5.1 surround sound - set up?

swebb

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3016256

Seen this post and I'm interested in getting the system.

I'm a 5.1 novice and so a couple questions:

1) I have a TV, blu ray player and sky. Where does the home cinema system need to connect? does it connect via HDMI into the TV?

2) Is this likely to have everything i.e. all cables and connections?

Toxteth_OGrady

This is only the speakers. You need to pair them with a suitable AV receiver (amplifier). Bluray and Sky will have HDMI input to the AVR and the AVR will have a single HDMI output to the TV. Speakers will connect to the AVR for the 5.1 sound. Something like this:

http://www.audiovisualonline.co.uk/dynamic/eshop_products.set/ref/3523/boston-acoustics-soundware-xs-5.1-speakers-and-onkyo-tx-sr508-av-receiver-bundle-with-free-cable-pack/display.html?utm_source=Froogle&utm_medium=Froogle&utm_content=BASW-508&utm_campaign=Froogle

trets77

they are just the speakers you will need a half decent cinema amp like the Onkyo posted above / below . local Richer Sounds is best bet if you want a demo and a good price and warranty .for speakers like that and buying new , i would say this is minimum entry level .

http://www.richersounds.com/product/av-receivers/onkyo/txsr308/onky-txsr308-blk

i have a big brother Onkyo amp ( cost £1k new ) , and it really is the business . i would certainly not skimp on a model that does not have Onkyo's Audyssey auto sound level set up on it ( or similar from different make ) . it really is worth it so the Amp can set up all your levels and delays just perfect for the room using a microphone . This is very difficult to do on your own , unless you know how.

http://www.richersounds.com/product/av-receivers/onkyo/txsr508/onky-txsr508-blk

Audyssey set up video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNEnIKV2How


you will also need

some reasonable Quality speaker wire of this quality for the centre and front surrounds

http://www.richersounds.com/product/speaker-cables/qed/silver-anniversaryxt/qed-sil-anniv-xt-cab

you can get something a cheaper for the rears IMO . the rears will probably need a longer run of wire . this stuff is good for hiding under skirting boards ect

http://www.richersounds.com/product/speaker-cables/qed/micro/qed-micro

a suitable interconnect for amp to subwoofer

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/QED-Qunex-P75-Digital-coaxial-cable-/270699134779?pt=UK_Computing_CablesConnectors_RL&hash=item3f06ecff3b#ht_500wt_1071

also not essential , but certainly desirable are good quality terminations for the speaker cable going into the back of the Amp ( prevents loose connections and potentially Amp destroying Short circuits )

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/QED-SCREWLOC-Gold-4mm-BANANA-PLUGS-Connectors-Qunex-x-4-/290520900306?pt=UK_Computing_CablesConnectors_RL&hash=item43a46522d2#ht_1982wt_822

and if you can afford it . good terminations for the cable going into back of your speakers . i prefer Spades for Speakers

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/QED-Screwloc-7mm-10mm-Spade-Plugs-Pack-4-/230573942283?pt=UK_Computing_CablesConnectors_RL&hash=item35af47260b#ht_3278wt_1056


then for hooking up devices . plumb your Blu Ray into the back of the Amp using existing HDMI ( this will send Hi def picture and Hi def sound to the amp ) . then get new HDMI for Amp to TV . Onkyo amp will output Picture to TV ( after you have set it up right) and surround sound to Speakers . this video will show you what i mean

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbneBSSfRkk&feature=related



not getting into the can of worms about expensive HDMI leads , but i find these totally decent for £5

http://www.thatcable.com/

unless you want your Amp on all the time you watch SKY TV ( in which case just plumb your sky box in via HDMI as above ) , you will need a digital cable from Sky box into Amp for when you want 5.1 on . most Sky boxes only have a Optical . cheap one from Ebay will probably suffice

http://electronics.shop.ebay.co.uk/DVD-Home-Cinema-/32852/i.html?_nkw=optical&_catref=1&_dmpt

i use one of these

http://www.hificables.co.uk/11628/True-Colour-Industries-Coral-Optical-Cable.html?referrer=froogle&utm_source=google&utm_medium=froogle&utm_campaign=pid11628


can be a expensive hobby ...real home cinema ( as opposed to cheap and crappy one box solutions for the masses from Argos ) , but you can make BIG savings if you know what to look for , and will reap the benefits when you have a decent system .