The wife wants to replace my current set-up with a Home Cinema/Dolby Digital system/components.

I currently have a 28" (4:3) Samsung Nicam TV, Surround Amp (not Dolby) and Samsung Nicam/HI-FI VCR with On-Digital providing the DTV side of it , using a philips DTX6370, has stereo output on it.

I have around £2300 to spend, have been looking at a Sony 28" IDTV (DX30) and equivalent VCR, with Sony Dolby Digital 5.1 Hi-Fi with DVD built in.

What should the TV be, Virtual Dolby, Pro-Logic or 5.1 Digital ?
Should the Hi-Fi always be 5.1 Digital or is Pro-Logic as good, worse ? What are the differences?
Is having the DVD built into the Hi-Fi a good thing or Bad?

I want to make the right purchase, but am unsure as to whether or not to purchase a IDTV or not, Virtual Dolby, Dolby Prologic, or 5.1 Digital?
Hi-FI should this be 5.1, pro-logic or other ??????

Help me please as I dont want to waste a heap of money.

Thanx

Firstly I currently have a 28" Sony DX30 IDTV and have been very happy with it. I have no problems with the cam/ondigital and both work fine. The picture is excellent on both digital TV and DVD playback.

Next I also have the Sony DAV-S300 DVD player, home cinema system with DVD, CD player, Radio ect. Built in Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS decoders. This is a great player (mine is multi-region from link online) and works very well. The sound is fantastic and if your new to DVD then in my opinion although the picture is much better than VHS, it's the sound which sets them apart, when your watching something like gladiator it's fantastic. The difference between pro logic and Dolby digital 5.1/DTS is like chalk and cheese.

Ok back to your questions. The DX30 has both Dolby prologic and virtual dolby capability. In practice for watching most tv programs the virtual dolby is fine. If you want prologic you need extra speakers as these don't come with the tv. Or if you have the DVD I mentioned about you can play the TV sound through the dvd speakers to give you prologic. I think most TV are either virtual dolby/prologic or both. Don;t think any TV is transmitted in anything else, certainly not 5.1.

On the DVD side, you want if possible to get either a system like the DAV-S300 with everything in one including DD5.1 and DTS (DTS is probably a must for future DVD releases), and the speakers. Or you need to get a DVD player with DD5.1 and DTS outputs and then also get a DD5.1/DTS decoder and AMP.

Some people say that separates are better and more future proof, as you can upgrade different parts, but I did not want a TV, a DVD, a Video and an Decoder, and a SET top box. So I went for the IDTV, and home cinema system, and I've been very happy with it. Not sure how the sound from seperates could be any better than my system, but you know how "mine's better than yours" people can get.

Thanx, that has gone someway to sorting out my problems!

I think the Sony looks good and people seem fairly happy with it, as for the others will spend some time browsing the shops to see what different shops recommend before buying.

If you are intending to buy an amp it would be a waste of time buying a tv which has dolby prologic/dolby digital 5.1 built in as your amp would be doing the work. Therefore, you would be best buying a plain nicam hifi tv and save the cash. Or alternatively buy a tv with the decoders built in and not buy the amp but you would need extra speakers.

I would recommend getting a system that has dolby digital 5.1/dts in it. The difference between the old dolby prologic and digital is incredible. I didn't think there was going to be that much of a difference when I upgraded from prologic but I was stunned by it.

Basically the difference between the two is how it sends the sound to your speakers. For example, whilst watching 'The Lost World' in dd5.1 you get dinosaurs running behind you from side to side from the rear speakers. The old prologic would just have the same sound coming from the the two rear speakers which doesn't give the same effect. If you go to the dolby site it explains fully the differences.

I am one of those people that prefer separates believing that they offer the better quality. However, I think you can only judge this issue fully if you have the two systems working at once to compare.

There are tvs available, I think Toshiba make them, that have inbuilt 5.1 decoders which may be worth you considering. However, you need a dvd player to be able to listen to the 5.1 sound. The decoder would still play prologic sounds.

I agree, seperates do offer better quality and flexibility.

Just a word of warning on yout TV purchase.

As you are used to a 28" 4:3 screen, then a 28" WS Tv will seem MUCH smaller due to the aspect ratio. Viewing 4:3 material on a 28" WS TV will be the same size as 4:3 21" TV (approx)

Even a 32" WS is a 25" 4:3 equivalent.

If you can afford it, go for a 36" WS TV (100Hz pref).

Thanx something to chew over. I wont be rushing into this purchase, glad to hear how other people have got their systems setup.

My advice is go for a seperate amp, I have found that when you get an intergrated set that they have to make cost cuts somewhere and with the panasonic pg50 series this is certainly in the sound department. I know you are thinking of the sony but has I have said something has to give. Buy a nicam and use the money saved to buy a decent amp/speaker pack.

Mandlebrot