Buying advice from people that know!

[admin_exported]

Hi,

I am trying to get into Home Cinema bit by bit due to budget restrictions! I have a Panasonic Plasma screen that I'm delighted with and am looking at my next purchase.

I would like to get a surround system that doesn't have a DVD player so that in the future I can add a Bluray player and further ahead a projector that I can use instaed of the TV.

My budget as I mewntioned is tight, so budget buys would be much appreciated.

I will probably go for a Panasonic Bluray so I can use the Viera link, but I don't think they do a surround system without a dvd. All suggestions, tips, etc welcomed.

Thank you very much

Nick

 

[VoodooDoctor]

I think you need to specify a budget and whether you want style/"normal" speakers. How big is your room?

 

[Anonymous]

Hi,

Thanks for your reply. My budget for the sound side of things would be up to £350.00. I will consider the budget for the Bluray and projector as I get to them.

My room is approx 16 x 14.

If at all possible I would like to go wireless for the rear speakers, but I don't know if this is a reasonable requirement.

Thanks again.

Nick

 

[Anonymous]

trenchn:

Hi,

Thanks for your reply. My budget for the sound side of things would be up to £350.00. I will consider the budget for the Bluray and projector as I get to them.

My room is approx 16 x 14.

If at all possible I would like to go wireless for the rear speakers, but I don't know if this is a reasonable requirement.

Thanks again.

Nick

Hi Nick,

Not sure what you want (or need). Are you in the market for an "all-in-one" surround system or separates? Seeing your budget of £350, I'd thought it's an all-in-one that you were after. Not sure you can find one not based around a DVD player at that price. Some manufacturers do blu-ray surround systems (I think Samsung and Sony, maybe Panasonic and LG also - expect pretty much all the big boys from the consumer electronics industry to come up with some sort by Christmas), although prices are likely to be more like £600-700 for a 5.1 package.

I'd say either save up for a blu-ray package or go separates (ie buy a blu-ray first, then add a AV amp + surround speakers of your choice when funds allow).

 

[Anonymous]

momo72:trenchn:

Hi,

Thanks for your reply. My budget for the sound side of things would be up to £350.00. I will consider the budget for the Bluray and projector as I get to them.

My room is approx 16 x 14.

If at all possible I would like to go wireless for the rear speakers, but I don't know if this is a reasonable requirement.

Thanks again.

Nick

Hi Nick,

Not sure what you want (or need). Are you in the market for an "all-in-one" surround system or separates? Seeing your budget of £350, I'd thought it's an all-in-one that you were after. Not sure you can find one not based around a DVD player at that price. Some manufacturers do blu-ray surround systems (I think Samsung and Sony, maybe Panasonic and LG also - expect pretty much all the big boys from the consumer electronics industry to come up with some sort by Christmas), although prices are likely to be more like £600-700 for a 5.1 package.

I'd say either save up for a blu-ray package or go separates (ie buy a blu-ray first, then add a AV amp + surround speakers of your choice when funds allow).

Excuse me butting in but I have a new Plasma and Blu-ray Player and am dithering as to whether to get a separate sound system.
Which AV Amp and speakers would you recommend? My price range would be about £400.

I like the look of the Yamaha soundbar. What do you think?

 

[Big Aura]

http://www.superfi.co.uk/index.cfm/page/moreinfo.cfm/Product_ID/5251 (not out yet, but I am hopeful will be a budget stormer - but wait for an audition).

and

http://www.superfi.co.uk/index.cfm/page/moreinfo.cfm/Product_ID/5194

A shade over £500, and you'll need speaker cable too.

You could try fleabay for some secondhand stuff, but that's unlikely to decode the new HD audio formats, just 5.1

 

[Anonymous]

I'll throw the Onkyo HTX-22HD into the mix.

You can get the basic 2.1 package (Sub with build in AV Receiver and 2 speakers) for around £250-300, and you can get an optional speaker package to upgrade it to 5.1 for about an extra £100.

http://www.superfi.co.uk/index.cfm/page/moreinfo.cfm/Product_ID/4162

http://www.superfi.co.uk/index.cfm/page/moreinfo.cfm/Product_ID/4174

That includes speaker wires. Just a quick aside, my brother actually just bought this from the Birmingham Juntion 9 Currys store, and they have a package with the 2.1 system and an Onkyo DVD player for £200! All the DVD players are display models but even if you don't want the DVD player that's by far the best price around at the minute if you can get to the shop.

The downside to a system like this is it's not particularly upgradeable, so you can't really tinker with speakers etc like you can a sperates system. But having said that you can get it for your budget and it will decode HD audio formate.

 

[d4v3pum4]

Big Aura:

You could try fleabay for some secondhand stuff, but that's unlikely to decode the new HD audio formats, just 5.1

Going by the specs of that 519, it lacks HD audio decoding, the 819 does though. The Sony STR-DH800 and Onkyo 507 have HD audio decoding built in but are more expensive. Unfortunately the days of cheap(ish) amps seem to be numbered thanks to the exchange rates. As more people upgrade, they offload their old gear on ebay and other classifieds and there are plenty of bargains to be had and I'm sure you would find something with HD audio decoding. These things tend to be looked after so I would have no hesitation in buying second hand.

 

[Big Aura]

curious - I assumed HD audio as it has HDMI inputs. How odd. Perhaps a misprint? Hmmm...

 

[d4v3pum4]

Some HDMI amps are for passthrough i.e. switching between sources. The audio remains untouched. Unfortunately the fact that an amp can process multi-channel audio (LPCM) over HDMI is often hidden in the manual. The Pioneer you linked to probably can't. The 918 (last years model) lacked HD audio decoding and AFAIK was the first budget receiver from Pioneer that could handle LPCM audio over HDMI.