All-in-one surround sound systems with HD sound and multiple HDMI

[iamchris]

Hi folks,

My last post didn't illicit much response, but from my own research I think what I was after was wishful thinking.

I'd initially been keen on wireless speakers for ease of installation, but now think I'd best just bite the bullet and install wired speakers.

I have a limited budget of around £350 ... would prefer £300, and might stretch to £400 (max) for a great system.

What I'm after is a system with HD sound, i.e. Dolby TruHD, etc.

I also need two HDMI inputs - one for the TV, and one for the PS3. I don't envisage needing any more than this, but more would be useful.

I don't need a DVD player included, just amp (receiver?) & speakers.

I also want tallboy speakers rather than wall mounted satellites, or satellites on 3rd party stands, for aesthetic reasons.

Some all-in-ones I've looked at have limited HDMIs or spec, often include a DVD player, and are obviously aimed (as the name suggests) at giving someone a good all round starter system covering basic requirements - would that be a fair assessment.

I suspect that there may not be a good all-in-one that meets my requirements which may push me down the separates route ... whilst my initial feeling is that this may be overkill, it seems my needs may just straddle somewhere between basic & intermediate.

If I do go down the separates route can anyone suggest something that will give HD sound from TV, and PS3 via HDMI?

One AV receiver for a separates system I've been looking at is the Sony STR-DG820, which I think can be had for around £230, any good?

Going for separates means I need to consider speakers, can I generally use any speakers and don't need to match manufacturers? Could anyone suggest decent cool looking tallboy speakers?

Finally, is the cabling that comes with systems/speakers usually sufficient? I know you'll almost certainly get a better sound with upgraded cables, but I'm concerned about the cost of this - unless anyone knows of good quality speaker cable that won't blow the budget?

Which forum should I post on if I want more help on separates, I'm a little confused and it wasn't clear.

In summary:
1. Is there an all-in-one with multiple HDMIs and HD sound within my budget that you'd recommend?
2. If not, what AV receiver speaker combination would best suit my needs within my budget?

Thanks,

Chris

[RottenFox]

All-in-Ones within you budget, that would be suitable,IMO :
Sony HT-SF 1200/1300. - slim style,tallboy speakers,features you are looking for.
Sony HT-DDWG800 - tiny step down from 820 amp, but with good speakers, and subwoofer,and features you are looking for.

both have threads in this forum.

[sterrior]

I have also been looking at those two systems, but can't really decide which one to go for. Is the sound that much better in the DDWG800 that it makes up for the extra cost/work to put up wallmounts and buying stands?

To iamchris: There is a fair amount of 5.1 speaker systems on superfi.co.uk. Specifically the Q Acoustic speaker package for 411£ looks really good although it's above your (and my) budget.

[iamchris]

thanks RF, i'll have a look at those

[iamchris]

thanks sterrior, i'll have a look at superfi.co.uk, see if i find anything.

[RottenFox]

Originally Posted by sterrior

I have also been looking at those two systems, but can't really decide which one to go for. Is the sound that much better in the DDWG800 that it makes up for the extra cost/work to put up wallmounts and buying stands?

yes, it does sound a lot better than the 1200/1300,(not that they dont sound good,its just the 800/speakers, sound better),especially the power of the subwoofer,and the speakers also, sound better.
i owned the 880,thought about going for an 890,but skipped it, and went for the 800,and they all use the same speakers.
for me, it says something when they havent changed the speakers in 3 or 4 generations of a unit.(im still using the speakers i got with my 880).

[iamchris]

Originally Posted by RottenFox

All-in-Ones within you budget, that would be suitable,IMO :
Sony HT-SF 1200/1300. - slim style,tallboy speakers,features you are looking for.
Sony HT-DDWG800 - tiny step down from 820 amp, but with good speakers, and subwoofer,and features you are looking for.

both have threads in this forum.

according to specs on sony website neither of these systems have HD sound (e.g. Dolby TruHD), and the latter doesn't have tallboy speakers?

i have had a good dig around on the sony site, but much as i'd like the simplicity/cost of an all-in-one i think i'm leaning more towards the separates.

[RottenFox]

Originally Posted by iamchris

according to specs on sony website neither of these systems have HD sound (e.g. Dolby TruHD), and the latter doesn't have tallboy speakers?

i have had a good dig around on the sony site, but much as i'd like the simplicity/cost of an all-in-one i think i'm leaning more towards the separates.

seeing as you said you have a ps3, and dont envision any more items to add, i picked those systems..1,the 1200/1300 are slim AIO amp/tallboy speaker style setups,and the second is similar to the amp you mentioned, the 820..the HT-DDWG800 is an amp,with speakers pack.

your ps3, cannot output Tru-HD,or DTS-MA HD audio,all it does output is these pre-converted to LPCM,which both of these units will accept over hdmi,thus you will get HD audio,like you require.
and no tv in this world outputs HD audio,merely 2 channel pcm,or possibly DD if you have freesat.
skyHD is DD5.1,on a selection of material,but only through optical,as hdmi only gives stereo in sky's case,and the same with virgin media,albeit virgin media can output 5.1 through hdmi.

heres the threads for you to read up on them :

Sony HT-DDWG800 Home Theatre Sys REVIEW
Sony HT-SF1200 My review (Amp packaged with HTD-870RSF)
Sony HT-SF1300 Setup

[iamchris]

thanks for that RF, i don't really know much about how this all works, hence why i've come here, so i really appreciate your input.

looks like getting a TruHD system is a complete waste of time then? unless i plan on having a separate BD player offering such features in the future, which i doubt ... if anything happened to the PS3 i'd just replace it, and having 2 x BD players seems a waste of time - unless the prices fall dramatically and i can pick up a kickass player that knocks the spots of the PS3 for SFA.

might still be some sense in future proofing, but you've highlighted that it's far from an essential requirement.

cheers.

[serpico77]

I am a little confused.
What systems output truehd?

[RottenFox]

i think he meant from the speakers, as in they take a truHD soundtrack,and play it back..thats all,possiby a typo.

[RottenFox]

Originally Posted by iamchris

thanks for that RF, i don't really know much about how this all works, hence why i've come here, so i really appreciate your input.

looks like getting a TrueHD system is a complete waste of time then? unless i plan on having a separate BD player offering such features in the future, which i doubt ... if anything happened to the PS3 i'd just replace it, and having 2 x BD players seems a waste of time - unless the prices fall dramatically and i can pick up a kickass player that knocks the spots of the PS3 for SFA.

might still be some sense in future proofing, but you've highlighted that it's far from an essential requirement.

cheers.

as most decent kit will either convert to LPCM,you are right, its not essential, especially as you have the ps3,which isnt capable of outputting HD soundtracks, as bitstream(truHD/DTS-MA).

[serpico77]

I have the 1200, am I getting truehd from my ps3?

[RottenFox]

i dont know, have you connected the ps3 with hdmi to the 1200,and carried out the audio test,selected LPCM,etc as you were informed on doing...if so, then yes, you are getting truHD pre-converted to LPCM, by the ps3(as it cant output truHD in its native form, and has to pre-convert it).

[iamchris]

i've done some digging into this and see what you're getting at now RF, so thanks again for the heads up.

LPCM seems like the way forward, HD audio gets unscrambled on the PS3, and output as linear PCM, these Sony all-in-ones accept LPCM which is all good ... from what I gather LPCM is what you want for a "true HD" experience (as opposed to TruHD, sorry for my earlier typo, well spotted - will amend).

Right, I seem to be getting somewhere now. Brilliant.

One other related issue maybe someone can help me with is in relation to the HDMI connections?

I was getting a bit confused by HDMI in and HDMI out ... and I'm not at home so can't look at the back of the PS3 or the TV.

I think the PS3 only has one HDMI socket, and this is HDMI out, is that correct? Currently this goes to the TV, which I'm presuming is an HDMI "in" socket that I must have chosen through dumb luck ... ergo it receives the hi def video from the PS3.

Would the idea now be to plug the PS3 HDMI "out" into the all-in-one HDMI "in", then then take an HDMI "out" cable to the TV? In that case, how does passing the signal thru the AV kit before it gets to the TV affect the quality of the picture signal ... it comes out of the PS3 as 1080p, will it hit the TV as 1080p, even if whichever all-in-one I choose doesn't do upscaling (as the signal is already max no upscaling req'd?), what happens if I watch DVD (as opposed to BD) which gets upscaled by the PS3, will the AV kit maintain this on pass thru? This seems to be mentioned in the review of the kit linked above, but wanted to confirm my understanding is correct.

Is it likely that the TV will be receiving Dolby digital surround via DVB? Do I then need to take an HDMI "out" from the TV back to the all-in-one's other HDMI "in"?

Off the top of my head I'm fairly certain the TV is a Panasonic TH-42PZ700 (bought late 2007, and I deliberately bought 700, as opposed to the 70 or 7, for the extra connections).

Sorry if that's confusing but I'm a bit lost with the connections.

Thanks,

Chris