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buying home cinema systems

We have an LG hd tv (can't remember model number - sorry) and the sound is pretty naff so we want to buy a home cinema system or something to improve it. Am an absolute novice at this and have no idea whatsoever about what we need/want! We don't want to spend much more than £200 but don't want to buy something naff either. All the ones I can find at places like argos/comet etc have a dvd player with them, well we already have a dvd recorder that we are quite happy with, do I really need one with the cinema system or is there a different way for us to go about getting better sound. We have sky hd, don't know if that makes any difference to anything, also play on xbox and sometimes stream bbc iplayer through it, so would like decent sound from that - is this something that is possible?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.
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Comments

  • KillerWatt
    KillerWatt Posts: 1,655 Forumite
    edited 18 October 2010 pm31 6:42PM
    We don't want to spend much more than £200 but don't want to buy something naff either. All the ones I can find at places like argos/comet etc have a dvd player with them,
    The "all in one's" that come with a DVD player only have the ability to play true 5.1 when the DVD is used, anything else will be 2 channel analogue stereo.

    Unfortunately your budget of £200 is not going to get you a 5.1 system that sounds anywhere near decent IMO, although it will get you a half reasonable amplifier but you still need the speakers to go with it.

    The main issue (apart from money) is what you call "decent" sound, I personally wasn't happy until I'd laid out £1200 on a subwoofer alone.
    Remember kids, it's the volts that jolt and the mills that kill.
  • Get the Q-TV2 - yes, a little more expensive, but the sound is absolutely fantastic for such a small form-factor. Best purchase I've made all year.

    http://www.whathifi.com/Review/Q-Acoustics-Q-TV2/
  • KillerWatt
    KillerWatt Posts: 1,655 Forumite
    kutsu119 wrote: »
    Get the Q-TV2 - yes, a little more expensive, but the sound is absolutely fantastic for such a small form-factor. Best purchase I've made all year.

    http://www.whathifi.com/Review/Q-Acoustics-Q-TV2/
    The OP wants home cinema, 2.1 is not even close.
    Remember kids, it's the volts that jolt and the mills that kill.
  • amcluesent
    amcluesent Posts: 9,425 Forumite
    edited 18 October 2010 pm31 6:50PM
    IMHO, for £200 you risk naffness or need to look at buying 2nd hand from eBay.

    Amazon have the well-reviewed Sony all-in-one with bluray at £320. Having bluray and upscaling means you're getting something more than your DVD player and using the HD TV to it's potential. This also have iPlayer build in.

    At this price, you don't get HDMI switching in the unit, so it's only viable if your TV has enough inputs for everything to be connected on HMDI or component.
  • KillerWatt wrote: »
    The OP wants home cinema, 2.1 is not even close.

    I think s/he said that "she has no idea what she wants" actually.

    But, by all means, get a crap 5.1 plastic system.
  • KillerWatt
    KillerWatt Posts: 1,655 Forumite
    kutsu119 wrote: »
    I think s/he said that "she has no idea what she wants" actually.
    That's not what the original post says.
    Remember kids, it's the volts that jolt and the mills that kill.
  • KillerWatt wrote: »
    That's not what the original post says.

    the sound is pretty naff so we want to buy a home cinema system or something to improve it. Am an absolute novice at this and have no idea whatsoever about what we need/want

    Pretty similar to me..

    Recommending Denon seperates or £1200 subwoofers or £300 kettle leads or whatever is fine, but probably not what the OP is after as an absolute novice :shrug:
  • money_saving_mummy_2
    money_saving_mummy_2 Posts: 57 Forumite
    edited 18 October 2010 pm31 9:27PM
    Didn't want to start a huge debate - sorry guys! We really don't have vast quantities to spend and are not that technically minded, just want some depth to the sound and if we're going to spend some money, might as well have home cinema style sound. Have not been bothered by blu ray but if we could get it we might as well.

    amcluesent - thank you for that link, (Amazon have the well-reviewed Sony all-in-one with bluray at £320. Having bluray and upscaling means you're getting something more than your DVD player and using the HD TV to it's potential. This also have iPlayer build in.) don't know how to do links sorry
    have had a look around about it, and it seems like a pretty good deal, whathifi sound and vision rate it pretty highly, I like the fact that it is a bluray player and that we could use it for iplayer, and we could get it for just over £300 - yes more than we originally wanted to spend, but might be worth waiting a bit longer for it, could spend £270 on an lg highly recommended by whathifi but it's not a bluray player and I actually don't like the tall speakers that much - what do you all think - without getting too deep into technical debate!

    thanks guys
    x
  • Coopdivi
    Coopdivi Posts: 3,412 Forumite
    Try somewhere like Richer Sounds. They have a decent range and knowledgable sales assistants.

    This speaker package costs £180. It's available instore only but there's probably a branch near to you.

    http://www.richersounds.com/product/speaker-packages/jamo/a102-hcs5/jamo-a102-blk
  • googler
    googler Posts: 16,103 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Go to Richer Sounds and get a Stereo HiFi Amplifier and pair of speakers.

    That will get you 'decent sound' and then you can decide later on if you want 'Home Cinema' sound....
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