated circut the noise was gone.... And yes they were running a (noise surpressor,line conditioner)... I tell everyone to buy a good surge surpressor,line conditionor.... I would recomend PANAMAX....

Hope this helps.... check out the site I put up. It is a good site....

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Thanks for the tip on the web site. Your budget in home theater is enough to keep me eating macaroni and cheese for decades.[img]/phpBB/images/smiles/icon_eek.gif[/img][img]/phpBB/images/smiles/icon_lol.gif[/img]

I really like my current Denon. A little underpowered and was only a pro logic system. It does have really nice sound quality, esp for stereo music. I just don't have the budget to step up to a high powered Denon.

Budgets suck!

It looks like I can get components cheaper online but, don't know any sites to trust other than Crutchfield. At that point I'm paying retail.

Thanks again.

I know buying online sucks for audiofile stuff.... Personally I have never got burned, nor has anyone I know.... I would probably read through some of those reviews and see were others got the item from.... That is how I got my DVD player.... It listed for something like 900.00.... Everywere I went locally, I could not touch it for less then 850.00..... Ended up researching online and got it for 600.00.... Dont think that was to shabby for the most saught after DVD player last year....

I dont know, buying online can be scary, you just never know.... I have had good luck with it though... I usally read the reviews were people are getting there stuff online.... I then just go with the one most people are using and not complaining too much about....I did hear some of these online places may not have it in stock and you will have to wait for it... I had to waid like 6 weeks for them to get my DVD player in.... I guess thats part of saving a buck or two... But these days money does not go far, so saving a few bucks is worth it....

Personally I think Crutchfield is way overpriced on alot of stuff....

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On 2002-09-24 12:08, Jimmys66 wrote:
Thanks for the tip on the web site. Your budget in home theater is enough to keep me eating macaroni and cheese for decades.[img]/phpBB/images/smiles/icon_eek.gif[/img][img]/phpBB/images/smiles/icon_lol.gif[/img]
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Yeah, I dont know how it started... I started out buying at retail stores, and now have worked up to entry level high end stuff.... I have heard far superiour stuff then I have and I need to win the lotto or something if I ever plan to upgrade.... I have my eye set on a really nice KRELL preamp and monoblocks.... I have not priced the preamp but the monoblock amplifiers I saw are 35,000 apiece... I would need 5 of them.... So unless I win the lotto or something I dought that will ever own them... I guess it is like racing, start out running 15's or so. Then 14,13,12,11,10,9,8's. You can never get enough... Have to go faster.....

Anyways good luck with the research, hopefully you can find something online cheaper.... Let us know what you got and how it works out for you.....




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