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Home cinema systems

Hi,

Just wondering if anyone can help on home cinema systems.

I have an LG flat screen tv bought earlier this year. What's the view on home cinema systems - Do they greatly improve the sound of the tv.

Is it best to keep to the same make that the tv is?

Is something like this... http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/lg-ht305su-5-1-ch-home-cinema-system-04895302-pdt.html

Worth the money?

Does it just plug in the backof the tv?

Any help, much appreciated. Thank you.

Comments

  • almillar
    almillar Posts: 8,621 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    edited 16 December 2010 at 1:49PM
    CRT screens have plenty of space for decent speakers, flatscreens don't, so the sound is bound to be worse (but OK for speech etc I suppose). Therefore yes, a speaker package can improve the sound greatly.
    But maybe we need some joined up thinking - what do you listen to music through? If it's a seperates system, you just need to upgrade the amp and add some speakers.
    This system is simple enough to connect, 1 HDMI cable between it and TV, but I can't see an input for the TV to go into?!! That's just mad. Definitely don't buy as it will be no good for TV programmes.
    You can buy a well featured HDMI equipped Dolby Digital amp from Richer Sounds for £150. You can use any existing speakers that just take normal speaker cable, you can do without a sub (£100) or centre speaker (say £100 again) for a while, meaning you need 2 front (as good as you can - use normal hifi ones) and 2 rears (start with any old muck from an old mini system if you want) and this will sound better, and be more expandable, than the LG system. If you have a PS3 you've also got a Blu Ray player and DVD player with upscaling. If the £150 is your top budget, then have a look around for second hand stuff.
  • fwor
    fwor Posts: 6,845 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    As almillar says, avoid the one you linked to - it doesn't appear to have any external digital inputs.

    There's no real reason to buy something made by LG - the standards for AV are good enough that any other well-known make should be fine.

    Check the outputs on your TV and you will almost certainly find that it will have a digital out - either coaxial or optical. Then get yourself an AV receiver/amplifier - such as those sold relatively cheaply by Richer - with a matching input. If you're planning ahead, get one with additional digital inputs for a blu-ray player, HD freeview box, etc.
  • Wow that's confused me! Can you give me some more info on what's missing from the system I linked to in laymans terms! Sorry not very technical. Plan was just for watching tv / dvd's.

    Thank you.
  • jayme1
    jayme1 Posts: 2,154 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    if you have freeview/virgin/sky/freesat/ps3/xbox you will need another digital input on the back of the cinema system to get 5.1 sound from those devices.

    if you take this one as an example, it has 2 HDMI inputs (for say a TV box and a games console) with one HDMI to pass through the video to the TV, and it has an optical in for any other device (eg a DVD player) where only the sound is done on the 5.1 and the video go straight from the player to the TV.
    note it doesn't have an inbuilt DVD player but that is often best as if the DVD player bit breaks you are not left with useless speakers, and if it has no inbuilt player then it is more futureproof along with having more audio inputs.

    it depends on what you are looking to connect to the 5.1?

    ps if you were going to buy that one you linked buy it from here
  • Hammyman
    Hammyman Posts: 9,913 Forumite
    edited 16 December 2010 at 5:00PM
    Hi,

    Just wondering if anyone can help on home cinema systems.

    I have an LG flat screen tv bought earlier this year. What's the view on home cinema systems - Do they greatly improve the sound of the tv.

    Ininitely.
    Is it best to keep to the same make that the tv is?
    No.
    Jesus hell, no. I wouldn't even buy Saddam Hussein that stinking pile of dross. Those speakers look like something from the 99p stall at the local Sunday car boot. For something worthwhile, think £400+ for a seperate AV and speakers. Richer Sounds has some good Onkyo Surround Sound AV amps and decent speakers.

    Get one of these or similar:
    http://www.richersounds.com/product/av-receivers/onkyo/txsr308/onky-txsr308-blk

    and use these or similar on it:
    http://www.richersounds.com/product/speaker-packages/onkyo/sksht528/onky-sksht528-blk

    Spend the most money on the best speakers you can afford as you'll notice if you skimp on those. A good speaker can make a poor amplifier sound good but the best amplifier can't make a crappy speaker any better.
    Does it just plug in the backof the tv?
    Not if you want proper surround sound. Plug Sky box into it with optical cable or HDMI and likewise your DVD player, games console.
  • spike7451
    spike7451 Posts: 6,944 Forumite
    Hammyman wrote: »
    Ininitely.


    No.

    Jesus hell, no. I wouldn't even buy Saddam Hussein that stinking pile of dross. Those speakers look like something from the 99p stall at the local Sunday car boot. For something worthwhile, think £400+ for a seperate AV and speakers. Richer Sounds has some good Onkyo Surround Sound AV amps and decent speakers.

    Get one of these or similar:
    http://www.richersounds.com/product/av-receivers/onkyo/txsr308/onky-txsr308-blk

    and use these or similar on it:
    http://www.richersounds.com/product/speaker-packages/onkyo/sksht528/onky-sksht528-blk

    Spend the most money on the best speakers you can afford as you'll notice if you skimp on those. A good speaker can make a poor amplifier sound good but the best amplifier can't make a crappy speaker any better.

    Not if you want proper surround sound. Plug Sky box into it with optical cable or HDMI and likewise your DVD player, games console.

    I have to agree with Hammy here,Richersounds are imho,the best place to buy cinema/AV systems.I have always bought from them,the staff know what they are on about & you can get some good kit at cheap prices.
    Heck,when I bought my Teac 6.1 cinema system,I was looking at a more expensive system but the salesman suggested a cheaper & better alternative in the Teac & with the money I saved,I was able to buy a new sub woofer.
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