What am I missing

[**DONOTDELETE**]

After a lenghthy and *careful* analysis (and also with a limited budget of $1500), I bought the following home theater package.

DVD : Thoshiba 3800 (progressive scan,$225)
Receiver: Pioneer 811s (Dolby/DTS - ES, $525)
Speaker: 5 speaker set from Sony ($450)

When I see receivers that cost anywhere from $1,000 to $5,000 and speakers from $1,000 to $10,000 I just wonder what I am missing in my home theater setup? What do people get from those expensive equipments? Is it that *crystal* clear? Are they hearing each & every word, sound from the music/movie tracks?

[ddire]

To answer your question.. Yes.. But...

There is no shame in not "getting" it. Most people don't. When people ask me.. I ask them. Do you drive a Sunfire or a Lexus?

Next time your in a "high end" shop.. ask them. Demo some stuff at 10k... there is a world of difference. If you still dont "get it" then be happy... you just saved a ton of money! /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

[Wyatt_Earp]

</font><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr />
What do people get from those expensive
equipments? Is it that *crystal* clear? Are they hearing each &amp; every word, sound from the music/movie
tracks?

[/ QUOTE ]

I would say that the incremental "value" received diminishes very quickly. In other words if you move from a basic stereo tv w/ analoqe cable &amp; a stereo vcr to a very basic home theater system the picture &amp; sound quality will improve dramatically. As you spend more money the incremental change in picture and sound quality will be less noticable ( and in some cases perhaps not at all). Basically your $1,200 has provided you with the biggest "bang for your buck" or like Ddire says "do you drive a Sunfire or a Lexus?" The Sunfire gets you were you want to go the Lexus just makes the ride a bit more enjoyable for significantly more money.

It all depends on how much value you place on acheiving those incremental improvements in audio / video quality. I think it also has a lot to do with the design of your house and your ability to actually receive the incremental benefits (i.e. room size, dimensions, vaulted ceilings, open floor plans etc.), only recently have houses been built with the home theater concept in mind. So I guess you have to ask yourself if you have a room set up to provide you with the benefits of the better home theater systems? On the one hand you don't want to have the equivalent of a ghetto blaster in a gym on the other you probably don't want the advantages of $15,000 worth of gear in closet size room.

Of course it probably makes a difference what you plan to watch on your system. Most people don't need to watch the latest Friends episode in perfect HD quality and 5.1 sound through a $10,000 system. However, if you spend most of your time watching movies, HD sporting events &amp; documentaries, etc. spending more might be worth it.

At the end of the day all that matters is what you hear and see from your system be it a $1,000 or a $10,000 system.

[**DONOTDELETE**]

&gt;&gt;If you still dont "get it" then be happy... you just saved a ton of money!&lt;&lt;
/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Thanks people! I'm feeling much better now!