Total Noob To Home Cinema Systems

pierreuk · 12-02-2009, 22:40

Just got Sky+ HD in and figured to get the best of it a decent speaker/home cinema system would be good, having a quick look into the home cinema system market and I'm completely baffled.

I do not understand why an audio system would need a scart/HDMI connection, unless thats just for the DVD/BluRay player? Also I've seen some with optical output, what is this for and how does it benefit me?

Basically I have Sky+ HD... and I have a BluRay player in my PS3, I'd love a surround sound system which could be used for both the PS3 and Sky+ HD box, but I have no idea what to look for/at

Sorry, like I said its a total noob question and some people are probably laughing, but some help would be appreciated to give me some kind of guide of what to look for, and how setup would work? Cheers!

crazymanc · 12-02-2009, 22:57

not sure what you mean about

!I do not understand why an audio system would need a scart/HDMI connection!

but i can tell you optical is the best way to go far as i am concered it will give you 5.1 fully surround sound just as if you was at the cinema like when you can here something in the background it will throw the sound so to speak from one speaker to the other and in my opinian it sounds bloody brillient .

forgot to say optical carries the sound in a laser so you dont get as much interfirance as you would with say speaker connections or composite leads the red and white leads.

stevieboy378 · 12-02-2009, 23:21

Get yourself a 5.1 amp and speaker setup with 2 optical inputs. You can then connect both your Sky box and PS3 to it using Toslink ( optical audio, which use a beam of light, NOT a laser . . . ) cables, and enjoy wonderful surround sound . . . .
PS3 games piped through a 5.1 system are amazing - you'll hear bullets whizzing over your head in Call of Duty and comments shouted from the crowd as you play a round of golf in Tiger Wood 2009.
Bluray movies are a whole new experience once you get 5.1 up and running - I'd recommend "Band Of Brothers" if you want to impress visitors to your house who ask what all the speakers are for - Turn it up real loud and you'll have them jumping out of their skin . . . .

crazymanc · 13-02-2009, 00:18

optical audio, which use a beam of light, NOT a laser . . .

BEAM OF LIGHT LASER WHATS THE DIFFERANCE LOL

pierreuk i agree with stevieboy378 get yourself a 5.1 amp with two optical's the best you can get plus if your into wartime drama

BAND OF BROTHERS is far best the one to go for got it myself hands down all the time

John Currie · 13-02-2009, 00:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by pierreuk

I do not understand why an audio system would need a scart/HDMI connection

Most modern Home Cinema AV Amps/Receivers have lots of video/audio inputs so you could have...e.g. a DVD, VCR, Sky STB, X-Box, PS3 etc all plugged in to the rear of the Amp and then just one HDMI lead from the Amp to the TV.
So you'll see the video from this equipment on the TV and hear the surround sound via the AV Amp/Spkrs.

Scorpio · 13-02-2009, 17:07

Yes, my amp is just for audio with my TV handling the video switching via the AV settings.

More modern units act like a junction for both audio and video - some people like this but i prefer the type i have where it's possible to be watching a program that doesnt really need sound (sports for instance) and you can have, say, music coming from a 2nd source like DVD or radio.

Scorp

fmradiotuner1 · 13-02-2009, 17:38

I use this amp with my sky HD

http://www.lambda-tek.com/components...&prodID=B80640

Its not got HD on but is very good sound.

you will also need speakers to go with it.

Ive just bought a MISSION E3ASR sub to go with it but its not here yet.
And I use sony speakers for the 5.0.

Have had the amp over a year now.

12-02-2009, 22:40	#1
pierreuk Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Middlesbrough Posts: 183	Total Noob To Home Cinema Systems Just got Sky+ HD in and figured to get the best of it a decent speaker/home cinema system would be good, having a quick look into the home cinema system market and I'm completely baffled. I do not understand why an audio system would need a scart/HDMI connection, unless thats just for the DVD/BluRay player? Also I've seen some with optical output, what is this for and how does it benefit me? Basically I have Sky+ HD... and I have a BluRay player in my PS3, I'd love a surround sound system which could be used for both the PS3 and Sky+ HD box, but I have no idea what to look for/at Sorry, like I said its a total noob question and some people are probably laughing, but some help would be appreciated to give me some kind of guide of what to look for, and how setup would work? Cheers!

12-02-2009, 22:57	#2
crazymanc Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: C:\WINDOWS\system32 Posts: 332	not sure what you mean about !I do not understand why an audio system would need a scart/HDMI connection! but i can tell you optical is the best way to go far as i am concered it will give you 5.1 fully surround sound just as if you was at the cinema like when you can here something in the background it will throw the sound so to speak from one speaker to the other and in my opinian it sounds bloody brillient . forgot to say optical carries the sound in a laser so you dont get as much interfirance as you would with say speaker connections or composite leads the red and white leads.

12-02-2009, 23:21	#3
stevieboy378 Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Walsall Posts: 4,929	Get yourself a 5.1 amp and speaker setup with 2 optical inputs. You can then connect both your Sky box and PS3 to it using Toslink ( optical audio, which use a beam of light, NOT a laser . . . ) cables, and enjoy wonderful surround sound . . . . PS3 games piped through a 5.1 system are amazing - you'll hear bullets whizzing over your head in Call of Duty and comments shouted from the crowd as you play a round of golf in Tiger Wood 2009. Bluray movies are a whole new experience once you get 5.1 up and running - I'd recommend "Band Of Brothers" if you want to impress visitors to your house who ask what all the speakers are for - Turn it up real loud and you'll have them jumping out of their skin . . . .

13-02-2009, 00:18	#4
crazymanc Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: C:\WINDOWS\system32 Posts: 332	optical audio, which use a beam of light, NOT a laser . . . BEAM OF LIGHT LASER WHATS THE DIFFERANCE LOL pierreuk i agree with stevieboy378 get yourself a 5.1 amp with two optical's the best you can get plus if your into wartime drama BAND OF BROTHERS is far best the one to go for got it myself hands down all the time

13-02-2009, 00:34	#5
John Currie Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: South Lanarkshire. Scotland Posts: 2,005	Quote: Originally Posted by pierreuk I do not understand why an audio system would need a scart/HDMI connection Most modern Home Cinema AV Amps/Receivers have lots of video/audio inputs so you could have...e.g. a DVD, VCR, Sky STB, X-Box, PS3 etc all plugged in to the rear of the Amp and then just one HDMI lead from the Amp to the TV. So you'll see the video from this equipment on the TV and hear the surround sound via the AV Amp/Spkrs.

13-02-2009, 17:07	#6
Scorpio Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Somerset Posts: 3,048	Yes, my amp is just for audio with my TV handling the video switching via the AV settings. More modern units act like a junction for both audio and video - some people like this but i prefer the type i have where it's possible to be watching a program that doesnt really need sound (sports for instance) and you can have, say, music coming from a 2nd source like DVD or radio. Scorp

13-02-2009, 17:38	#7
fmradiotuner1 Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: TheEssexSunshineCoast Clacton Posts: 15,220	I use this amp with my sky HD http://www.lambda-tek.com/components...&prodID=B80640 Its not got HD on but is very good sound. you will also need speakers to go with it. Ive just bought a MISSION E3ASR sub to go with it but its not here yet. And I use sony speakers for the 5.0. Have had the amp over a year now.

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Total Noob To Home Cinema Systems