Sony HT-DDWG800 Home Theatre Sys REVIEW

[Bainsey]

Hi Everyone

After creating this thread (Sony HTDDWG800 or Sony DAV-IS50 - All Advice Is Welcome!) earlier this evening, I have decided to go ahead and join you all by purchasing a G800 myself for Christmas.

What I have been advised to ask is if there is still a problem with the video and sound output when you have a HDMI & optical cables connected to the G800 at the same time.

All advice is gratefully received.

[RottenFox]

that really only affects sky,and i reckon you would need a fair few people to all have the same connection as you.
it might have been fixed, but only newer owners would be able to tell.
this doesnt affect virgin boxes,or the method of connecting hdmi-tv/optical/coax-amp, as would be the better way.(as its almost a guarantee your tv will have better processing/scalers,than the amp).
for everything else,hdmi-hdmi would be the way to connect.

[phardy]

Originally Posted by RottenFox

why not just turn up the centre speaker,or manually set the speakers up/even carry out the auto cal again,...you do really need to RTFM!!

Yes your right, I'm terrible for not reading the manual. I've now read it and done a calibration, after attaching the centre speaker . I assume the voice mainly comes though the centre speaker then?

If I select auto afd which from the manual if I understand it correctly means it will auto choose the setup from the source. However, whenever I play a dvd or blu-ray from my PS3 the only speakers that light up on the display are Front L&R and subwoofer. Should it not automatically select dolby pro logic? I can select it from movie but is this not emulating pro logic from 2 channels? I'm confused

[stewartc]

Sorry to jump in randomly, but I believe this amp has a fixed rather than variable Av Sync option? I've been tracking this and the HTSF1200 threads and would probably be very happy with either but am concerned that the fixed sync might be a problem. I have a Pioneer PDP4280, SKY+ and am looking to upgrade my near obsolete DVD/amp system - will probably get a Sony BDP-S550 and just need to decide on the amp. Any thoughts?

[stewartc]

........should have said I'm also interested in the music peformance of this amp - I tend to listen to classical music, I realise it won't be "HiFi" but does anyone have a view on this kit versus the HTFS1200?

[RottenFox]

Originally Posted by phardy

Yes your right, I'm terrible for not reading the manual. I've now read it and done a calibration, after attaching the centre speaker . I assume the voice mainly comes though the centre speaker then?

If I select auto afd which from the manual if I understand it correctly means it will auto choose the setup from the source. However, whenever I play a dvd or blu-ray from my PS3 the only speakers that light up on the display are Front L&R and subwoofer. Should it not automatically select dolby pro logic? I can select it from movie but is this not emulating pro logic from 2 channels? I'm confused

yep,thats right, the centre is for dialogue only.
as for your ps3 audio problems,have you done the hdmi audio settings on the ps3,selecting LPCM,etc...

[phardy]

Originally Posted by RottenFox

yep,thats right, the centre is for dialogue only.
as for your ps3 audio problems,have you done the hdmi audio settings on the ps3,selecting LPCM,etc...

Yep it was both set to LPCM played about reset the audio setting to auto again and it seems to have sprung back to life. All speakers now lit up and saying PCM

[Geezer69]

Getting closer to buying this now. A question has come to me after reading through this blog several times. I have a Xbox 360 and Wii both using component (red, green and blue) for video. I see on the back of the amp that it has multiple component (I think its called that) inputs and one output. Does this mean I could plug both in my amp and then just have one set of component leads going to the back of the TV. Also, if I can do this, am I still able to connect the 360 with the optical and the Wii with white and red for sound? Does this make sense?!?!? Hope so.

I have been reading this blog for a long time now and I am getting so close now I can smell it

[RottenFox]

yep,you can do both..

[kevicles]

Originally Posted by blik...

Established it was the optical cable that was faulty, got a new one and all good! Thanks again kevicles! Very happy now

No problems glad i could be of help blik.

Finally getting to grips with this system what an excellent piece of kit it is sounds and works amazing.Just a couple of questions tho hopefully someone will be able to help with

Q1 What is the best/suitable sub cable to replace the original one with as it is to short to where i want to position it.

Q2 What is a suitable speaker cable to upgrade the rear speakers with . I remeber someone mentioning a belkin cable on here but cant find the link. Is this a suitable cable and is it an improvement over the supplied sony stuff.

Q3 What are the most suitable speaker stands to attach the front speakers to .Must be black and preferably height adjustable. Anyone have any ideas.

All help and advice welcome
Cheerss

[RottenFox]

1. kenable - for cables, networking and peripherals
i linked to a 3 metre one..they are from 1m up to about 10m.

2.i really dont think you would notice any difference,to be honest.

3. not seen any black ones,so maybe someone else can help.

[mooperman]

Originally Posted by phardy

Yep it was both set to LPCM played about reset the audio setting to auto again and it seems to have sprung back to life. All speakers now lit up and saying PCM

where does it say PCM, on the amp??

[granty_]

Hi all,

Ok I was going to get the Logitech Z5500's after christmas but it now seems this is the way better system and worth the extra £70-ish. I just have a few questions.

Basically I have the following to connect to this system:

Sky+
Xbox360
PS3

and thats it

My TV is the 40" Samsung Series 6 model, i believe it has an optical out.

I am also getting some Turtle beach ear force x4's for late night viewing.

Can someone help me clear this up:

I connect the PS3 and 360 to the amp via HDMI.
I connect the SKY+ box to the tv as normal and then run optical out from the tv to the amp?

Then theres the matter of the turtle beach ear force x4's.....

I really dont know how to connect them without cable switiching...

Would I have to use the 360 dongle and PS3 optical out to use these or can I use my tv's optical out to use these...e.g...

Xbox 360 via HDMI to amp then to the TV which will then output surround sound into my headphones?

Hope that makes sense thanks

[LeoWyatt]

If I was you I'd connect the Sky+ to the amp with an optical cable and just run the video signal to your TV.

The PS3 I believe will to 5.1 over HDMI. Does your 360 HDMI cable have optical out?

EDIT: looking at the back connections for the amp I'd connect the PS3 to the BD IN HDMI socket. Stick the Sky+ in the optical SAT IN and put the 360 into the TV optical input.

EDIT2: What connection does the headphones accept? I don't really know much about them.

[granty_]

Hi,

The 360 does have an optical out but I am surprised if it won't carry 5.1 over HDMI.

Sorry for being thick but what is BD?

Also the headphones have an optical in and optical out as well as a red and white RCA