Hi folks, great forum and advice! I've read a few posts about this, so apologies if it is old ground.
I very rarely watch TV, but when I do, I'm really into blu rays. At the moment I run a 50" plasma into an old Sony STR-DE485E via optical cable. I have 5 sony speakers that came with it, plus the Subwoofer from the same set. Bought it all second hand for £80 about 6 years ago, and i have no complaints about the sound. My popcorn hour and PS3 plug into TV by HDMI.
Here's the dilemma - folk keep telling me as my amp doesn't have HDMI, i'm missing out on HD sound and the quality would be miles better if I were to buy an Onkyo TXNR 515 (for example) and route all my devices through a new amp via HDMI. I've always thought Optical wasn't supposed to be too bad?
So question 1, do you think i'd actually benefit from a new amp? We can't really bang the volume right up as the kids are usually trying to sleep upstairs. We usually never have the sub on either.
Question 2, a pal of mine has offered me his JBL Control 1's, five speakers I think, plus brackets for £400. Would you guys think this represents good value. I did have a listen at his house, yes his walls shook, and the sound was good without distortion, but no way could we have it so loud.
Sorry to ramble, I await your feedback!
I very rarely watch TV, but when I do, I'm really into blu rays. At the moment I run a 50" plasma into an old Sony STR-DE485E via optical cable. I have 5 sony speakers that came with it, plus the Subwoofer from the same set. Bought it all second hand for £80 about 6 years ago, and i have no complaints about the sound. My popcorn hour and PS3 plug into TV by HDMI.
Here's the dilemma - folk keep telling me as my amp doesn't have HDMI, i'm missing out on HD sound and the quality would be miles better if I were to buy an Onkyo TXNR 515 (for example) and route all my devices through a new amp via HDMI. I've always thought Optical wasn't supposed to be too bad?
So question 1, do you think i'd actually benefit from a new amp? We can't really bang the volume right up as the kids are usually trying to sleep upstairs. We usually never have the sub on either.
Question 2, a pal of mine has offered me his JBL Control 1's, five speakers I think, plus brackets for £400. Would you guys think this represents good value. I did have a listen at his house, yes his walls shook, and the sound was good without distortion, but no way could we have it so loud.
Sorry to ramble, I await your feedback!