[willhollin]

Can anyone advise on a surround system -

I have

42" Panasonic Plasma
PS3 (HDMI)
Xbox 360 (HDMI)
Sky Plus (Probably getting Freesat HD soon)

Not looking to spend hundreds, but would like to take advantage of the Blu-Ray so need optical input???

[jonsteele]

You wouldn't go wrong with an Onkyo SR606 Amp. You'd need a speaker set too, but that will depend on your room decor (and other half!!!) - I use a KEF set up (small speakers) and I'm really impressed with it.

You don't need optical to take advantage of the Blu-Ray, HDMI will give you the best results.

[jjbirch]

i have a LG dvd surround system, hooked up with the PS3 too,came with the TV when i brought i last year, i must say i am very happy with it, i know its not the best out there, eg bose, or other makes, but when i put blur ray into PS3 its a nice sound to watch the movie too, there are different models out now, priced about £120-200, its not a bad price to start off with

[MOB]

Have a look at Richer Sounds website

[Cafe.Racer]

There's a lot of things connected via HDMI with that little lot, so your choice will be a bit limited.

What's your budget? For the price, I can't fault my Cambridge Audio 340R and Canton speakers...

[willhollin]

Budget, up to £200?

Am I dreaming, I don't need all of the devices to connect via HDMI, probably the PS3 and Freesat HD at the most.

[jjbirch]

oh and remember if you have a joining house remember the neighbour next door my first home i had a had a right twat next to me with a good sound system, could hear it all the time, so i moved in 3 months lol,

[medrep]

Try Creative Audio (google them) in shrewsbury, they offer packages which may suit you?

The PS3 is a great machine, you'll need HDMI into your plasma, then optical into the receiver. Or HDMI straight into reciever then HDMI to plasma.

You may get more bang for your buck buying 2nd hand or ex demo. Try sevenoaks soundanvision & audioexcellence/audio t, they are currently doing loads of ex dem gear. Hififorsale.com or avforums is also another.

Just check that the receiver you are buying can decode the latest HD blu ray surround sound formats, if that bothers you of course?

[- Paul -]

v cheap and hdmi

http://www.currys.co.uk/product.php?...=OfferoftheDay

[- Paul -]

http://www.play.com/Electronics/Elec...tem&P36=BVTSM6

[- Paul -]

http://www.empiredirect.co.uk/conten...9&awid=60612#_

[- Paul -]

Bit more expensive

http://www.empiredirect.co.uk/conten...119&awid=60612

[alcook]

Unless you're happy to get locked into a totally limited package, then I'd forget the 'kit / package range' of AV Systems. Some of these will 'just' scrape through the AV / Home Theatre definition and get you on the bottom rung of the ladder (Yam AV63 pack) whilst others (shouting 5.1 surround and loads of power like the Sony DAV-DAZ230) will simply get you a virtually useless system that has no digital inputs / outputs and effectively replays TV stereo through 5 speakers. 5.1 my arse (Unless you're playing direct from its internal DVD in Standard Definition.....)

If you want to at least future proof yourself to be able use the 2 or 3 digital inputs for your sources (games machines, DVD, Freesat Box), have a reasonable amount of HD audio and HD video (Blu Ray) capability, be able to handle a wide range of inputs and outputs for other items like movie cameras or PC's and be able to replay, upscale and reproduce these with minimal fuss and do it all well (and with a good selection of differing audio modes) then you really need to be looking at a dedicated AV Amp such as the Sony STRDG820 for £229 as a minimum or for a few bob more the Denon 1909 or the Yamaha DSPAX763. Both for £299 ish. You will need some (5) speakers (£60 for some Yamaha's) and assorted cables (3 HDMI, couple of optical TOSLink cables and some cheapish speaker wire to start off with for about £35)....

You can go cheaper, but again, you'll be kicking yourself when you realise that you're not getting the full potential from your sources because you saved £50.

You really are not getting the full benefit form your excellent sources with the PS3 sound (games and HD movie) and the HD TV pic & sound (when you get Freesat HD) being watsed at the moment...

Richer Sounds are doing some great offers at the mo on Amps and Speakers and the cables can be got of Amazon for silly prices.... £4 for a 1m HDMI....

[- Paul -]

Couldn't agree more - the budget Will set says otherwise though.

[willhollin]

Originally Posted by - Paul -

Couldn't agree more - the budget Will set says otherwise though.

Will just have to rip some more OAPs off then.

[alcook]

Originally Posted by - Paul -

Couldn't agree more - the budget Will set says otherwise though.

The budget wasn't a million miles off and the potential to fall for something within that budget would have been a waste of £200; so it was worth the effort

Obviously there's second hand:

• http://www.adverts.hififorsale.com/home.asp
• http://www.avforums.com/forums/ampli...ified-adverts/

but the point I was trying to get across was that the only 'proper' entry point for new kit to make the best of the sources was about £300 (for all the kit).