Home Cinema system requirements
I am moving in to a new house and need to buy two complete TV/home theatre systems as well as two other televisions and some other components.
There is only so much I can get from the web and magazines and I need some pointers and advice. Shops just want to sell me stuff and I cant trust them! Big ticket installers want to sell me stuff and charge me loads! Oh and I cant trust them!
I thought I’d turn to people that might know and I can trust, the expert enthusiasts.
I have the following requirements
Lounge
46” LCD or Plasma TV, I’ve been considering the Sony KDL-46W2000. This TV will play traditional TV content, films, dvd’s and some sports including football and rugby. It will not play games.
Ideally the TV will be flush mounted into a stud wall corner unit rather than surface mounted on it. The corner unit will not have any cooling and will have the other components stored underneath the TV in a cabinet with doors that can be opened. This is the only ventilation the TV will get.
SKY HD+ digibox For HD satellite broadcasts
I need a good home theatre system. I don’t mind if this is made up of a separate amplifier/ DVD and speakers or a combination system. I have had cheap (£300) combi systems before and have found them poor so want a decent sound system. Hard wire cabling exists for 5.1 speakers. I’m considering the Denon AVR 4306 because I like the Ethernet connectivity or the Sony STR-DA5200ESB because it has 1080p upscaling and I can add a media streamer. I need a recommendation on speakers to attach.
I also want to be able to play output on this tv from a PC for example downloaded video content. There is no way to connect a PC VGA monitor cable to the TV so this has to be done via Ethernet. I have been advised to buy a digital media streamer which I can connect via Ethernet to my home network to access files from my PC or NAS (or the Denon above). This would not only give me the connection to the PC but also on TV screen control rather than having to go to the PC to control the output.
I have an existing DVD/VHS video system that ideally will be connected also.
Games Room
46”-50” plasma or LCD tv This TV will play traditional TV content, films, dvd’s but will also play a lot of MTV and sports coverage. It will play games from the attached Playstation 3.
SKY HD+ digibox. This will connected to a separate dish from the one in the lounge and will be a separate account. The two systems will not be linked.
Sony PlayStation 3 This will have HDMI output directly in to the back of the TV/soundsystem.
I need a home theatre system. I’d rather this is a combination system but would consider separates. I do not need the same quality as in the lounge but this is a large room (17’ x 25’) and needs to offer good sound for music and TV rather than films. Hard wire cabling exists for 5.1 speakers.
Additional Requirements
I’d also like to be able to archive all my CD’s and music downloads to my PC for distribution in either room or output the music on the speakers in the Lounge and Games Room simultaneously. I have been advised that connecting a Sonos system would allow me to do this as well as having an attractive and easily used remote commander. Alternatively I’ve been told that if I have a digital media streamer then I could get the same effect by buying an expensive programmable remote commander like the Philips Pronto or Marantz RC9500.
Sky will run to all TV points in the house from one of the two sky systems and magic eyes will provide channel changing capability.
Summary
I need some advice and recommendation on what kit I should buy as there is only so much I can get from magazines and the web. One store will get this order ideally and I won’t just go with the cheapest but the one that offers the best advice.
I am happy to provide additional information etc and I can be contacted by email on
daveyj66@hotmail.com
Help design my new system.. PLEASE!
Linear Mode
