Best place to Buy

fran426ft

I'm looking for some recommendations on where to look for or buy a decent Home cinema Receiver and Speakers. My budget is approx €600-€800. Both Packages and separates are up for consideration. Primary use will be for TV, DVD, Xbox360 and Music.

If someone can make model recommendations it would be great otherwise just more info on where I should look would be appreciated. Online stores or shops in either Cork or Dublin would be preferable.

I’ve been looking at Komplett.ie and Pixmania also checked out Harvey Normans in Cork at the weekend but still looking for the best option.

Thanks for any advice and help.

Kintarō Hattori

Yamaha RXV-359 Receiver - A great piece of kit for the price
http://www.peats.com/cgi-bin/test_new/catalog.cgi?view_product=1&id=9557&sid=10&cid=123&scid=5488

JBL SCS200.5 Surround Speakers
http://www.peats.com/cgi-bin/test_new/catalog.cgi?view_product=1&id=8183&sid=10&cid=123&scid=4373

KEF KHT1005 Surround Speakers
http://www.peats.com/cgi-bin/test_new/catalog.cgi?view_product=1&id=9614&sid=10&cid=123&scid=4373

Jamo A102HCS5 Surround Speakers
http://www.peats.com/cgi-bin/test_new/catalog.cgi?view_product=1&id=9643&sid=10&cid=123&scid=4373

Any of the speaker's above are excellent surround speakers. Of course you can get better and you can get cheaper but they offer excellent value for money.

The Yamaha amp is a nice piece of kit. It allows for a set of 5.1 surround speakers and sub, and it also allows you to connect a seperate set of stereo speakers.
It's HD compatible with 2 component video outputs.

colmranger

Sorry for butting in here but i am wondering is an amplifier essential if i have a PS3 and a HD tv with an optical cable and sockets a vailable?

L31mr0d

I'm also very interested in this subject. Going to be setting up a surround sound system at home next month and wondering how to go about it.

How exactly do you go about setting up multiple devices to run off the one 5.1 sound system? I'm going to have my HTPC, my DVD player, my CD Player and my TV hooked up to this system.

Is this how it works:

I have my 5.1 Speakers connected to a A/V Receiver then I have all my audio output devices connected into the receiver. Now will this receiver automatically switch between between audio sources or does it have a remote for doing so?

Slaphead07

colmranger wrote:

Sorry for butting in here but i am wondering is an amplifier essential if i have a PS3 and a HD tv with an optical cable and sockets a vailable?

I'm not familiar with the PS3 but... the optical out is audio and therefore would have to go through an amp and on to the speakers. For picture I presume there's HDMI (or similar) out of the PS3 which can connect directly with the TV.

Slaphead07

L31mr0d wrote:

I have my 5.1 Speakers connected to a A/V Receiver then I have all my audio output devices connected into the receiver. Now will this receiver automatically switch between between audio sources or does it have a remote for doing so?

Well you'll have to switch via the manual - that's normal!

Your DVD and HTPC should be connected digitally (optical or coaxial) so you can have the 5.1 sound they're capabale of.

The CD and TV can be connected to the amp with standard stereo RCA phono interconnects.
You could, if you have a 3rd digital socket on the amp, connect the CD player throught the optical or coaxial circuit but there's no real gain in that, it makes no difference unless you're going through a beefier DAC and I'm guessing you're not.

mathias

You can buy online from here or if you have the time drive up to Belfast , you will get a better deal here than you will from Peats in my experience ,

http://www.richersounds.ie/asp/category.asp?ObjectID=938&Mode=0&CategoryID=3

With a good AV reciever you input all your devices to the reciever and this then outputs to the speakers and the TV , lots of recievers have HDMI switching these days also , along with component switching etc , Details on how to hook up are always included with the manual , just make sure that the unit has enough inputs for you.

There is always a remote for source switching , no worries there !!

Slaphead07

mathias wrote:

You can buy online from here or if you have the time drive up to Belfast , you will get a better deal here than you will from Peats in my experience

If you're going to Belfast then try www.lyrichifi.co.uk on the Lisburn Road first. Lots of demo/second hand speaker sets and indeed amp/dvd players. See http://www.lyrichifi.com/specials.htm obviously the prices are sterling.

L31mr0d

How much should I be looking to budget for a decent receiver and 5.1 speaker set? Also how will I connect up my PC to the reciever? will it allow for 3 jacks coming out from my PC (rear, side, central) into the reciever or do I need some sort of adapter?

Slaphead07

L31mr0d wrote:

How much should I be looking to budget for a decent receiver and 5.1 speaker set? Also how will I connect up my PC to the reciever? will it allow for 3 jacks coming out from my PC (rear, side, central) into the reciever or do I need some sort of adapter?

The budget is up to yourself. Basically you'll get what you pay for.

Somebody else will have to advise on connecting the PC to the amp but I would think that's down to your sound card and video card. If you want 5.1 sound from your PC ensure your sound card can deliver it (optical or coaxial output is simplest) and that you amp in compatible with whatever outputs your sound card has.

L31mr0d

ok whats confusing me a little is the need for video inputs into the receiver.

At the moment I have all my video connection going into the plethora of sockets on the back of my HDTV, is there anyway to just get a box for handling audio? I mean I have 2 HDMI outputs and i'd rather not have to spend extra money buying a receiver that has the ability to output HDMI when I could just hook the video up to the TV directly and have the sound routed through the receiver. Is this possible?

Slaphead07

L31mr0d wrote:

ok whats confusing me a little is the need for video inputs into the receiver.

You don't need to, and I never have. I suppose there's an advantage if you input a few HD componants to an amp and only have one output to a TV but personnaly I've always connected directly.

L31mr0d

what i'm wondering is does HDMI transmit audio like coaxial? Is that why theres a need for video inputs or is it like phono with a seperate audio cable? I'm pretty new to setting up HDMI.

EDIT: Never mind, did a quick wiki search and supposedly it is like coax, transmitting audio and video, looks like i'll need a HDMI capable receiver then. The reason I asked was because when connecting my PC via HDMI the audio is seperate, I didn't know if this was the norm or not.

Could you recommend a good reciever that will take hdmi and jack inputs. I don't even know what I should be looking for when comparing them. What are some known good brands of recievers?

The Ritz

Also how will I connect up my PC to the reciever? will it allow for 3 jacks coming out from my PC (rear, side, central) into the reciever or do I need some sort of adapter?

- you don't need to do this - you should set your soundcard to output SPDiF and connect it directly to the digital "in" on the AV receiver, either through an RCA or an optical interconnect (depending on whether your soundcard has optical out.

Most Soundblaster/Audigy cards have a setting in the soundcard software not to use the cards onboard decoding, but to output a digital signal - they do this through the first socket on the soundcard. You connect an RCA lead to the soundcard using one of these:

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=34197&criteria=adaptor&doy=16m5

If you're using dvd-playing software (Powerdvd etc.) make sure it is set to output SPDiF as well in the audio configuration settings.

Ritz.

L31mr0d

The Ritz wrote:

- you don't need to do this - you should set your soundcard to output SPDiF and connect it directly to the digital "in" on the AV receiver, either through an RCA or an optical interconnect (depending on whether your soundcard has optical out.

Most Soundblaster/Audigy cards have a setting in the soundcard software not to use the cards onboard decoding, but to output a digital signal - they do this through the first socket on the soundcard. You connect an RCA lead to the soundcard using one of these:

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=34197&criteria=adaptor&doy=16m5

If you're using dvd-playing software (Powerdvd etc.) make sure it is set to output SPDiF as well in the audio configuration settings.

Ritz.

Could you explain how this is going to work for 5.1 surround sound? Also, i'm planning on using the onboard sound as its reviewed as pretty good. It doesn't have an optical out connection though, so i'd have to connect via RCA. Whats confusing me though is that to get 5.1 surround sound the pc outputs on 3 audio channels coming out of the jacks. Which jack would I connect the RCA adapter into to get full 5.1 surround sound out to the reciever?

bucks73

There are two ways to transfer 5.1 from PC to receiver. The first is using either an optical or digital audio coaxial like one of these:

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=35926&C=Maplin&U=SearchTop&T=DIGITAL%20COAXIAL&doy=18m5

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=35921&C=Maplin&U=SearchTop&T=DIGITAL%20OPTICAL&doy=18m5

These both transfer the data to the receiver where it is then decoded.

This is what a 5.1 sound card should look like or similar:

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=38018&criteria=5.1%20rca&doy=18m5

The other way 5.1 sound is transferred is by analogue means using phono leads. You need 6 separate cables for the 6 channels and the decoding must be done onboard the DVD player or PC.

If your sound card does not have an optical or coaxial out then it is probably not a 5.1 sound card. You would then use a 3mm to Phono lead such as this:

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=35928&C=Maplin&U=SearchTop&T=3MM%20TO%20PHONO&doy=18m5

L31mr0d

The motherboard I have is this one: Asrock 939NF6G-VSTA

On the specs for it says it has:

7.1 CH Windows® Vista™ Premium Level HD Audio (ALC888 Audio Codec)

I had a look in the manual and i've a attached a picture of what the sound ports look like. So I need to get 3 x 3mm jack to phono cables for the center, front and rear speakers. Would most receivers take the 6 phono cables coming off these 3 x 3mm jack outputs?

Should I invest in a sound card, if so which one would suit my needs. I'm only going to need a basic one with optical out.

L31mr0d

Currently looking into getting these speakers on adverts: Logitech Z-5500 5.1

What would be the difference between these and the ones on richer sounds? Why don't the likes of PEATs or richer sounds offer logitech sound systems?

Slaphead07

L31mr0d wrote:

Currently looking into getting these speakers on adverts: Logitech Z-5500 5.1

What would be the difference between these and the ones on richer sounds? Why don't the likes of PEATs or richer sounds offer logitech sound systems?

Logitech are PC speakers rather than Hifi. Certainly ok for PC use but they don't have the range or power to provide a decent home cinema or music solution.

L31mr0d

I can't find specs anywhere, but do home cinema speakers have phono connections rather than 3mm jacks?

Slaphead07

That's a very general question but, in general, "proper" speakers will have proper binding posts/terminals. Cheaper speakers may have spring clips to take cable but, by their nature, they can only take thin cable.

FrankGrimes

I'm looking for a similar setup - a 5.1 system to take optical audio output from my HTPC, xbox 360, and also run the normal TV sound. Was looking at computer speakers, but now think one of these 3 might suit my needs:

Yamaha
Denon
JVC

Are there any distinguishing factors that would make one of these 3 more suitable for my needs than the others or is it just down to taste and quality?

I defo need floorstands but can't figure out how to find the floorstands that go with the above - any tips?

Slaphead07

FrankGrimes wrote:

I defo need floorstands but can't figure out how to find the floorstands that go with the above - any tips?

Why do you think you need floorstanders? You probably don't (I'm speaking generally of course) need them and if you're looking at those all-in-one systems then why would you buy additional speakers anyway?

If one of those systems will do then start with that and if you really need to upgrade the speakers later on then address that then - of course the amp in those systems isn't really up to driving big speakers so bear that in mind.
Really, decide now if you want a one box system or separates - they're quite different routes to take.

BTW, of the three listed I'd go for the Yamaha.

FrankGrimes

Thanks Slaphead - my mistake - by floorstanders I was thinking I could just buy stands for the Yamaha speakers that come with that package to sit on.

I wanted to go with floorstands cos the room is pretty small and speakers sitting out on the floor would look muck and the rear ones will essentially be on either side of a corner boxed in by couches so having them at seating height would be ideal.

Reckon I might just buy that Yamaha (defo if I can add on stands) cos I don't think I need anything very powerful.

Slaphead07

FrankGrimes wrote:

Thanks Slaphead - my mistake - by floorstanders I was thinking I could just buy stands for the Yamaha speakers that come with that package to sit on.

I wanted to go with floorstands cos the room is pretty small and speakers sitting out on the floor would look muck and the rear ones will essentially be on either side of a corner boxed in by couches so having them at seating height would be ideal.

Reckon I might just buy that Yamaha (defo if I can add on stands) cos I don't think I need anything very powerful.

you can buy 'universal' stands in Argos. Having those kind of "speakers sitting out on the floor" would be terrible - muffled bass and poor detail - put the fronts and the rears on stands and you'll get the best out of a system like that. Do it once properly and then sit back and enjoy.

Just looking at the Yamaha speakers again they look neat enough to put on any stand, you could hold them in place using double sided trim tape from a motor factors (it's used for holding trim on cars) and I'd be inclined to put those speakers sideways on stands...

FrankGrimes

Thanks again Slaphead.

It seems Peter Tyson and most other UK sites don't deliver to Ireland.

I reckon I'm going to buy the Yamaha RXV361 from here and then get separate speakers.

This Samsung set look good to me as does this Samsung set.

The fact that 4 of the speakers are floorstanders might make this LG set worth stretching my budget.

Would these systems suit, and can I just take the DVD player out of the loop and connect these speakers directly to the AV receiver?

I'd buy some of these speakers stands from Argos so if I don't get floorstanding speakers.

L31mr0d

Just to conclude, I ended up buying the logitech Z5500 set off a guy on adverts. Maybe my sitting room isn't big enough but this thing works perfect for me. I couldn't imagine having anything larger or louder. I realised I'd only really need a setup that would work with my PC as it will be used for playing DVDs and watching TV through. Plus the Logitech unit also allows for a coax and optical input as well.

Maybe i'm not the audiophile I thought I was but this sound system is clear and crisp even when the sub and surround is turned up to the max. Watched an IMAX 5.1 clip of some formula 1 racing and I was blown away.

For a modest sitting room (i.e. 20ft x 10ft) this setup is more than enough. The sub alone will take up half the room anyway