So you would suggest the following setup?

http://www.superfi.co.uk/index.cfm/p...roduct_ID/3591

and

http://cpc.farnell.com/jsp/level5/mo...cpc/515229.xml

With cables for the speakers though, is there any specific type i should go for?

Cable wise, these ....

http://www.richersounds.com/showprod...E-SYMPHONY-200

.... should be fine.

You can buy more expensive stuff but unless you are installing and then tuning a seriously high end setup, it's probably not worth the extra expense.

Most definitely, it offers really good value for money and you won't be disappointed in the sound quality. The Tannoy EFX5.1 are an updated version of the FX5.1 which was also a very good speaker package.

I believe speaker cable is supplied with the Tannoy speaker package, it'll do the job but personally I would run something a little better, the cable sancheeez has recommended would be perfect.

I don't think a sub cable is included so you will need to purchase one of these elsewhere, unless you have a single phono cable laying around, if not £5 should more than cover it. You will also need HDMI cable/s, again, £5-£6 will cover it.

http://www.audiovisualonline.co.uk/d...s/display.html

http://ukhdmi.com/hdmi-premium.php

http://ukhdmi.com/hdmi-n-premium.php

Do i need any points or crimpd parts to the cable, or is it just twist or push in to the amp/speakers? (i know some need connectors) and is it worth going for a guarantee on the amp? Do they break down alot or are they reliable? (know each item is different but i mean in genearl)

I also have a drum of this

http://www.screwfix.com/prods/96505/...ker-Cable-100m

Is that the same (or same spec) as the gale symphony 200 (99p per M)
Am i right in thinking this is how i'd set it up

Sky HD - HDMI in to amp
Sky HD - Optical in to amp
Bluray - HDMI in to amp
XBOX 360 - optical in to amp
Xbox 360 Componant in to TV
VM box - Optical/coax in to amp
VM box - Scart in to TV

Amp with 1 lead for HDMI in to TV

You can do what they call bare wire connections, this is where you just twist the cable and fix it to the speaker terminals.

You can also use banana plugs or spades, they make no difference to sound quality but make it easier to connect/disconnect the speakers. Banana plugs can be the screw type or soldered, spades are normally crimped.

Out of all the amps I have owned in the past (Denon and Yamaha) non have ever broken down on me, they have all been very reliable.


It's only 13 strand, probably lower quality than the cable supplied though it would do the job, but it's definitely lower spec than the Symphony cable suggested.


Looks spot on to me and would be how I would connect.

That screwfix stuff won't be as good quality as the Gale cable.

It'll work though .... and to be honest, if I were you, I'd buy a couple of metres of the Gale stuff and try one speaker with the Gale cable, and one with the screwfix stuff and see if you can actually tell the difference.

If you can't, you may as well use what you already have.

Unless the Tannoy speakers do indeed come with their own cable in which case you don't need to worry about it!

And as Deacon says, don't go spending a fortune on overpriced HDMI cables. The £5 2 metre ones from the like of CCL are fine.

Thanks for your help and advice guys

Ive just bought

http://www.superfi.co.uk/index.cfm/p...roduct_ID/3591

and

http://cpc.farnell.com/jsp/level5/mo...cpc/515229.xml

hopefully get them soon. SPeakers i think come tomorow, but i hope the amp does too

Im just about to buy a sub cable now, and thats me set to go

Ive also got acouple of HDMI cables, all i need is a few optical cables - but im guessing that they are the same as in the HDMI that you dont need to go buying the most expensive ones?

Superfi I know are a very good company, I bought a couple of bookshelf speakers off them the other day, super fast delivery and it was free.

Correct, optical cables are digital and are similar to HDMI, there's no need to spend excessive amounts of money on one.

Would love to hear your opinion on the system once it's setup.

Agreed.

Last one I bought cost about £6 I think .... and that was from Makro. I daresay you can get them even cheaper online.

It should sound a lot better than the all-in-one DVD/surround systems you've had before. As Deacon says, let us know once it's all up and running.

I just got 3 x 2m optical cables for £9.50 including delivery, and the subwoofer cable for £6 inc delivery so wasnt too bad.

I will see how good the cable is that i get, and i will do what was suggested above, and buy a small run of the better quality cable to see if ther eis a difference between the one supplied with the kit, and the more expensive one.

Pointless to spend £350 on a kit and use crap speaker wires lol

And yeah, the DVD surround, yeah, it did work fairly well but i didnt get the 5.1 from anything - as it doesnt have an optical input on the unit, only componant so i think it was just 2.1 (nothing from rear except when using DVD on normal player) i think and it did sound a bit tinny.

Good choice off speakers ive opted for those aswell.

http://www.richersounds.com/showprod...d=SONY-STRK880

http://www.superfi.co.uk/index.cfm/p...roduct_ID/3591

Been browsing the thread and above links are to Sony and Denon amps that have been mentioned and wondering if anyone could give some advice on which one is better and why.

Similar to mclaren, will have sky hd, blu ray player and probably a games console to feed into a Sony Bravia HD tv.

Also, are floorstander speakers much better than bookshelf ones?

Cheers

The post at the top of this page outlines a few of the main differences between the Sony and the Denon. Neither is a 'bad' amp, and either would be a good choice.

Floorstanders will probably give you a 'meatier' (for want of a better word) sound then the smaller shelf speakers. Having said that, these little shelf speakers have come on a lot on the last few years and now produce pretty good sound themselves!

Only way to really hear the difference would be to head to a hi-fi specialist that has a demo room (not sure if RS do?) and ask them to demo a few speakers and see what you think.

Think Hi-Fi Corner have a demo room. The Home Cinema Centre just up from Haymarket may be able to do something and I think even a couple of the Currys branches (the one at Hermiston Gate springs to mind) might have one?

cheers mate, appreciated. Work near the home cinema centre so will go there and have a word

Sky HD - HDMI in to amp
Sky HD - Optical in to amp
Bluray - HDMI in to amp
XBOX 360 - optical in to amp
Xbox 360 Componant in to TV
VM box - Optical/coax in to amp
VM box - Scart in to TV


I am confused over the SKY HD mentioned above connecting via HDMI and optical? Why is it connected via both?



I am a noob to all this with surround systems, but all I want is an amp and speaker for a budget of £200

Would these do a good job.:-

http://www.richersounds.com/showprod...id=YAMA-RXV361

http://www.richersounds.com/showprod...id=YAMA-NSP110

I have been looking at the sets which come with a DVD player but I guess a seperate amp and speakers would be a lot better than that.

It is all to go into a small square bedroom with a 32" LCD and sky HD.

Not expecting mircales but sure that as a seperate setup to the main room it will be pretty good for a bedroom etc.

The yamaha amp which I am looking at only has optical? does it need HDMI etc?

Can anyone recommend another amp / speakers for around the £200 mark or at the most £250 inc cables / speaker wires etc etc.

Any views / opinions would be appreciated

If you dont, you wont get 5.1 from the sky HD box

DD5.1 is not available through Sky's HDMI so an optical connection is needed.


This is a very good starter system, it's a system that gets lots of recommendations for those on a tight budget, those who have bought it have said it's a cracking system for the price.

You can be very limited with the all in one system/s, connections and upgrade path.

The Yamaha system is perfect for an average sized room so would be more than OK for a bedroom.

All depends on what equipment you have now and possible equipment you will have in the future that uses HDMI, amps can be useful for video switching, especially if your TV runs out of inputs (HDMI). If your TV can handle all your present and future needs then there is no real need to look at HDMI amps.

I would add that if you are thinking of Bluray then there is a high possibility you would need HDMI if you are wanting to listen to HD audio, this is only available through HDMI not optical, so you may want to consider this when looking.

The Denon AVR1708 is a nice amp and would give you some future proofing for the future, it is HDMI compatible and comes with a decent amount of inputs. Hook up the Yamaha NSP110 speaker package and you're ready to go. Slightly over £250 but worth it IMO.

I thought the Optical would do that?

Sky only outputs stereo over the HDMI, you need the optical for DD5.1


Buy purchasing as the AV Package 63 you get the RXV363 amp, which is an updated version of the RXV361 you list above, it includes HDMI video switching from two sources and would come in on budget at just under £200 - see here for details.

[quote=Deacon1972;26995260]DD5.1 is not available through Sky's HDMI so an optical connection is needed.

So that Yamaha mentioned does not have a HDMI but it would not stop me from connecting up via optical to get all my 5.1 and normal stereo through the speakers etc etc?

Thanks for the advice too

HDMI in to the amp[ for switching and the optical for the 5.1

The RXV361 doesn't have HDMI but you will still be able to connect Sky's optical for DD5.1 etc.

The RXV363 which has been mentioned and is a part of the AV63 package does have HDMI, but unlike the Denon AVR1708 where it passes the audio and video it only passes the video, the audio has to come from optical/coaxial.

So if the amp does not have HDMI what impcat does this have?

Sorry but as I say new to all this

That's excellent as it would cost nearly £70 to buy on richer sounds website. For £200 that seems the way forward for me.

Thanks for the link and the help.

Very little impact if your TV has enough HDMI inputs for all your equipment and you are only interested in DD5.1/DTS. If you run out you can always by an HDMI switchbox.

Big impact if you are wanting HD audio now or in the future.