which av receiver do i need

baron777red

I was wondering if I could get some advice about setting up a new home cinema surround sound system.
I have decided to buy a separate AV receiver and 5.1 surround sound speakers (satellite ones for the corners)
I have been researching AV recievers but im not sure how many inputs I need and how many
I want to connect the following devices,
virgin media HD box which connects to my tv via HDMI
Nintendo wii which I currently connect to my tv via red white and yellow cables.
and a dvd player that connects to my tv by red white and yellow cables.
my Tv is a sony bravia 37 KDL 3020p and has 2 HDMI sockets (not sure if there input or output).
im looking to spend about £150-£200 on both the amp and speakers, don't mind it being second hand or refurbished.
i've been looking at the pioneer HTP072 in richer sounds for £199,(they also had the HTP071 for £150 but there all out of stock now)
once I know what inputs I need for the AV receiver I can they looking different ones including used.
and with regard to the speakers is there anything in particular I need to look for.
thanks
colin

InsideInsurance

The DVD REALLY should not be connected by composite (yellow, red, white) as this is the most primitive and low quality connection that exists.

From your current kit the VM box and DVD should be connected by HDMI. The WII can connect by Component (red green blue + sound) but if you are happy with the Composite view it probably isnt worth bothering about it.

On that basis the Panasonic box you mention will work and leave you two spare HDMI inputs should you decide to buy any new sources in the future.

As to speakers, given this is an amp/ speaker package its a bit of a pointless discussion as it comes with its own speakers. You arent going to be able to get a decent set of speakers separately with a decent amp for your budget and so going for the economies of a package is better if you are certain you want surround sound

Weird_Nev

You have to be careful with AV units. Cheap ones do NOT have video encoding processors in them: This means that they cannot encode Composite inputs into a digital stream and pass them to the TV via HDMI. You have to plug the composites into the TV and then pass the audio back to the AV receiver via the Optical link from the TV.

If the Wii and the DVD player have HDMI outputs, you should seek to plug them into the AV receiver via HDMI, then pass that down the AV output to the TV again by HDMI.

I have a fairly old Sony STDR820G AV receiver, it was £220 from Richer sounds. It does everything I need it to, and I only learnt about the whole composite plug thing when I tried to indulge in a spot of retro gaming with my Super Nintendo!

Personally, if you're getting an AV amp, I'd get a cheap Sony or Onkoyo one, with enough HDMI ports. Sorry, I'm not up on current models. Once you get towards £500 or so they start to add in video re-encoding and upscaling, but be aware that the cheaper ones really are just HDMI pass through boxes that strip, decode and amplify the sound. You may well have to have an HDMI cable from Amp to TV, and an Optical digital audio cable running back the other way to get sound BACK from the TV decoder to the amp for amplification! Buy inline for a few quid, HDMI cables and optical cables. Don't belive the hype expensive cables are better. Utter snake oil iwth digital trasmission. so Long as it's 1.4b certified, it's good to go whether it cost £2 of £200.

I'd look at spending £100 on a Blu Ray player or even better £199 on a slim PS3 to really add functionality to your home set up. 1080p (if your TV has a 1080p panel?) is really excellent, and the quality of Blu Ray discs or HD files played from a USB stick Via USB can be really good.

Weird_Nev

Oh. £200 total on amp and speakers.

I wouldn't bother personally.

almillar

Colin, I've already given you advice in your other threads - how many do you want?!
HDMI sockets on a TV are always INPUTS. TV is a dead end, and the output is the screen and speakers.
I agree that a PS3 is money well spent for the living room, even if you never play a game. £100 second hand, gets you a BluRay, DVD player, iPlayer and other catch up stuff, YouTube etc onto your TV. This would connect via HDMI to your amp.
OR find out if you have an optical output on your DVD player, and follow my advice in your other thread.