I'm new here and I'm in the process of purchasing my first HTIB. I've been reading a lot lately and trying to decide between a 5.1 or 7.1 system. My living room would be too cluttered I think for a 7.1 system so I have been focusing on 5.1 systems and found the Samsung HT-TQ85. CNET has a good review on it but I am not able to add a link due to my post count. I'm still uncertain as to what to go with though. I like the idea of the HDMI input and output. I have a Samsung HL-S5687W DLP, Time Warner Scientific Atlanta DVR, and a PS3. All three have HDMI connections so I was wondering if I can use all HDMI cables between everything. Any advice or input on the Samsung HT-TQ85 or setup of my componets would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

I'm new here too, but I just bought a used ht-tq85 last week and thought you might like my input.

I'm very happy with the sound quality for the price. The system I bought included the wireless rear amplifier (my room necessitated wireless rear speakers). The sound quality out of the wireless rear speakers is average at best. If you can connect the rear speakers with wires you'll probably have better results. The front speakers, center speaker, and subwoofer all have a nice robust sound.

The only other negative I can think of is the lack of AM radio.


Dustin

Dustin: (ir anyone else). I am also thinking of the Q85, but cannot find much on its specs. Could you share with us how you have it hooked up (including the dvd if you have one). I can only find a mention of one hdmi out.

The ht-tq85 includes a 5 disc progressive scan, upscaling DVD player. You must use the HDMI out to the TV to take advantage of the upscaling.

It also has Component out and analog (coax) out.

My HDTV has a tuner so I have no cable box. Essentially my only connection is from the DVD player to the TV. It's currently hooked up with component cables, but I've ordered an HDMI cable that should be here this week.


Dustin

I just bought one today ! wow.. having hard time finding this bad boy at discount price. I am going to hook it up tonite alone with my PS2, 50" Panny Plasma. I cant wait !

I just bought one today ! wow.. having hard time finding this bad boy at discount price. I am going to hook it up tonite alone with my PS2, 50" Panny Plasma. I cant wait !

I too was having a terrible time locating that system. I even called Samsung and they didnt know where I could find it. The suggested Sears and Sams Club. I called both and both said they didnt carry it. I got frustrated and went to BB last night and bought the LG LH-E9674 system. The downfall is it has not HDMI input so I am not able to get some qualities out of my PS3 that are exclusive to HDMI. Other than that the system sounds amazing. To me anyways. I couldnt be happier. Unless I could find the Samsung HT-TQ85 at BB on sale which BB cant even get it. I'm not an audio freak and I am sure there are many many other systems that blow the LG out of the water but I'm happy with it. It looks great too. I have a Scientific Atlanta HD DVR connected via Digital Coax, the PS3 connected via Digital Optical. Both those systems connect to my 56" Samsung HL-S5687W 1080p DLP via HDMI. Right now the LG DVD player is connected via componet to the TV until I get a HDMI switcher from monoprice. Let me know how the Samsung sounds.

Did you get it hooked up? How does it sounds?

The downfall is it has not HDMI input so I am not able to get some qualities out of my PS3 that are exclusive to HDMI.

Interesting... the only reason I've been considering that system is because of the HDMI connections that many reviews have claimed it supports.

Interesting... the only reason I've been considering that system is because of the HDMI connections that many reviews have claimed it supports.

He's refering to the LG system he bought instead of the the sammy....

That caught me the first time I read it too.

Thats correct. Sorry for the confusion.

Yes, I got it hooked up and it sounds SUPERB !! I am very satisfied with this Samsung HT-TQ85. Got it brand new for little under $400. Have to personally drove 20 miles to get it though but trust me its well worth it every penny.

The DVD picture quality is great. I watch all my movies on the 1080i setting now. The sound quality is even better. Dolby Digital, DTS, PLII you name it all sound very clear. I can hear all the little details sounds that I havnt noticed before on my old system. The only down fall is the FM radio doesnt have good atenna recieption compare to my Stereo system but no biggie.

Another thing I need to point out is this unit got all the inputs you need. I was thinking about getting the Panasonic SC-HT940 but later found out it doesnt even have the optical in so I turn to this one. Best choice I ever made. Thanks Cnet review !. I hooked up my PS2 via component with PLII sound, TV audio out via optical for dolby digital, DVD via HDMI for dd & dts and going to hook up my PS3 via the HDMI in. I especially like the 4 tower speakers looks. This system got it all. Thinking about getting the wireless receiver now. Trust me you wont regret it but good luck finding one though =)

Yes, I got it hooked up and it sounds SUPERB !! I am very satisfied with this Samsung HT-TQ85. Got it brand new for little under $400. Have to personally drove 20 miles to get it though but trust me its well worth it every penny.

The DVD picture quality is great. I watch all my movies on the 1080i setting now. The sound quality is even better. Dolby Digital, DTS, PLII you name it all sound very clear. I can hear all the little details sounds that I havnt noticed before on my old system. The only down fall is the FM radio doesnt have good atenna recieption compare to my Stereo system but no biggie.

Another thing I need to point out is this unit got all the inputs you need. I was thinking about getting the Panasonic SC-HT940 but later found out it doesnt even have the optical in so I turn to this one. Best choice I ever made. Thanks Cnet review !. I hooked up my PS2 via component with PLII sound, TV audio out via optical for dolby digital, DVD via HDMI for dd & dts and going to hook up my PS3 via the HDMI in. I especially like the 4 tower speakers looks. This system got it all. Thinking about getting the wireless receiver now. Trust me you wont regret it but good luck finding one though =)

Thank you. Sounds great. Forgive the newbie question, but does the htib have to be on all the time or can the TV work as before if the htib is off? How does it actually switch between tv, dvd etc. Does the unit do it or do you switch the tv to the conection? Thanks.

I just got the TQ72, which is same as the TQ85, except with two tall-boy speakers and no HDMI input (just the output).

Anyways, one thing that sucks is that when you play a Divx file, you have no options to change aspect ratios. Anyone who wants to play avi files on this will notice what I mean.

There are two AUX jacks, 1 optical in, and 1 HDMI in. You will have to turn it on and select the jack you plug your other system in to get sound.

Btw I love the 4 tower speakers looks =)

I just got the TQ72, which is same as the TQ85, except with two tall-boy speakers and no HDMI input (just the output).

Anyways, one thing that sucks is that when you play a Divx file, you have no options to change aspect ratios. Anyone who wants to play avi files on this will notice what I mean.

Do you have any screen shots?

Hey, I've been having a problem with my TQ72. My Motorola PVR is connected via optical audio. When I am using my PVR functions (like pause, rew, fwd, play), sometimes the digital audio will cut out.

I thought the issue was with the Motorola box, but I just replaced it...and same thing happens. I also replaced the optical cable. Doesn't help. Is anyone else having problems with the TQ72 (or TQ85, or any other Samsung HTIB) losing digital audio when using PVR functions?

It seems to be losing the audio because the HTIB can't "think" fast enough, to be able to detect the digital audio, and do its decoding.

Here are the issues I'm having with the system.

* HDMI audio issue - Audio drops almost every 30 sec. to a minute on HDMI out. It is so annoying...I actually took a unit back and had it exchanged because I thought it was defective unit...Of course, I have same problem with the new unit....looks like a known issue?

* HDMI in issue - I don't know if this is a problem on Samsung side or my cable box (Moto 6412) but when I connect HDMI cable from the cable box to HDMI in on Samsung unit, I don't get video but just audio. I believe there's some handshaking issue on either side.

* Playing iPod - Can't use the USB input, so I have to use composite audio...it's acceptable, but little disappointed.

I'm thinking about getting a different HTIB but don't know which one will be a comparable to HT-TQ85. I was really excited about this system and now I'm very frustrated.

Anybody had a similar issue or any advice?

Hey, I've been having a problem with my TQ72. My Motorola PVR is connected via optical audio. When I am using my PVR functions (like pause, rew, fwd, play), sometimes the digital audio will cut out.

I thought the issue was with the Motorola box, but I just replaced it...and same thing happens. I also replaced the optical cable. Doesn't help. Is anyone else having problems with the TQ72 (or TQ85, or any other Samsung HTIB) losing digital audio when using PVR functions?

It seems to be losing the audio because the HTIB can't "think" fast enough, to be able to detect the digital audio, and do its decoding.

I'm having the EXACT same issue with my 6416 to TQ72 via optical.
It will cut out around 3 times when watching a hour long recorded show, and yeah, its always on the PVR functions.
It seems like the TQ72 "forgets" that there is a connection while you are forwarding, dunno :confused:

I am having same issues...

Connected via hdmi to directv hd-dvr

sound cuts out periodically and sometimes it goes to straight static LOUD.

I think there is either a problem with optical input hdmi input or possibly both.

same sound issues here, cuts out, pops, sometimes long stretches of silence. had to suffer through a ball game in sd (sound issues don't appear in sd signals).

scientific atlanta 8300hd pvr via hdmi to sammy ht-tq85 via hdmi to sammy 4273 plasma.

some cases in toronto apparently had this problem fixed when the cable provider updated the firmware on the 8300hd units, so the issue may be hdmi handshaking between the pvr box and the ht-tq85 -- but this is just speculation.

does this go away with component setups?
also, is this just a pvr problem, and not a general cable box problem?

I know I have never had a problem with it while watching a DVD or even while watching a movie on my iPod connected to the composite jacks.

It has to be a HDMI or PVR or combination of both issue. Wonder how we get someone to fix it?

I hated the HTQ 85 and returned it. The A/V delays when switching channels with my Directv HR20 were horrible, up to 7-10 seconds. I spent the extra money and got the Onkyo SRTX604, but these 2 receivers can not be compared, different price ranges. Very happy with the Onkyo.

Is the audio lag problem only for digital cable box?

I get severe audio lag when I change from a HD to SD channel. I also get audio lag when using the rw/ff functions on my PVR.

Personally I can live with the lag, it sucks, but is nothing compared to the system going to super loud static at random times. Especially when it's 3AM and you're watching some movie on the PVR and trying to keep the voulme low to not wake the family. All of a sudden... SHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HOLY CRAP!

i'd take it back, but I bought it rufurbed and my warranty ran lot a couple months ago. I think I am going to stop buying large items like this online because returns are so expensive and such a PITA.

Can i just use my xbox 360 as my DVD player on this HT?

I've had the HT-Q85 for a couple of months now. I got it just for my PS3 because of the HDMI input and outputs.

Sadly, it's been nothing but trouble, and I can't return it. I get very loud popping and crackling noises all the time, and recently the sound has been cutting out entirely for extended periods of time. Sometimes turning it back on and off helps....sometimes it doesn't.

Anyone else had the same problem, and is there anyway to fix it? (i.e. specific audio output settings on the PS3? using digital optical for sound output instead of HDMI?)

Would greatly appreciate any help. Thanks,

hello

I have the system since may I think, and the output through HDMI would not work for me....

my setup

HDMI video
PS3 to LCD 4665F
Optical audio
PS3 to Samsung Q85

it works without any problems

but like I said, I could not get anything going through HDMI back then, it would give me a 'format not supported' message, not through PS3 or my cable box

and my Cable box is the same

video goes through HDMI to the LCD
audio through some components to the Q85

no problems with dalay or pops

don't you loose the quality if you go

ps3 hdmi out --> sammy ht-tq85 hdmi in --> ht-tq85 out --> hdmi tv-in (using xbr5)?
[I have heard the 1080i vs 1080p discussion before]

i tried ps3 hdmi out --> xbr 5 hdmi in and then xbr5 RGB audio out (red and white) to samsung ht-tq85 aux in to take advantage of 5.1 surround sound and no loss in quality.