Hi all,

We've just purchased a fantastic new Samsung LE-32A656 HDTV, and would love some 5.1 speakers to complement it. The DVD player is on its last legs, so we thought it would make sense to get a 'home cinema system' with DVD upscaling to fill the HD resolution. We will be connecting a Humax HD Freesat box and a Humax Freeview PVR via optical out.

Any advice from you experts would be very much appreciated! We'd like to spend between £250 and £350, and were considering something along the lines of this one. We'd use it to play CDs too, replacing the dying Hi-Fi, so good sound is important.

Thanks very much in advance

Ian

Your TV already does that anyway, and while not the best, upscalers in Samsung's aren't bad - probably as good as any you'll find in most DVD players.

However, you probably can't find one now that doesn't upscale (it's the latest money spinning scam) - but don't expect it to make much (if any) difference.

If you can find a Samsung All-in-one 5.1 system they work very well with the tv and have an optical input for sound from a sky+/HD box or games console.

I installed one on a customers tv the other day and when connected via hdmi the system detects its getting a signal from the tv and shuts off the tv speakers then diverts the tv sound through the amp. This gives Dolby Pro-logic II on standard stereo transmissions and 5.1 on DVD's and sky channels that support it.

I was impressed by the sound quality and performance. Not as good as a seperate AV amplifier, but a good all-in-one.

Something like this

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Samsung-HT-X...8728885&sr=1-2

Whereas a true AV amplifier or receiver will support multiple optical and coaxial inputs so you can have all of your digital audio providers connected at the same time.


Not from Sky it won't, as Sky don't output a DD5.1 signal via HDMI.

Oh yeah, forgot to say that the customer had the dvd to the tv via HDMI but the sky+ was connected to the amp via optical for 5.1 etc.

I also agree that an AV amplifier and a more taylored speaker package will give better performance but the OP wants DVD upscaling + cd player, 5.1 amplifier and speakers for £250-350 and an all in one seemed the easiest solution.

I have an Sony STR-495 amp and JBL speaker kit with active sub which I got off ebay for under £100. I have SKY HD, PS3, Archos 704 and my tv connected to it so I get the best of everything. The flexibility, set-up and sound quality are vastly superior to an all in one system but not all people want to go down that route.

Its the best way to go in my opinion but I tend to try and judge what the op wants before jumping straight in with the AV amp suggestion.

Have a look at richersounds.co.uk for av amps and speaker packages or their choice of all in ones.

Go for separates if you can dish up the extra dosh. Try Richer Sounds for amplifier, speakers etc. Or try second hand shops for speakers, pleanty of bargains around especially with the credit crunch biting hard.

We only need one optical input as there's only the Humax PVR to go in. The Freesat HD box will go in by HDMI and the DVD player's built in. I think that's right?

I've researched the Samsung HT-X250R system the hamster mentioned, and it seems pretty good. There's also a Samsung HTX-715 system which would match the TV very nicely, but apparently isn't so good for music playback. Perhaps spmebody could comment on this?

Thanks so much for the advice so far and sorry for this late reply - I unexpectadly had to leave the country for a week!

There's only the Humax PVR to connect to it ... today.

You'll never get a DVD recorder?
You'll never get a Blu Ray player? Or a PS3?
You'll never get Sky HD?

It just seems strange to me limiting oneself to zero possible expansion...

So does that mean your dvd player doesnt need to have an HDMI port to get 1080p if you have an HD telly? I just bought a Samsung 40" LCD and I was going to buy a dvd player with upscaling but maybe I don't need to???