penyu3,
The price A&L offers seems ok, but as always, for noobies either in Hi - Fi or Home Theater ( HT / AV ), always read up as much information as possible. This advice from htkaki ( one of the HT super seniors here ) is very2 good indeed. Check out audioholics website, a lot of very2 good information there!

Advice : your A/V receiver will be the heart of your system. I seriously advice you to do your search thoroughly for a nice receiver unit, if not you might regret later on.

Care to disclose your setup and price from A&L?

Hi guys,

Haha I'm another noob in this HT thingy.

I myself woud like to set up HT slowly.

Currently only have the following:

24" Dell LCD monitor
PS3
5.1 Creative speakers.

With the above i'm only able to unleash the Dolby digital or DTS only which is good enough but want a bit more.
Right now i think i would like to have a good AV receiver as a start for the HT. After looking at this thread wah didn't know
those receiver can cost a bomb.

I have a set of speakers:

Front:
1 left speaker
1 right speaker

1 left woofer
1 right woofer

Center:
1 speaker

Rear:
1 left speaker
1 right speaker

-------------------------------------------

Here are the specs of these speakers (copy from manual):

Super Woofer x 2
-- Bass-reflex bookshelf type
-- 20cm 1-way cone type

Front Speaker x 2
-- Closed-box bookshelf type
-- Mid-range - 10cm cone type
-- Tweeter - 5.2cm cone type

Nominal Impedance (total) - 6 ohm
Frequency Response (total) - 38Hz to 20kHz
Maximum power (total) - 140W

Center x 1, Surround x 2
-- Closed-box type
-- 8.7cm 1-way cone type
-- Nominal Impedance - 8 ohm
-- Maximum power - 30 W



These speakers are taken off from a mini hifi system. unluckily, the main unit spoil
already. so, i plan to connect these speakers to an amplifier/receiver. i'm hunting for a cheap one such as sony STR-DK5 receiver. or can u guys recommend a better one with budget about RM600?

here are a few questions:

1. since all the speakers have their own cable, how am i gonna merge the normal front speaker and the super woofer to form a single channel? (frontL+wooferL for left channel, frontR+wooferR for right channel). or is it impossible to do that due to wrong impedance? if due to impedance problem, i'll just ditch the 2 woofers.

2. can i use the woofer instead of the normal front speaker? i know i may loose some highs due to lack of tweeter. but i found out that most karaoke type speakers also have a big driver. so..how does it sound like?

3. what's the typical impedance for a subwoofer? is it same like normal speakers (6-8 ohm)? need to know just in case i wanna buy a subwoofer.


This post has been edited by Skylinestar: Feb 18 2008, 06:12 PM

Just my 2 cents..
1. You cannot merge the cables of speaker and subwoofer. Your speakers are 5.2 setup. You should get receivers that has at least 5.1 support to utilize most of the speakers. If you use a 2 channel receiver, I think you will have to ditch your subwoofers away. If the receiver supports 2.1, the receiver will have jacks for the subwoofer.
2. No. Usually the woofer produces only low frequencies. This would probably mean that you can't hear much music.
3. Unsure.

Edit: STR-DK5 supports 5.1. You can easily plug your speakers. You can even tap both your subwoofer together if you want.

This post has been edited by mengsuan: Feb 18 2008, 06:28 PM

Thanks for your reply, I wish i can read more, but I don't know where to start?
Do you think Yamaha V361 is a good AMP, that shop did a demo to me, I very impress!
Feel like want to pay booking this few day!

Hi all, I m very interested in getting a HT System but getting it separately is too expensive for me now.

That's why i m thinking of getting a HiTB (Home Theather in a Box) but the current models in m'sia market is not up to expectations. No DD True-HD and DTS-MA support.

But i found this Onkyo HT-908 and it fits my requirements. 7.1 Speakers with latest 1080p, 1.3a, DD True-HD, DTS-MA etc. It's about USD770 and if convert only around RM2600.

My question is that can i find this HTiB system in MY or SG? Anyway i can bring it in from Oversea? If i get from Amazon how much will the tax be?

Really hope can get this system, it's perfect for me at the moment hehe

This post has been edited by toytoy: Feb 20 2008, 01:14 PM

Wooohh...Onkyo HT 908? I think Hi Way Laser got kot? Can bring from SG but how to bring in is the problem. You want to order from overseas, be prepared for the expensive import duty, shipping + insurance charges etc, and it'll cost you at least 40 - 50% more than the actual asking price.

i think this one will sell here for @ least 4k+

Where is Hi Way Laser?

Yalor getting in from oversea is out of the question i think.

If the price more than 4k not worth getting here already.

Sigh really hope someone can bring this in. It beats other HTiBs hands down IMHO.

Here's Hi Way Laser location map : Hi Way Laser PJ.

Not really sure if they'll stock this or not, but give 'em a try.

What my understanding here about HT is, once you get the bug, and after reviewing your pal's HT setup etc, you might want to upgrade. Seems like buying a proper HT setup is a lot better. I don't know, but to me, RM 4k can just buy me the receiver I like, one centre speaker and some cables. The setup I want would cost between RM6 - 7k, and I believe it's only a beginner 5.1 HT setup.

I've tried searching for the Onkyo setup around Google SG, seems like it may be available in SG. You'll save a bit if buying from SG rather than ordering from overseas.

By the way, have you snooped around local electrical chain stores, sometimes they might have something like this too.

Update : vPost SG offers the Onkyo SP 908 only at SGD 739.97! Less than RM 2k! Plus shipping, I guess maybe under RM 3k. Only catch is u need someone you really know and can trust, living in SG. Here's the link : vPost SG.

This post has been edited by poyo: Feb 21 2008, 03:55 PM

hey guys just want ask with a budget RM2500 can you get any AV receiver that can process Dolby True HD and DTS-HD?

If can what are the brands and models?

Don't buy from US as the voltage is different (110V vs 240V). You will need a step down transformer. This will create a lot of noise to the receiver. Buy from Singapore still ok as the voltage is the same. I have not seen this package set in Malaysia or Singapore. Probably people prefer to buy speaker and receiver separately. Onkyo is not well known for the speaker. You may want to get the receiver only and match with a decent speaker. The similar range of receiver is the SR605 which is selling for RM2.5k here but in Singapore only cost RM1.7k. Then for the speaker set, entry level set like the Whaferdale Crystal is around RM1.7k.

---

Added on February 21, 2008, 5:35 pmWhat type of source are you planning to use, blueray or std dvd? Only blueray type of player support True HD or DTS HD. Then you have to decide which player are you getting. The cheapest option is PS3. If you use PS3, don't need to get those amp that can decode True HD as PS3 can decode them. Eg Yamaha 661 will do (around RM1.7k). However, DTS HD is not supported by PS3. If you go for std alone blueray player then you can consider the Onkyo 605 which is around RM2.5k

This post has been edited by yfyap69: Feb 21 2008, 05:35 PM

Yes I'm using my PS3 as my bluray player.
So if i were to get onkyo 605 with the PS3 as the bluray player i still can't get DTS HD is it?

---

Added on February 21, 2008, 9:27 pmGot another question.
Let say i get either one of the AV receiver below:

Yamaha RX-V661 or Onkyo TX-SR605.

Can i use it to pair with my Creative S750 speakers (7.1) especially the sattelites speakers?

Some of the specification of the S750.
Speaker Power: 70 Watts RMS per
channel (7 channels)
210 Watts RMS subwoofer
Frequency Response: 25Hz ~ 40kHz


This post has been edited by khyron: Feb 21 2008, 09:27 PM

Yes, you are correct. You will not get DTS HD. Although 605 can decode DTS HD but PS3 cannot send the signal as bitstream to the 605.

I think you still can use back the Creative speaker but the sound quality may not be good as it's only satelite speaker. You need a good floor stander to fully utilized the receiver capability.

No choice lor... have to use these speakers temporarily.
Then slowly upgrade to better speakers since i'm very noob on HT thingy.
Besides playing HT ain't cheap!!!

This post has been edited by khyron: Feb 21 2008, 10:36 PM

Thanks poyo and yfyap69 for the suggestions and thanks poyo for the pricing in SG. For SGD740 it is very very cheap. All in only RM1700 WOW. hehe. My gf is working in SG, can i ask her to bring the system in for me? She comes back every weekend so i weekend take 2 - 3 speakers, after 1-2 months should be able to 'smuggle' the whole system in haha.

how much will they tax us if kena caught? if we buy them coffee how much will the coffee cost? hehe.

[UPDATE]
I wrote to ONKYO ASIA to ask about HP908 and this below is the reply i got from them.



I believe that guy don't know what he is saying lah, he said SP990 is a far better system juz becoz it is THX certified? It doesn't support any of the next-gen codecs. No DD TrueHD and DTS-MA.

Sigh, i think the only way is to get from SG lah hehe. If it really comes with 110v, and I need to use a stepdown transformer, will it still be worth getting?

Will the sound quality really be bad?

This post has been edited by toytoy: Feb 21 2008, 11:03 PM

If you buy from Singapore, it should be 240V like in Malaysia. Do not get AV amp from US as you need step down transformer which will create a lot of noise to the amp. If your budget is around RM4k, I would suggest the Onkyo SR605 with the Jamo 606 speaker which Harvey Norman is selling for RM4.3k in Pavillion. Go there and audition. I had tested it before. Sounds good.

imho, just dont go into HTiB route,.. build yer HT setup piece by piece. if it s took u 2 yrs -max- , then so be it.
put down yer budget, & happy hunting.

i got my subwoofer for RM1.1K almost 1/2 yr after i bought my receiver & speakers. still w/o rear centre speaker btw...

& if your are filthy rich, this HT is yer world, then spend yer $$ like there is no tomorrow lah...

hahaha

Sorry guys, totally forgot about this.

You can ask your gf to help you out, but how leehhh? If kena caught, tax should be around 30% from price.

Yes, do try yfyap69's suggestion, who knows. It might be a ncie set for you to start off your HT?

But personally for me, radiohead's suggestion here holds true. Nothing like buying the best you can afford, albeit slowly.

The problem is that i m not filthy rich hehe. I m thinking of getting this HTiB system first for a small room, then next time when i get into serious HT I will upgrade slowly.

The price for this system is nowhere near 4k lah, it's over my budget if 4k. SGD740 convert here around RM1700 if + 30% tax oso around RM2200.

RM2200 for a 7.1 next gen system. You all think it's too expensive? The Onkyo 605 amp oso around this price oledi lah hehe, and best of all if i don kena tax then the price only around RM1700 right?

So you all think it's worth it?

Thanks for your help and suggestions.