Advice required for novice AV user on Amp

[LaceSensor]

dear Forum

I was hoping for some fairly straightforward advice based on the following, bearing in mind I've never had a speaker set up before, and only ever used a TV speakers (yes, I know ):

I would like at minimum 5.1 surround for my living room.
The space is approximately 10ft by 12ft.
I have the following equipment which would all need to be processed by any receiver / amp:

- Panasonic 37PX80 Plasma
- Sony PS3 for BluRay and DVD playback(HDMI)
- Xbox 360 (HDMI)
- Wii (Component)
- PS2 (SCART)
- PVR recorder (Some cheap 160gb Wharfedale Unit) (SCART)

I have the ability to pump audio over optical from the PS3 and the Xbox 360.

What would people recommend? Im not even sure what would be a sensible budget, to include speakers?

FWIW I dont deal well with cables, so the rears I would like wireless speakers if someone can recommend some decent ones.

Thanks so much for any advice, you can be sure its appreciated.

[davepuma]

Forget wireless speakers, they're never truly wireless and require power and they usually require to be linked together. Sony make some S-Air setups but they aint cheap. The likes of the HT-IS100 can be hooked up to an optional wireless module. Same goes for the new Sony receiver but as I said, I would forget about wireless. You can get adhesive speaker cable that is discrete and can be ran around the room, under carpets, behind skirtings and painted over. Alternatively have a look at the d-line conduit.

Take a look here and herefor packages. Sony make some good budget receivers at the moment (ST-DG820 & ST-DH800), which I would consider to be the minimum you should be looking at as they offer a degree of future proofing with HD audio decoding and plenty of HDMI inputs. Others to look out for would be the Denon 1610/1910, Onkyo 507/577, Yamaha 465/565, Marantz SR5003.

You really need to specify a budget and also have a look at the first few pages of this forum as it is littered with "What should I buy?" threads from first time AV Receiver buyers.

[LaceSensor]

Yeah I had a read of them, some of them seem similar to what I would need.

budget probably £500 all in if thats possible

[Andeh]

+1 For the Sony STR- DG820, i love mine too bits! :D

[dante01]

I'd suggest the following two bundles:

The Sony STRDG820 with Tannoy SFX 5.1 speaker package or the Yamaha RXV465 with Jamo A102HCS5 5.1 package.

The Sony bundle would cost you £430 and the Yamaha bundle £565


There's also the Denon 1610 for £350



I should also mention the Onkyo TXSR507 which can be purchased for £280 via play.com. I'd say this receiver is no better sounding than the Sony and lacks many of the features of the Sony STRDG820. If you did want to spend £280 then the STRDG820's replacement, the STRDH800 is better value for money than the Onkyo TXSR507. Both the Yamaha and Denon receivers are better sounding receivers than the Sony and Onkyo receivers, but in the case of the Yamaha, less well built. All the receivers mentioned are HD audio capable, but all the receivers are 5.1 apart from the Sony models which are are 7.1.


Value for money: Sony

Quality of sound: Yamaha or Denon

[LaceSensor]

dante - whereabouts are those prices available?

thanks

[dicklodge]

Originally Posted by LaceSensor

dante - whereabouts are those prices available?

thanks

Don't know about the bundles, but here's a great price for the Dnon 1610 (£300)
Denon AVR1610

[dante01]

Originally Posted by LaceSensor

dante - whereabouts are those prices available?

thanks

The majority of prices are sourced via Richer Sounds. The Jamo speaker package is via Amazon and the Onkyo 507 is cheaper via play.com than it is via Richer Sounds. The STRDH800 is also available via play.com, but can also be purchased for £20 more from SuperFi.

[sasker]

Originally Posted by LaceSensor

What would people recommend? Im not even sure what would be a sensible budget, to include speakers?

I agree with Dante01 in that either the Sony DG820 or the Yamaha 465

I wouldn't rule out pairing the tannoy SFX with the yamaha either as it does sound very good indeed if you can get a good deal at Richer Sounds.

The 465 is £299 at sighandsound.co.uk so Richer Sounds will match this and beat it by £10 or £20 so you should get that for £280 - £290. The speakers if you opted for the Tannoy SFX are £199 in black. You should be able to get them with the amp for around £180.

After you have had a chat with them ask them if they will throw in a sublink cable They did for me and that will save you £20 or more

[LaceSensor]

There are some deals at Richers right now, unless im mistaken

Is this a good package:

Sony STR DH500 AV reciever
Sony DVPNS318 DVD player
Tannoy SFX.1 Black speakers

£399.95

[dicklodge]

Originally Posted by LaceSensor

There are some deals at Richers right now, unless im mistaken

Is this a good package:

Sony STR DH500 AV reciever
Sony DVPNS318 DVD player
Tannoy SFX.1 Black speakers

£399.95

If you plan to get a Blueray player in the future, then no. The DH500 amp can't process HDMI audio and therefore the HD audio that comes with Blueray discs.

The DH800 is the Sony amp that does HD audio, and paired with the Tannoy speakers listed, is a good combination. I'd go for that and add a separate Blueray ---I would have thought Richer would do a deal for that.

[LaceSensor]

I have a PS3 for bluray

[dante01]

Originally Posted by LaceSensor

I have a PS3 for bluray

You'll not get any form of HD audio from the PS3 unless you use its HDMI output. In order for an AV receiver to access this, it will need an HDMI interface that accepts audio as well as video and not just the HDMI video switch that is present on the STRDH500.

If a Blu-ray player can decode Dolby TrueHD or DTS-HD Master Audio, it's said to have onboard decoding for that format. That means the player itself converts the soundtrack to Linear PCM, which it can then be sent to a compatible receiver.

The PS3 lacks multichannel analog outputs and lacks the ability to bitstream HD audio to an external decoder, but it can decode Dolby TrueHD or DTS-HD Master Audio onboard. This allows the PS3 to send the resulting multichannel Linear PCM (LPCM) stream to a suitably equipped AV amp/receiver via its HDMI interface.

You'll need to output to a device that can read multichannel Linear PCM (LPCM) at 7.1 channels via its HDMI input. If you use LPCM, but output via the PS3's digital optical connection, you are limited to a maximum of 5.1 channels of non HD sound.

The cheapest AV amp with full HDMI audio is the £220 Sony STRDG820:
http://www.richersounds.com/product/...y-strdg820-blk

[LaceSensor]

thanks for the fantastic advice