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Home Cinema Advice...
mattwalford
10-04-2008
Hey guys... Can anybody point me in the right direction when it comes to buying my first home cinema setup? I have just got myself a gert big flat screen Samsung TV and now want to hook up a DVD player with cool speakers. I see the 2.1 options and 5.1 options... and kind of like the idea of as few speakers as possible so think I will be going for the 2.1

Now... I have had a look at the Samsung HT-X200R MR and have to say it looks a tad cool (dunno if it's any good though) anybody any thoughts/advice on what to get???
broadz
10-04-2008
A home cinema system is generally a DVD player with its own speakers - great for watching (and listening to) DVDs - but normally absolute crap for listening to anything else in surround sound.

If you are only going for a 2.1 system anyway, you aren't interested in surround sound, so a home cinema may be enough for you. If you were interested in surround sound you would need to consider whether you will ever want to watch something other than DVDs, and still have surround sound - i.e. digital TV (including Sky), videos, games console.

If it is only DVDs that you will ever want in decent sound, and you only want a louder stereo sound than you currently have via your TV speakers (plus sub-woofer for extra oomph) then the thing you have seen will probably do the job.

The other thing to remember with a home cinema is that if one part of it goes wrong (i.e. the DVD player stops working) then you have to replace the whole lot - new surround sound system as well as DVD player. If you buy separates, and the DVD player stops working, you only have to buy a new DVD player.
the hamster
10-04-2008
I agree with Broadz, I cant honestly see the point in a 2.1 system as it has very few advantages over standard tv stereo speakers.

A 5.1 amplifier/reciever is possible for peanut money but gives the flexibility of having numerous connections for current and future devices. The sound quality is vastly superior to an "all in one" system with more options for devices, speaker placement, sound quality and room layout.

I have this

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t...8_03280009.jpg

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t...8_03280001.jpg

Samsung 42" plasma
Sky Hd
PS3
Archos 704 wifi

I bought an old Sony STR 5.1 amp after xmas off ebay for £50

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...m=160194597979

and a complete JBL surround speaker and active subwoofer for a bargain £46

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...m=250202605890

The speakers came with all cables and bracketry so I was well chuffed.

Only down side to the amplifier is that theres only 1 optical input and the sky hd and ps3 have 1 each. Newer Sony amplifiers like this one

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SONY-STR-DB930...em140219016053

have multiple optical inputs to cover the amount of devices.

The set-up I have is completely flexible, you can shake the light fittings with the power and bass from the amp or just have it as an enhancement for tv/ps3. You can just have Dobly pro logic from the HD box from the stereo RCA connections if you like, which is good enough on most channels that dont have 5.1

For under £100 i'm very happy, but a newer amp is on my "to do" list.

Have a hunt on ebay, search for Sony Str and surround speakers and see what comes up. PM me if you need more help.
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