2.1 Sound System Help Needed!

[admin_exported]

I've made the choice to change our current set-up, I'm looking at the Panasonic 42PZ81 or 42PZ800 televisions, a Panasonic DMP-BD30 Blu ray player and am also looking for a new cinema set-up. I've visited a hi-fi specialist near where I live and asked if it would be worth purchasing an amplifier then two separate speakers but he assured me I'd be better off purchasing a "home theatre in a box system" like the Bose 321 system. I think this sounded extremely good but would like to look outside the box and ask your thoughts!

Any suggestions welcome, budget for the 2.1 system would be around £500-£1000

Appreciate your time!

Lee

 

[ianr23gp]

With the size of your TV have you considered the sound bar option? I'd have a look at the new Marantz ES7001 which recently got a great WHFS&V review. It cost approx. £800 but I've seen it for around the £700 mark. You could also consider adding a sub at a later date if you really want extra rumble!!

However, if you really are set on a 2.1 system then you can easily get one of the following for well under your £500 min budget:

Samsung HTX-200R

Sony DAV-F200

 

[professorhat]

I disagree with your dealer there I'm afraid and think you'd be much better off looking into a separate system at that budget. Are you looking to go 5.1 one day maybe, or definitely just sticking with 2.1 at the most?
If you do decide to go for an all-in-one system, as the previous poster has suggested, there are better systems than the Bose for the money.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for your help. Ian - I've just took a look at the sound bar and it seems to have a good write up and I think its a strong candidate for what I want, adding a sub at a later time also sounds like a good idea if needed.

Professorhat - I'm not going to rule out the possibility of a 5.1 one day but I'm 99% sure it won't happen. For around that budget do you have any recommendations that wouldn't be too space demanding and obviously perform pretty well? I will be hooking up Sky HD as well as the Blu Ray.

As you can tell I'm pretty new to the home cinema factor, I work with TV's but home cinema is one of my weak points (at the moment)!

I appreciate the help, thanks