[taggwa]

Ok guys and gals. Having Sky+ installed on Saturday and decided I'd go the whole yard and buy a home cinema system as well but looking around their is so much choice and all kinds of mind boggling terms and phrases that baffle the hell out of a mere mortal like me.
Totally confused by the difference between Virtual Dolby, Dolby Pro Logic and Dolby 5.1 and such like.
I've only got a small budget having shelled out £200 for the Sky+ and being close to xmas and all(the bairns will go without ths year,heh) and I've spotted this one on the Argos site.
Wondered if any of you technically minded folk out there would be able to run the rule over it and give me an honest opinion. Good make/bad make, sound ok/not ok etc. Any help greatly appreciated.

Argos Site

[taggwa]

I'll presume the lack of response from 24 views is a 'don't buy' then.

[pablos]

Checkout Richer Sounds for a decent Amp and speaker set usually quite cheap.

Don't go for these naff all in one systems cos they just don't have the power or the ability to give a good sound and reproduction.

Should be able to get yourself a decent w/s tv and sound system for the same price but a tad better.

http://www.richersounds.co.uk

With the budget you've got I'm sure you can do better than Argos

[wubbs]

I disagree with you pablos.I think the all in ones sound great.I have a davs550,it cost me £290 and does exactly what i need.i am by no means a cheap skate when it comes to electrical goods so this is not the reason i bought it!

I realise that an amp etc will give me lots more power and connections but I do not think that you will get a DVD player,Amp and speaker package for under £300 which will sound better than the Davs550.

I work at an electrical retailers so I get to hear lots of systems all day.

I think if you are on a budget or just are not bothered with all the connections an amp gives you an all in one system is a perfect sollution.

By the way,anyone in Norfolk,get down to the Bennetts hi-tech show this weekend for bargains and lots of maunfacturers demonstrating their latest offferings.

I am on the Philips stand so I am gonna ask them about their 100htz front input problem!!

www.hitechshow.co.uk

[taggwa]

Quote:

Originally posted by pablos
Checkout Richer Sounds for a decent Amp and speaker set usually quite cheap.

Don't go for these naff all in one systems cos they just don't have the power or the ability to give a good sound and reproduction.

Should be able to get yourself a decent w/s tv and sound system for the same price but a tad better.

http://www.richersounds.co.uk

With the budget you've got I'm sure you can do better than Argos

I did look into buying seperate items(dvd,speakers etc) but was worried about everything being compatible with each other. I need a new tv anyway so seemed the reasonable solution to buy an all in one hence I know there all compatible with each other. Having a small budget I don't want to run the risk of the tv/dvd not working with the speakers etc.

[pablos]

By being compatible what do you mean.

I have a Panasonic TV and DVD Player, Sony Amp, Philips DVD burner and a Sky+, Sky digibox no problems with any of these. My system works fine.

[taggwa]

Quote:

Originally posted by pablos
By being compatible what do you mean.

I have a Panasonic TV and DVD Player, Sony Amp, Philips DVD burner and a Sky+, Sky digibox no problems with any of these. My system works fine.

I have known occasions in the past, no just me but friends also when certain bits of kit haven;t been compatible with other stuff.Not saying this would be the case here but known it happen in the past so when I'm shelling out what few pence I have left I want to make sure they're are all ok with each other.

[pablos]

Still don't answer my question . What do you mean by compatible, do you mean connections or what?

[pablos]

As for all in ones - what happens when they fail - oops replace the whole thing or pay for an expensive repair if not under warranty.

With a seperates system - if the amp fails you either have it repaired if cheap or replace it.

Works out better in the long run.

[taggwa]

Quote:

Originally posted by pablos
As for all in ones - what happens when they fail - oops replace the whole thing or pay for an expensive repair if not under warranty.

With a seperates system - if the amp fails you either have it repaired if cheap or replace it.

Works out better in the long run.

If one thing fails I doubt all of it is going to is it. i.e. the dvd breaks it won't effect the tv etc so you're still only talking about repairing one item rather than the whole system hence cost of repair no different.

[pablos]

I mean things like combined amp & dvd - more costly to repair.

Not suggesting your TV would go as well. Am I!!!!!

[wicket]

Quote:

Originally posted by taggwa
Totally confused by the difference between Virtual Dolby, Dolby Pro Logic and Dolby 5.1 and such like.
URL]

I have no experience with Sanyo so I cannot offer you advice re the Argos package. I tend to go for Sony products which I have always found good and more importantly reliable.

Virtual Dolby is exactly what it says, in other words it is a pretend Dolby sound that tries to copy Dolby Prologic sound with existing speakers.

Dolby Prologic is basically a system that has five speakers with the two rear ones offering mono sound ie the same sound from each, plus a sub woofer. The sound is in analogue.

Dolby Digital 5.1 is again five speakers plus a sub woofer. However this time the rear two speakers are stereo sounds so different sounds are produced from each making it more realistic when watching movies. The .1 refers to the sub woofer which emits LFE sound (low frequency, bass), that you can feel more than hear. This is a digital sound system so it is a lot clearer.

The other sound system to look out for is DTS which is, in my opinion, a superior system to 5.1 but operating the same way.

Also Dolby Prologic 2 which is an analogue output but pretends to be Dolby Digital 5.1 so it produces separate signals from the rear two speakers. This makes the most of analogue tv sources like the tv, vcr, Sky and makes the sound more realistic.

I would always buy separates for the lounge because it is a dedicated amp or dvd not a combination of them both to fit inside the same box.

[taggwa]

Quote:

Originally posted by wicket
I have no experience with Sanyo so I cannot offer you advice re the Argos package. I tend to go for Sony products which I have always found good and more importantly reliable.

Virtual Dolby is exactly what it says, in other words it is a pretend Dolby sound that tries to copy Dolby Prologic sound with existing speakers.

Dolby Prologic is basically a system that has five speakers with the two rear ones offering mono sound ie the same sound from each, plus a sub woofer. The sound is in analogue.

Dolby Digital 5.1 is again five speakers plus a sub woofer. However this time the rear two speakers are stereo sounds so different sounds are produced from each making it more realistic when watching movies. The .1 refers to the sub woofer which emits LFE sound (low frequency, bass), that you can feel more than hear. This is a digital sound system so it is a lot clearer.

The other sound system to look out for is DTS which is, in my opinion, a superior system to 5.1 but operating the same way.

Also Dolby Prologic 2 which is an analogue output but pretends to be Dolby Digital 5.1 so it produces separate signals from the rear two speakers. This makes the most of analogue tv sources like the tv, vcr, Sky and makes the sound more realistic.

I would always buy separates for the lounge because it is a dedicated amp or dvd not a combination of them both to fit inside the same box.

Quality advice, just the sort of thing I was looking for, many thanks wicket.

[taggwa]

Quote:

Originally posted by pablos
I mean things like combined amp & dvd - more costly to repair.

Not suggesting your TV would go as well. Am I!!!!!

Wasn't exactly sure hence my reply. Keep your shirt on young un'.

[neltoe]

if i buy a AV amp which gives 100W output to the subwoofer, can i buy a sub which has a higher rating than 100W.
what are the draw backs of this?

[Flump]

taggwa,

You don't say what sort of budget you have for all this kit. I've never been a fan of all in one systems, but I do accept that they can sound pretty good. The only downside with them is upgrading in the future - you have to replace the whole lot.

I'd recommend you get yourself a widescreen telly from somewhere and go to richer sounds for your dvd and audio needs. I've never had any problems with richer sounds, and staff seem to know their stuff and are willing to let you demo kit and offer advice. The supercare warranties are good too - for a small amount of money you get not only the extra cover, but RS will buy back your kit giving you 50% of the purchase price. MUch, much better than the idiotcare you get at other outlets. Useful if you decide to change your mind after a year or so.

Personally, with christmas only a couple of months away now, you might be better off waiting until the sales kick in so you can get more kit for your money. Just a thought.

[taggwa]

Quote:

Originally posted by Flump
taggwa,

You don't say what sort of budget you have for all this kit. I've never been a fan of all in one systems, but I do accept that they can sound pretty good. The only downside with them is upgrading in the future - you have to replace the whole lot.

I'd recommend you get yourself a widescreen telly from somewhere and go to richer sounds for your dvd and audio needs. I've never had any problems with richer sounds, and staff seem to know their stuff and are willing to let you demo kit and offer advice. The supercare warranties are good too - for a small amount of money you get not only the extra cover, but RS will buy back your kit giving you 50% of the purchase price. MUch, much better than the idiotcare you get at other outlets. Useful if you decide to change your mind after a year or so.

Personally, with christmas only a couple of months away now, you might be better off waiting until the sales kick in so you can get more kit for your money. Just a thought.

Budget is very low, £750 maximum hence I'm looking at the lower end of the market and presumed an all in one would be cheaper than buying seperate tv, dvd etc. Based on the fact I had a low budget for a widescreen tv last year and eventaully had to settle for a 28" Grundig at £300 I couldn't imagine getting a better quality tv then dvd, video and home cinema kit within my budget hence have been looking at the all in ones.