Thread: New Onkyo HT-S3500 and HT-S5500 Theater Packages Start at $399

5500


3500

The HT-S3500 can deliver instant 5.1-channel sound, with the HT-S5500 offering a step up to 7.1. Both models include a receiver with 3D support, four HDMI inputs, Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio decoding, and Audio Channel Return. Both receivers also come packing a front USB port, which makes it easy to add in an iPod or other external memory device.

http://www.bigpicturebigsound.com/Ne...t-at-399.shtml

The additional rear speakers will only make a difference if you have a room that is better suited for 7.1.



See you must have some room behind you to utilize 7.1. Also there is not a ton of 7.1 content. My advice would not to bend over backwards and jump through hoops to get 7.1 but rather if you do have the correct room for it and you end up with an affordable 7.1 HTIB then go for it!! Also Onkyo is known for making the best bang for your buck HTIB, Yamaha also makes a very good HTIB I think you are on the right path considering your budget.

The sound will be there they just get mixed into the two surrounds that you do have, as long as you set your system to 5.1. On the reverse side when you listen to a 5.1 track on a 7.1 setup it just robs some sound from the surrounds and sends it to the surround backs, which I never cared for myself. Most of the onkyo HTIB's are now 7.1 but can be set up as 5.1, now I am not trying to discourage the use of 7.1 I am just saying don't bend over backwards to have 7.1 unless you have a room that will accommodate proper setup and placement of a 7.1 setup.

If you don't have the room for 7.1 the extra 2 speakers can be used as heights channels. Not much out there in 7.1 IMO heights would serve you better.

Originally Posted by mytime

If you don't have the room for 7.1 the extra 2 speakers can be used as heights channels. Not much out there in 7.1 IMO heights would serve you better.

Good point mytime and I agree, that is how I would set it up.

If they will let you I would bring your favorite Movie or CD in and put them both through their paces that way.

Originally Posted by anothrworld

I was in Video Only today and I listened to the Onkyo HT S7409 and was pretty impressed with the sound. It comes with a 5.1 speaker setup and a TXR609 receiver which has 7.2 channels, so i can add the additional two speakers later on if I decide to. I compared this to a Denon system that they had set up and I preferred the sound of the Onkyo. I'm pretty sure I will go with the Onkyo

So did the Onkyo come with Onkyo speakers or a different brand, if so which brand??

Height speakers extend the surround sound vertically and fills the space above and in-front of the listener. A good example is when watching a foot ball game, and the camera is on the field you hear the crowd above you just as if you were on the field your self, or in a scene of a movie when it is raining you hear the rain from way up high down into your fronts. They have mixed reviews, I really prefer them to the surround backs, and I had surround back speakers set up in a room that was ideal for them.

As far as replacing your two fronts I would strongly suggest you replace all three up front. See you want you front sound stage to match in timbre, in allot of cases having mix matched speakers in your front sound stage can actually make it sound worse even if the front left and right's are much better quality. Now what brand we can recommend will rely heavily on what your budget is. You can always do the left and right speakers then buy a center a little ways down the road. Another important thing here is whether your priority is music or movies. If it is mainly movies you might be better off with a sub upgrade. So we need a budget and listening preference to move forward.

You really want the three front's to match it really is important it creates a seamless sound stage for movie viewing. Here is the center you need LINK. For right now it is not the end of the world or anything, but I would suggest saving and purchasing the matching center a little ways down the road.

Originally Posted by anothrworld

ok, so if i get the matching boston accoustics center channel will it be ok to use with the Onkyo surround speakers?

Yes.