Media Center Help

[Neosutra]

Ok, so ive been shopping around for a new TV for a while now and finally found the one I was looking for in a 1080p plasma. HD capable ofcourse and pretty damn good system for the price. The problem is now im looking for a sound system that will maximize it's potential and trying hard to decide between HDdvd and BlueRay. I dont want to spend 500 dollars on a HD format player and have it outdated in the next 5 years due to everyone going with the other format. I also dont want to get a surroud sound system that cost alot but fails to deliver. My thoughts atm are BlueRay and Bose, but im still very unsure about BlueRay, and Bose cost a pretty penny.

At the moment we are just using xbox360 to play DvDs

Any thoughts.

[Cheerios]

PS Triple

[Boyiee]

if you're looking at a bose system and a BDD player then you are fine with spending alot of money it would seem lol. Get them. You can always get the HD-DVD attachment for 360 which is probably cheaper than a nice HD-DVD player, and you would still make use of both formats.

[Jefe]

Ok, so ive been shopping around for a new TV for a while now and finally found the one I was looking for in a 1080p plasma. HD capable ofcourse and pretty damn good system for the price. The problem is now im looking for a sound system that will maximize it's potential and trying hard to decide between HDdvd and BlueRay. I dont want to spend 500 dollars on a HD format player and have it outdated in the next 5 years due to everyone going with the other format. I also dont want to get a surroud sound system that cost alot but fails to deliver. My thoughts atm are BlueRay and Bose, but im still very unsure about BlueRay, and Bose cost a pretty penny.

At the moment we are just using xbox360 to play DvDs

Any thoughts.

Well, Blu Ray is going to be hands down the winner of the so called "format wars." Considering the cheapest BR player is around $450 Vs the PS 3 @ $499, I'd definitely go for the PS 3. You represent the bigger picture of Sony's plans; to make the PS 3 a media centre, and not just a gaming system. >_>

Or you can buy the add on HD DVD player for your xbox invest money in a dead format, and use it later as a door stop :D Although it doesn't really support true HDMI, unless you have the "elite." And what would be the point if your tv is not going to take advantage of it?

[Neosutra]

Ok, so ive been shopping around for a new TV for a while now and finally found the one I was looking for in a 1080p plasma. HD capable ofcourse and pretty damn good system for the price. The problem is now im looking for a sound system that will maximize it's potential and trying hard to decide between HDdvd and BlueRay. I dont want to spend 500 dollars on a HD format player and have it outdated in the next 5 years due to everyone going with the other format. I also dont want to get a surroud sound system that cost alot but fails to deliver. My thoughts atm are BlueRay and Bose, but im still very unsure about BlueRay, and Bose cost a pretty penny.

At the moment we are just using xbox360 to play DvDs

Any thoughts.

Well, Blu Ray is going to be hands down the winner of the so called "format wars." Considering the cheapest BR player is around $450 Vs the PS 3 @ $499, I'd definitely go for the PS 3. You represent the bigger picture of Sony's plans; to make the PS 3 a media centre, and not just a gaming system. >_>

Or you can buy the add on HD DVD player for your xbox invest money in a dead format, and use it later as a door stop :D Although it doesn't really support true HDMI, unless you have the "elite." And what would be the point if your tv is not going to take advantage of it?

Got the elite. Have pretty much decided agaisnt HDdvd as everyone ive talked too says go blue ray. Getting a PS3 instead of a blueray player might be a good idea, but paying for HD cable, ps3 internet(does PS3 charge?), xbox live, and standard internet is kinda lame.

[Kazen]

Ps3 does not charge for online.

[Nitsuki]

http://www.monoprice.com

get yourself a nice quality, low priced hdmi cable and you're good. I'm happy w/ my 25ft long VGA cable i got from there.

[Norelco]

http://www.monoprice.com

get yourself a nice quality, low priced hdmi cable and you're good. I'm happy w/ my 25ft long VGA cable i got from there.

I think when he said "HD cable" he meant the service and not the HDMI cables, but yeah, this website rocks. $10 for a 6 foot HDMI cable? Yes please. At that price you could overnight it to your home and it would still be cheaper than what you can buy at a local store.

[Nitsuki]

Man i'm an idiot lol, i kinda was in the assumption he'd go for satellite over cable. But yea, the site is worthwhile when it comes to your cable connectivity needs.

[Isiolia]

Personally I wouldn't go with a Bose system. They're not terrible in terms of sound, but the price/performance of most any Bose product kinda sucks (though if you're military and buying through the exchange, not as bad...they give a discount, plus no tax).

I'd say to get a good reciever and speakers, and unless you need to go with tiny satellite speakers for space or significant other approval, I'd say to go with bookshelf size speakers.
Generally, the home-theater-in-a-box is not the best way to go either, especially if you plan to keep it for a while.

[Nitsuki]

home theater in a box kits are OK for a small room (what i have) but always keep an eye out for reviews on those. If you're going to throw it in the living room and all, its great to invest in your own component system. Receivers i would recommend getting a Yamaha or Denon receiver if you're going for big money, mid-range i'd go for a Sony or Harmon/Kardon or Pioneer. Speakers are something you should check out many reviews on, lots of top brands.

Bose is nice, but imo, its a complete ripoff. You can definitely get better sound quality if you get a component system and fine tune it to your needs in sound quality. One thing about Bose also, they never reveal how much wattage output is on any of their components.

[Neosutra]

Thankyou to everyone for the input, I think ill put off getting a new sound system for a little while and do some more research. As for the blueray, I might just go with the PS3, and make it my home media center, but I need to do some reading up on that and see its capabilities beyond a glorified Blueray player. (Does it have upscaling, can you download media, movies, music, games over the internet, how is its audio interface, etc etc.)

[Nitsuki]

as far as i can tell, w/ the new firmware update, the bluray does any resolution (480p, 1080i, 720p, 1080p). The DVD player in it does upscaling up to 1080p as well, so you're getting the best of both worlds there. As far as downloading media's concerned, yes you can get games and demos at the playstation store, sometimes for a small fee (Super stardust HD is worth the $10, its a must get!), Sony's pretty damn stingy w/ the videos, the ps3 can only play .mp4 format, w/ sound files iirc it can only do .mp3s and atrac-plus media. Audio, the ps3 uses fiber-optic connection, so you're already getting the best possible sound quality, also if you want the best of the best quality in sound, make sure your receiver supports Dolby TrueHD, bluray discs as well as hd-dvd discs both support uncompressed audio (1.5MBps i think) which is a night and day difference from a regular dvd which has only compressed audio (480KBps i think).