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[AstroLad]

This seems like a good place to ask. I just got a new TV for our bedroom or basement (haven't decided which yet) and will be picking up a PS3 shortly and I'm looking for a small 5.1/7.1/whatever set. I've dug around on AVS and CNet but it's hard to wade through everything to find what I need. I don't need HITB (though I'm not opposed to it) just something that is very unobstrusive (I don't want to have to screw up our entire space or bump into speakers every day). Cost not really an issue. Any suggestions?

 

[sonycowboy]

Sales Results for the week ending June 17th according to Rentrack(no numbers yet)

Blu-Ray
RANK TITLE (LABEL/DISTRIBUTOR, SRP)
1 GHOST RIDER (SONY, $38.96)
2 PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MAN'S CHEST (BV, $34.99)
3 PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: BLACK PEARL (BV, $34.99)
4 BLOOD DIAMOND (WB, $28.99)
5 PLANET EARTH: THE COMPLETE COLLECTION (BBC/WB, $99.98)
6 CASINO ROYALE (MGM/SONY, $38.96)
7 APOCALYPTO (BV, $34.99)
8 PRIMEVAL (BV, $34.99)
9 HELLBOY (SONY, $28.95)
10 BLACK HAWK DOWN (SONY, $28.95)

HD-DVD
1 BREACH (UNI, $39.98)
2 PLANET EARTH: THE COMPLETE COLLECTION (BBC/WB, $99.98)
3 BATMAN BEGINS (WB, $28.99)
4 THE ULTIMATE MATRIX COLLECTION (WB, $119.99)
5 THE 40-YEAR-OLD VIRGIN (UNI, $29.98)
6 FLAGS OF OUR FATHERS (PAR, $39.99)
7 RIO BRAVO (WB, $28.99)
8 THE COMPLETE MATRIX TRILOGY (WB, $99.99)
9 BRUCE ALMIGHTY (UNI, $29.98)
10 THE FRIGHTENERS: DIRECTOR'S CUT (UNI, $29.98)

Slightly different from Videoscan (per a home media retailing article)

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/search/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003601884

"Ghost Rider" was the No. 1 Blu-ray Disc seller for the week ending June 17, while "Planet Earth" continued its long reign as the top HD DVD seller. "Ghost Rider" is only available on Blu-ray, while "Planet Earth" is out on both next-generation formats.

 

[jjasper]

So which HD DVD sold better Breach or Planet Earth? Also weird that Daddy's Little Girls was #2 in overall DVD sales but didn't even register in the Blu Ray top 10.

 

[yacobod]

has anyone got their 5 free discs from toshiba from that deal?

if so how long did you have to wait for your discs

 

[The Main Event]

has anyone got their 5 free discs from toshiba from that deal?

if so how long did you have to wait for your discs

I'm in Canada, I sent my offer in February and received my 3 free movie deal in May.

You can always call the Toshiba customer service center to have an update. Just expect to wait for a while.

 

[StoOgE]

This seems like a good place to ask. I just got a new TV for our bedroom or basement (haven't decided which yet) and will be picking up a PS3 shortly and I'm looking for a small 5.1/7.1/whatever set. I've dug around on AVS and CNet but it's hard to wade through everything to find what I need. I don't need HITB (though I'm not opposed to it) just something that is very unobstrusive (I don't want to have to screw up our entire space or bump into speakers every day). Cost not really an issue. Any suggestions?

1) Stay away from HTIB. You normally get a cheap stripped down recievers and even cheaper speakers.

2) If your primary goal is to watch movies and play games, I would recommend going with SVS for your speakers and Onkyo or Yamaha for your receiver. SVS has a couple of surround packes (SBS-01) for speakers under a grand, and the speakers are pretty small and the sub packs a wallop. Like I said earlier, I have the SCS package (which is a slight upgrade to the SBS, with larger L/R speakers) and to my ears, it sounds better for movies and games than a 2500 dollar system in my home theater. They are extremely accurate speakers, that have good bass extension and good extension in the highs and dont "color" the sound..

3) Get an HDMI capable reciever so that you get lossless audio from your PS3. Its not the gigantic upgrade alot of people think it is, but you can get a good HDMI reciever for 400-500 bucks, and its a noticible upgrade over DD5.1.

4) 7.1 probably isnt worth the extra money. All movies are mastered in 5.1, and using 7 speakers matrixes the sound to send it to the Back speakers. Games are all in 5.1 as well, except for Resistence, which is 7.1 audio.. but for the most part, 5.1 is the best way to achieve a cinema set up. Be sure and place the two surrounds 110 degrees from the viewing position (slightly behind your listening position) and at least 3 feet above your head (basically, mount them on the ceiling, you dont want them blasting right at your ears.. then point them at each other, NOT at you. The point or rear surround is to dissepate the sound so you cant localize it. Pointing them at the listener will jack up the sound field.

5) Stay away from Bose, or anything that says you can get "surround sound" from a 2.1 system. Its a horrible lie, it doesnt sound good and you are going to pay too much for it. If you dont want surround speakers, just go get a couple of good speakers and run an actual 2.0 or 2.1 system and live with stereo sound.

6) Buy an SPL meter and rent AVIA (40 bucks). It'll walk you through setting up the speakers so that the sound level matches between all of them. Dont use that cute little "auto calibration" thing that comes with your receiver, it sucks.

 

[DarkJediKnight]

Here are the final covers for Fox's French versions. I guess the North American announcement is expected shortly.

 

[AstroLad]

[Advice.]

Very detailed advice. Thanks a lot.

 

[Flo_Evans]

Platoon is a definate buy for me, never got the DVD.

 

[distantmantra]

Robocop looks hot. I never bought it on DVD, so I'll definitely snag it on Blu Ray.

 

[jjasper]

I will buy every one of those except for probably Independence Day as the CGI looks so bad now I can only imagine what it would look like in HD.

 

[kaching]

Predator is probably the only one I wouldn't mind upgrading my existing DVD copy.

 

[The Main Event]

Predator, Commando and Robocop are definite must haves.

Hopefully the transfers will be as good as the HD DVD French releases of T2 and Total Recall from Studio Canal.

 

[acabado]

I want Alien 2 BD soo ****ing much....

 

[mrklaw]

Robocop looks hot. I never bought it on DVD, so I'll definitely snag it on Blu Ray.

I hope its better than the one originally planned to be released. apparantly that was absolute shit quality and they pulled it.

If its even slightly better than the DVD (and doesn't have forced French subtitles) then its an instant buy for me.

 

[captive]

Very detailed advice. Thanks a lot.

If you like small profile check out orbaudio.com

 

[captive]

I want Alien 2 BD soo ****ing much....

Aliens....

 

[Raistlin]

"In order to hear 10Hz you need sound pressure levels above 100dB. To hear 5Hz you need sound levels above 110dB. Existing subwoofer systems cannot do that. To create an audible 5Hz with cones you would need between 8 and 20 cone woofers 15 inches in diameter or greater with several thousand watts of amplifier power"


:lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol

Are you laughing because you think its bullshit ...

... or simply laughing because of how sick the TRW is?




I hope its the latter, otherwise the joke's on you.

 

[Raistlin]

This seems like a good place to ask. I just got a new TV for our bedroom or basement (haven't decided which yet) and will be picking up a PS3 shortly and I'm looking for a small 5.1/7.1/whatever set. I've dug around on AVS and CNet but it's hard to wade through everything to find what I need. I don't need HITB (though I'm not opposed to it) just something that is very unobstrusive (I don't want to have to screw up our entire space or bump into speakers every day). Cost not really an issue. Any suggestions?

If you're really looking for unobtrusive ... inwall or onwall is the best way to go. Howevever, for good sound quality - it can get expensive.


For small speakers ... the current favs are Orbs http://www.orbaudio.com/ ... and probably HSU's Ventriloquist http://www.hsuresearch.com/products/vt-12.html


If you want to move up a little in size (but still pretty damn small), Paradigm Atoms are quite good ... and there are likely a few models from companies like Axiom and Ascend Acoustis worith looking into.

 

[StoOgE]

Are you laughing because you think its bullshit ...

... or simply laughing because of how sick the TRW is?




I hope its the latter, otherwise the joke's on you.

The latter. I was just trying to imagine the size the sub would have to be to port all of those cones. :lol

 

[AstroLad]

So what's a good HDMI receiver? Again, I don't really want anything monstrous.

 

[StoOgE]

If you're really looking for unobtrusive ... inwall or onwall is the best way to go. Howevever, for good sound quality - it can get expensive.


For small speakers ... the current favs are Orbs http://www.orbaudio.com/ ... and probably HSU's Ventriloquist http://www.hsuresearch.com/products/vt-12.html


If you want to move up a little in size (but still pretty damn small), Paradigm Atoms are quite good ... and there are likely a few models from companies like Axiom and Ascend Acoustis worith looking into.

Ive never heard he orbs myself, but have only heard great things. I just think they look hideos so I didnt audition them. :lol

The HSU's are nice, but because of their design, they are a bitch to set up. If you move the speaker just a few degrees in the wrong direction the sound field is jacked. For the money, its hard to beat, and they are much smaller than the SVS's I recommended to and the sub is nearly as good.

 

[StoOgE]

So what's a good HDMI receiver? Again, I don't really want anything monstrous.

Onkyo TX-605 is a solid model.. its 500 bucks. You can probably get the 604 (last years model) for 100 dollars less.

Yamaha and Pioneer both make similarly priced recievers that people like... recievers unfortunetly are big. They are basically big fancy amps, and good amp = big.

 

[captive]

Onkyo TX-605 is a solid model.. its 500 bucks. You can probably get the 604 (last years model) for 100 dollars less.

Actually i think you can get the 605 for 399 from JR still.

 

[StoOgE]

Actually i think you can get the 605 for 399 from JR still.

Thats such a killer deal. The only downside to this model is it only has 2 HDMI inputs. Which, if you have a PS3 and a cable box thats both of them.

 

[captive]

Thats such a killer deal. The only downside to this model is it only has 2 HDMI inputs. Which, if you have a PS3 and a cable box thats both of them.

This is part of the reason i went with the 705.

 

[StoOgE]

This is part of the reason i went with the 705.

Im thinking of going that route too.. just in case the magical Deep Color rears its head I dont want my reciever being the missing link between me and better color gradiation since my new TV will be HDMI 1.3 (let me hold you new PIO models in August with 20K:1 contrast ratio)..

 

[Raistlin]

The latter. I was just trying to imagine the size the sub would have to be to port all of those cones. :lol

Yeah ... I think its a bit of a diminishing returns sort of thing using conventional drivers :lol

They just aren't meant to produce that low of a frequency.



Sadly, there probably are people with that many subs in their car Too bad they aren't configured to handle that low of a sound.


Come on ... who doesn't want a wall of subwoofers :lol

 

[Raistlin]

Ive never heard he orbs myself, but have only heard great things. I just think they look hideos so I didnt audition them. :lol

The HSU's are nice, but because of their design, they are a bitch to set up. If you move the speaker just a few degrees in the wrong direction the sound field is jacked. For the money, its hard to beat, and they are much smaller than the SVS's I recommended to and the sub is nearly as good.

I haven't done enough research on the new SVS's, but from what little I've read ... they are reported to be pretty good.

Due to their size, I'd put them in the Paradigm Atom, etc. category. They are hardly large ... but they are obviously bigger than the Orbs and HSU's.



As for the Orbs ... their look definitly seems to be polarizing

 

[Raistlin]

This is part of the reason i went with the 705.

While it's a hack, there are HDMI switchers available cheaply (Geffen, etc) if you need more inputs. I would think they would work with a receiver.




As for me, I'm thinking about getting an Integra 9.8 pre/pro (based off the Onkyo 905) ... at least as a transitional unit. It has the specs I want, though I'm not sure how the sound quality will compare to some of the higher-end stuff.

However, basically no one else is releasing HDMI 1.3 pre/pros this year ... so I'll probably pull the trigger on it. I can always move to something else next year.

 

[StoOgE]

However, basically no one else is releasing HDMI 1.3 pre/pros this year ... so I'll probably pull the trigger on it. I can always move to something else next year.

I want to pull the trigger on something like that, but the girl will only put up with so much.. she has nixed my AV rack about a dozen times in the last two years. :lol

 

[Raistlin]

I want to pull the trigger on something like that, but the girl will only put up with so much.. she has nixed my AV rack about a dozen times in the last two years. :lol

Dump her :lol


While I am currently single, I was in a long-term relationship that ended late last year (8+ years, lived together 3+ years). Luckily, she was actually fine with my HT addiction.

Granted, I'm probably going a little crazier lately ... but she watched me purchase my 7 speaker Rocket setup (4 x RS-750 MLS signature, 1 x RSC-200 'bigfoot', 2 x RSS-300 adaptive dipoles) ... my 2-channel set up (Melody SP3 tube amp, Onix (rebadged) CD player with BurrBrown DACs, Onix Reference 1 speakers, shot-filled speaker stands) ... and she may have been there when I got my first pre/pro and multichannel amp (Emotiva LMC-1 and Boston Acoustic A7200)

Actually, she definitly was there when I got the amp (I was using it with my receiver at the time), but she may have moved out just before the LMC-1 arrived.


Shouldn't have let her go :lol

 

[captive]

While it's a hack, there are HDMI switchers available cheaply (Geffen, etc) if you need more inputs. I would think they would work with a receiver.

I have one from monoprice, i would just rather have more HDMI puts on a single device, and like i said that was only part of the reason i went with the 705. ;-)

 

[jjasper]

Well I got home and I am officially format neutral.

 

[ChrisJames]

Well I got home and I am officially format neutral.

Congrats

 

[Raistlin]

I have one from monoprice, i would just rather have more HDMI puts on a single device, and like i said that was only part of the reason i went with the 705. ;-)

Oh I understand ...

... my statement was more for AstroLad. As people were trying to help him with a smallish, 'bedroom' system ... and the 604 was 'shot down'.

 

[ManaByte]

Well I got home and I am officially format neutral.

Congrats. Now go buy Batman Begins!

 

[jjasper]

Can you update the firmware without being connected to a TV? is it a step by step process or do you just have to plug it in cause my TV is not near my internet.
Also where is the UPC on the box so I can get my movies? I assume it is the sticker but I am not 100% sure.

Congrats. Now go buy Batman Begins!

I would except that I already have it (I had an add on when they first came out, but sold it to help fund a ps3 and because it was on my brothers 360 and I was going to move out and be without one it was the only one I kept) also have Matrix.

Speaking of the Matrix I opened mine today and saw the Blade Runner ad, that with the commerical yesterday has me very excited.

 

[ChrisJames]

jjasper, you should also pick up Children of Men, a must-own for HD DVD owners (unless you absolutely hate the movie for some reason). Just a great movie to show what "next gen" video is all about.

 

[Eggo]

jjasper, you should also pick up Children of Men, a must-own for HD DVD owners (unless you absolutely hate the movie for some reason). Just a great movie to show what "next gen" video is all about.

I read reports on amazon.com of Children of Men not playing properly on the 360 HD-DVD drive. Can anyone shed some light on whether this is the case or not?

 

[Bebpo]

I read reports on amazon.com of Children of Men not playing properly on the 360 HD-DVD drive. Can anyone shed some light on whether this is the case or not?

The May update fixed that for me. Was stuttering on some chapters before then.

 

[captive]

Uhg AVS forums seriously frustrate me. I havnt been reading AVS for 5 years and i dont peruse it every day, but im trying to figure out stuff i should know before i buy a plasma like the break in DVD, i have the site for that, however im trying to find out if the PS3 is compatible to use with it or not.
People ask in these threads and other users are just like its in so and so place without giving a link. I understand its frustrating for people to keep getting asked the same things like where is such and such. Maybe im just freaking blind but stuff is difficult to find if you dont know where to look. I found the plasma FAQ... but thats so old its in the archives.

*wants to pull hair out*

 

[DarkJediKnight]

Uhg AVS forums seriously frustrate me. I havnt been reading AVS for 5 years and i dont peruse it every day, but im trying to figure out stuff i should know before i buy a plasma like the break in DVD, i have the site for that, however im trying to find out if the PS3 is compatible to use with it or not.
People ask in these threads and other users are just like its in so and so place without giving a link. I understand its frustrating for people to keep getting asked the same things like where is such and such. Maybe im just freaking blind but stuff is difficult to find if you dont know where to look. I found the plasma FAQ... but thats so old its in the archives.

*wants to pull hair out*

Current plasmas are great. Spend a little more and get a good one.
Dim the brightness and contrast down, and watch some tv. It's really not that difficult. There's a guy here who is very knowledable on Plasmas (Owns a Pio Elite I think). Can't remember off hand.

 

[captive]

Current plasmas are great. Spend a little more and get a good one.
Dim the brightness and contrast down, and watch some tv. It's really not that difficult. There's a guy here who is very knowledable on Plasmas (Owns a Pio Elite I think). Can't remember off hand.

Oh I believe im getting a pretty good one with the Pio 8g 5080. If im not, than i have fallen for the hype.

Jesus does it ever stop?
These are from the megadeth forums i frequent.

Just one thing i want to warn hdtv owners! IF you think blurays a better format ,please think again.....earlier in the week i posted that PLANET EARTH on hddvd could not be compaired to bluray,as i own many of both formats . BUT any way people kept posting ,the transfer has the same as hdtv ect ect... so i go back to best buy with my recite and swop for BR, to make a long story short the bluray sucked ass compaired to the hddvd version , there was no true hd sound either just the standard dvd- 5.1 dolby . I will finish by saying i play my BRS on ps3 and my hddvds on my 360 add on witch is hooked componentlly as the ps3 id HDMI ,what a ****ing joke ! The set is filled of dotted pixels, as the hddvd had NONE! EITHER one of two things is wrong, the ps3 is a utterly crappy b.ray player or b.ray sucks compaired to hddvd , any info i thank in advance!

post one:
Which is why I think HD-DVD is going to win.

Sure, Blu-Ray discs can hold more info on one side, but they cost more to manufacture, and that extra doesn't seem worth the slightly better picture quality.

I think after this whole PS3 phase dies down and more people start making more cost-efficient purchases HD-DVD is going to win simply because it's the high quality picture people are looking for and is simply a good alternative to a more expensive competitor.

post two(same guy):
Blu-Ray is only going to win if a near mass consensus decides paying more money for movie just cus the film and bonuses/extras are all on one disc is worth it.

Maybe it will and maybe it won't, but you're the idiot for for thinking HD-DVD has no chance at all. It definitely has a chance just like VHS, which won over a better product. If you can't see that, then that's your problem

My head hurts.

 

[captive]

More Dolby TrueHD support from Sony.
http://www.highdefdigest.com/news/s...tle_Feature_with_Immortal_Beloved_Blu-ray/715

In addition to a English Dolby TrueHD track, which Sony has already introduced on a couple of notable previous Blu-ray releases (including 'Stomp the Yard' and the blockbuster 'Ghost Rider'), 'Immortal Beloved' will also boast TrueHD tracks in both French and Spanish -- a first for a domestic Blu-ray or HD DVD release.

Even more innovative is a user-controlled subtitle feature, which allows the viewer to adjust the position of text based on display format. As has often been common with films like 'Immortal Beloved' shot in a wide 2.35:1 aspect ratio, subtitles often "bleed" into the letterbox ares of the picture, which many consumers find distracting, and (in case of those with large front-projector set-ups with variable aspect ratio screens) can cause the subtitles to be partially or completely cut off during display.

Long requested by high-end early adopters (and as reader Joseph Whip points out, already implemented overeas on the French HD DVD edition of 'T2'), it's exciting to see Sony offering this option for high-def consumers stateside -- we can only hope 'Immortal Beloved' meets with success and the feature becomes the norm in the future.

 

[Raistlin]

Uhg AVS forums seriously frustrate me. I havnt been reading AVS for 5 years and i dont peruse it every day, but im trying to figure out stuff i should know before i buy a plasma like the break in DVD, i have the site for that, however im trying to find out if the PS3 is compatible to use with it or not.
People ask in these threads and other users are just like its in so and so place without giving a link. I understand its frustrating for people to keep getting asked the same things like where is such and such. Maybe im just freaking blind but stuff is difficult to find if you dont know where to look. I found the plasma FAQ... but thats so old its in the archives.

*wants to pull hair out*

Wait ... what exactly are you asking/looking for?

 

[captive]

Wait ... what exactly are you asking/looking for?

I dont know anymore, im tired.
Something about finding out if the PS3 is compatible with using the break in DVD for a plasma.

Idunno maybe im just paranoid never having owned a plasma, i dont want any burn in and such.

 

[Raistlin]

I dont know anymore, im tired.
Something about finding out if the PS3 is compatible with using the break in DVD for a plasma.

Idunno maybe im just paranoid never having owned a plasma, i dont want any burn in and such.

I'm confused ... if it is a DVD, why wouldn't it be compatible?

Anyway, since you said you were blind ... here's the master burn-in sticky thread : http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=608677





BTW - I actually am pretty pissed the BD version of Planet Earth got ****ed over. Why the hell did the HDDVD version get TrueHD and the BluRay gets DD?!!?

I actually am starting to wonder if Warner really is trying to sabotage BD :lol

 

[captive]

BTW - I actually am pretty pissed the BD version of Planet Earth got ****ed over. Why the hell did the HDDVD version get TrueHD and the BluRay gets DD?!!?

I actually am starting to wonder if Warner really is trying to sabotage BD :lol

I think thats fairly obvious at this point.
I havnt watched Planet Earth(but im very tempted to open my dads birthday gift:lol ) but is dolby true HD even necessary for such a feature?
Anyway regarding that poster(pretty sure thats why your brought it up) i dont know why he lists dolby trueHD i know for a fact he cant hear dolby true hd since he is using a 360 Addon.

 

[The Main Event]

BTW - I actually am pretty pissed the BD version of Planet Earth got ****ed over. Why the hell did the HDDVD version get TrueHD and the BluRay gets DD?!!?

I actually am starting to wonder if Warner really is trying to sabotage BD :lol

Wait whaaaaat. There's no True HD track on the HD DVD version.