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Old 06-04-2011, 22:09
newbee
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Hi there, I've read some threads about sound systems for TV's and what ever without understanding fully what i need, I'm getting a Humax foxsat HDR, I have a 37" Panny full HD and a Lidl upscaling HDMI dvd player, ok maybe not the greatest combination but I'm looking to add something to make the sound better. I don't want to have speakers all over the place just enough to make the make sound more enjoyable. I'm in the process of re-modeling the lounge and the wife is changing her mind left right and centre as to what goes where and if we will get rid of the focal point fire which would make positioning of things easier, I think, I remember reading about a Onkyo set up that might be what i'm after and any advice about this would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance
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Old 06-04-2011, 22:31
gomezz
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The most compact discreet solution is a soundbar. Alternatively use a simple stereo system. If you can persuade the OH that four small / style satellite speakers will fit into the decor then consider an AV amp / receiver with a decent centre speaker and a subwoofer which can be hidden away.
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Old 06-04-2011, 22:41
chrisjr
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If you don't want a full blown surround sound system then you have a number of options.

1/ A pair of active stereo speakers (ie ones with built in amplification) plugged into the TV

2/ A stereo amplifier and speaker system, again plugged into the TV

3/ A soundbar type speaker. Basically a long thin enclosure with multiple speaker units inside that sits along the front of the telly.

4/ A 2.1 system with the amplification built into the sub.

There are many examples of 1/ often sold for use with computer systems. And same can be said for 2/. Soundbars are a neat solution but you can pay several hundred quid for a good one.

The Onkyo you mentioned may well be the HTX22 which falls into option 4. With the ability to be upgraded to full 5.1 surround sound if you want to.

http://www.richersounds.com/product/...y-htx22hdx-blk

It would help to know how fat is your wallet to make any specific recommendations. No point recommending you go out and spend ten grand on a system if you've only got a couple of quid to spare
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Old 06-04-2011, 22:51
newbee
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Thanks for the quick replies, I've had a look at soundbars, do they sit behind or in front of the TV, the sideboard we! are getting has a spcae underneath it, I was thinking of putting the Humax and DVD player there but if its big enough the SB might fit there, any thoughts. As for budget, the wife is on a spending spree and maybe i should get on the band wagon, it was her who suggested getting something to give us better sound shock horror!! so I could push the boat out within reason, let say keep it at three figures.

I could spoil myself!
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Old 06-04-2011, 22:56
chrisjr
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A soundbar would normally sit along the bottom of the telly, at the front. Otherwise the sound would be degraded if you hid it behind anything.

If you can persuade the good lady wife to open her purse wide enough take a trip to Richer Sounds if you have one near by. They should have pretty much all the types of speaker systems you could wish for. So you could see what is available and choose something you both (or should that be she ) likes.
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Old 06-04-2011, 23:02
chrisjr
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Just been looking at this on the Richer Sounds website

http://www.richersounds.com/product/...2/q-acou-q-tv2

A speaker system that bolts onto the back of the telly. Looks interesting. I have a Q-Acoustics 5.1 speaker system myself so if it is anything like the speakers I've got ought to sound pretty decent. And certainly is a novel concept if nothing else.
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Old 07-04-2011, 16:09
pocatello
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Just two good stereo speakers will do.
Bookshelves size will sound better, as long as they are close to the tv.
Soundbars can sound ok, but cheaper smaller ones...you only get so much sound out of tinys peakers, even with subwoofer.
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Old 07-04-2011, 17:53
currykev
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I use.....
Acoustic Energy Aego M Black 2.1 Speakers. What Hifi 5* winner.
Great stereo sound 1 sub and 2 small speakers.
1 35mm jack just slots on the tv's audio out.
I also attach my mp3 player. RIP my old stereo.
Job done.
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Old 07-04-2011, 21:36
newbee
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I use.....
Acoustic Energy Aego M Black 2.1 Speakers. What Hifi 5* winner.
Great stereo sound 1 sub and 2 small speakers.
1 35mm jack just slots on the tv's audio out.
I also attach my mp3 player. RIP my old stereo.
Job done.
Hi there where would you site these speakers, I live 120 miles from the nearest R.Sounds in Edinburgh, the wife likes the backing bracket kit with the sliding speakers. I did once have my VCR wired up through my stereo yonks ago and it gave a good sound.

Thanks again
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Old 07-04-2011, 21:44
gomezz
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Could you persuade the missus to have a shopping day / romantic weekend in Edinburgh with you and book in for an audition session with RS while there so she can hear the benefits of the various options for herself?
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Old 07-04-2011, 21:50
grahamlthompson
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You need to place stereo speakers roughly either side of the TV approx as far apart so that where you normally sit forms an equilateral triangle.
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Old 08-04-2011, 00:35
pocatello
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Yup with 2.0/2.1 you should have them next to or right below the screen...5 or so feet apart. You need the stereo image to mesh with the screen, as there is no center voice channel, you don't want the voices to feel separated from what you are seeing so it has to be closer together than a pure hifi setup.
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Old 11-04-2011, 22:46
newbee
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The Onkyo you mentioned may well be the HTX22 which falls into option 4. With the ability to be upgraded to full 5.1 surround sound if you want to.

http://www.richersounds.com/product/...y-htx22hdx-blk

Hi, thnaks for the reply, how does an ipod link up to this

Acoustic Energy Aego M Black 2.1 Speakers. What Hifi 5* winner.
Great stereo sound 1 sub and 2 small speakers.
1 35mm jack just slots on the tv's audio out.
I also attach my mp3 player. RIP

thanks for the reply again, the same question how does an ipod conect with this?

We are getting a sideboard which is about 1m or so in height and we will site the electronics on and in this how would this effect any of the choices suggested here.

Thanks again for all your contributions.
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Old 11-04-2011, 23:05
chrisjr
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The HTX22 has a connector for the Onkyo iPod dock accessory.

The Acoustic Energy system does not seem to support a dock so you would need to plug the headphone out of the iPod to one of the audio ins of the system.

The sideboard should not really affect anything. The sub sits on the floor and the satellite speakers sit either side of the telly. Provided there is enough room it should be OK.
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Old 12-04-2011, 14:08
newbee
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The HTX22 has a connector for the Onkyo iPod dock accessory.

The Acoustic Energy system does not seem to support a dock so you would need to plug the headphone out of the iPod to one of the audio ins of the system.

The sideboard should not really affect anything. The sub sits on the floor and the satellite speakers sit either side of the telly. Provided there is enough room it should be OK.
Thanks for the advice, if I sit the woofer on the floor it would be at the side of the side board between it and the chimmney stack, would this effect the sound? of course I could ease it out a little as the s/b is 500mm deep and the stack 300mm deep.

Thanks
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Old 12-04-2011, 14:22
chrisjr
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Being close to a wall and other bits and pieces can affect the sound of a speaker to some degree, often at the bass end of the frequency spectrum where the sub is working. But a decent system should have separate volume control for the sub so you can balance the sound evenly.

But subs operate at such low frequencies that position is not as critical as the satellite speakers. The low bass sounds are pretty much non-directional so you don't really perceive where exactly they are coming from most of the time. The speaker manual should give a guide to placement, usually specifying how close to the wall you should place it for optimum sound quality. For instance the Onkyo manual says the sub should be not less than 20cm from anything behind, at the side or above it.
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Old 15-04-2011, 08:49
newbee
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Hi there and thanks for all the advice and options still trying to figure out how to link this

http://www.richersounds.com/product/...y-htx22hdx-blk

too my 1yr old Panny (entry model no usb or PC connection but 2 HDMI inlets) and a Humax Foxsat HDR and a Lidl DVD player (1 HDMI outlet) but my question is can I link a CD player to the Onyko? I plan to get their docking station for the wife's ipod.

Thanks again
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Old 15-04-2011, 09:21
gomezz
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Deleted as RS specs page for this product is misleading.
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Old 15-04-2011, 09:38
chrisjr
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Hi there and thanks for all the advice and options still trying to figure out how to link this

http://www.richersounds.com/product/...y-htx22hdx-blk

too my 1yr old Panny (entry model no usb or PC connection but 2 HDMI inlets) and a Humax Foxsat HDR and a Lidl DVD player (1 HDMI outlet) but my question is can I link a CD player to the Onyko? I plan to get their docking station for the wife's ipod.

Thanks again
The HTX22 has three HDMI input sockets on the back. So you link everything to that and then take the HDMI Out socket to the telly. The HTX22 acts as the source selector for the TV guaranteeing (pretty much) that noise and pictures match.

It also has a pair of analogue stereo inputs that you can use for the CD or similar devices.
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Old 15-04-2011, 22:25
newbee
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Hi there, the advice so far has been excellent, I now know what I want to do, just need to buy the kit needed and the cables for connection, is it that easy!

Thanks again
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Old 17-04-2011, 18:32
newbee
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Deleted as RS specs page for this product is misleading.
Hi Gomez, why is the RS spec's page for the Onkyo misleading?
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Old 17-04-2011, 19:26
gomezz
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It has the number and types of inputs / outputs either missing or wrong.
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Old 17-04-2011, 23:58
pocatello
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Well subwoofer placement does matter, the way I've seen it explained is reverse positions, put your sub where you'd sit and hunt around the room where it sounds best, then switch.
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