Flexible home cinema required (but with limited sound)

[clarcombe]

Hi,

I have a 8 year old flat screen LG 42 inch which I currently play movies/tv programmes through via a laptop. I have linked the laptop to my hi-fi which is ok but as I am in an open plan house, the sound travels up the stairs and annoys the kids ! (ironic, its me thats making too much noise!!!)

I have a small metre wide pillar behind me to which I can attach some speakers. Ideally this would be wireless.

My screen is about 3.5 metres away and on a long glass cabinet

I want to reduce the volume but increase the quality of the sound (surround) for the movies.

Eventually I will replace the TV too.

I thought about soundbar and speakers behind but wont that still annoy the kids ? Sound bar would have to go above TV as it's on a stand.

Price range £500-£1000 for the sound system.

What does the forum suggest?

Thanks

Colin

 

[jonathanRD]

Hi Colin, have you tried head phones? some people use them for films. Also, you haven't said what your current hifi is - ie what is making the sound at the moment?

 

[professorhat]

Gotta agree - the easiest way to get decent low volume sound is headphones.

 

[clarcombe]

I have some Seinheiser Wireless HDR-120 but it was difficult to tune them and I could only get sound through one ear. Additionally, my wife doesnt like wearing them as we needed two pairs.

I might have connected them wrongly but it was the only configuration available.

Also, they make my ears very hot and arent that comfortable to wear. Hence the idea of putting the speaker behind me so that the volume can be lower and also they direct sound away from the stairs.

Current hi fi is Thomson Life C5520. Not great admittedly.

Also thought about spotlight directional speakers.

Any other thoughts ?

 

[Leeps]

Having the sound coming from behind you will just sound wrong (unless it's supposed to, like in a fully fledged 5.1 system). Sorry if that's not the answer you wanted. When I'm watching TV that has a stereo-only source, I make sure the sound is only coming from the front speakers in my system. The incongruance of watching characters speaking in front of you and hearing them behind you will mess with your brain and spoil any enjoyment that could otherwise be achieved by 'increasing the quality of the sound'?

Is it possible to change your furniture round 180 degrees so that the TV joins the speakers on the wall that was formerly behind you with your seating position where the TV currrently is?

As far as space saving systems go, how about a Marantz McR610 with the tiny but effective Neat Iota speakers (which can be easily wall-mounted). Currently available as a package from Creative Audio for under a grand. (I'm not trade, so no affiliations).

 

[jonathanRD]

Leeps beat me to it - in a normal 5.1 system the main sound will be the voices and music, all coming from the centre and front speakers. The sounds coming from the surround speakers add 'effects' and background sound. Using just two front speakers in a stereo setup will as Leeps suggested be a bit odd - watching someone speak in front of you, but hearing them behind you. I was also going to ask whether you could turn the system around 180 degrees.

I assume the kids are young and you don't want to disturb them sleeping in the evening? If they are older just send them out or give them ear plugs

There are lots of different setups you can get for £1000, but I think they will all send the sound upstairs even if the 'quality' is better and you can turn down the bass.

I never particularly got on with headphones either, but maybe better quality or a different type of headphone may make a difference. Have you tried searching the forum for any threads on using headphones for film? Maybe somebody who uses headphones for films may comment.

 

[clarcombe]

The kids are 13 and 16 but I do understand about the noise. I heard the TV the other day and it was bloody loud!!

Interesting idea about turning the room 180, but the tv stand would look out of place and there is no antenna either !! A possible 90 degree turn may work though. Still have antenna problems though.

OK I understand about the sound issue from behind issue. I guess I will have to rethink that.

If I could get the sound direction sorted out, what should I go for that will fit my old TV and my new TV (when I get one) ?

 

[jonathanRD]

Check if your old tv has component video out jacks (that fit RCA cables) - usually white, red and yellow - they would fit into a new home cinema receiver. A new tv will have HDMI connections - as will a new reciever. You can see the different connections if you look at some of the models on any of the manufacturers websites - usually allowing you to zoom in on the photos to see the connections close up. (eg http://www.uk.onkyo.com/en/products/tx-nr626-92085.html )

I'm puzzled by why the sound is so loud in the kids bedrooms? Is it the style/layout of the house, and is there anything obvious that can be done to reduce it? It would be a shame to get a proper 5.1 home cinema system (with a sub) and not be able to enjoy the experience at a reasonable level.

 

[clarcombe]

The TV does indeed have all of those connectors. I use the HDMI currently with the laptop, but I dont use the three RCA connectors for anything yet.

The layout of the house is American open plan. There are only the bedroom doors between the living room and the upstairs bedrooms. The house is plasterboard so there are no really thick walls to prevent sound from travelling. Bar moving house, I don't really see a solution to the noise prevention.

 

[jonathanRD]

I assume you were asking about cable connections in your previous post? I use HDMI cables to connect bluray, AVR and tv - especially if you get a tv with ARC - which allows the sound from tv broadcasts to travel back along the same HDMI cable into the receiver (one cable works for both ways).

I understand your problem now with an open plan house and plaster-board walls - that's a tough one :?

Suppose I'm lucky, the kids have left home and I have brick walls :dance: