Home Cinema Setup

astern · 30-12-2001, 16:57

Any opinions on whether it is better to buy separate TV, DVD, Surround Sound System or whether it is better to have the TV or DVD as part of an integrated set up, for example buying a TV plus a Sony DAV300 (or similar) or alternatively buying a TV with built in surround sound speakers and additional DVD.

Any opinions welcome. Budget of between £1,500 and £2,000

Mark Hughes · 30-12-2001, 17:27

With that budget, separates is definately the way to go. Get a good but low priced player (Toshiba's always used to be really well rated, but I don't know whats hot and whats not these days) - I wouldn't pay more than about £200-£300 for the player, a good quality widescreen TV (preferably without too much in the way of sound equipment).

A separate amp and separate speaker package should finish it off nicely, and I'd imagine you could easily fit the lot with some very good quality components within £2,000.

Look to spend most on the amp and the TV, followed by the speakers/sub.

Mark

monkey · 30-12-2001, 20:39

Buy a 32" widescreen flatscreen TV with Dolby Digital (Hitachi or Sony). Great sound with those and exceptional picture quality. Approx £1,200 though if you're lucky £1,000.

DVD any player from Sony, Wharfedale, Panasonic, LG. Make sure its multi-region (or hackable - check on the Internet for details on individual players). Preferablly get one with on board Dolby Digital amplifier (Whafedale M5 is available for £150 with EVERYTHING) in case you want to add additional speakers in the future.

Glen · 31-12-2001, 02:26

I would say go for a seperate DD system as it is more flexible and can be upgaded easier (ie amp can be improved without new TV).
You should think of the TV as a monitor only - ignore the sound features as you will switch the speakers off anyway and use the amp.
When choosing a sound system you could buy the speakers seperately but there are some good sets with an amp and speakers which could work out cheaper. Speakers can be changed easily if you want better ones later.
Also note some of the small kits [like the HTK-215] may be good for DVD films or TV but aren't so good if you want to play your music CDs.

I am getting the Sony HTK-475 (see Sony.co.uk) which includes quite good speakers. Currys sell it at £400 but after checking on Pricerunner I found it in a shop in Glasgow for £290

. Currys price promice is to beat it by 10% of the difference - £279, but the Inverness store won't do it as it's more than 10miles.

I'll get it in Currys when I'm next in Glasgow unless I can find someone in the Inverness shop who'll give it to me at that price.

Mark Hughes · 31-12-2001, 05:34

Quote:

Originally posted by monkey
Buy a 32" widescreen flatscreen TV with Dolby Digital (Hitachi or Sony). Great sound with those and exceptional picture quality. Approx £1,200 though if you're lucky £1,000.

DVD any player from Sony, Wharfedale, Panasonic, LG. Make sure its multi-region (or hackable - check on the Internet for details on individual players). Preferablly get one with on board Dolby Digital amplifier (Whafedale M5 is available for £150 with EVERYTHING) in case you want to add additional speakers in the future.

I'd really stay away from players and TVs with integrated amps - especially TVs as the premium it adds to the price seems excessive when compared to a more flexible, better quality, separate amp/speaker package...

I'd also drop LG and Wharfedale from the list of players, and add in any of the latest Pioneers. No offence to LG/Wharfedale, but you want the player itself to be very good at the basic DVD functions of playing DVDs with good picture quality. The audio will go out digitally, so that doesn't matter so much and really should sound the same on any player.

As I said, the Tosh players used to review very well, and I can't believe things have changed that much. The SD-110e is a very good, basic player, as is the Pioneer DV-340, and both are available for £180 or less, pre-region-modded, from places like upgrade heaven.

I'm really out of the loop when it comes to amplifiers and that, so I'll let others advise there. I know that sherwood used to do an excellent amp, and the mission series of speakers used to review well, at the lower end of the price range, but this was two or more years ago now.

Mark

iain · 31-12-2001, 08:33

Amp wise, the Sony's are always highly rated - I have my tv, and just got a Sony DVP-s735 in the sale for £150 (early bargain, not sale price - I think I did well

Eventually I'll save up for an amp and speakers - the amp probably the Sony STRDB1070, although the older 940, or even 930 models will be cheaper - expect to pay £400-500, possibly less, especially the older models, from the likes of Richer Sounds.

I've always fancied the Sony Pascal speakers as well, but have read bad reports here - anyone anything good to say about them? Either the 715s or the newer ES (or is it QS) ones? The other option would be the similarly priced KEFs?

Cheers,
Iain

30-12-2001, 16:57	#1
astern Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Woking,Surrey,England Posts: 6	Home Cinema Setup Any opinions on whether it is better to buy separate TV, DVD, Surround Sound System or whether it is better to have the TV or DVD as part of an integrated set up, for example buying a TV plus a Sony DAV300 (or similar) or alternatively buying a TV with built in surround sound speakers and additional DVD. Any opinions welcome. Budget of between £1,500 and £2,000

31-12-2001, 02:26	#4
Glen Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Inverness Posts: 11,726	I would say go for a seperate DD system as it is more flexible and can be upgaded easier (ie amp can be improved without new TV). You should think of the TV as a monitor only - ignore the sound features as you will switch the speakers off anyway and use the amp. When choosing a sound system you could buy the speakers seperately but there are some good sets with an amp and speakers which could work out cheaper. Speakers can be changed easily if you want better ones later. Also note some of the small kits [like the HTK-215] may be good for DVD films or TV but aren't so good if you want to play your music CDs. I am getting the Sony HTK-475 (see Sony.co.uk) which includes quite good speakers. Currys sell it at £400 but after checking on Pricerunner I found it in a shop in Glasgow for £290. Currys price promice is to beat it by 10% of the difference - £279, but the Inverness store won't do it as it's more than 10miles. I'll get it in Currys when I'm next in Glasgow unless I can find someone in the Inverness shop who'll give it to me at that price.

30-12-2001, 17:27	#2
Mark Hughes Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Somewhere near London Posts: 2,936	With that budget, separates is definately the way to go. Get a good but low priced player (Toshiba's always used to be really well rated, but I don't know whats hot and whats not these days) - I wouldn't pay more than about £200-£300 for the player, a good quality widescreen TV (preferably without too much in the way of sound equipment). A separate amp and separate speaker package should finish it off nicely, and I'd imagine you could easily fit the lot with some very good quality components within £2,000. Look to spend most on the amp and the TV, followed by the speakers/sub. Mark

30-12-2001, 20:39	#3
monkey Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Herts Posts: 471	Buy a 32" widescreen flatscreen TV with Dolby Digital (Hitachi or Sony). Great sound with those and exceptional picture quality. Approx £1,200 though if you're lucky £1,000. DVD any player from Sony, Wharfedale, Panasonic, LG. Make sure its multi-region (or hackable - check on the Internet for details on individual players). Preferablly get one with on board Dolby Digital amplifier (Whafedale M5 is available for £150 with EVERYTHING) in case you want to add additional speakers in the future.

31-12-2001, 05:34	#5
Mark Hughes Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Somewhere near London Posts: 2,936	Quote: Originally posted by monkey Buy a 32" widescreen flatscreen TV with Dolby Digital (Hitachi or Sony). Great sound with those and exceptional picture quality. Approx £1,200 though if you're lucky £1,000. DVD any player from Sony, Wharfedale, Panasonic, LG. Make sure its multi-region (or hackable - check on the Internet for details on individual players). Preferablly get one with on board Dolby Digital amplifier (Whafedale M5 is available for £150 with EVERYTHING) in case you want to add additional speakers in the future. I'd really stay away from players and TVs with integrated amps - especially TVs as the premium it adds to the price seems excessive when compared to a more flexible, better quality, separate amp/speaker package... I'd also drop LG and Wharfedale from the list of players, and add in any of the latest Pioneers. No offence to LG/Wharfedale, but you want the player itself to be very good at the basic DVD functions of playing DVDs with good picture quality. The audio will go out digitally, so that doesn't matter so much and really should sound the same on any player. As I said, the Tosh players used to review very well, and I can't believe things have changed that much. The SD-110e is a very good, basic player, as is the Pioneer DV-340, and both are available for £180 or less, pre-region-modded, from places like upgrade heaven. I'm really out of the loop when it comes to amplifiers and that, so I'll let others advise there. I know that sherwood used to do an excellent amp, and the mission series of speakers used to review well, at the lower end of the price range, but this was two or more years ago now. Mark

31-12-2001, 08:33	#6
iain Guest Join Date: Mar 2000 Posts: 62,990	Amp wise, the Sony's are always highly rated - I have my tv, and just got a Sony DVP-s735 in the sale for £150 (early bargain, not sale price - I think I did well Eventually I'll save up for an amp and speakers - the amp probably the Sony STRDB1070, although the older 940, or even 930 models will be cheaper - expect to pay £400-500, possibly less, especially the older models, from the likes of Richer Sounds. I've always fancied the Sony Pascal speakers as well, but have read bad reports here - anyone anything good to say about them? Either the 715s or the newer ES (or is it QS) ones? The other option would be the similarly priced KEFs? Cheers, Iain

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Home Cinema Setup