Thinking of getting a 5.1 sound system for TV - any tips?

Thirith on 7/12/2009 at 09:04

I'm thinking of getting a 5.1 sound system for my TV, but I have little to no idea about what to get, how much it'd cost, whether I could hook up all the devices I've currently got.

To give you a bit more of an idea of the devices hooked up to my telly, I've got:

* Digital set-top box (hooked up to HD LCD with HDMI)
* DVD player (HDMI)
* PS3 (HDMI)
* PS2 (Component; doesn't necessarily have to be plugged into sound system)
* VCR (Scart; definitely wouldn't need to be plugged into sound system)

Currently I've got the TV Audio Out hooked up to a small Philips stereo, which is obviously an improvement over the TV's audio, but I'd want something that can do more justice to my DVDs and Blu-rays. Since I'd rather not have wires all over my living room, the speakers (or at least the ones at the back) should be wireless.

I'm thinking of spending somewhere between $800 and $1500. I'm not the sort of audiophile who needs the biggest and best - I know that most audiophiles would probably scoff at the amount I'm willing to pay. However, I wouldn't want to get something that's just barely better than what I've got now.

What sort of system could I get for that money? Which models and makes can you recommend? Any general tips re: what to look out for and what to avoid?

Edit: while my Google Fu is relatively strong most of the time, when it comes to finding tech reviews I fail miserably. The first gazillion hits are usually sites that sell the things I'm looking for, with few, unreliable or no (user) reviews whatsoever...

bikerdude on 7/12/2009 at 10:46

Quote Posted by Thirith

I'm thinking of getting a 5.1 sound system for my TV,
I'm thinking of spending somewhere between $800 and $1500. I'm not the sort of audiophile who needs the biggest and best -

Ok You have a similar setup to what I had before I upgraded my setup.

Here is my setup

Toshiba 36ZP48 36" CRT - (component video) - (£165, already owned)
Phillips DVR 80GB HDD - (component video) - (£160 already owned)
Media PC w/ATI gfx - (component video) - (£250 just built)
Denon AVR-1906 - £350
Celestion F30 floor standing speakers - £175
Celestion F35c center speaker - £75
Celestion F15 monitor speakers + gale stands - £180
25m x 3mm(core) thick speaker cable - £38
Optical audio cable x 2 - £20
Component cable x 4 - £40
Surge/filter Protected 6way extension block - £50

Total cost, £930

The Denon switches the component video and audio from the Pc/Dvr/Spare, and outputs the video to the Tv and the sound to the 5 speakers. I don't need a sub as the F30 put out more than bass. Now in your case you need to switch Component and HDMI, so you will need the Denon AVR-1909 @ £300-499.

The amp does require some setup for the listening position(it has a special mic and an auto setup mode), but once done the quality of sound I get from this setup constantly impresses me, there have been many an occasion where I think someone is knocking at the front door or I think f*** me that's some bass :ebil:. The stereo and surround channel separation is clear and distinct, treble and bass is tight and controlled.

Ive had this setup for about 2yrs now and it still puts a smile on my face, and the taffers that turned up for the meet enjoyed how thief sounded. :cool:

Inline Image:

http://i.testfreaks.co.uk/images/products/340x170/123/denon-avr-1909.801403.jpg

Inline Image:

http://www.celestion.com/products/fseries/images/F30maple.jpg

Inline Image:

http://www.celestion.com/products/fseries/images/F15black.jpg

Inline Image:

http://www.celestion.com/products/fseries/images/F35cdarkapple.jpg

Thirith on 7/12/2009 at 10:57

That looks like a nice system! It's a bit more than I'd want to spend, mind you... :) How difficult was it to set up the whole thing? I'm sort of tending more towards an all-in-one pack - possibly with a Blu-ray player so I can play both R1 and R2 Blu-rays. (The systems with BR players don't seem to be all that much more expensive.)

bikerdude on 7/12/2009 at 11:34

Quote Posted by Thirith

It's a bit more than I'd want to spend, mind you... :) How difficult was it to set up the whole thing? I'm sort of tending more towards an all-in-one pack - possibly with a Blu-ray player

I didnt buy it all in one go, I bought the amp and front speakers first, then middle speaker then rear speakers and finally I upgraded the interconnects last, I spread the cost out over 6-9months. And as I mentioned the amp has an auto setup with a mic and as I connect all the audio digitally the DVR/PC tells the amp what Dolby mode to be in :cool:

I would seriously recommend that you DONT get an all in one system, the reason they are cheap is because they are cheap! Including a bluray player into the mix is just a sales/marketing scam - the bluray player will account for 2/3 of the price of the whole system, meaning the rest (amp/speakers) are utterly shite.

Also as a heads up, unless you have a 1080i/p tv its not really worth getting a bluray player at this time.

Thirith on 7/12/2009 at 11:57

Thanks for your recommendation - spreading out the equipment over time might be a good idea. Just to check whether I understood correctly: are your rear speakers connected by cables or are they wireless? I'm afraid that unless we move (which we won't any time soon), I won't go 5.1 (although going 2.1 might still be worth it).

P.S.: Re TV: I've got a 1080p LCD.

bikerdude on 7/12/2009 at 12:52

Quote Posted by Thirith

. Just to check whether I understood correctly: are your rear speakers connected by cables or are they wireless?

You can only connect speakers via wires, which is how I have mine connected. The 25m of quality speaker wire I bought was used to connect all the speakers. Ive never heard of wireless speakers and to be honest i wouldn't buy/use them if they did because the sound quality would be compromised. and good news on the TV then, hunt around for a quality BluRay player for under $200 then that is region free.

Thirith on 7/12/2009 at 13:05

There's a review of a (cheap) system that has wireless speakers (http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/htib/panasonic-sc-pt750) here. However, based on what they say (hit-and-miss, interference etc.), it sounds like wires would definitely be the way to go.

I'll have to look around for code-free Blu-ray players. Half a year ago when I looked around, I couldn't find any that hadn't been tampered with. Guess it's changing now - after I got my US PS3. Figures... :joke:

bikerdude on 7/12/2009 at 13:25

Quote Posted by Thirith

I'll have to look around for code-free Blu-ray players. Half a year ago when I looked around, I couldn't find any that hadn't been tampered with. Guess it's changing now - after I got my US PS3. Figures... :joke:

Hang on I forgot you had a PS3, as fas as I am aware the console is region free only the games or the BluRay discs are sometime region locked - problem solved!

Thirith on 7/12/2009 at 13:36

It's my impression that about half of all Blu-ray releases are region-locked. (The main reason why I got a US PS3, other than the cheaper price, is that there's quite a few US-specific releases, especially the Criterion Collection, that I wouldn't want to do without.)

dj_ivocha on 7/12/2009 at 13:54

Unfortunately I can't help you with the sound system as I have used headphones exclusively for the last 8 years :(

That said, I have a question - do you have an S-Video cable for your PS2? I've always wondered how big the difference is between component and S-Video.