Alright, I know this is a speaker site, but I'm looking for some honest advice. I think I have gotten the WAF for a home theater setup, albeit small. My dilemma is: we can only afford part of the setup now. The advice I'd like is: speakers or TV? The plan is m22's, qs8's, vp100, and an HSU stf 1 (per advice gotten from earlier posts to the board, along with a Sony KDF 50" LCD projection. Currently I have a 5.1 receiver/dvd player that will do for awhile and an old 25" magnavox w/out even s-video inputs. The $$$ output would be very close between speakers and TV. Finally, the system is mainly used for home theater, about 90% tv/dvd, 10% cd music, So what's the vote, speakers or tv? Thanks for the input.
Sips

That's a hard one. I ended up getting the most enjoyment out of :

Step 1 -- mains and a good sub (and then a better sub )

Step 2 -- center and surrounds

Step 3 -- projection TV (not yet in budget)

My "good TV" is still a 27" department-store Sanyo, now temporarily replaced with a borrowed 32", also department-store grade. There seem to be lots of people getting rid of 32" CRTs or sticking them in a corner, ask around.

In my case, though, I am more likely to replay something, close my eyes and listen to the sound than I am to replay something and pick up nuances from the picture, even on a high end well balanced system.

Other people will tell you different, since they get more enjoyment out of "a glorious picture" than "glorious sound". It's really going to depend on what you get the most enjoyment from.

I think you are doing the right thing, though, by picking up one piece at a time but getting something that you will be happy with for a while.

In general, electronics (including projectors and RPTVs) are getting cheaper and better every year, at an alarming pace, while speakers, amplifiers and high power receivers are not. There is a strong argument for delaying the purchase of the parts which will be less expensive and better by the time you eventually buy them.

If you want "logic", get the speakers now and get the TV later. Having said that, if you're pretty sure you and family will get more enjoyment out "a better TV" than "better sound", go with the TV anyways.

EDIT -- go with at least the STF-2 over the 1. Trust me on this. The STF-1 is a great sub but it doesn't go as deep as the STF-2, and once you have everything else nice IMO the STF-1 will be the weak link. If you are always going to be listening at "tasteful" volumes the STF-1 will do you fine, but if you are going to "crank it" on occasion unless your room is tiny I would think hard about the VTF-3

i would get the speakers first also.... with the 25" tv that you already have, you can now be envloped in the movie/tv that you are watching.. and like bridgman said, the price of tv's is always coming down, i would wait untill the lcd/plasmas that are 1080p are out that you can afford.. then you would have the best tv that you can have, and a very nice speaker system to go with it. that is what i would do...

Guess that I will have to strongly disagree with the other posts. Get the TV first. You will notice a remarkable difference in the new HDTVs!!!!!!!

One other thing to consider is that your eyes take in more information (wider bandwidth) than your ears.

Yeah, that's a tough question. I could easily argue in favor of going either way, and I don't think there's really a right or wrong answer. The point is that both new speakers, and a new TV will enhance your HT experience, and you should go with the one you think will provide the biggest change.

However, were it I, and I had a 90% tv/dvd, 10% cd music ratio, I'd agree with Bernard (Ratpack) and go for the TV.

I would got for the T.V. first. Going from a small to big tv is a big difference unless you sit 3 feet away from your 25".

TV

I went with TV first cause my old 27" CRT was getting too hard to looked at. It was good in my old apartment but when I moved to my new home, I had about 11-12 feet distance from the TV. The 27" CRT was just too small for me at that distance. When I got my 50" plasma, the difference was night and day.

Thanks all for the input. As I anticipated, it seems fairly split. Althought current cost output would be similar for speakers vs. TV, I think my wife will opt for a tv. Unfortunately for me; however, because I REALLY want an Axiom setup of speakers. Oh well, good things come to those who wait I guess. I will try and keep the site posted.

We'll keep the light on for ya.

Look on the bright side. You'll have that much more time to decide what colour the speakers should be. If you were REALLY ready to buy speakers you would have included the finish colour in your list of "here's the speakers I'm gonna get"

I am convinced that you made the "right" decision.

Good luck and enjoy that HDTV!!!!!

It's all in how you pitch it to your wife, in my opinion. Just rent any scary movie, put it in, and play a suspenseful scene for 60 secs with the volume off. Then play the same scary scene for 60 secs with the picture off. Trust me, she'll know instantly which one makes the most difference in a home theater experience.

Silly, silly. Do you think I've spent the last year salivating over the opportunity to get some Axioms and not know what color, (or colour for you canucks)I will order? I didn't want to add more fodder to my sometimes lengthy posts. Sips