Home Theater - What components are you using (or lusting after), and why?

[bluemoco]

For the past few weeks, I've been getting info and finding components for a new Home Theater setup in our house. Here's what I've got on order so far:

- Panasonic TH-50PZ700U 50" 1080p Plasma HDTV
- Harman Kardon AVR 347 receiver + HK iPod controller
- Klipsch RF-52 front speakers

The pieces I need to add:

- HD-DVD or Blu-Ray (or combo?) player
- Cool TV stand / cabinet furniture to house components
- Additional speakers / subwoofer as my budget allows >

Anybody got some experience with good home theater gear?
Found any good deals on electronics gear? Where, and how much??
Also, do you have a recommendation of a HD-DVD or Blu-Ray player for me? As a corollary - which DVD format (in your opinion) is 'winning' the format war?

Opinions, recommendations, and pics of your system are welcomed here... I'll post up some pics of my setup when it's up and running. 8)

[CDawg]

I've got my eye on the Sony KDL-46W3000 series LCD tv.

[darylbowden]

I finally got my B&W speakers together. Nothing crazy special, they're just 602s, but I love them. Now I need a new receiver and I'm not sure which one to go with. I've been looking at a couple denons, onkyos and yamahas, but I really am not sure which one to go with. I want to keep the price under $500, but I don't mind going used either, so I guess I just need to keep combing craigslist. If anyone has any recs, please post up tho.

[bbernardo8]

What size room are you putting this system into?

You'll love those Klipsch Reference speakers...I would have gone w/ them but the Synergy C-3,F-3,B-3, and 10" sub is plenty good enough for my living room. From the first floor I can shake the windows upstairs without really pushing the system. If you don't already have the center channel, you'll want to get that before the sub in my opinion. The center is pretty much the workhorse of the system if it's used mostly as a surround sound. If I were you I'd go ahead and get the matching center speaker then the sub and decent rears/sides (depends if you want 7.1/6.1/5.1)

I just bought my parents a new 65" Mitsubishi DLP rear projection (they were using an old Hitatchi 48" that was about 15 years old) and Samsung Blu-Ray 1400 for Christmas. The Planet Earth Blu-Ray discs running at full 1080p on the Mitsu is amazing. They did get a nice stand for the TV but it's one of those high gloss, tempered glass set ups. Lint and dog hair is really visible on it if you don't keep it dusted.

I definitely recommend getting banana plugs, good quality cables, and lots of popcorn [thumbsup]

*edit*
Oh yeah, I'm lusting after a 65" Mitsubishi Diamond DLP rear projection and a new Denon 7.1 receiver

[stevey]

37" 1080 JVC LCD, AIWA 5.1 surround system. i know
AIWA doesn't impress anyone, but it sounds so much better
than the built-in speakers that i can't imagine needing anything better.

an HD DVD or Blue Ray would be nice, but i'd have to buy
all those disks over again.

[bluemoco]

Originally Posted by darylbowden

I finally got my B&W speakers together. Nothing crazy special, they're just 602s, but I love them. Now I need a new receiver and I'm not sure which one to go with. I've been looking at a couple denons, onkyos and yamahas, but I really am not sure which one to go with. I want to keep the price under $500, but I don't mind going used either, so I guess I just need to keep combing craigslist. If anyone has any recs, please post up tho.

I just ordered the Harmon-Kardon AVR-347 from Amazon for $475-shipping included. For me, it was down to either the H-K 347 unit or a Denon AVR1908.

[bluemoco]

Originally Posted by abby normal

an HD DVD or Blue Ray would be nice, but i'd have to buy
all those disks over again.

Most HD-DVD (and Blu-Ray?) players can 'upconvert' your old DVD's -- no need to replace all the old titles in your collection.

[MonsterHooligan]

Sharp Aquos 32 LCD
Denon AVR-1708 (i think)
Orb Audio 5.1 speakers
XBOX-360
Logitech Harmony 360 remote

nothing too fancy, but i like it in the small room its in.

thinking about adding a HD-DVD to the Xbox, but it really doesnt make sense for me until there are more titles i can rent...
also need to ditch my cable DVR for a TivoHD 8)

[XiaoNio]

Originally Posted by darylbowden

I finally got my B&W speakers together. Nothing crazy special, they're just 602s, but I love them. Now I need a new receiver and I'm not sure which one to go with. I've been looking at a couple denons, onkyos and yamahas, but I really am not sure which one to go with. I want to keep the price under $500, but I don't mind going used either, so I guess I just need to keep combing craigslist. If anyone has any recs, please post up tho.

Do you need the functionality of a receiver? You're much better off getting an integrated amp. $500 can get you into almost any reasonable Rotel or NAD piece.
The used market is massive. Try audiogon.com and browse the classifieds.

Since you've got B&W's, you'll want something with a lot of power that's still very clean.
You could try the Music Hall Mambo:
http://buy.audiogon.com/cgia/cls.pl?intatran&1202734658
Or the Marantz PM line. My friend had a 7200 that he bought for $250 and was killer with his CDM's
http://buy.audiogon.com/cgia/cls.pl?intatran&1202714310

The Rega Mira is another good buy, but it might not have enough juice for you.
http://buy.audiogon.com/cgia/cls.pl?intatran&1202714310

[bluemoco]

Originally Posted by bryant8

What size room are you putting this system into?

We finished off the basement of our house -- the big rec room (where this theater is gonna be set up) is 14' x 31'.