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Old 03-12-2004, 11:44
Warleb
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Hope this is the right forum, also I hope I don't bore people with this question....

I want to purchase a Home Cinema system. Some come with a DVD player and some don't. The ones that don't come with a reciever.

I already have a DVD player so I guess I can get the one with the reciever. Is it the case that I can only watch DVD's with my home cinema. I have SKY digital and some of there films are broadcast in 5.1. Can I connect my SKY box to the reciever.

Sorry for such stupid questions but i don't want to buy the wrong thing.
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Old 03-12-2004, 12:51
RedEarth
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Originally Posted by Warleb
Hope this is the right forum, also I hope I don't bore people with this question....

I want to purchase a Home Cinema system. Some come with a DVD player and some don't. The ones that don't come with a reciever.

I already have a DVD player so I guess I can get the one with the reciever. Is it the case that I can only watch DVD's with my home cinema. I have SKY digital and some of there films are broadcast in 5.1. Can I connect my SKY box to the reciever.

Sorry for such stupid questions but i don't want to buy the wrong thing.
You certainly can watch DVD's and Sky digital in 5.1, just make sure that the receiver that you buy has at least 2 digital inputs, of the correct type for your DVD player and Sky box (will either be optical or RCA co-ax). You might also want to consider whether you are going to route the video signals through the receiver as well, so that when you select the DVD input for sound, you get the DVD picture as well (without having to select a different input on the TV). If this is the case, make sure that the receiver has appropriate connections with respect to the output you are using on the DVD and DSat (either RGB, S-Video or component video). Some only have composite video connections.
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Old 03-12-2004, 13:35
Warleb
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Ok thanks for that. I shall now go shopping......
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Old 03-12-2004, 14:52
Scorpio
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Just before you do..............remember, it's only Sky+ that has an optical digital out socket.

'Ordinary' Sky digital does not have this connection so you will not be able to listen to movies broadcast in 5.1 in this format.

You need to connect using audio L/R phonos and make use of your system's ProLogic II processing.

Good hunting,

Rgds,
Scorp
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Old 03-12-2004, 15:20
Warleb
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you mean I can't connect my sky digital box full stop, or I can if I use and audio L/R phones. Can you not buy a scart lead that has audio L/R lead coming off of it so that I could plug that into the reciever...
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Old 03-12-2004, 16:33
Binternet
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There are left and right outputs on the normal sky box so you will be fine. Can i suggest the LG FA-P3000 from argos for £140, as you can see on the left I have one. It has an optical, coaxial and phono input with dolby digital, DTS and pro logic 2 processing. Basically that means that you will definatly be able to connect your DVD player up, and the normal sky box. It is a great system with none of the problems of other budget systems. Cant rate it highly enough
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Old 03-12-2004, 23:11
Scorpio
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Originally Posted by Warleb
you mean I can't connect my sky digital box full stop, or I can if I use and audio L/R phones. Can you not buy a scart lead that has audio L/R lead coming off of it so that I could plug that into the reciever...
you cant connect using a digital cable.

you can connect using L/R phonos but the best sound you can get from this type of input is a ProLogic II enhanced surround (but this is pretty good - better than PL1). Make sure your amp has this in addition to DD and DTS. Also get optical and digital inputs, you may upgrade to Sky+ or add additional input devices.

Rgds,
Scorp
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Old 06-12-2004, 14:11
Warleb
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ok, thanks for the good advice....
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Old 06-12-2004, 23:12
jrmich9
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Hope someone could help me as well! Was looking for something in the price range of the LG FA-P3000 at around £140.
Basically was hoping to find a system i could hook up my Sky+, DVD player and Playstation2 to without any problems...any ideas?
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Old 07-12-2004, 08:58
wicket
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Originally Posted by jrmich9
Hope someone could help me as well! Was looking for something in the price range of the LG FA-P3000 at around £140.
Basically was hoping to find a system i could hook up my Sky+, DVD player and Playstation2 to without any problems...any ideas?
What you need to look at is how many digital sound inputs the amp has. Sky+ needs an optical input, your dvd player will have outputs in optical or coaxial or both. The PS2 can be connected via phono inputs as I don't think there are many games written with 5.1 sound, though if you intend to use the PS2 as a dvd player you would need an optical input.

Maplins did sell an optical switch box which allowed three inputs to be fed (one at a time) to one amp optical input.
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Old 09-12-2004, 23:00
jrmich9
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Hi again, have been looking for an optical switch box which allows 3 inputs to be fed to one amp optical input, but have so far been unsuccesful. Couldnt find one on the Maplins site. Does anyone know where I might find one, or maybe have a link to such a product on a website or anything? Thanx..!
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Old 10-12-2004, 16:18
Foxmeister
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I remember seeing in our maplin's catalogue at work that they DO supply an optical switch thingy but it may have been for just two connections and not three. Apart from that I'm not sure.
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Old 10-12-2004, 16:50
DrChris
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Optical selector from Lektropacks:

http://www.lektropacks.co.uk/product...id=109&sku=172
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