Entertainment Center: TVs, Stereos, VCRs and DVDs - Help Choosing HT System

I am fairly certian I am going to purchase one of the following very shortly (like a day or two). My question is of course which is better... so I ask for opinions based on actual use or any comments regarding features that may be good or bad. Note this is not an ad - I am going to purchase because I just got a TV and can get s rebate if I buy one of these (among other company HT systems).

1) Sony HT-V2000DP
6.1 channel - each 85 watts
basic receiver with separate DVD VCR combo unit (i do like this combo idea)
looks nice (yes this is important)
single DVD


2) Sony DAV-FR1
6.1 channel - each 110 watts
dream system very slim
5 DVD changer - slots not carousel
NO DIGITAL AUDIO OUTPUT - i think this is OK as audio output goes to the speakers.... any reason i should reconsider?

circuit city has a nice website that gives the DAV better reviews. any other suggestions for review sites? i should add assume the price is the same but i will have to add a vcr if i get the DAV - running audio/video should not be a problem for a separate vcr.

any major electronic store site compares them but i basically mention the difference above as i see them.....

The DVD/VCR units are crap, and the DAV system has digital amps. I'd get the DAV if i had to pick from one of the two. Don't worry about digital audio outs. You want alot of ins though.

If you are willing to consider other options, the S760 or S770 HTIB untis from Onkyo are the best bang for the buck in HT under $1000. The speakers are much better than what you'd find in the Sony systems. Look them up on circuit city's website or at www.shoponkyo.com

thanks - i was looking at sony because of the rebate i get with the tv i already bought. i moved my old tv with the 5 distinct audio/videpo units to the kids play room..... and my most important feaure for my new system has to be ease of use. my old set up sounded great but was not easy to use. in the end i am replaceing a 5 speaker bose system with something... sound wise i just need average as i am not an audiophile (gosh i hope i spelled that correct). i have a $1500 tv so i was thinking 300 - 500 on the home theater was sufficient. mostly this will be used for dvd and vcr....... audio cd's some.

At your budget I would defanitly get the Onkyo unless you are getting the Sony system for around $250.

Something else to consider - what kind of inputs they have. The tv is HD, so whne you finally get HD from the cable company or satellite, you'll want to get the surround sound that is part of an HD broadcast. To get surround sound into the receiver, you'll need either digital coax or digital fiber optic. I wouldn't buy a system without either of these inputs.

I second the onkyo recommendation. Much better than the Sonys. And, yes, I realize you are looking at the $100 rebate.

thank you guys - i appreciate your honesty. the cost of the two systems mentioned is just under $300 plus the rebate knows off another $100. a note on rebates there is always a chance you do not get it and it does take time (of course to me 100 is worth it).

i did check out the onkyo's at a higher end shop in town and they did reccommen these (or denen) but for the receiver and to add a DVD/VCR that matches ran the price up to about $600.... more than i wanted to spend. of course their prices were a bit inflated as nothing is ever on sale but i know i could know something off them.

i do have another option of giving up on the rebate...... just getting a vcr/dvd deck and investing in a home theater in the next 12 months.

The DVD/VCR units are crap, and the DAV system has digital amps. I'd get the DAV if i had to pick from one of the two. Don't worry about digital audio outs. You want alot of ins though.

If you are willing to consider other options, the S760 or S770 HTIB untis from Onkyo are the best bang for the buck in HT under $1000. The speakers are much better than what you'd find in the Sony systems. Look them up on circuit city's website or at www.shoponkyo.com

again i thank you both for your thoughts - i did goto the stoer and listened to the onkyo.... alhtough i can not tell a big difference there certainly is a difference (more withmusic CD's than DVD's in my opinion). any form the link provided i see there is a 570 system on sale directly from onkyo bc it is reconditioned... i may not want that but even paying sticker the 570 unit is $300. so adding a vcr/dvd and forgoing the rebate i'm still about $100 apart and it seem sthe $100 is worth the extra funds. the 570 doea have optical and coaxial inputs - less watts but i do not think i need. i may have my mind made up on the 570.

ignore watts

Comparing Sony watts to Onkyo watts is like comparing kumquats to apples. They aren't calculated the same way. The onkyo figure is what you can expect ALL the time.

You guys convinced me to look elsewhere and I did. It is tough to compare because of hte way the systems are set up in the stores but in the end i went with hte Onkyo 570 (HT-S570). But what I did was went to radio shack and got their version (different product number) for $50 less. In the end I spent only $25 more (factoring in all the rebates) on the Onkyo versus eithor of the Sony's previously mentioned. I like what I have a lot. One problem is that some audio CDs do not sound that great so I need to learn how to adjust.

Example: Kenny Chesney CD sounds great but U2s new CD does not. Very different music for sure so I have some fine tuning to do.

Sometimes when you get a dramaticly better system than what you are used to, poorly produced or recorded music will suddenly sound like crap because your system is accurately reproducing all of the flaws. I doubt that is the case with a recent U2 cd though.

I bet you are listening to your cds in surround mode. Keep in mind your audio cds are designed to be played through 2 speakers, and when you put it through 5-7 your receiver has to "guess" via the surround processor what sounds to send where. This is difffernet than a movie recorded in Dolby Digital, and the recording tells the surround processor what to send where.

Try listning to your U2 disc in 2 channel stereo, and see how that sounds. I listen to all my music in 2 channel.