Surround sound suggestions • Gaming • General Gaming • Eurogamer.net

coolio 22 Sep 2012 09:47:06 33 posts
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Hi everybody, I recently moved house and just got a new 51" Samsung D8000 plasma 3DTV. I decided I wanted surround sound to complete my setup but I have little knowledge of the inputs. I am currently interested in 2 products.

The 1st one is the LG BH7420P 3D Blu Ray 5.1 Channel 1100W Home Cinema System http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B007K6FZAW/ref=ox_sc_act_title_4?ie=UTF8&smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE

and the 2nd one is LG SR906B 5.1 3D Receiver System http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0054U4KHA/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_1?ie=UTF8&smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE

I'm on a pretty tight budget but I have seen positive reviews for both products. I want to ask if the 1st one will allow me to connect a PS3, Xbox 360, Blu-Ray Player, Technika SmartBox 8320HD all through HDMI cable on the back of the Samsung Plasma. Then connect an HDMI cable 1.4 through ARC on both the Samsung Plasma and the Blu-Ray home cinema player, will I get 5.1 surround sound on all devices? I know I don't really need the blu-ray player but I really like the tallboy speakers that the 1st product has otherwise I would have chosen the 2nd product if it does the same thing.

Thanks for your time

Edited by coolio at 09:52:36 22-09-2012

HandsomeCrab 22 Sep 2012 11:12:03 301 posts
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Just don't make this mistake...

Or you'll never live it down

Kostabi 22 Sep 2012 11:22:59 5,926 posts
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It's your money, but you're better off saving a little more and getting something like an entry level Onkyo 5.1 setup as it'll give you more room for upgrading speakers in the future.

There's no point spending the best part of a grand on a tv only to gimp it with low end audio.

coolio 22 Sep 2012 11:50:19 33 posts
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Thanks for the comments, I have searched for a few more products that I'm interested in. I would like your opinion on these choices.

Sony HTAS5 5.1 Channel Satellite Speaker Surround Sound System
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sony-Channel-Satellite-Speaker-Surround/dp/B003KZKSVI/ref=pd_sim_sbs_recht_2

ONKYO SKS-HT528B 5.1 Speaker Package
http://www.amazon.co.uk/ONKYO-SKS-HT528B-5-1-Speaker-Package/dp/B002LVU95W/ref=pd_sim_sbs_recht_6

Onkyo HT-X22HDX 3D Ready Ultra Compact 2.1 Home Cinema System
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Onkyo-HT-X22HDX-Compact-Cinema-System/dp/B003H9NHXI/ref=pd_sim_sbs_ce_2

So far, I'm liking the Sony HTAS5 and the Onkyo HT-X22HDX 3D Ready Ultra Compact 2.1 Home Cinema System. I don't want anything too big because my room is quite small. Are these better than the speakers I mentioned on the 1st post?

Thanks for your time.

Kostabi 22 Sep 2012 12:23:17 5,926 posts
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Have you tried browsing http://www.avforums.com/forums/all-one-systems/ for ideas? Not to fob you off with an empty answer but that place will see you right.

Sid-Nice 22 Sep 2012 13:11:30 15,848 posts
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If all devices have optical out; then purchase a home cinema system with optical in and buy an optical switch box for surround sound. Plugging games consoles into a HDMI compatible receiver could cause latency problems. This is the perfect home cinema to compliment your TV.

Edited by Sid-Nice at 13:12:01 22-09-2012

Edited by Sid-Nice at 13:13:40 22-09-2012

coolio 22 Sep 2012 13:22:38 33 posts
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@Sid-Nice That's a bit out of my budget since I only have about �220 worth of Amazon vouchers. I can spend a little but not that much. I appreciate your help though. I'm still trying to decide some speakers. I figure I don't need a blu-ray player, just better sound quality than my current TV offers.

Edited by coolio at 13:23:00 22-09-2012

BinaryBob101 22 Sep 2012 13:25:21 27,756 posts
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If your budget is tight, then I highly recommend this little baby:

http://www.tesco.com/direct/panasonic-sc-btt370ebk-51-blu-ray-home-cinema/211-9506.prd

I've had mine about six months and it's served me brilliantly, it has 3D too if you need that.

Edited by BinaryBob101 at 13:38:15 22-09-2012

BinaryBob101 22 Sep 2012 13:33:50 27,756 posts
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There's a decent review here too:

http://www.whathifi.com/review/sc-btt370

coolio 22 Sep 2012 17:12:33 33 posts
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@BinaryBob101 Looks good but I can't find stock on amazon. Thanks for the help though.

Sid-Nice 22 Sep 2012 17:58:19 15,848 posts
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An extra �146 on top of your �220 Amazon vouchers could get you this; this is basically a low end model and you only get what you pay for (unless you buy Bang and Olufsen) but for �366.14 it isn't bad.

gammonbanter 25 Oct 2012 21:18:57 2,283 posts
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Help! Do surround speakers have to be at ear level. I could mount those cute little cambride surrounds in my ceiling so nicely. They can be angled to point downwards.

peterfll 26 Oct 2012 00:12:45 494 posts
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Preferably, but essentially no. You'll still get direction buy you will be able to tell the sound is coming from above your ear level.

cjb_bjc 23 Mar 2013 15:47:56 2,144 posts
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Hi All, was thinking of starting a new thread but this will do nicely.

Moved in to a new place with existing surround sound wires available. Now need to find a package. Not too bothered about a blu-ray player as i've got my ps3 and tivo box under the telly which is plenty. That means I need a good av unit and some speakers?

Never had a surround sound system before so just looking for a little advice.

Armoured_Bear 23 Mar 2013 16:07:55 31,234 posts
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cjb_bjc wrote:
Hi All, was thinking of starting a new thread but this will do nicely.

Moved in to a new place with existing surround sound wires available. Now need to find a package. Not too bothered about a blu-ray player as i've got my ps3 and tivo box under the telly which is plenty. That means I need a good av unit and some speakers?

Never had a surround sound system before so just looking for a little advice.

What's your budget?

cjb_bjc 23 Mar 2013 17:15:20 2,144 posts
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�200-300

Deleted user 23 March 2013 17:26:58

How fortuitous! I also wish to hijack the thread!

We're replacing our 26" Panasonic LCD with the 37" Panasonic LED in the next week or so.

John Lewis are knocking �50 off if you buy the Panasonic 2.1 "Soundbar" sound system.

Is this worth having? Will it improve our gaming & TV watching or is it a complete waste of money? It has heaps of good reviews on the site.

http://m.johnlewis.com/mt/www.johnlewis.com/panasonic-sc-htb20eb-2-1-sound-bar/p231609934

Cheers, knowledgeable gamers!

cjb_bjc 23 Mar 2013 17:33:18 2,144 posts
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At the moment this seems to be my favourite

http://www.richersounds.com/product/speaker-packages/onkyo/hts3505/onky-hts3505-blk

Btw @EMarkM your links a little messed up, that seems a lot of money for what it is, looks nice tho.

Deleted user 23 March 2013 17:36:36

@cjb_bjc Posting from 'phone; never easy!

Any advice offered on above kit and alternatives welcome

cjb_bjc 23 Mar 2013 17:47:49 2,144 posts
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@EMarkM so I'm guessing you have no surround sound system set up already then? As i mentioned luckily already have all the cables around the walls so makes sense to go 5.1, but if you just want a quick way to make the sound better then that would definitely make it sound crisper.

With �50 off that makes it �165 which is �15-25 cheaper then getting it online. So upto you. Matching it to your tv is also important!

Deleted user 23 March 2013 18:55:21

@cjb_bjc Cheers: no existing set up, and need to keep things simple, do it does look like a good option.

Good luck with your own setup!

Scurrminator 23 Mar 2013 19:40:26 9,045 posts
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Another vote for Onkyo here. Fantastic kit and great value for money!!!

cjb_bjc 25 Mar 2013 21:46:58 2,144 posts
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So after a few days careful consideration I have decided upon an absolute beast of a package.

A Onkyo TX-NR515 with the Boston AcousticsSoundware 5.1 XS SE.

Its quite a bit over my original budget, but damn, why not eh?

I've gone for these speakers because the lady has requested something silver or white... and to be fair there is nothing else worth it at the price.

Amp
Speakers

Edited by cjb_bjc at 21:48:26 25-03-2013

Armoured_Bear 25 Mar 2013 21:58:37 31,234 posts
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cjb_bjc wrote:
So after a few days careful consideration I have decided upon an absolute beast of a package.

A Onkyo TX-NR515 with the Boston AcousticsSoundware 5.1 XS SE.

Its quite a bit over my original budget, but damn, why not eh?

I've gone for these speakers because the lady has requested something silver or white... and to be fair there is nothing else worth it at the price.

Amp
Speakers

Good choice, I was going to suggest something similar.
It's well worth the extra.

this

cjb_bjc 2 Apr 2013 19:40:15 2,144 posts
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So I decided upon the 515 and some Wharfedale DX-1's instead, the 5.1 Bostons are not the same speaker used in the 2.1 that has been getting all these rave reviews, so I opted for something a little more chunky but still in white. Hoping to get it by the end of the week! Excited much!

Deleted user 2 April 2013 19:44:34

I don't know if Richer Sounds are still doing it, but I got the Yamaha YHT-196 for �169.� Only does hd sound via pcm I think but that's fine if you have a ps3.� Has 3d pass through and generally looks and sounds great.�

THFourteen 2 Apr 2013 20:03:05 54,987 posts
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I recommend these, they are what I bought years ago

cjb_bjc 2 Apr 2013 21:27:05 2,144 posts
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My main problem now is trying to find a decent set of wall brackets. Gah, I've opted for these as the speakers are only 1.4kg each.

Brateck Brackets

I'm a little skeptical as there are no reviews anywhere but I need something that is very close to the wall and can tilt as my wires are already placed around the room.

gammonbanter 3 Jun 2013 22:32:42 2,283 posts
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Is it OK to mount rear L + R surround speakers in the ceiling?

These look cool

One AVF thread said they would be no good when used as surrounds, why!?

Edited by gammonbanter at 22:33:23 03-06-2013

Deleted user 3 June 2013 22:45:29

Doubt it'd make a bit of difference, as long as the sound arrives at your ears at the right time, uncorrupted.