home theater systems?

i'm in the market for a home theater system. i'm putting my budget cap at 500. currently i'm looking at the Onkyo HT-S780 or the Yamaha YHT-750. i can get specs for you all if you want. do you all have any brand preferences, why you like that brand. suggestions on what to look for. i'll be hookin up a DVD player, an xbox, and a ps2 to the thing also.

I'd definitely go with the Yamaha. Sound quality , easy controls, and reputation are my main reasons. The sound processesing hardware that Yamaha uses is on par with most middle to low end Harmon Kardon amps. Plus they're gorgeous. However, Onkyo's aren't anything to sneeze at, and at least they're better than Sony's. Well, I'm done ranting.

You ever look at the Yamaha logo? it's a triangle formed by 3 tuning forks, the univeral symbol of precision. Just a random useless fact. :)

Karl

I have that Yamaha system that you speak of and I love it. Everything is so easy and it sounds great!!! It also looks very nice. If you have any questions about it feel free to ask away.

how many components can you hook up to it?

what kind of room do you have it in and does the sound fill the room well?

how loud can it get before you start to hear some distortion?

1. 4 Video, 2 Audio, and then it has the tuner.

2. I have it in my bedroom which is 27x27 and sound fills the room very well IMO.

3. I've actually never taken it up loud enough to hear any distortion. The loudest I usually ever go is -10db according to the reciever.

Hope this helps

I am running a Sony 700 watt 7 speaker powered amp system in my house full optical for audio from the Sony DVD player and full component from the Sony 30' high def wide screen TV. I went crazy a few months back and spent all this money. Sound is amazing. I also bought the Sony speakers to go with the set up. I wanted to keep everything Sony so I can use one remote. Plus I did my reading and it was definitly a great system for the amount of money. Pleny of open ports in the back of the amp for optical component digital dvi and all the regulars. I have component running in the x-box as well. Also my computer is wired through it.

So in total I am running through the amp at one time

TV
DVD
COMPUTER
X-Box
GAMECUBE
of course the tuner

Isnt Onkyo the best home theater manufac on the market?

i read somewhere taht onkyo was VERY good, but i'm not sure.

Consumer Reports gave the Yamaha the top spot in it's price range.

Your budget is a little low for my tastes in home theater. However, I would go with the Onkyo over the Yamaha. I do love Yamaha but I don't care much for their receivers. They have great sound quality but they fail to produce good low range frequencies. Having heard both I would buy the Onkyo.

I would avoid Sony. They aren't built particularly well anymore. The brand I would suggest most for people looking at good consumer level home theater systems is Denon but pretty much all of their receivers are out of your price range though unless that $500 budget is just for the receiver.

^^ Denon makes great DVD players as well as the usualy mixers and crossovers. Sony isnt that great? I dunno I did my reviews and what I bought seemed to have good user feedback. I didnt go all out I stayed on some what of a budget but I am satisfied I can say. My roomate has the yahmaha 5 speaker SS and his woofer blew with in the first year. Also the fabric on the spearks began to wrinkle up and crack.