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Old 26-05-2008, 12:47
digitl
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Now I've got a 40" Sony HD TV and a Humax Freesat HD receiver I'm thinking of upgrading the sound.

I think I'm looking for something that will process Dolby 5.1, change automatically to the source the TV is using (the Humax box, an old $ky box with no contract and a Topfield 5800 Freeview PVR), with speakers that are not huge and the rear speakers preferably with a non-wired connection as pulling up the carpets for wires is not really an option.

Anyone able to suggest suitable kit?

TIA
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Old 26-05-2008, 13:09
TommyW
 
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I'm unaware of any system that is completely wire free, the rear speakers normally have to be powered somehow, usually this means a mains lead, unless there are systems out there now where the rears run on batteries. I did read a while ago about LG brining out LAN 5.1 systems, I have no idea if any went in to production.

If it's only the speaker wire that is troubling you, you can get speaker wire that is very flat/thin that would tuck down behind the carpet very easily without the need to pull it up.

Have you got a budget in mind for the system?
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Old 26-05-2008, 13:40
digitl
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I'm unaware of any system that is completely wire free, the rear speakers normally have to be powered somehow, usually this means a mains lead, unless there are systems out there now where the rears run on batteries. I did read a while ago about LG brining out LAN 5.1 systems, I have no idea if any went in to production.
A mains supply wouldn't be a problem as there are sockets available. I'm using homeplugs to create a LAN for my PC which works well so, if the audio system had ethernet connections, then that might work for it too.

If it's only the speaker wire that is troubling you, you can get speaker wire that is very flat/thin that would tuck down behind the carpet very easily without the need to pull it up.
Unfortunately, there are floor to ceiling units standing on the carpet so I can't get to the edge to tuck anything down.

Have you got a budget in mind for the system?
I was hoping for no more than, say, £250 but I really don't know if that's feasible.
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Old 26-05-2008, 15:40
TommyW
 
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I think you may struggle some what, not so much on the wireless front but connections. The only wireless systems I can locate are all in one systems, ones that have a DVD player built in, the problem being they don't really cater for external equipment, if they do it's very limited.

Anyway, I have had a quick look and see Panasonic do a wireless system, model number SC-PT467EB-K, it has one optical input which I believe will give you 5.1 from an external source but you would need to check further, it also has an AUX input by way of stereo input (phono).

No idea if this system is what you are looking for but I have found the online user manual if you want to browse through it. Just click on accept and click view.

http://dlc.panasonic-europe-service....3&uilang=en-GB
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Old 26-05-2008, 16:15
digitl
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That looks really interesting: thanks.
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Old 26-05-2008, 16:24
digitl
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Just so that I'm sure that what I'm getting will do what I want, I assume I connect the Humax Freesat box to the Sony HD TV with the HDMI cable and to the Panasonic home cinema box with a SCART cable and then mute/disable the TV sound. That way I should get the HD image with 5.1 sound?
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Old 26-05-2008, 16:38
ColinGodfree
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I think you may struggle some what, not so much on the wireless front but connections. The only wireless systems I can locate are all in one systems, ones that have a DVD player built in, the problem being they don't really cater for external equipment, if they do it's very limited.

Anyway, I have had a quick look and see Panasonic do a wireless system, model number SC-PT467EB-K, it has one optical input which I believe will give you 5.1 from an external source but you would need to check further, it also has an AUX input by way of stereo input (phono).

No idea if this system is what you are looking for but I have found the online user manual if you want to browse through it. Just click on accept and click view.

http://dlc.panasonic-europe-service....3&uilang=en-GB

Your Humax has a S/PDif audio connector - it won't work with the Panasonic.
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Old 26-05-2008, 16:47
TommyW
 
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Your Humax has a S/PDif audio connector - it won't work with the Panasonic.
Not sure why not - the Humax freesat HD receiver has optical out and the Panasonic has optical in.
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Old 26-05-2008, 16:49
digitl
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Oh, b*gger. In that case I'm going to have to find a way to use wired rear speakers and re-consider the Pioneer DCS 363 I had seen and rejected previously.

Would that work with the Sony KDL-40W2000/Humax Foxsat/Topfield 5800? Would the connections be fairly simple?
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Old 26-05-2008, 17:05
TommyW
 
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Oh, b*gger. In that case I'm going to have to find a way to use wired rear speakers and re-consider the Pioneer DCS 363 I had seen and rejected previously.

Would that work with the Sony KDL-40W2000/Humax Foxsat/Topfield 5800? Would the connections be fairly simple?
Unless I'm missing something I can't see why the SC-PT467EB-K would not be suitable, you would need an optical splitter as I understand the Topfield also has an optical output, the old Sky box would be connected via phonos.

Connecting should be along these lines......

Humax HDMI > TV HDMI
Panasonic HDMI > TV HDMI
Optical out Humax > Optical input Panasonic
AV1 Topfield > AV1 TV (RGB)
Optical out Topfield > Optical input Panasonic - splitter would be required.
Audio out (phonos) Sky > Aux in (phonos) Panasonic.
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Old 26-05-2008, 19:24
ColinGodfree
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Unless I'm missing something I can't see why the SC-PT467EB-K would not be suitable, you would need an optical splitter as I understand the Topfield also has an optical output, the old Sky box would be connected via phonos.

Connecting should be along these lines......

Humax HDMI > TV HDMI
Panasonic HDMI > TV HDMI
Optical out Humax > Optical input Panasonic
AV1 Topfield > AV1 TV (RGB)
Optical out Topfield > Optical input Panasonic - splitter would be required.
Audio out (phonos) Sky > Aux in (phonos) Panasonic.

The Humax uses a TOSLINK socket not an RCA connector
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Old 26-05-2008, 20:45
TommyW
 
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The Humax uses a TOSLINK socket not an RCA connector
...and the Panasonic SC-PT467EB-K has an optical input - sorry I don't see what your point is.
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Old 27-05-2008, 02:12
digitl
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Thanks for the help so far! Looking around after reading the above I've found the Panasonic SC-PT460EB-K which is the wired version at ~£100 less than the wireless version. At that rate I'm going to have to bite the bullet and find a way to run wires.

So, would this Panasonic be better than the Pioneer I mentioned?

The Pioneer doesn't have an optical input so does that mean that I will not be able to get Dolby 5.1 out of the Humax and Topfield boxes and into the Pioneer?

Anyone got any experience of either of these?

TIA
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Old 27-05-2008, 08:56
TommyW
 
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Thanks for the help so far! Looking around after reading the above I've found the Panasonic SC-PT460EB-K which is the wired version at ~£100 less than the wireless version. At that rate I'm going to have to bite the bullet and find a way to run wires.

So, would this Panasonic be better than the Pioneer I mentioned?

The Pioneer doesn't have an optical input so does that mean that I will not be able to get Dolby 5.1 out of the Humax and Topfield boxes and into the Pioneer?

Anyone got any experience of either of these?

TIA
You need an optical input to receive DD5.1 so the Pioneer would not be suitable.

If you are going the wired route then I would recommend looking at Richer Sounds, choose a system made up of separates not an all in one, if you require a DVD player then look no further than the supermarkets, they are two a penny and most come multiregion and play everything you throw at it.

The Sony STRDE400 receiver at £99 + Yamaha NSP110 speaker package £79-95.

The Yamaha RXV361 receiver + Yamaha NSP110 speaker package for £200. It has two optical inputs and will also cater for the old Sky box.

Or you could go for the Denon AVR1907 Onkyo TX-SR505, Cambridge 540R at £199, again coupled with the Yamaha speaker package.

Receivers


Speaker Packages
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Old 27-05-2008, 12:08
digitl
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That's really good of you to provide so much help: appreciated!

I've got the Yamaha speakers and the Yamaha receiver waiting for me at the local Richer Sounds (hopefully to price-match the speakers with Digital Direct - £64.99 for black or silver).

All I need to do now is to get a couple of optical cables at a reasonable price: RS want £19.95 each.
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Old 27-05-2008, 12:12
Dave Javue
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All I need to do now is to get a couple of optical cables at a reasonable price: RS want £19.95 each.
99p (plus postage) from Amazon.
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Old 27-05-2008, 12:30
TommyW
 
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That's really good of you to provide so much help: appreciated!

I've got the Yamaha speakers and the Yamaha receiver waiting for me at the local Richer Sounds (hopefully to price-match the speakers with Digital Direct - £64.99 for black or silver).

All I need to do now is to get a couple of optical cables at a reasonable price: RS want £19.95 each.
Glad you got sorted in the end.

As for the optical cables, forget RS for the cables, go to Amazon as Dave Javue has suggested, don't pay over the odds. I have included other cable companies for you to look at, both will supply you with the cables your require at sensible prices.

http://www.tvcables.co.uk/cgi-bin/tv...ml?id=avMZudY4

http://www.audiovisualonline.co.uk/d...es/browse.html
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Old 27-05-2008, 12:33
digitl
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Thanks! Are TOSlink and SPDIF one and the same? And, unlike HDMI, does quality matter?

TIA
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Old 27-05-2008, 12:52
TommyW
 
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Thanks! Are TOSlink and SPDIF one and the same? And, unlike HDMI, does quality matter?

TIA
Basically yes - SPDIF is a standard/format for carrying digital data, the difference being in the delivery method.

Coaxial will use coax cabling where the termination will be RCA (phono) connectors.

Toslink, more commonly known as optical uses fibre optic to carry the signals where the termination is rather unique, square-ish with a pin sticking out.

No need to spend silly money on optical cables, it carries the digital data by way of light, just make sure it's well constructed, any of those on the sites given will be ok.
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Old 29-05-2008, 12:09
digitl
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Thanks (delayed due to Digital Spy DNS problems) for all the help: greatly appreciated.

I got the Yamaha RXV361 receiver + Yamaha NSP110 speakers from RS and cables from the very helpful people at www.audiovisualonline.co.uk

System is up and running and sounds good, though I might need to turn the sub-woofer down a touch before it shakes any more ornaments off shelves!
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Old 29-05-2008, 12:37
TommyW
 
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Thanks (delayed due to Digital Spy DNS problems) for all the help: greatly appreciated.

I got the Yamaha RXV361 receiver + Yamaha NSP110 speakers from RS and cables from the very helpful people at www.audiovisualonline.co.uk

System is up and running and sounds good, though I might need to turn the sub-woofer down a touch before it shakes any more ornaments off shelves!
To get the system sounding right you need to pay particular attention to the speaker configuration.

You need to get the distances and delays spot on and have all speakers outputting 75db via the test tone facility. The best way to do this is by a SPL meter, the test tone outputs white noise which is registered on the meter so you can adjust the speakers accordingly. You can get dedicated DVD's that help configure av systems like Digital Essential, you can even find them on standard DVD's, normally the ones that display THX on the cover, THX optimiser covers video and audio.

You can set it up by ear but is won't be as accurate.

As for the sub, this brings the whole system together, having it set too low will not give the desired effect, to high and it destroys the soundtrack, all you will hear is a lot of boom. Get a CD, one that has a lot of bass and play that over and over until you can hear the bass but it's not overwhelming. It will be trial and error, but after a while you will hit the right setting.
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Old 29-05-2008, 13:02
digitl
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To get the system sounding right you need to pay particular attention to the speaker configuration.
I have a problem here in that it's impossible to put the TV and centre speaker anywhere but to the side of a chimney breast. The 'main' viewing seat is also similarly positioned with 'Management's' further away and more central. I can only go for some sort of compromise if I'm not to be interrupted with complaints about relative volumes...
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