Starting an HT System for Cable TV viewing

What's the display? How large of a center channel will fit into the room? Do you have a budget?

Enhanced sound?

I've not seen anything that says the audio on cable, or sat, are high definition... only on discs can one find the higher res audio. Blue Ray, older HD might, but I doubt it. And there's the advent of transporting HDD based music in high res files from a pc/server into a HT rig.

In fact I'm not so sure that even the HD video being sent over cable or sat, is past the 720p info currently. Some boxes allow for 1080i though, so it's a 'pick 'em' at that point with some preferring progressive over interlaced... an aspect of HD is line for line all at one time... progressive video info.

I think the limitations are simple bandwidth constraints. 1080p + 24/192 x 8, will eat up a lot of the supply pipe.

Don't be confused with terms cable likes to throw around... High Definition pertains to video, high Resolution pertains to audio. Blue Ray is your ticket for both at the same time.... here in the U.S.

Got a budget in place?

I'd say 120wpc into 8 ohms, or better should serve there.

Separates? Receiver? Onkyo, Dennon, Marantz, etc all make good ones. Sony too for that matter. $600 1000, should get you a pretty good receiver in the preowned mkt... that has HDMI 1.3a. HDMI 1.3a is a very good thing to ensure you wind up with. For new, figure 900 - 1800. Separates will run more of course.

Canare 4S11 spool speaker wire will do a good job too and not break the bank.

Room size will say much about the sub you'll want to add. HSU & SVS among others are good places to begin looking.

Good listening

My TV is a 32" CRT HDTV, no HDMI hook ups. It's a few years old. My room is pretty big, 13W x 22L x 7H with the TV on the short wall. My budget is "used". What ever I can get a good deal on.

Your room is about like mine. I'm a tad taller.

Find out the eff and impedances of your speakers.... or at least what were you using to drive them with before thinking about going 5.1.

Any recent receiver with HDMI will also have other video outputs your current TV can use. If 4:3 your cable box will likely be able to give you 1080I.... maybe 720p but the picture size will shrink.

Look at the Receivers listed above and shoot for at least the 120wpc @ 8 ohm, more will be best. 140wpc is what my onkyo says it outputs into 2ch. But it did drive my speakers without issues yet I found it lacking in control & definition, even rated at 140. As was said, many recievers rate their power unlike the common amplifier only types do.

Perhaps finding a rec that will give you a gohst center ch or virtual center ch will help out immediately and a center ch can be added later. Onkyo won't do that for you. sony does. I'm sure other's do as well.

I'd say do a 15 inch sub in that room... I've tried to use lesser ones to no good end. My DD15 does pretty good but another one would be better.

For big bang movies only, Definitive Tech makes some super cubes and a reference that are pretty good choices.

For under $1500 you should do fine with speaker cable, ICs, receiver, and sub. Maybe less.

Forget about HDMI until you get a serious TV.
There is no need to find some virtual center setting. Any pre/pro or AVR has the ability to turn on the center. This will route the material through the front speakers.

If you're goal is sound quality, then get separates. That way you can get a real amp for your real speakers. Don't get hung up on watts per channel. Just look for a name brand amp. Krell, Lexicon, Bryston, Proceed, ADA, B&K, Anthem, even Rotel, or Adcom all of these will have balls, some more than others. This list of amps will all have better control of a driver than any receiver rated at 140wpc, even if they're only rated to 80wpc.

To answer what speaker to get as a center: Anything Kef Reference that will match your fronts. Don't look anywhere else. The current model is a 204/2c or 202/2c. Find the previous year's model used for a deal.

A sub's ability to fill a room cannot be rated in inches. 90% of the time you get what you pay for. If you want a scale to rate subs on do it on price. The DD15 is a great! subwoofer. It's probably a bit on the pricey side for your needs. I'd focus more on a HT type of sub and not Audiophile type like a DD-15. Look for something in your price range from Paradigm, Klipsch, Snell, Velodyne even Earthquake if you can demo it in your room and make sure it will work with your speakers.