All-in-one or seperate amp/speakers/dvd

[john111]

Hi all, im thinking of getting the Sony DAV-DZ230 (all-in-one home cinema kit with dvd player):

http://www.sony.co.uk/view/ShowProdu...%26+DVD+Player

If I decide to buy a new dvd player in the future (possibly blue-ray/hd-dvd player), can I use the new dvd player with the speakers? or would I need to buy new speakers/amplifier?

I need to decide whether I should buy the all-in-one kit, or get the speakers/amplifiers and dvd player seperatly. Please help, as I will be buying soon.

Many thanks.

[leezo]

Hi john111

In short, this system won’t do it but there are others that will.

Basically you’ll need a way of connecting the HD/blue-ray player to the amp/receiver on your all in one system in order to get your 5.1 surround sound. This is usually done via coaxial or optical inputs which the Sony DAV-DZ230 doesn’t have by the looks of it.
Also, If you have sky+ and/or xbox 360 / playstation 3 you can connect them via optical input too and get 5.1 surround.

Can I ask, does it have to be Sony? There are plenty systems out there at the moment that will offer HDMI, dvd upscaling and with optical inputs…. Samsung have a good range, check out the Samsung HT-TX35R.

Hope this helps

[john111]

Thanks for the reply. The Sony DAV-DZ230 has an audio input on the front so I could output the sound from the tv to the speakers. (So connect new dvd player to tv, then tv sound is outputted to speakers) Would I lose much of the sound quality doing it this way?

[leezo]

the audio inputs at the front are just analog inputs (stereo left and right)
yes you will get sound this way but it will only be in stereo and not the 5.1 surround sound that you really want out of your dvd player, defeating the object of having a home cinema surround system.
In order to get this you need a digital connection i.e optical or coaxial

[john111]

Oh ok I see. What if I was to buy the Sony DAV-DZ230 for now, then when I get a new hd-dvd/blu ray player, I also get a new amplifier(with optical/coaxial). Then could I connect the speakers(from the Sony DAV-DZ230) with the new amplifier? Or do the speakers only work with the Sony DAV-DZ230?

This would still work out quite cheap, and I would would have a good home cinema system for the next few years.

Would this work? Please advise.

Thanks.

[leezo]

well..... you could do it that way and the speakers will work but they're not really up to the job and im not sure its the best option.
Im not an expert and dont know a great deal about speakers but i have owned a sperates system before and i know the costs involved in setting one up, i wouldnt consider another seperates system unless i had a good sized budget.
Put it this way.... you can buy an all in one system now that has HDMI and optical in put for around £230 upwards (i mentioned the Samsung HT-TX35R) and just connect a HD player when ready or you can buy a £150 all in one then spend another £250+ for a lower end AV reciever doesnt make a lot of sence to me but then its not my money.