Need help with building a HT system

Hi,

I am planning to replace my old TV (CRT) and music system with a new LCD TV and a component HT system. While I was grappling with some options and trying to research a bit, I came across this wonderful forum. As adivsed by few, I have read a lot of threads and am posting my query for review and inputs. Thanks

My room is about 15 feet width by 12 feet length and about 12 feet high. One side is open leading to the dining side of the hall. The other side has a large sliding window. This is a rented place and might shift out in the coming years. I am looking at the system largely for movies (80%) and the rest for music. However, I love to have something that will sound great. As this is not a very permanent set-up, I am not keen to invest too much or try for a perfect match to this room's specifications. However, I am keen to get something that is scalable for the future. Here is a jist of what I am planning. Please comment.

The easier one first on TV, I was planning to get the SONY W series 46 inches from the grey market. It cost Rs 1lakh and the MRP is 1.6 lakhs. While I know I am running a bit of risk here, I am hoping Sony will atleast service it if there are any problems.

For the HT system, my overall budget is a maximum of Rs1.5 lakhs. As my room is not so big, I was thinking of getting satellite speakers. Was extemely impressed with the B & W MT series, costing about Rs 1 lakhs for 5.1 set-up including sub-woofer of about 200W. The other choices in short list are the mordaunt short genie and the KEF KTH series. I heard bose lifesyle systems, but was not as good as these. Especially, the lower frequencies. If tower speakers floor standing are the best way to go, then I could drop the satellite and somehow fit them in, though the room might look a bit cluttered.

For the AVR, I was thinking either the Onkyo 705 of the Denon 2308. While I am aware that for such a small room, I may not need so much power output, I am hoping that when I move into a permanent st-up, I will move these tiny speakers to another room and buy better speakers like floorstanding set-ups for the HT. In addition to good sound and picture, I am keen to have the video upconversion as well as a universal remote to control all elements with one.

Is the overall line of thinking right, and can you advice me on the following.

a) Sony W series 46 LCD TV? Or should I go for other brands instead?
b) Is it OK to buy it from the grey market (huge savings and hope SONY will not have problems)
c) Are the speaker type and brand choices good? Any other?
d) Are these amplifiers OK? Brand, power output?

Look forward to getting some inputs. thanks a ton!

Sorry about the long question earlier. I live in Mumbai and also wanted to check the prices for these systems and the best places to buy them in. Thanks again.

the Sony W series has superb LCDs, but have you considered plasmas.....for that one lakh you could get a Pioneer Kuro 42 inch or a high end panasonic 42 inch.....or a 50-incher from samsung or panasonic.....and i mean buying it in "white" from the dealer with a warranty....if you have considered them and actually prefer the picture on the LCD, then forget about this

Thanks. I have not seen the Plasma's though. In general, was of the impression that Plasma's aren't as durable as LCDs

Hi Anand,

if you are looking for up-conversion to HDMI then denon 2308 is the perfect choice which has ample power as well as HDMI up-scaling. i know a friend of mine who is using this AVR (2308).

just my 2 cents on the AVR part ;-)

Thanks Prashant.

Can I get more views on the AVR and speakers please? Thanks

I would suggest:

LCD TV : LGScarlet 60 "42 inch"
DVD player: New Philip DVD HDMI Player with usb port
HTS : Onkyo S5100 7.1 channel

everything in ur budget buy from e-zone or sumaria

Best Regards
Girl21

Hi,

This feb, I almost made my mind to Buy a Philips LCD TV. That is when I came across a sales techie who explained me about LCD TVs and I settled in for LG 37LC7R... I am really happy for the choice I have made.

In LCD, you have soft panel and hard panel. If you knock on the LCD TV, if you see ripple effects, then it is soft panel. Most sony and Samsung come with soft panel. Hard panel do not produce ripple effect. Hard panel are good as they have very high contrast ratio. Higher the contrast ratio, better is the LCD.

Don't go for Full HD, it is a marketing gimmick (can't believe the techie told me this). Your naken eye cannot differentiate the output of HD content in a HD Ready TV Vs. Full HD TV. Both look same. You will face an issue only when you use the LCD TV as a monitor.

You can trade in spec with contrast. LG panels are hard panel and mine was having a contrast of 1:10000. Also LG uses Super - IPS (In plane switching, check out Wikipedia) which makes the picture lively.

My baseline is :- Do your research well, buy only what you see. I was impressed with LG's picture quality (espl. shallow water displayed on LG compared to others) and I am happy with this decision.

Many thanks to Ashiff and Girl21 for your inputs. Would you also have a view on buying a LCD TV from the grey market? Is the risk not worth taking?

i really dont know abt grey market....where is grey market in mumbai?????
even i will visit there.....
where will i get (grey market)HDMI cables, optical wires etc......


i feel/think that grey market is good for products like mobiles, house items but u are going to invest huge money then go for a proper dealer/showroom.