Onkyo HT-S770 or HTS780

Vanns has the HTS780s on sale for $450 with free shipping and free front speaker stands (which I need).

Circuit City has the 770's for $399, but i'd have to pay tax, and then probably $50-$100 for the speaker stands.

So basically the HT-S780's are going to be the cheaper route, BUT! are they better?

They have 20W less per channel, but they look like they're newer - and maybe better?

I'm curious, Onkyo doesn't even have them listed on their site (that I can find).

I tried them out at Circuit City today, and I liked them, they looked impressive, and sounded pretty solid (but how can you really tell in a huge store like that?)

So I want some input, should I stick with the 770's or go with the 780s?

770: 6*130W + 220W Sub
780: 7*110W + 230W Sub

I thought they might be the same speakers, but pictures show they look different. I also thought they might have the same receiver, but its a different receiver...

I have the HTS-770. I think the only difference besides what you mentioned were that the HTS-780 is a newer model, probably just a revision of the 770, and you get one more rear channel.

I would probably go with the 780's. It seems to be a much better deal. You get a little less power per channel, but I doubt you're really going to notice anything. Make sure to get a bigger gauge of wire though. The reciever on the 770's gets pretty damned hot.

darn, this got moved out of sound cards and speakers, I was hoping it'd stay because It would get more responses in there.

Oh well, i'm going to read the product manual for the 780s (well not the whole manual) and see what I think.

How important is the cone size. After pouring over the info it looks like this:

The sub is basically the same, except it pumps out 230W on the 780s and 220W on the 770s.

The front speakers on the 780s are a bit smaller, and have a 1/4 inch smaller cone and 20W less power.

The center speaker on the 780s is a bit bigger, it has a 1 inch bigger cone - but 20W less power.

The surround speakers on the 780s are not as deep (size-wise) and the cone is 7/8inch smallier and puts out 20W less.


So I don't know how much all that means, maybe someone can translate. Basically I want to know whats a better home theater system, the 780s or the 770s.

Watts and size dont mean anything when it comes to speakers. You can get bigger drivers that sound like crap and vice versa. Power is also the most toyed-with spec in audio, so just disregard any subtle differences in power specs.

Just audition the things and see which ones sound better.