Good Home Cinema Amplifier?

Logsi

Logsi

Logsi

Soldato
Joined
19 Oct 2005
Posts
10,560
Location
Kernow
Hi there!

Just got a £100 voucher for the river place and wondered what to do with it.

An amplifier sprung to mind. I have an oldish 6.1 set of Monitor Audio speakers under my bed doing nothing and wanted an amplifier to power them after all this time and having a £100 voucher i thought what a better time to get an amplifier.

In this set of Monitor Audio speakers i have, 4 Satellite speakers (5"x8.5"x5.2") and 2 floor standing speakers which are normal size for floor standing speakers. These can only be wired up via the Black and Red screw connectors (not sure of the name). Never bought an amp before so not sure whether they all have these connections. I guess they do.

I want to connect my PS3 through HDMI to it to get the Linear PCM goodness and also want to connect my Wii and 360 to it also, the 360 via Optical and the Wii via analog connection.

I have been looking at the Sony STR-DA1200ES but not exactly sure if it's any good at all. Is there any better amplifier receivers for £200 as this is what i would have to pay out my own pocket.

Should i go with the Sony STR-DA1200ES or is there any better reciever on the river place?

Thanks in advance and sorry if im being a bit cheeky.

Budget - Maybe up to £300

Josh
 
Last edited:
Ive got the Sony 1200Es and it's a damn good amp.

Ive got my Sky+ connected via optical, PS3 via HDMI and optical, Xbox 360 via component and optical and Wii via component and analogue.
For the money you wont go far wrong.

I couldnt believe the sound difference when i 1st hooked it up.
 
I ordered the Sony 1200ES.

Got £100 voucher and then today checked my internet banking to find a £205 bursary from my college had come through so effectively got it for free! :p I will spend the bursary on something useful though, but i am studying a HND in Sound Engineering so i guess this is useful! :p

Josh
 
1200es isn't bad but no support for hdmi audio is a big shame.

Having said that though, I wonder if it is worth it on cheaper amps in any case?

sid
 
sid said:
1200es isn't bad but no support for hdmi audio is a big shame.

Having said that though, I wonder if it is worth it on cheaper amps in any case?

sid
Click to expand...

You sure you don't mean Dolby Digital TruHD? Or DTS HD?

Josh
 
Got my Sony 1200ES through yesterday and am very pleased. It's awesome to be able to use these Monitor Audio Speakers i have had for so long.

What connection for sound should i use for my PS3? HDMI or Optical? Is there any advantages of using HDMI sound over Optical, i think i heard there is more bandwidth with HDMI but im not sure at all.

Cheers,

Josh
 
I might be wrong, but I don't think the 1200ES supports audio over HDMI in which case optical is your only choice. If you can get Multi-Channel PCM over HDMI then that would be the better option.
 
Yep realised this now.

Very happy with optical as it is. Sounds superb now i have calibrated it.

Josh
 
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