[smsrini]

Gurus,

Can someone throw light on how the Home Theatre configurations have changed over the last 2 years.

While the basics still hold good - a 5.1/ 7.1 Receiver with speakers etc., there is a lot of development on the source front.

Earlier it was simple to have a DVD Player or a BD player as source.

Now I can have a BD player, Media Player, Apple Airplay, Internet radio/streaming, Satellite Radio, Settop Box ( Tatasky ) etc., etc.,

A settop box and a BD player probably are a given.

Do I get a Internet TV or a Internet Receiver or a WDTV Live box with Internet or a PS3 with Internet ? Where is it most optimal to have an internet connection into the HT ?

Do the media players like WDTV also play BD content ? i.e. can i rip the BD and play thru the WDTV ?

Airplay ? or similar tech that can stream wirelessly from your PC / Storage server ? will this be able to play BD content also ?

Does it really make sense to upgrade the Receiver to be able to route all HDMI thru the receiver ? Is the HDMI output better than the optical ?

Remote control(s). Which is the best option to control all devices from a single remote ? Should / would you also include room electricals into this, even if it is not a dedicated HT room ?

Please share your thoughts / configurations if you've already 'been there done that'.

thanks
Srini

[S@~+#0$#]

Originally Posted by smsrini

While the basics still hold good - a 5.1/ 7.1 Receiver with speakers etc., there is a lot of development on the source front.

Yup, changes have mostly been on the source wherein users are increasingly moving over to HTPC(Home Theater PC) or media players which can play most formats.

Originally Posted by smsrini

Do I get a Internet TV or a Internet Receiver or a WDTV Live box with Internet or a PS3 with Internet ? Where is it most optimal to have an internet connection into the HT ?

Devices are becoming smarter and talk to each other over the network through technologies like DLNA(Digital Living Network Appliance). Which device to connect to Internet depends entirely on your usage. For Eg: I would only connect my media player/PS3 to the internet so I can get movie trailer/reviews etc from the movie database as I am not into multi-user gaming. Similarly for album art and album info for music files. Some firmware updates also require a live internet connection. Internet TV is still not available in India so that's ruled out.

Originally Posted by smsrini

Do the media players like WDTV also play BD content ? i.e. can i rip the BD and play thru the WDTV ?

Yup most media player can play BD rips and even BD Menus. Not sure about the latest WD-Live. I use a Popcorn Hour and PS3 for movies.

Originally Posted by smsrini

Airplay ? or similar tech that can stream wirelessly from your PC / Storage server ? will this be able to play BD content also ?

Apple AirPlay can wirelessly stream content stored on your comp to your AV system. For Audio, I use a Logitech Squeezebox Duet as my secondary Source. Primary source is a Turntable. For BD content you would need a media player like WDTV, AC Ryan, PopCorn Hour etc.

Originally Posted by smsrini

Does it really make sense to upgrade the Receiver to be able to route all HDMI thru the receiver ? Is the HDMI output better than the optical ?

Yes, moving to a HDMI capable receiver will mean you get a better audio experience for your movies.
Before buying, you will need to check if the receiver can process HD Audio formats like Dolby TruHD or DTD MA HD, then you must use HDMI as optical does not have the bandwidth to carry HD Audio.

Originally Posted by smsrini

Remote control(s). Which is the best option to control all devices from a single remote ? Should / would you also include room electricals into this, even if it is not a dedicated HT room ?

Check out Logitech Harmony Universal Remotes, they really simplify your life. Once you get used to it you can't do without.

Room electricals are always important. Good quality wiring/cabling and proper routing of your cables can bring an audible and noticeable change in your AV System.

[Samurai]

Originally Posted by Samurai

My System:
Center: Cambridge SoundWorks Newton Series™ MC300 Main/Center Speaker (review)
Front(L/R): Cambridge SoundWorks Newton Series™ MC200 Main Speaker (review)
Surround (L/R/BL/BR): Cambridge SoundWorks Newton Series™ S100 MultiPole™ Surround Speaker
Yamaha RX-V1400 THX Select Certified AV Receiver
Yamaha SW315 Sub-Woofer

My system has completed 10 years. Only the remote of the AV Receiver has gone bad because of battery leak. Otherwise, the system is as good as it was when new. Research really matters, the modular design in this case has ensured the longevity of my HTS setup.

I had worried a lot about DVD-Audio then, but it turned out be non-issue. The DVD-Audio never took off, it got killed by MP3. The DVD player got replaced by HD Media Player by Western Digital.