I just blew multitudes of money, with more to come...also, a question.

[Perversion]

I recently (yesterday) came into a bit of money, so I decided to finally finish off my living area in the manner I want it to be.

First, I purchased a 500 gig external hard drive, to be formatted at FAT 32 so I do not have to keep using SD cards and flash drives to store music and porn to be played on my 360 and PS3. I figure, half a terrabyte should last me a while...and it was only $100 (although I paid $120 for it...I need to send in a MIR to get the other $20) at Tiger Direct (there is an outlet store near where I work, and I have the ability to purchase anything they currently have in their distribution warehouse, which is connected to the storefront). I also bought a 250 gig Western Digital laptop hard drive, to be installed in my PS3 within a few days. It was $100. Finally, my last Tiger Direct purchase was the Xbox 360 Logitech Harmony remote, which was $70, and I get $15 back through MIR.

Also bought Mass Effect used for $30, Kane and Lynch from the Target clearance (it was about the only thing they had on clearance for the PS3 there...I was not all that interested in the game upon release, but $20 for another PS3 game is probably worth it), and a 4000 point MS card. Could have bought a Wii from Gamestop, too, but decided against it.


Now, the question: Can anyone give me an approximate time frame on how long it'll take to do a full or complete or whatever format on an external 500 gig hard drive in the FAT 32 format?

I had predicted a few months ago that it would take about $400-500 to get my living area the way I want it. As of now, not counting the games and whatnot, I just spent about $300 today. And I STILL need a home theater. I checked Best Buy, and the cheapest one they had with 2 HDMI inputs was a Denon for $350...this is JUST the receiver....an okay set of Yamaha surround speakers is another $200. The guy told me that if I'm running Blu-Ray movies on my PS3, that I would want to invest like a grand in a receiver. It's honestly not all that important to me that I have 7.1 with all the newest specs and formats of audio.

So I guess, a second question...can anyone (*points at Mora*) offer suggestions for a reasonably-priced (meaning, under $500, preferably) setup that includes a receiver with at least 2 HDMI ins, preferably 3, and a decent set of surround speakers? I'm NOT looking for power (ie-not too interested in overall wattage, but more is definitely better), but more for a decent clarity of sound. Might I be better off piecemealing the speakers, and buying a seperate sub? Any help is appreciated.

Thanks in advance, guys. This'll probably be my last "I just blew" thread for a while, because once all the stuff I mentioned above is implemented, I'm pretty much set for the foreseeable future. Unless I decide to go against my better judgement and purchase a Wii....

[Czechs Mex]

Re: I just blew multitudes of money, with more to come...also, a question.

Simplify your life, maaaaan.

[thetruecoolness]

Re: I just blew multitudes of money, with more to come...also, a question.

Well formatting shouldn't take too long if you do a quick format (which you should unless you want to do a full surface scan to find any defects). Full surface scan I would put at around an hour or so, quick format probably 5 minutes.

I got a 7.1 1000 Watt system for just under 500, it has 2 HDMI in, but it's only video passthrough, so you would have to hook them up with digital optical or coaxial audio (which it has 2 of each). It has about 5 other full hookups for Component, Composite and S-Video. The receiver has no DVD player. http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Onkyo...oductDetail.do

I like them, and they're one of the highest rated systems on CNET that's still actually available. They have pretty large front and center speakers. I got the silver ones, which you would probably have to do a little searching for if you care about color.

[Perversion]

Re: I just blew multitudes of money, with more to come...also, a question.

Technology's got a stranglehold on MEEEEEEEE.



Plus, I don't have a car. I don't have a girlfriend. I pretty much don't have a life. So surrounding myself with shiny new technology fills some heretofore unknown void in my pathetic little life. I'm a consumerist whore...I know it, but I can't stop it. Actually, if I'd never become a member of the Pavilion, I probably would not even have a next gen system yet. This place rekindled my ebbing interest in video games, as did working in the electronics department of my store for the past four years....actually, working there really only made me want a high def television. I'll say this much, though....even though we've got a 40" 1080p Samsung LCD at my work right now for just over a grand including taxes (with my employee discount and a special "this week only" instant rebate for Sears employees on all Samsung TVs) for a TV that, at last regular markdown was $1900, I think I'm still okay with my 30" HD CRT Samsung, even though I would have no problem being able to afford the 40".



To quote StarFox 64, re: consumerism, "It's a trap!"

[Vanilla Iced Tea]

Re: I just blew multitudes of money, with more to come...also, a question.

To quote StarFox 64, re: consumerism, "It's a trap!"

That's more like quoting everything ever.

[John Mora]

Re: I just blew multitudes of money, with more to come...also, a question.

REAL MEN HAVE THIS TV

[Perversion]

Re: I just blew multitudes of money, with more to come...also, a question.

Not exactly the kind of help I was looking for from you, Mr. Mora.

Also, TTC, I just spent a good portion of the past hour perusing the Onkyo HTIB you linked to (on CNet, etc), and it looks wonderful, but with one slight problem. As you said, NO HDMI audio can be passed through. To me, this is a MAJOR problem. The review on CNet says that in order to take full advantage of the audio capabilities of Blu-Ray using this receiver, you need dedicated analogue audio outputs from your Blu-Ray player to the receiver. Unfortunately, I'm using the PS3, which does not have this capability. So herein lies the dilemma. Of course, I can output fiber optic from both my 360 and my PS3 to the receiver. But the review says that I will only get low-res DVD-quality sound by doing so. If I go with this receiver, I will be limited to this. So, correct me if I'm wrong, but as I'm reading the info, the HDMI ports on the Onkyo can neither accept audio ins, nor transmit them back out. If I could input audio with the HDMI to the receiver, I could live with that. But, apparently, I'm going to have to go with fiber optic ins, AND for any analogue source I want to input, I'll have to have another corresponding analogue output.

Okay...I guess my question is this: the last time I actually had a decent audio setup was when I had a pair of Cerwin Vega tower speakers with 12" cones, plus a passive sub connected to my receiver. I really do not remember a time where I've ever had a TRUE surround setup. Therefore (and also taking into account my difficulty in hearing, due to too many concerts without earplugs), do I really NEED to be able to hear whatever difference the new Blu-Ray audio formats have to offer, or can I get away with DTS, EX, etc? Am I even going to hear a difference?

If not, then this might be the home theatre I'll purchase as soon as my deposit clears. I guess my major concern if I do this is that my HDTV does not have a fiber optic input, only an output. So how will I be able to run ANY digital audio to my TV? Or will I just have to forego listening to my 360 and my PS3 through the TV speakers? I suppose I could always get an HDMI switchbox to run one output to the TV and one to the receiver...but that almost defeats the purpose of having two HDMI ins on the receiver itself.

But, yeah....for the options it has, and the price (plus 7 speakers), you really cannot beat it. Help me make up my mind, if you would, TTC.

[thetruecoolness]

Re: I just blew multitudes of money, with more to come...also, a question.

Hmm, well if that's a major hang-up for you (and I'll admit it's kind of annoying to not have the ability to use HDMI audio (though I'll bet you money it's based on some stupid Macrovision like protection built into HDMI) I would continue looking. What I do is hook up my PS3 and XBox through digital audio and hook up the HDMI directly to my TV. So I'm not sure what they mean by higher quality as I can get Dolby EX through the digital on the PS3, though you have to switch the output to bitstream for the Output of the optical. So I can still get Dolby digital (and I would imagine DTS). For my TV I hook it up through the analog RCA outputs (mainly because the digital out on my TV will only output 2 channel if HDMI or component is hooked up. More copy protection bull**** I imagine).

I will say that Dolby Digital does make a difference over the Pro-Logic in terms of range and loudness. I'm still able to get it through the Optical (though I notice on PS3 there are more PCM choices with HDMI (mainly being able to get multi channel PCM)). So I think that's the main difference is that you don't get the full uncompressed options (I assume Dolby D, DTS, and AAC are compressed), well on the PS3 anyway.

So I would keep looking if that's going to be a big drawback as there may be other systems that have the capability to take HDMI input fully. But I really enjoy the front speakers that come with this set as they have 2 3 inch cones and tweeters. They're Wood (well probably particle board) speakers as opposed to the plastic of some sets. I like that it's able to be really quiet, and supports all the various formats, and is able to accept XM and Sirius satellite Radio if I ever decide to get one of those.

I really wish HDMI wasn't so restrictive. Stupid DRM crap and it's companions. I would keep shopping around to see if there is one of comparable quality with full HDMI inputs.

[Perversion]

Re: I just blew multitudes of money, with more to come...also, a question.

Doubtful. The lowest-end DECENT receiver I saw at Best Buy today was a Denon AVR 1508, and when I went to CNet, it had the same thing...HDMI video pass only. Apparently, you need to pay over $600-700 for one that passes both video and audio. And that's not even including the speakers. I was just kinda hoping to have a "true" home theater setup, with everything running through the receiver, instead of piecemealing some outputs going here, and some going there, etc. I was hoping for a dedicated switching station, but I guess that the flexibility I want is probably going to be out of my price range. So, yeah...I guess I can live with both my 360 and my PS3 running through HDMI to the TV, and having their respective audio running into the receiver via Toslink. Not a huge loss. However, you didn't answer my question fully. As I've never really owned a home theater setup, I'm wondering if the newness of hearing everything in OMGSURROUND will outweigh the slight differences I may or may not even be able to hear with the uncompressed Blu-Ray audio formats. Put it like this...I have a small room, and a few user comments I read said the Onkyo is great for a smallish room. I'm really not too worried about going high-end, meaning, I'm doubting the uncompressed audio is gonna sound any different to me. I do NOT want to buy it, and then realize I want to upgrade in the future. Then again, in the future, I'll probably still be using my PS3 as my Blu-Ray player, AND in the future, I probably will not have the kind of cash I do right now that's allowing me to even think about spending close to $500 on a home theater setup.


Meh. I'll probably end up picking it up. I really do not think I will ever find something else comparable for a better price.

One final question, though....if I play a DVD or a Blu-Ray on my PS3, is the fiber optic connection even able to transmit a 7.1 audio signal? What about 360 or PS3 games? Or am I stuck with 5.1, rendering the extra two speakers that come with the system unnecessary?

[Valkysas]

Re: I just blew multitudes of money, with more to come...also, a question.

Kane and Lynch from the Target clearance (it was about the only thing they had on clearance for the PS3 there...I was not all that interested in the game upon release, but $20 for another PS3 game is probably worth it

that right there is your worst purchase this year. I promise.

[DarkwingChuck]

Re: I just blew multitudes of money, with more to come...also, a question.

Too many walls o text.

Plus, I don't have a car. I don't have a girlfriend. I pretty much don't have a life. So surrounding myself with shiny new technology fills some heretofore unknown void in my pathetic little life.

But which is the cause and which the effect? The world may never know.

[thetruecoolness]

Re: I just blew multitudes of money, with more to come...also, a question.

As for the difference I'm probably not the best person to ask on that as I'm not that big of an audiophile and I've never really had surround setup before. As for the playing through all speakers, it will on the Receiver if you switch to Dolby D EX mode which will spread out the surround over the two sets. In the manual it specifies how many speakers will fire in the many modes it is capable of. Of course since it wasn't originally recorded in it it won't be true 7.1, but it will play through all speakers.

If I were you I would ask around some electronic stores what they're opinion is and maybe find a HD forum to ask around. I do enjoy my set but really have nothing to compare it to.