Buying 5.1 Surround Sound and need help.

pjjk90

Hi. I am hoping to get surround sound speakers for Christmas, But I need help with a few things.
1) I am using it with my PS3 and Sky+ box. Where do I plug in the cables?
2) our TV room is quite small, what size of watt's would be suitable? And where could I get them at a reasonable price?
3) Also, our TV is in the corner, how would i go about setting them up?
Thanks in advance,
Patrick K

pjjk90

Any help, Anyone??

padi89

Whats your budget? Is it a separates system or an all in one job?

pjjk90

Not sure what you mean by separate, I just want it to plug into my sky box/PS3, it doesn't have to have anything built in(DVD, CD radio, etc). My budget would be at max 200eur, max.

pjjk90

Seen these:
http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=318515&view=detailed#ProductTabs
Can I just plug these into my PS3 and away I go?

big_moe

pjjk90 wrote: »

Seen these:
http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=318515&view=detailed#ProductTabs
Can I just plug these into my PS3 and away I go?

no, you'll need some sort of av amp.

PS3 & sky box into amp, amp into speakers.

i'd recommend the onkyo 605, http://www.allianceelectric.ie/products/homecinema/amps/txsr605.htm

stunning amp.

moe

pjjk90

Thought that, even though I was told I didn't. Nice amp, only I haven't got that kind of money!!! Thanks anyway

big_moe

well, any other amp will do the trick aswell.

just make sure it has 2 optical inputs. or AT LEAST one.

moe

Lucutus

Even though I'd like to get one of those Onyx 605's with a few floor standers and a woofer, I had to check in with reality and the budget just wouldn't let me...

So I got a set of Logictech Z5500's instead.

Sounds well so far, no complaints here.

pjjk90

Can anyone comment on this? I like it, only problem is I am not sure about the optical input, which is a BIG problem...

http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=332673&view=detailed#ProductTabs

big_moe

it only has one input, and its an analogue stereo input. so you wont get proper surround sound from the ps3 into it. and you can only plug one input in at a time.

does your tv have an audio output?? that would help things

moe

pjjk90

TV has audio out(via scartx2) and by Red/white. but via this, would I get true 5.1?

big_moe

you wont.

the only way that system can give 5.1 is from its built in DVD player.

anything else and its only going to do a thing called all channel stereo.

with the tv audio out you can plug your sky box and ps3 into the tv and then the tv into the surround sound.

honestly, for what you want to do you're going to have to spend more than 200 quid.

http://www.allianceelectric.ie/products/homecinema/allinone/scpt550.htm

this has an optical input (PS3) and an analogue phono input for the sky box.

ongarite

Hmm that Panasonic looks nice. Tempting!!

pjjk90

Sure does, considering I have a Viera TV!

pjjk90

http://uk.lge.com/products/model/detail/homecinemasystem_ht302sd.jhtml# .
I'm settling with this, it has good specs and its only £99 in Argos UK (€138). Thanks with your help everyone.

big_moe

that wont give you proper 5.1 from anything except its built in dvd player

pjjk90

I have changed my mind about the LG 5.1 system, it looks horrible and bulky. I was in Blanch today and seen these: Samsung HT-X30. I had a look at it instore, it was on so it was hard to see the back. When I seen the back(briefly), there looked to be an optical input. Now after reading online, it seems it does not have an optical input, but am almost certain there was. Can anyone confirm that there is/isn't and optical input?

big_moe

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055180339

its an optical output.

its very hard to find a cheap system with optical in. optical in is what differentiates the cheap (<€200) and semi-cheap (€250 - €500) ones

moe

pjjk90

Why would there be an optical output on a Surround Sound system? It doesn't add up...

big_moe

to record CDs onto portable devices, eg Minidisc

pjjk90

Any system for 300 or under with optical input???

pjjk90

Big Moe, I have considered the system you posted way back, I have seen it on komplett for 349, but I think there out of stock. Does anyone know any stores(Not online) in Ireland that stock them?
http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=334456 .
If anyone does I would be extremely greatful.
Thanks

Scruff

i'm bought this Yamaha av-4101. Havent got it yet, its winging its way to me at the mo.
bought it because its does component and HDMI switching as well, has small speakers (i've a small sitting room), has 2 optical and one coax digital imputs.

If its beyond you're budget and\or you're not intrested in the extra features you could go with the Sony HD-DDW790 or HD-DDW890 from pixmania

pjjk90

Thanks for that scruff, I have decided to go for the Samsung HT-TX35. Its €399(haha a big jump from my intended budget!), 800watt, all tallboy speakers(my room is small too, however I do like them!), optical input, DVD player/upscaler via HDMI, FM tuner and USB input. All these features add up for me.
Also, I am picking it up in Harvey Norman, so if anything does go wrong, I only have to go up the road with it.
Thanks for your help everyone.

Scruff

not a bad price considering its €401 on pixmania. If i had the option of getting mine locally for a decent price i would have too.
best of luck with it!

pjjk90

You should have a look locally, Currys, Dixons, Harvey Normans, all these have good systems instore. I seen a similar model as mine in currys, only difference I think is it has small speakers and lacking an optical input(This is why I had to move to the more expensive model). It was €280, which is very reasonable.

Scruff

i did, peats have the av61 pack which uses an older amp and is €40 more expensive than the one i'm getting off pixmania.
Now if only the parcelfarce tracking would work....

franman

I was thinking of getting the HT TX35R myself but I read that if the DVD player stops working you have to replace the whole system. Is this true?

jjbrien

Seeing as your budget is 300 euro this is what I think you should get you will get full 5.1 sound with dts as an extra bonus

http://www.richersounds.ie/asp/product.asp?objectid=938&mode=0&categoryid=3&sub=24&productid=164&c=1
http://www.richersounds.ie/asp/product.asp?ObjectID=938&Mode=0&CategoryID=5&SUB=100&ProductID=331

its slightly over your budget but what you will get will be much better than what you were planning to buy

pjjk90

Got the HT-TX35 in Harvey Norman there yesterday, can't wait till Christmas to open it.... Sure hope the optical cable arrives from eBay before then!

ongarite

Bought the Panasonic SC-PT850 from Alliance Electric yesterday to go with my new TV. Getting it next week.
http://www.allianceelectric.ie/products/homecinema/allinone/scpt850.htm

yabadabado

guys i have been reading ur posts and i am gonna get some speakers in the new year so just have a few Q's.i have a sony bravia w series ,ps3 and a sky+ box so wud i be right in saying i can buy speakers and amp and i can connect everything up .i was thinking of buying the sony ht-sf1100 [URL="http://www.pixmania.com/ie/uk/552739/art/sony/ht-sf1100-home-cinema
-sys.html"]http://www.pixmania.com/ie/uk/552739/art/sony/ht-sf1100-home-cinema-sys.html[/URL]
anyone have this system or can recommend a similar one ,i want to use tall speakers so i can put 2 either side of the tv and the other 2 behind the seating will this work ok

ongarite

yabadabado wrote: »

guys i have been reading ur posts and i am gonna get some speakers in the new year so just have a few Q's.i have a sony bravia w series ,ps3 and a sky+ box so wud i be right in saying i can buy speakers and amp and i can connect everything up .i was thinking of buying the sony ht-sf1100 [URL="http://www.pixmania.com/ie/uk/552739/art/sony/ht-sf1100-home-cinema
-sys.html"]http://www.pixmania.com/ie/uk/552739/art/sony/ht-sf1100-home-cinema-sys.html[/URL]
anyone have this system or can recommend a similar one ,i want to use tall speakers so i can put 2 either side of the tv and the other 2 behind the seating will this work ok

Thats system has no optical input so you wont get surround sound from your PS3 with it.

yabadabado

ok didnt know that .tbh i know next to nothing about wot i need and most assistants in the shops dont know/care when iv asked a few questions.so wot should i be looking for the ps3 ,sky+ and my tv.i probably have about €400 to spend nothing to fancy,tallboy speckers are one thing i want after that im not too fussy

ongarite

How about this one here:
http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=334457
or this one:http://www.pixmania.com/ie/uk/575060/art/samsung/ht-tx35-home-cinema-syste.html

franman

Although it doesn't say it on the pixmania site the SF1100 has 2 optical inputs and 1 coaxial input

Scruff

Finally got my Yamaha av-4101 all set up. Very impressed with it i have to say. Have tv,dvd,xbox360 and Wii all going through it. Actually looked over my shoulder last night playing COD4 cause i though the footsteps were someone walking into the sitting room. It gave me a start cause i was the only one in the house. It'll take a while to get used to surround sound for gaming.

Johnny Storm

pjjk90 wrote: »

I have changed my mind about the LG 5.1 system, it looks horrible and bulky. I was in Blanch today and seen these: Samsung HT-X30. I had a look at it instore, it was on so it was hard to see the back. When I seen the back(briefly), there looked to be an optical input. Now after reading online, it seems it does not have an optical input, but am almost certain there was. Can anyone confirm that there is/isn't and optical input?

Just FYI, I have an ht-x30. It does have an optical INput.

viperlogic

ongarite wrote: »

Thats system has no optical input so you wont get surround sound from your PS3 with it.

HT-SF1100 does have optical in, it has 2 of them and coax