1st time poster here, so need some advices from the HT gurus here.

I was looking arnd in Desa this weekend when i come across the Pioneer"new" HT set (not HTiB), called the HTP 800SW. It consists of a Pioneer VSX818 AVR+ (2 floor standing + centre + 2 back surround) wood speaker set + the Todokori (? HTP RS7) powered amp. Selling at RM2999. I was told that this new set replaces the older Todokori HTP RS7 and RS3 sets.

I was later at Ikano and dropped into Courts. There I saw the younger brother set (HTS518SW), the main difference is the AVR is the VSX518, selling at 1999. There are not other places (that i can find) that holds these models, not even HN.

My main reason to getting an AVR: To connect it to my Xbox360 and PS3 for gaming sound, as well as playing m2ts files from PS3. Will connect the HDMIs directly to the TV for video.

Question 1: Is the wood speakers(the sales ppl all swear its real wood and not compressed woodchips) worth the set? I can get the VSX518 for RM700 at Desa. I know the VSX518 is entry level, but thats my budget.

Question 2: As the PS3 does the decoding of the TrueHD and DTS-MA, i dont need a TrueHD or DTS-MA AVR? True?

Question 3: As the PS3 does the decoding of the HS audio as above, could the older 7.1 systems such as the VSX817 deliver sounds from all 8 channels as its being decoded by the PS3?

Question 4: What else would you recommend (AVR + Speakers + Subs) for RM2K? I am not interested in HTiB as i have mine now, it cant accept inputs from PS3.

Thnx so much for reading, and look forward to yr comments, SIFUs...

Strange thing is Pioneer;s website dont even hv info on the STR or the new HTS sets....??

This post has been edited by Poadster: Apr 20 2009, 02:37 PM

Ok, thnx for the feedbacks.

1) This Pioneer HTS519W set is released after the RS7 set, and new speaker set is in wood brown. I have checked the back of the speakers, and they are indeed wood (not compressed wood).

2) OK, understood. I would still need a AVR that can accept HDMI audio. Guess only the latest AVR with HDMI audio, which happens to have TrueHD and DTS-MA on board, is my only option for lossless audio.

3) The older 817 dont even have HDMI, so there goes that option.

4) OK, understood too.... guess the Pioneer HTS set is one way to go, or get a Yammy 663 at RM1700 or Onkyo 606 at RM2500 (prices from Desa) and reuse my speakers and subs lo (cheapo units)...... till pockets are heavier again....

Now.... which is better and more recommended? Yammy 663 or Onkyo 606 or Pioneer 1018? Other models?

Great buy, i honestly think it is....

Agree with the speakers and the sub is quite "solid" sounding (pardon my french, still a newbie in audio terminology), this is my main reason of looking into this set.

I am thinking of the VSX518 AVR as the specs is very similar to the 818. I dont require HDMI video passthru (no point as it dont offer lossless audio passthru).

So thinking of getting the lower spec-ed AVR, so that can upgrade the AVR when the pockets are heavier.

Pls review yr unit, look forward to hearing it from you (pun intended).

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Added on April 20, 2009, 7:43 pmKianWee,

Nope, i cant find it on any Pioneer site. You can see the speakers in Desa (both in LowYat Plaza and in Kepong) or in Courts. I cant seem to find it else where. Auditioned for it in both places, using both 518 and 818 AVR, no diff in sound, both as solid.

The speakers are brown woodgrain finish, made of wood - not compressed woodchips. Cant see the speaker model numbers (its at the back and i didnt want to squint my old unfocused eyes) or ratings.

The active sub is the exact same one featured in the RS7 set, its fugly black. 30cm Subs, (200W, 27 - 1.000 Hz, with pre-out for additional subwoofer) Piioneer HTP-RS 7 package

Am looking forward for bro lousycar's (i think its a he) review.

This post has been edited by Poadster: Apr 20 2009, 07:43 PM

Do you mind sharing how much u got it, and where?

Pls PM me if you wanna keep it private.

TQVM.

I have tried both sets side by side, the RS3 and the HTP518SW. Played using the same dvd player connected to both units. Only diff in them are the fugly speakers of the RS3, the AVR is the same 518. U can try it at Courts Mutiara Damansara.

The RS3 caters more to the "feng tau" crowd as the bass is way heavy and deep. Reminds me of the thump thump sounds of a amped up ah beng car (sorry, but i cant think of a better analogy). If you play mainly techno and disco music, this is the unit to go for. For movies, the speakers churns out too much squeal-ly sharp sounds (mayb from the tweeters?), but the subs works like a charm.

The 518SW meanwhile have a more soothing sound and is way warmer in normal and classical music, and sounds more natural. Same applies to movies (again using the same DTS demo disc from the same player) as the 518 sounds warmer, more natural and less squeal-ly than the RS3.

There shld be a reason why Pioneer decides to come out with the HTP518SW speakers and yet kept the 30cm subs from the RS3/7. I am not sure what but the 518SW speakers (which is the same for the HTP800SW) sounds much better to me than the RS3.

Anyhow, for a speaker set complete with subs at RM2,000ish, its as steal for a set thats ok sounding (to me). You cant demand the performances of a Jamo for that price range ma.....

This post has been edited by Poadster: Apr 27 2009, 12:33 PM

Great to hear that you are happy with the set.

I have setup mine too, I got the one with the VSX-518K amp. So far the sound has been great, not as crystal clear as the high-end Jamo + Onkyo 606 setup, but the Onkyo + Jamo costs RM5K++. Got mine at RM2K only, so it suffices.

As mine dont come with MACC (auto calib), i had to tune mine using my ears (no need to technical coz i am not... ). Spent 30 mins setting up the speakers delays, the volumes, the phase of the subs.... and it works like a charm.

Loved the Subs.... have set it at 50% volume, and my sofa vibrates everytime the LFE channel kicks in. Sounds pretty decent during the 1080p DD Jacky Cheung 2007 concert. Have been diggin oout all my movies collection to "hear" them all over again.

Hooked up my Phillips HDMI DVD Coax to the AVR, and the WDTV Optical to the AVR too. Left the PS3 and XBox360 audio to the TV speakers, as i dont need boombastic sound for games.

All in, love the speakers and the sub... the AVR is great for movies but lacking in CD audio... could easily upgrade the AVR to the Yammy V465 series when it comes out, then all my audio (DVD, WDTV, PS3, Xbox360) will go in via HDMI to the AVR.

This post has been edited by Poadster: May 27 2009, 04:17 PM