Playstation 3

[admin_exported]

Hi all,

I am a total beginner with regard to AV equipment - so please humour me!

I have a Playstation 3 & HDTV and I want to buy a surround sound system. I upscale my DVDs and watch Blu-ray through my PS3 and so have no need for a DVD home cinema system. I probably only need 5 speakers and not the system doesn't need to be particularly loud as I live in a small semi-detached and don't want to annoy the neighbours (too much)! A remote rear speaker would also be useful, but not essential.

I understand that the PS3 does a lot of decoding on-board for stuff like DTS-HD and the system would only really need to receive linear PCM audio via a HDMI cable - though to be honest I'm not really totally sure what all that means (I wasn't lying when I said I'm a total novice). Therefore I think the the system doesn't have to be flash or new, but I'll happily stand corrected.

Given the above, what do people think is the best value systems to buy?

Thanks

 

[professorhat]

How much are you thinking of spending?

 

[Anonymous]

If anyone else is also interested in the audio capability of the PS3, I found this What Hi-Fi guide useful:

http://whathifi.com/blogs/home-cinema/archive/2007/10/23/how-to-make-the-most-of-your-ps3.aspx

I've been looking at the Sony HT-IS100 5.1 Ch home cinema upgrade kit but my budget won't stretch to £400!

 

[Anonymous]

Hi ProfHat,

The cheaper the better - but hopefully not in excess of £250. I'm hoping that's a reasonable budget.

 

[Anonymous]

Hi tenchkov, if you can strech to about £270, there's the Sony HT-SS1300, which has 3 hdmi inputs, 1 1080p passthru and handles linear pcm, so you can get all the latest hd codecs as the ps3 will decode them.

Alan

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the recommendation Alan - it looks great.

I'm guessing the best way to set it up would be to connect my PS3 and
(soon to arrive) Sky HD into 2 of the receivers HDMI inputs and output back
to the HDTV? To my limited understanding the system will then output the sound from the PS3 and Sky box and pass through the video and audio to the TV?

£270 is the cheapest I can find it for @play.com.

 

[trackstar]

tenchkov:

Thanks for the recommendation Alan - it looks great.

I'm guessing the best way to set it up would be to connect my PS3 and (soon to arrive) Sky HD into 2 of the receivers HDMI inputs and output back to the HDTV? To my limited understanding the system will then output the sound from the PS3 and Sky box and pass through the video and audio to the TV?

£270 is the cheapest I can find it for @play.com.

Not a fan of Play.Com for purchasing higher priced electrical items due to their 28-day return policy if the item is faulty.

As they are based in Jersey UK consumer law does not protect you. If you want to return a faulty item after 28 days then they instruct you to contact the manufacturer even though your contract is with them.

Some more suppliers

http://electronics.pricegrabber.co.uk/home-theater-systems/m/74118198/search=Sony%20HT-SS1300/st=query/

 

[Liam19]

tenchkov:

Hi all,

I am a total beginner with regard to AV equipment - so please humour me!

I have a Playstation 3 & HDTV and I want to buy a surround sound system. I upscale my DVDs and watch Blu-ray through my PS3 and so have no need for a DVD home cinema system. I probably only need 5 speakers and not the system doesn't need to be particularly loud as I live in a small semi-detached and don't want to annoy the neighbours (too much)! A remote rear speaker would also be useful, but not essential.

I understand that the PS3 does a lot of decoding on-board for stuff like DTS-HD and the system would only really need to receive linear PCM audio via a HDMI cable - though to be honest I'm not really totally sure what all that means (I wasn't lying when I said I'm a total novice). Therefore I think the the system doesn't have to be flash or new, but I'll happily stand corrected.

Given the above, what do people think is the best value systems to buy?

Thanks

Hey tenchkov!

Just thought I'd share my experience with you, since I was in exactly the same situation as you until recently (PS3 with great HD picture but no surround sound). I was looking for the exact same kind of 5.1 setup you are, and my budget was equally as tight (I didn't want to spend much more than £300). From my experience, I can say that you are highly unlikely to find a good quality, well-regarded AV receiver which will accept Linear PCM, and a separate 5.1 speaker package all for your £250 budget. I looked and looked and looked, but all the receivers able to accept LPCM that I found cost at least £250 on their own, leaving me no money at all to buy decent speakers for it!!! You just can't get both for this kind of money, it seems...

Can I suggest the new Onkyo HT-S5105 AV receiver and speaker package, which I had delivered just this morning. It cost me £314.99 online, and features a receiver based on the WHF? 5-star rated TX-SR506, with a 5.1 speaker package and powered subwoofer, all in one (big!) box. OK, so it doesn't accept LPCM via HDMI, but trust me, having tested it with my Blu-ray discs playing standard Dolby Digital/DTS via digital optical cable, I can honestly say that I was VERY, VERY impressed! I was worried about not being able to receive HD audio via HDMI - now that I have actually tried my new system, I can honestly say I don't think I'll miss HD audio that much! It's pretty damn good as is!

In my opinion, it's ALL the surround performance I need!

So if, you're willing to overlook HD audio capability, and settle for a simple optical cable connection, £300 will buy you a full receiver/speaker package which (for my money) is really really impressive!

Hope this helps!

 

[Anonymous]

Hi tenchkov

Nearly got it right mate,

A) PS3 to the passthru hdmi (as ps3 outputs blu-ray & a few games at 1080p), sky hd into another hdmi (as sky outputs at 720p or 1080i then ps3 makes the best of the passthru), then you need an opitical cable from sky box to amp as thats the only way to get surround sound from sky box, then hdmi to tv from amp.

or B) sky box hdmi to tv and opitical to amp as this setup will allow you to have sound on the tv (stereo via hdmi from the sky box, plus you don't require amp on for sound) and surround sound from amp when watching a movie etc, your choice.

Hope this helps

Alan

PS. used Play.com to get my PS3 and HDTV (18 months ago) with no problems, but have't had anything go wrong so can't comment on warranty issues.

 

[professorhat]

I agree with Liam19 - on your budget I'd go for a decent Dolby Digital / DTS capable receiver and forget the HD formats for now as you'd probably have to compromise a system in other areas to get them at that price. You'd be better off just getting a better system which can do standard surround well.

 

[Anonymous]

Sony DAV IS10

easy to find for £280 ish..