Surround sound Question from a Dummy!

scheming_gypsy

it's only 2.1 though so you won't get the surround sound

scheming_gypsy

For £30 more than your budget you could go

http://www.richersounds.com/product/av-receivers/sony/strdh510/sony-strdh510

http://www.richersounds.com/product/speaker-packages/yamaha/nsp285/yama-nsp285-blk


I started off similar and then just bought some full sized Mission speakers.

callistris

Most optical outputs if present on a tv only output in 2.0 stereo, so you won't get surround sound that way;)

OP go the AV receiver and speaker package route that SG posted about, as you will have plenty of audio and video inputs to connect your whole house upto it nearly:)

Also if the AV amp allows sound via the hdmi, you wont need to connect up the optical cable from the ps3, just adjust your settings on the ps3 to output audio and video via hdmi:)

Hammyman

madcal87 wrote: »

I can't check at the moment (at work) but if my tv has optical out - then all I need to do is connect that to the back of the DVD HOME CINEMA SYSTEM ?!

Thanks

No. The TV will only pass on stereo sound, not surround sound other than from the TV's own built in tuner if it supports it. It will not pass surround sound from a Sky box or PS3.

These "all in one" player/surround sound things are a false economy. They have poor speakers, tend to fail quite quickly and become obsolete - for example on Blu Ray there is now Dolby TrueHD. If your surround sound system doesn't support it, then you'll only get stereo, not 5.1. I found this out with the Avatar movie blu-ray. It finally meant I had to upgrade my still working fine at 12 years old Pioneer AV amp. However at least I only needed to change the amp and not all the speakers as well unlike some "all in one DVD/surround" jobs.

almillar

madcal87 - right, calm down or you're gonna rush out and buy something that isn't suitable!
You're on the right tracks with your connections.
You have a PS3 into your TV via HDMI, and into the amp via optical
You have a Sky box into your TV via HDMI and into the amp via optical
You need to check your TV for an optical output.

You generally would be connecting THROUGH an amplifier INTO a TV - the TV is the end of the line.
So you need an amp with at least 2 optical inputs. Most if these all in one boxes won't have that, and that's why you're getting recommendations to go for a better system.
If you go for something with HDMI switching, you can simplify the wiring.
PS3>HDMI>amp
Sky>HDMI + optical>amp
amp>HDMI>TV
and maybe optical from TV to amp, if you want to use the amp for better sound from your TV's tuner.
So the amp controls which device the TV shows. You need the optical connection for the Sky box as it only outputs Dolby Digital 5.1 over optical, and not over HDMI (don't ask me why!).

trets77

almillar wrote: »

madcal87 - right, calm down or you're gonna rush out and buy something that isn't suitable!
You're on the right tracks with your connections.
You have a PS3 into your TV via HDMI, and into the amp via optical
You have a Sky box into your TV via HDMI and into the amp via optical
You need to check your TV for an optical output.

You generally would be connecting THROUGH an amplifier INTO a TV - the TV is the end of the line.
So you need an amp with at least 2 optical inputs. Most if these all in one boxes won't have that, and that's why you're getting recommendations to go for a better system.
If you go for something with HDMI switching, you can simplify the wiring.
PS3>HDMI>amp
Sky>HDMI + optical>amp
amp>HDMI>TV
and maybe optical from TV to amp, if you want to use the amp for better sound from your TV's tuner.
So the amp controls which device the TV shows. You need the optical connection for the Sky box as it only outputs Dolby Digital 5.1 over optical, and not over HDMI (don't ask me why!).

what he says ^^^

You can get a proper Amp for your budget. if you are prepared to live without HDMI sound then you get some monster amps from a few years back for bargain prices off Ebay.