I have a Toshiba tv which has 2 separate rear speakers, as well as those on the TV itself. So, should I buy for instance, the Sony HT-BE1 and connect it to my dvd player, would the tv +rear speakers still be "on " ? The reason I am asking is, if the existing speakers are on, I will have to re-think where to put another 5 speakers !!!

You could just mute the volume on the TV when you use the surround sound system. That's what I do, works well for me

I have a Sony home cinema kit attached to a nicam widescreen and I don't have the tv's sound on at all, I use the amp for all the sound.

I am presuming your tv is a prologic one and not one with 5.1 inbuilt so I would recommend upgrading to a 5.1 system. Usually the amps are connected to the tv via phono outputs which would enable you still to get prologic sound from Sky, the vcr and tv. I would just get rid of the two back speakers and use the ones that come with the amp if they are included.

talking of which - we have sony amp with prologic II and surround speakers. the prologic II is supposed to do this whizzy thing where normal stereo is fudged as surround sound.

now - it may be partly because its something you get used to, but more often than not in the *movie* mode there doesn't seem to be all that much surround happening - most action is fairly central - but I'm talking about the music/score of shows.

it clearly is working, because on some shows far more than others it sounds really good - but it just doesn't seem to be on everything. is there any reason for this, or is some setting wrong somewhere (I presume not, or it wouldn't have the moments of greatness that it does).

does any of that make sense? probably not.

Iain

PS Yes - mute your tv, and use your 5 speakers

Yes, it just depends on how the film, programme was originally recorded, some films make more use of the back speakers.

yeah - i figured that was probably it. it really is great on stuff that does - *dawson's creek* (don't ask - i've watched it from the start, and it remains a weakness!) sounded really good the other night.

i guess i just thought that PLII made any stereo output sound as tho it was making more use of the surround speakers - although quite often all you really get is barely audible music from the front ones. switching to *music* mode sounds better, but you get some spread of the dialogue then. (which I don't mind anyway - should probably just leave it there LOL)

Iain

Dolby Prologic II is supposed to create a pseudo 5.1 sound with existing Dolby Prologic I material, it won't create surround sound just from a stereo recording.

it does say *any stereo source* on the dolby website tho'.

I agree it must still be to do with the actual recording, hence the variation you get.

Iain

I stand corrected. , didn't know that. Perhaps it gives better results if it is recorded in Prologic then and this is why you are noticing the difference.

oops. wrong thread.

Iain

thats ok - i've seen you round these 'ere parts, and you always seem to know what you're on about.

you're still probably right tho about the original recording having something to do with it - when its good its very good, so when it isn't quite there its more noticeable. i do love it tho when a score, even from a tv broadcast fills the room. needless to say, the other half maintains she *can't tell the difference...*

Iain

Thanks for your advice guys, even although you have departed from the original question !!!

So here's another for you....
in the back of my Tosh tv there is a sub-woofer socket. Where can I buy a suitable sub-woofer to plug into this socket, and what brand name / number ?

Koala,

it might be worth your while having a look over at www.avforums.com - its a more specialised forum, and usually pretty useful.

Iain