Home stereo advice

[Mathochist]

I figure this is "entertainment or leisure".

I'm soon to be looking for something in a home stereo system. Nothing fancy, really. Here are my (somewhat disorganized) thoughts so far.

I won't need:
Most audio source components, since all my music is on my MacBook, which can transmit through my AirPort Express, which can run a line to the stereo.

I'll need:
A receiver. I know they used to come with radio tuners in them, so that should still be available, right? It should take input from the AirPort Express (RCA connector) and my digital cable box (ditto).
Speakers. Two main ones and a subwoofer would probably be the basics, right?

It would be nice to have:
"HD radio", since that seems to be the way the technology is going. Maybe satellite. I don't listen to radio that much, but at least being able to get Prairie Home Companion in my apartment would be nice.
5.1 channel surround. I have good places to put the center speaker and I should be able to place rear speakers, especially if they can mount on the wall without too much trouble or damage.

If there's anything else you think would be good to have that I've left out, go ahead and mention it. Brands and places to buy are especially helpful.

And price is an object. I'm looking for something that will be good quality, but won't completely bust me. If you can give a range of suggestions with rough prices for each, that would be great.

[slitterst]

[QUOTE=Mathochist;10164977]
I'll need:
A receiver. I know they used to come with radio tuners in them, so that should still be available, right? It should take input from the AirPort Express (RCA connector)

AirPort Express does have an optical output. That will give you noticeably better sound quality than you would get from the RCA connector.

[Mathochist]

AirPort Express does have an optical output. That will give you noticeably better sound quality than you would get from the RCA connector.

Oh.. I thought that it was a 3.5mm jack, like for headphones, and I'd use my cable that converts that to RCA.

Okay, so that altered.. anybody have any suggestions? Come on, I know there must be audiophile dopers.

[Boyo Jim]

Do you want to tie in your TV and DVD player for "home theater sound", or are you looking at audio only?

[Mathochist]

Do you want to tie in your TV and DVD player for "home theater sound", or are you looking at audio only?

I mentioned taking input from my digital cable box. I've got a DVI-HDMI cable, so my MacBook *is* my DVD player. Handling its audio is already in there.

[Boyo Jim]

My question wasn't specific enough. You might choose to route your video separately from your audio, or buy a receiver/amplifier to do it all. My system is kind of a hybrid of both, because while the receiver has 6 audio inputs, it only has 3 video, and only 2 of those is HD. My TV has two HD inputs, so one of my HD boxes runs right to the TV instead of the receiver.

This all involves more button pushing on the remote to keep the correct audio and video synched, but I have a programmable remote to take care of that.

The way you OP is written, it seems as if you don't care about routing the video. That's why I asked.

[Mathochist]

The way you OP is written, it seems as if you don't care about routing the video. That's why I asked.

Ah. I wasn't even thinking of routing video through the receiver. Really the majority of my experience is with my parents' component system which dates from somewhere in the early-to-mid '90s.

No, I don't think I'd really need that. I'm not looking for the highest-end system possible, just something that will play the audio for my television, act as wireless speakers for my computer (doubling as DVD player), be moderately priced, and will stand up to the fact that I'm still moving every 1-3 years until I've got a tenure-track position.

Once I settle down, sure I'll be looking for a bigger, better system. But for now if I can save by not bothering with feeding the video lines through the receiver, that's cool too.

[Boyo Jim]

The Onkyo system I have, which includes Dolby & DTS decoders for movie sound, the limited video switching I mentioned above, plus 5 speakers and a subwoofer, was about $600. It also included a standard AM/FM receiver -- when I bought this satellite and HD radio were not even factors to consider.

I've seen several systems since with all that same stuff for under $300. Most likely skimping on speaker quality.

My guess is that satellite radio will be an additional box that you'll have to run into your amplifier.