Okay, I have a laptop with a digital S/PDIF output. I'll be getting a TV and DVD player soon, but for now I have to settle for watching DVDs on the laptop while in college. However, my roommate and I don't have any good speakers to watch DVDs or listen to MP3s. I've been reading this forum for awhile, and I remember always hearing to go ahead and buy nice equipment and upgrade later instead of settling for crappie stuff.

I know that I can't afford any NHT or Paradigm, but I was thinking about getting the Energy Take 5 system and the Onkyo 575X receiver. How does this sound? I looked at some of the other "theatre in a box" systems, but they didn't match up.

Does the Onkyo 575X have a component video in and out? Does this really matter? Should I wait for 6.1 to get mainstream?

I don't know if that S/PDIF output is optical or coax. It is a Gateway Solo 9300 if any of you know this kind of stuff.

All the reviews I read on the Take 5 and the Onkyo only say good things, especially bang for the buck. I looked at the Denon 3300, Marantz sr-7000, and the Outlaw, but I'm kind of sold on the Onkyo.

What size sub would best compliment the Take 5 system?

I know that everyone says to go and demo equipment, but I'm from Mississippi, I don't have that option, if you know what I mean :-). We're kind of limited on high quality audio retailers. Wal-mart is about the best we can do, maybe a Circuit City here and there.

The system will be in a dorm room for the rest of this year and probably just a small living room for the next three years. It will be used mainly for movies and a little music. "Perfect" audio quality isn't going to be needed. I'm not that picky. A good solid bass foundation would be nice though.
I know this is kind of both a Computer and Home Theatre question, so I just put it in both.

Thanks for all the help. Any advice is appreciated.

Of course with all that said, I'm assuming that I can run a cable from the S/PDIF digital sound port to a receiver and get DD 5.1 sound. I guess you could consider the laptop "5.1 ready." Anyone know about this?

[This message has been edited by Slick44 (edited December 08, 2000).]

[This message has been edited by Slick44 (edited December 08, 2000).]

I'll try to break this down, and answer the q's I can, and leave the rest for somebody else...

Next time, how about some bullets?

quote:<HR>Originally posted by Slick44:
...I was thinking about getting the Energy Take 5 system and the Onkyo 575X receiver. How does this sound? I looked at some of the other "theatre in a box" systems, but they didn't match up.<HR>

Sounds like a nice system, and certainly better than the HTB-type solutions.

quote:<HR>Originally posted by Slick44:
Does the Onkyo 575X have a component video in and out? Does this really matter?<HR>

No. I'm 99% sure it doesn't have component switching. If it does matter to you, you're going to have to stretch your budget by a lot, since component switching is typically found on higher-priced receivers only, as of right now.

quote:<HR>Originally posted by Slick44:
Should I wait for 6.1 to get mainstream? <HR>

That's up to you. The biggest advantage would be that receivers capable of 6.1 will come down in price, to around the price point that you're looking at. But that's gonna take at least a year or two, and probably more.

quote:<HR>Originally posted by Slick44:
I don't know if that S/PDIF output is optical or coax.<HR>

Optical.

quote:<HR>Originally posted by Slick44:
What size sub would best compliment the Take 5 system?...The system will be in a dorm room for the rest of this year and probably just a small living room for the next three years. It will be used mainly for movies and a little music. "Perfect" audio quality isn't going to be needed. I'm not that picky. A good solid bass foundation would be nice though.<HR>

Energy makes a few subs that match up with the Take 5 system well. For a small living room, you may be satisfied with the 8" (I forget the model number). It's hard to guess what your idea of "solid" is, tho giving information about the room size and your preference of movies vs. music was very helpful. I'd say that if you can afford it, the 10" will play louder and deeper, and do every the 8" will do, but better. If you can't afford it, I'm sure the 8" will meet at least most of your needs.

quote:<HR>Originally posted by Slick44:
Of course with all that said, I'm assuming that I can run a cable from the S/PDIF digital sound port to a receiver and get DD 5.1 sound. I guess you could consider the laptop "5.1 ready." Anyone know about this?<HR>

You should definitely be able to do this, but you might have to fiddle with your sound card software to make sure you're sending a PCM signal out of the S/PDIF output. I guess there's a chance that the S/PDIF wouldn't pass an encoded DD/DTS bitstream. Others here would know better than me on this one.

-Steve

[This message has been edited by stevevt (edited December 08, 2000).]

Thanks for the help steve.

I edited it a little bit, so I hope it is much better than one big paragraph. I'm learning as I go.

As far as the laptop goes, I checked into the soundcard options and saw that there was a box to check entitled "Direct all audio output to the digital audio port (optical or S/PDIF)" It says that it directs the AC-3 sound to this port. The card is a Maestro Wave/Wavetable.

Okay, I suppose that I'll stick with 5.1. I don't know if I'll be able to tell that big of a difference anyway.

Component video would be nice, but I guess that I can always just run it straight from the DVD player to the TV, when I get one that is :-) I don't have quite enough money for the Onkyo 787 yet.

What do I consider solid bass? Enough to piss off the RA on my dorm floor, hehe, not really. I probably won't really need an extremely loud bass because of my environment. Does anyone have any experience with the 8 and 10 inch subs? Is there that big of a difference?

The part you said about S/PDIF not passing through an encoded DD/DTS bistream lost me. I just want to make sure or know that this is going to work before I spend about $1000 on equipment. I get my scholarship refund check in Jan. $3500 to go to college. I'm just trying to put the money to good use :-).

Thanks again...

~Jason

Does anyone have any knowledge on any of this stuff?

Will the Onkyo 575x and the Take 5 system compliment each other well? Or is there a better pair for the money? Thanks again...

i think they will work fine together. i prefer the Denon 3300 but that is because i have the 3200 now . i would stick with the energy sub and lean to a 8" for now because of the size ot the rooms you mention.

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