BigRoy Posted June 24, 2005 Share Posted June 24, 2005 I have a "credit" with a company for 2K's worth of electrical goods! I dont really want a plasma as I'm happy with my projection etc. What I want is a decent surround setup to go with it but also wish to use this for music aswell. Can anyone suggest something for that sort of money???? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Digsy Posted June 24, 2005 Share Posted June 24, 2005 What kind of a setup have you got at the moment, Roy? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soonto_HAS_soop Posted June 24, 2005 Share Posted June 24, 2005 If you want all speakers and Amp and DVD, then that will get you an average system. All depends on exactly what you are planning on getting, the wiring for my AV setup cost me close to £300 alone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supragal Posted June 24, 2005 Share Posted June 24, 2005 Yup, we need to know what you've got already. KNowing you though you'll be after discreet pretty satellite speakers, not proper ones like mine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRoy Posted June 24, 2005 Author Share Posted June 24, 2005 All I have at the moment is a 50" widescreen projection toshiba. Just blown up my divx player trying to update the firmware!! So lets say I'm starting from scratch, and yes Rosie, pretty speakers would be nice:D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Digsy Posted June 24, 2005 Share Posted June 24, 2005 I'd say the shopping list would be an AVR (audio / video receiver) with RDS tuner, Dolby and DTS decoders and a video output to suit your screen's input (which you will need to let us know - hopefully it will be RGB or better). Then its a case of getting new components (starting with the DIVx player) that have compatible outputs, plus the speakers. As I said above, the starting point needs to be your screen's video input, but as you have a decent budget for relatively few components, I'd be looking for a DIVx player that has proviison for progressive scan component video output, just in case you get a plasma screen later on. This means you will need an AVR that can pass through a component signal, or even better, upsample to component from any input source. The latter would be my choice. You should be able to pick up a decent upsampling AVR for £600-ish. Named sub / sat speaker packages start at about £400 but they aren't very sexy and I'm guessing that this is where the majority of your money will go. Remember to leave %10 or so of your system cost for cabling. As for specific brands and models I don't have any recomendations, but if you need any pointers on connecting it all up then give me a shout. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supragal Posted June 24, 2005 Share Posted June 24, 2005 Also, demo stuff. Only way you'll get the sound YOU like. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raymanuk Posted June 24, 2005 Share Posted June 24, 2005 Hi Roy, Got a question for ya 1 - What do you want to achieve in the way of a AV setup? 5.1/6.1/7.1 surround setup. (7.1 is pretty useless at the mo as films are in this format). 2 - Do you need Wife friendly speakers and sound out put or is this a full on war on the senses? 3 - Do you want everything to go through and AV amp and using one remote control for all? 4 - Do you want separates for this or are you looking for a small all in one AV package? Everything going into the amp such as Divx player, dvd/cd player etc.. Cheers, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRoy Posted June 24, 2005 Author Share Posted June 24, 2005 Blimey, questions galore! 5.1 would be fine. "are you looking for a small all in one AV package? Everything going into the amp such as Divx player, dvd/cd player etc.." sounds about right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Posted June 24, 2005 Share Posted June 24, 2005 If i had the money i would buy a Bose system. Sound awesome Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raymanuk Posted June 24, 2005 Share Posted June 24, 2005 Hi Roy, This is the kinda spec amp you want. I am not saying go with this one but this will connect everything into your amp via S-video/ RGB, optics and you get supplied a cool learning remote. I have had the previous model to this and I am thinking of buying this one. STRDB2000S I have seen them on the web for as cheap as 378 but if you ask nicely I can get it to you for you for about £202.50 + VAT. Delivery is up to you. This is my setup with that amp. I have 6.1 surround with Bi polar surround left and right and one bi polar surround centre. 2 x front speakers and centre and sub. Typical 6.1 setup. All speakers are wharfedale except for the sub - this is currently an eltax soon to be replaced with a meaty yamaha but not chosen yet - supra is far more important and the eltax does a good enough job. Into the amp I have a ps2/dvd conneted via s-video and optical. 1 x pc connected via audio galaxy sound card and a long monitor cable to the projector (PC vid output only but you can connect your pc to the amp via s-vid, RGB ... All this outputs onto a SVGA projector (waiting to purchase a Hi-def proj but car comes first at the mo ) via s-video. You can connect this via Composite but the projector is fine with S-vid. The amp is the top of the range Sony QS range and offers a lot of bang for buck. You can even wire a second set of speakers in another room too but in stereo only I only have a few things connected but there are a lot more you can connect. It has an inbuilt radio tuner too. There is a CD input, front vid/s-vid input for your digital video camera. 3 x video additional connections too. I currently use my pc as my divx player but if you are looking for a stand alone Divx player have a look at this: - link I used to have that connected too but I use my pc now instead. I have attached my 6.1 room layout too. cheesy but at work and had to do it quick. Hope this helps, Cheers, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Digsy Posted June 24, 2005 Share Posted June 24, 2005 Not to sound like I'm dissing anything that Rayman has said, but I feel I shoud re-iterate the importance of finding out the best type of signal that your screen can take before going out to buy an amp. The website doesn't really go into much detail about what kind of AV inputs and outputs that AVR has apart from saying there are 4 / 2. From what you are saying it sounds like these are s-video. As Roy is buying from scratch it would be a shame to restrict himself by the choice of AVR if his screen can take RGB or even component. AV signals in ascending order of quality are: Composite (yellow phono plug) S-video (4-pin mini DIN) RBG (3 x phono plugs - sometimes with a separate composite signal for sync) Interlaced component (3 x phono or BNC plugs) Progressive scan component (3 x phono or BNC plugs) If you can't identify it from the connections, or your screen has SCART connectors, the manual will tell you. *EDIT* My system attached, using a non-upsampling Denon AVR and mainly RGB connections. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raymanuk Posted June 25, 2005 Share Posted June 25, 2005 Good point Digsy. Connectivity is a strong factor. Firstly though Roy list up what you want to connect in the way of equipment and how you want it layed out in your room. This will be a good starting point before purchasing an amp. Nice amp BTW Digsy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJ Posted June 26, 2005 Share Posted June 26, 2005 Just a slight I dont have the room for a huge plasma nor the money for a major home cinema venture but was thinking of buying this set up: http://www.digitaldirectuk.com/products_moreinfo3/index.asp?product_id=5480 http://www.empiredirect.co.uk/content/products/details/html/SAM-LE32R41B.htm I was thinking of mounting the LCD on a wall and boxing it in to hide the cables that would run down to the Yamaha and my Sky Digi box. I may also put a VCR with it, but doubt it as I rarely watch vids anymore. I am also toying with the idea of setting up a laptop and a wireless mouse and keyboard but not a PS2 as I dont posess one (although my weekends only son does). What do you think folks? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRoy Posted June 26, 2005 Author Share Posted June 26, 2005 Right connection wise all I have is S-Video and loads of scarts! Room size is not massive and its wooden floors rather than carpet if that makes a difference? I would prefer smaller speakers rather than Rosies mammoth thumpers! Ideally like to connect up sky,ps2,xbox and of course a new dvd player or thinking about a small media centre PC? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRoy Posted June 26, 2005 Author Share Posted June 26, 2005 Actually got RBG (3 x phono plugs) aswell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raymanuk Posted June 27, 2005 Share Posted June 27, 2005 Just a slight I dont have the room for a huge plasma nor the money for a major home cinema venture but was thinking of buying this set up: http://www.digitaldirectuk.com/products_moreinfo3/index.asp?product_id=5480 http://www.empiredirect.co.uk/content/products/details/html/SAM-LE32R41B.htm I was thinking of mounting the LCD on a wall and boxing it in to hide the cables that would run down to the Yamaha and my Sky Digi box. I may also put a VCR with it, but doubt it as I rarely watch vids anymore. I am also toying with the idea of setting up a laptop and a wireless mouse and keyboard but not a PS2 as I dont posess one (although my weekends only son does). What do you think folks? Looks cool to me CJ - Yamaha do make good systems. That being an all in 1 kit you should have some additional connections for your VCR and sky digibox but the connection may just be standard phono leads. I will try and look more on the internet for the back of this DVX-s200 to see what the connections are. A problem with these all in one kits is that they do have limited connectivity options. To connect up what you have though should be ok but do not take my word on this as not sure... I will see what I can find for ya dude. If you have a B&B HiFi or something of equivalent near you then they may have one instore for you too checkout? Cheers, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJ Posted June 27, 2005 Share Posted June 27, 2005 Thank you my friend -your help is much appreciated Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raymanuk Posted June 27, 2005 Share Posted June 27, 2005 Right connection wise all I have is S-Video and loads of scarts! Room size is not massive and its wooden floors rather than carpet if that makes a difference? I would prefer smaller speakers rather than Rosies mammoth thumpers! Ideally like to connect up sky,ps2,xbox and of course a new dvd player or thinking about a small media centre PC? Hi Roy, Are those 3 RGB plugs just yello, white and red? If you are mainly S-vid and Scart then that amp model will handle it all. So you want to look around that kind of style AV amp - dpepends on your budget. Speaker wise though I would suggest buying some slim style or cubed style, but the amp may be too much for small speakers but as long as they can handle more output than the amp then you should be okay. Personally regarding flooring it won't make that much of a difference but you will have to tune the speaker frequency to the room as the sound will just bounce off the floor rather than being absorbe slightly by carpet. You would want to do this so you have a clearer sound and will eliminate that boomy big noise sound. This will however be okay with a ground dispersing sub (sub speaker points down into the floor). With a separates style amp with those features you can connect everything into the amp and S-vid the amp to your Display or you can RGB every thing to your TV/Display. The DVD will connect to the amp in either s-vid,RGB but if the the input to the Display is only s-vid and scart then I personally don't think it is worth connecting everything to the amp with a better connection than s-vid as the output quility will be S-vid. If you want everything to connect to your amp then the only way to go is separates IMO. Not all DVD Player/amp packages will be able to connect all (but I don't know too much about home AV-kits) that you have listed with the best quality for the connections you have. But this is up to you. Cheers, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raymanuk Posted June 27, 2005 Share Posted June 27, 2005 Hi CJ, here is a link with the spec for the DVX-S200 dvx-s200 spec Roy this may do you if you want a small system setup. Have a look Cheers, Ray Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJ Posted June 27, 2005 Share Posted June 27, 2005 Hi CJ, here is a link with the spec for the DVX-S200 dvx-s200 spec Roy this may do you if you want a small system setup. Have a look Cheers, Ray Much horse grassy arse Ray So, do you think that the connectivity will pose a problem? Does it look a good buy at around £250? Roy, if you need a link to the chaps selling this, let me know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Digsy Posted June 27, 2005 Share Posted June 27, 2005 The DVD will connect to the amp in either s-vid,RGB but if the the input to the Display is only s-vid and scart then I personally don't think it is worth connecting everything to the amp with a better connection than s-vid as the output quility will be S-vid. One of the SCARTs into the screen might be RGB-enabled, though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raymanuk Posted June 27, 2005 Share Posted June 27, 2005 One of the SCARTs into the screen might be RGB-enabled, though True - but that info we do not have Roy have you got a model number for your TV/Projector? Cheers, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raymanuk Posted June 27, 2005 Share Posted June 27, 2005 Much horse grassy arse Ray So, do you think that the connectivity will pose a problem? Does it look a good buy at around £250? Roy, if you need a link to the chaps selling this, let me know. To connect your setup of Digi Box and VCR you should have no problem. Good Price for £250 dude Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRoy Posted June 27, 2005 Author Share Posted June 27, 2005 One of the SCARTs into the screen might be RGB-enabled, though Ooops sorry yes it is:D wow, thanks for all the advice and thanks to CJ. I was originally thinking of getting an all in one system but didnt think it would be any good for music???? If I did go the all in route is there any high end makes worth looking at say up to RRP of 2K. Ive heard Bose are over rated, even so I do believe size matters. I dont mind moderate size speakers just not mini empire state buildings in mock beech Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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