Surround Sound Advice

[admin_exported]

Guys,

I'm a total newbie so take it easy...........!!

I currently play my blu-rays through my PS3 and am contemplating adding a surround sound set up for the obvious reasons. The room itself is of medium size, however my priority is for the solution to be as straightforward as possible and to keep cabling to a minimum. What sort of quality can I expect from a one box wireless system and, if its acceptable, which one.

I'm really open to suggestion, just nothing to bulky. Does anyone like soundbars? If so, do they still need a separate amp?

Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[d4v3pum4]

Do a search for "wireless" as it is often asked and the answers are always the same. There is no such thing as a truly wireless setup. Wireless rear speakers need power. There are a few wireless solutions around including Sony's S-Air, so if they interest you, head to your nearest Sony centre for a demo. Sony do a couple of packages that include a basic amp and speakers that can handle LPCM audio over HDMI (utilising the PS3's built in HD audio decoders). Check the sony site for details on models such as HT-SF2300 and HT-IS100 and so on.

Soundbars can sound okay but only if you're sat in the sweet spot (square on). If you're sat an angle, the effect is lost and they just sound like a speaker. The amp is built in but they usually do require a separate subwoofer. They're not really suitable if your telly is in a corner either.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks, really appreciate your advice. What would the quality be like fot the Sony setups conpared to a more conventional setup up using a dedicated amp and fully wired speakers?

 

[Anonymous]

Also, does anyone know if there is much of a difference between the HT-SF1300 and the new HT-SF2300 apart from cosmetic? Last question, am I also right in assuming that I need to invest extra money in better HDMI and speaker cables?

 

[Andrew Everard]

You can have the best of both worlds: the Sony STR-DH800 receiver accepts an optional S-AIR wireless transmitter, which fits into a slot in the rear panel. Used in conjunction with the company's wireless surround amp, it will allow you to run the surround speakers wirelessly.