Opinions on home theater system

[CCM]

What are your opinions on this Sony home theater system?

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0007Y6AEE/qid=1133553884/sr=8-1/ref=pd_bbs_1/103-2668003-4166212?n=507846&s=electronics&v=glance

I can get it for free with Sony reward points, and it would be replacing a very old, crappy Panasonic system. 

[Stingray]

I can get it for free

Can't beat the price.

-S

[ChadTower]

Passive subwoofer = t3h suck

How much worse could the current one actually be than this one?

[Stingray]

Not being an audiophile, I have no idea what a passive subwoofer is. Care to enlighten the unwashed masses?

-S

[ChadTower]

Passive = no power.

Powered = plugs into the electrical outlet as well as the receiver.

[Stingray]

Ah. I'm not sure I would have even been aware that was a bad thing. Thanks for the heads up. I'm seriously thinking of getting a home theater system this xmas.

-S

[ChadTower]

Think of it this way... passive only gets juice over the signal line.  Powered is self juiced and delivers a far, far superior response, at not much more cost.

Bass requires power. 

[CCM]

Passive = no power.

Powered = plugs into the electrical outlet as well as the receiver.

Where does it say passive sub?  I see this in the description:

 155W Active 8

[Stingray]

Think of it this way... passive only gets juice over the signal line.  Powered is self juiced and delivers a far, far superior response, at not much more cost.

Bass requires power. 

Oh it makes perfect sense once you pointed it out to me. I just don't think I would have picked up on that if I were out shopping. I appreciate the heads up.

-S

[CCM]

Here's the specs:

HTDDW870/B
Receiver/Speaker System
      
Product Details
755 Watts (100W x6 +155W)

6.1CH Surround System

155W Active 8

[ChadTower]

I looked for the Active, must have missed it... so, if it's active, it is less suck, but still not all that great in terms of home theater.

Good for a small room on a minimal budget.

You could do as well pricewise buying the items separately at a place like Cambridge Soundworks while getting much higher quality, if you dont' factor in the cost of quality wiring.

[CCM]

I looked for the Active, must have missed it... so, if it's active, it is less suck, but still not all that great in terms of home theater.

Good for a small room on a minimal budget.

You could do as well pricewise buying the items separately at a place like Cambridge Soundworks while getting much higher quality, if you dont' factor in the cost of quality wiring.

It would definitely be better than what I have now, the Panasonic is about 7 years old and was low-end when it was new.  The fact that I can get the Sony for free is why I'm considering it (the wife would kill me if I spent more money on electronics/games/gadgets).

[ChadTower]

If possible, I'd use that credit to upgrade one or two components of the existing system, then, rather than replacing the whole thing in order to get a small improvement across the board.

[CCM]

I'll check the Sony rewards site... Maybe I can get a good receiver and talk my wife into letting me buy speakers.

[ChadTower]

The most important speakers, FWIW, are center channel and the sub... you can make up for a lot of stuff with great bass and/or loud and clear dialog.

[CCM]

ok, how about this receiver and sub?

STRDE698/B
RECEIVER
Product Details
Complete your home entertainment system with the STR-DE698/B AV Receiver. The receiver comes equipped with 7.1 channels supplying 90 Watts per channel. The STR-DE698/B supports many audio formats, so play your DVDs and laser discs in digital sound: Dolby

[ChadTower]

Those look pretty good.  The receiver looks better than my own, actually.  My stuff is of the "bought separately on a small budget at Cambridge Soundworks variety"... sounds pretty good for the $550 or so I paid.

[Zakk]

We had a good flaming bit o fun in this thread:
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=41820.0

I had to go replace almost all my speakers when it was done

[pointdablame]

If you've been putting along on a 7 year old Panasonic system, you're not an audiophile by any means, and that Sony HTIB would be a very nice upgrade for you.

Don't take that as an insult.. .and don't NOT get that receiver if you really want it... but my initial thought in your case is that you'd be better off just getting that HTIB and considering it a nice upgrade.

If you were really into audio to the point that you should be looking at $1k speakers and receivers and pre-amps, et al.... you would have been upgrading that system as often as possible.

I'm NEVER one to disuade a person from blowing as much as possible on their stereo, but I can also realize when someone doesn't really need it.  Seems to me like you'd be just fine with HTIB.

Just my .02 though.

[AtomSmasher]

I actually have that subwoofer (or at least a similar sony model) from the first system you listed, I got it for $40 a few years ago.