I just wanted to add, is the resistor really needed
Yes, you need it. And it's quit cheaper to bye them on the net or in a store, then plundering your brand new home cinema or grandma's radio.
Not sure also, you find the right value there. Most of the actual microelectronics are soldered directly on circuit boards, makes it hard to recover them.
Have a look at older radios and power supplys, perhaps with a little luck...
You can get them for less than 10cents and by the way you can get the right IR-leds that you certainly don't find elseway. (Than in the remote control of your home cinema)