Quote Originally Posted by Aris
idunno if i would say ive made up my mind. sure i have some brands that i favor already going into it, but if when i go hear them, i think another brand just sounds so much better, im not going to pass it up just cause it doesnt have the label i wanted before hand.

i originally had my sights set on sony just cause it was the name i always knew. then i heard some great things about harman kardon. then today i spent all day researching the yamaha 1400 and the denon 3803. i would really like to hear a comparison of these 2 along with an HK 630 or HK 7200.

i had never actually considered B&W for speakers before. the only time i had ever seen any of them were at a friend of a friends party who had some presige class nautilus speakers with krell amps i think it was. it was like a 50k system. so i thought B&W only made very high quality/very expensive speakers. it wasnt till i came here that i found out they have a full line of speakers. so i guess that would be my reason for my pre-bias towards them. but i definatly want to hear whatever speaker im going to end up buying.

im still not completely sure what sub i should get. should i just get a matching sub from the company i buy my main speakers from? ive heard some good things about SVS subs. ive heard i should get a sub with a wattage about twice whatever my main speakers are. which would mean i should get about a 200w sub.

and mainly i just like to see what peoples opinions are, and what suggestions they have for me.
Some quick answers;

1) If your going to spend ~$750 on a receiver your going to get a decent receiver. No matter if you choose Denon, Yamaha, Onkyo, or Pioneer Elite. None of these companies make crap, especially in this price range. I defy anyone to hear a major difference in fidelity between the major brands.

2) The speakers for a 5.1 setup can cost you a lot, or a little. This is where your going to have to make your biggest decision.

3) There's a blizzard of speakers out there for you to choose from no matter how much you want to spend. This is where your going to have to do your most homework.

4) Subs don't have to match your main speakers. You will have to match the sub with the room though. If you have a 12' X 18' room you don't need a monster sub. If it's 20' X 32" with a cathedral ceiling you just might.