What home theatre package (5.1 + amp) would you recommend for around $3000??

Hi There,

Pretty difficult to recommend without knowing some base details. Like how big is room, is the budget just for the amp/ receiver or is that to include speakers, wires, blu-ray player etc. Are you looking for a separate amp or home theater in a box.

Cheers
Mark

The room is 3.6 wide x 5 metres long and my budget of $3k includes an amp. But I'll buy a tv and bluray separately. So I’m looking for a decent amp and a 5.1 speaker system, preferably with sats or flush mounts at the rear

Try here:
http://www.excelhifi.com.au/category83_1.htm

jump onto greys online.
They have Jamo and Jensen speakers on there. Some with Older Model Merantz amp (high end)
I bought Jensen speakers for 1300 delivered. Still got to my an amp but i should end up under 2K with a $700 amp. While i haven't had the speakers powered up yet. The seem to be well built and heavy and the sub is huge.

Does anyone know of any amplifiers that can support audio and visual independently for two zones?

I know my Onkyo does. It was their top model back a few years. I know my brother purchased a Yamaha model that was about 600 bucks which also has zones and internet. Google the different 7.1 models, cnet is not a bad site to get info on these.

Cheers
Mark

I got my eye on the Denon 1912, which does what your after

hmmm not sure if that denon can support audio and visual for two zones... I need two HDMI outputs (1 tv in the family and 1 tv in home theater) this one only has the one HDMI output.... i think..... it has enough hdmi inputs, as i want to plug in 2 fox's, 2 bluray players, and a PS3...

You are correct. The 1912 only has multi-zone audio. The 3312 Can do multi-zone video, but the 2nd zone video output is only composite, so it is basically useless if you have any component or HDMI inputs.

To get multi-zone HD video in the Denon you need to get the 5308 - and even that only has component out for the second zone.

Paul

sounds like its gonna be expensive to get around.

I have just bought an HDMI matrix switcher so that I can have my two satellite boxes located centrally and distribute their output to 4 locations. The HDMI part of it works fine, but the IR repeater doesn't seem to like the Austar remote, which is a bit of a bummer. I am still working on that.

Paul

can you hook up 2 bluray players to that HDMI switcher in addition to the satellite boxes? what sort of amplifier are you running to distribute the audio if you have one location watching one satellite box and another location watching the other satellite box, at the same time?

It has 4 HDMI inputs and 4 HDMI outputs. I tried my BluRay player and it worked OK as long as the display was switched to the BluRay when it was first turned on. If I switch the display to one of the satellite boxes and back then it can't display the BluRay signal any more. I have heard about these sorts of problems with HDMI switching - it is because of the HDCP copy protection system and other smarts. You can get different results with different BluRay players and different switches.

I will have a receiver/amp and Blu-Ray player at each TV. I am not too worried about distributing Blu-Ray because they are pretty cheap. I want to distribute the Pay-TV because you pay for each decoder, plus it is sometimes annoying when you want to watch something you recorded on the MyStar PVR in a different room.

Paul

ahaa!.... you make a good point........................ you got me thinking big time now.. ill just use a hdmi switcher, just for the fox decoders... therfore only need 2 decoders and i can have it service 4 tvs... then just buy an amp for every location..

Check out this latest offering:

A COMPLETE Home theatre for $2399 delivered!!

http://www.thecableconnection.com.au/Ep ... ckage.html

Matt I notices you have the TW6000 projector for sale under $2K and its 3D.
How much better is it over the Mitsubishi HC4000 even just for 2D.

Personally I like both Projectors and I would rate their 2D performance as neck and neck but the added extra of 3D for me makes the Epson a better option.

If you have a Playstation then there are some really cool 3d games available and dont even get me started on 3d movies...

If you wanted to see the Epson I have it set up in my showroom to look at / play with!

Cheers,

Matt

the home theatre market is completley just a big head ache. My parents have had bose speakers for A few years those dual little ones mounted in there room great crisp quality. But the value of V35 system from Bose is like $4999. I want similar size speakers to be mounted in my theatre room and all I can find is speaker set and sub from $200 to like $900 that often includes an amp, obviously the quality must not be as good surely? Is there any and speaker + subs out there in the $1000 to $2000 range etc?

There is plenty of great value to be had in that range - you just have to know where to look!