Alright, starting to look at HT equipment to put on my Christmas list. I'm basically building a new system. Don't want/need anything too expensive or fancy.

TV: My roommates have always provided the TV, so all I have is a 19" Philips. This probably won't be purchased until I actually graduate/get a job in the spring. Anyway, I'm probably looking for a 32-36" tube. What price range should I be looking at for something decent?

Reciever: I've got a basic Kenwood stereo reciever right now (KR-A3080). Looking for a decent surround reciever that'll do 5.1. Again, don't need anything crazy. Just want something that sounds decent.

Surround speakers: Right now I've got a pair of Klipsch KG2.5s that I'm planning on using as my fronts. So I'll need a center and a pair for the rear. I'm guessing stick with entry level Klipsch all around?

I'll keep my DVD player (samsung DVD-P231) and CD changer (Kenwood DP-R5080).

So there it is. Opinions?

Just for price points....

$200 range
- Harman Kardon AVR 125
- Sherwood RD-8108
- Sony STR-DE597
- Yamaha RX-V492

$400 range
- Denon AVR-1905
- Marantz SR4400
- Onkyo TX-SR502
- Kenwood VR-8070

Just to get you started, all those will give you at least 5.1 surround. I beleive they all have Pro-Logic II and DTS also.

umm, I assume anything out there would meet my needs. Would need to handle input from CD, DVD, TV, and 5.1 output. Input from a PC would be cool but don't know that it would be used.

Any other features I would need to consider?

I got the Panasonic SA-XR50 a month or so ago on a whim after reading all the praises of these new digital amps (class T). For $290 (even cheaper online) I figured what the heck, let's see what all the fuss is about. Well, this $300 receiver completely embarases my Sony ES receiver that cost 3 times the price. I'm hearing another layer or two of details in the music that I have never heard before, and there is absolutely no noise from the amps during quiet passages (no matter the volume level). When listening to CD's, the digital input of this receiver is applied directly to the digital amps, so there is really a direct audio path from the CD to the speakers. The receiver sounded slightly harsh at first, but after a few days of use it smoothed out completely and seems to keep sounding sweeter and sweeter. Sure, it's not built very well and has cheesy speaker clips for the center/surround speakers. But it kicks serious butt for both music and surround sound, especially given the price. Some say that speaker selection is critical with this amp, but it seems to work very well with my Paradigm Atoms and Mirage sub. Those Klipschs are pretty efficient, so they may work well with this amp, too.

You can get in on some great buys on Sony gear at this forum: http://agoraquest.com/ - or go to crazy eddies.

You surprise me. sir.

and I think their video is excellent.

They are a brighter sound - and perhaps with my old ears it compensates for my age.

are a pain in the rear to use compared with Toshiba, Panasonic and Denon. Sony DVD playes give far less ability to skip chapters at the movie intro's and starts. And they almost never 'repeat' when you select 'repeat title'.

I think it is about $200 -what do you think of it.

for again about $200. It's based on their superb DD8040 model (same thing w/o SACD).

<center><img src="http://www.samsung.com/Products/DVDPlayer/HyperVision/images/HD941_03.jpg"></center><p><ul><li><a href="http://www.samsung.com/Products/DVDPlayer/HyperVision/DVDPlayer_HyperVision_DVD_HD941.htm">Link</a></li></ul>