I've done some extensive research on HDTV DLP's and know what TV I want to get (Samsung), however I'm not too sure what speakers/receiver combo I should get.

I'm looking to primarily watch tv/movies and occasionally listen to music. I'm also not looking to break the bank on the setup, but want something respectable. (What was the ratio you are supposed to spend TV vs speaker, or was it reciever vs speaker?)

Also I've got a Sony card from back in the day and I have been acculmulating all these points, but in the end it's roughly 100-200 bucks. It isn't much but I'd like to use this $$ towards the speaker/reciever stuff. (I know Sony is better with TV's, but I really want the Samsung).

Any suggestions would be great. Thanks!

I would spend the Sony card on the receiver. Some of the guys here do not like them but personally I have had several Sony receivers and I like them for their value.

As for the speakers - these are such personal preferences - I would spend some time listening to some at shops. I like brighter speakers and lean more to Definitive Technology. You might spend some time on these websites:
http://www.soundandvisionmag.com/
http://www.guidetohometheater.com/

read their reviews of speakers in the price range you are looking at.

Hope this helps

also, if i spend 300 on a receiver will that be enough for a decent one? with all the home theater snazz

you can get away with buying a nice receiver for 300. but you have to ask yourself, how much sound quality do I want, How big of speakers do i want to get, do i want to upgrade speakers in teh future. my speakers are probably as expensive as my tv, 2kish just for hte left and right (which isn't much compared to a lot of other people). you can spend a lot on your fronts (l/c/r) now and buyer cheaper rears and upgrade them later..

but now it is almost a freebie. But at the price range we are talking about here it is not worth paying extra for.

I think I'd be more than happy with FR, C, FL, SR and SL speakers. maybe add a sub down the line if I think I need it. So with 7.1 you get 2 more channels? They work sorta like 2 extra rears?

I'd stick with the 60/40 rule also. Speakers are gonna make the most difference. Around the price point you're looking at for a reciever they are all at least decent for major brands. You can pick up a decent Sony for $300 or so. I'd stick with 5.1 as this is your 1st HT setup and if you catch the bug you're gonna want to upgrade most stuff anyway. Spend the money later after you figure out what you like/dislike about this 1st system.<ul><li><a href="http://www.cheaphometheater.com/">CHT</a></li></ul>

Unless you plan on getting the DefTech or an impressive floorstanding speaker set with built-in subs, you won't be hearing anything below 80Hz - and that's the stuff that makes home theater worth owning.

I would get a nice 5.1 setup, with ability to go 7.1 (in other words, has a 7.1 decoder, but a 5.1 amp). My Rotel can do that, so with additional amps, I can upgrade from 5.1 to 7.1. Start off with decent bookshelf speakers in front, and cheaper ones in the rear. Then someday upgrade the fronts to floorstanding, and move the the bookshelfs to the rear...

the middle of the line Cambridge soundworks center. So I'll be shopping for rears, amp, and sub to go with the TV I get.

Also, you don't want to skimp on the center, AND, the best thing to do would be to get the three front in the same brand, even the same series if possible. And, yes, a sub is essential to the home theater experience. For music, it is a question of taste.

they would be better suited for the back.

placement next to the tv will interfere with how they work. Also - I am surprised with the Bose and the Cambridge speakers having the same sound - I would expect them to be distracting as I doubt they have the same timbre.

So assuming I use them for rears, and I have a cambridge center, I ought to look at a set of cambridge fronts and sub then. It seems this is the most econimical route to go so I can keep my center channel. Either than or ditch the center and get something else completely, but I want to blow my load on the TV. Not sure what I can afford for the speakers.

The 501s need to have a flat wall area around them - and placing them to either side of the TV could interfere with how they are designed to function.

whereas rears are designed to be reflecting and somewhat non directional. Dipole etc are what is recommended but these 501s should work. Also the timbre may not be a good match for the Cambridge but will be less annoying than if they were used in the front.

I would honestly scrap the cambridge center, buy 3 timber matched fronts, and use the 501's as rears, until I could get something better. I love the effect of an all around timber matched system. I don't think Cambridge really makes any good HT speakers, mostly computer speakers nowadays. Get a good sub, you'll never regret it.

if I did that, I'd just sell my 501's and center and get one of the $1000 or so 6 speaker Cambridge packes.

1) Go to a good hi-fi shop (i.e. not best buy, tweeter, circuit city) and look at their HT solutions, with 5 small satellites (or 4 bookshelf and a matching center) and a sub. If you have a small-ish room, this might be ideal for you. you may find something in your budget. When I worked at Sound Advice way back when, B&amp;W had a nice affordable bookshelf model (DM302 or something) for $250 a pair, and the matching center was about $200. Add a sub, and you could make it out around $1k. There is hope yet.

2) Upgrade one component at a time whenever you can afford it.

I did the latter. Started with fronts, then sub, added rears, finally the center. Took a few years, but now I am incredibly happy with my system, and ended up with a much nicer system than I could have ever afforded had I bought it all at once. Patience, grasshopper. Either way, sell the 501's when you can.

I've had Paradigm in my living room since '95, when I bought the PS-1000, which I still use and still love. Everything else is Paradigm Reference. Hell, I can't afford a Servo 15, and even if I could, don't know if I'd want something that big. The new Seismic series, however...