CHEAP SPEAKER/AMP SETUP

skunksta · 25 Nov 2008 at 00:19

Ok i got a 40" samsung series 5 a xbox 360 SKY+ and Media center which i am using with a ati card for audio.
I need something that will let me hook them all up.I dont have loads a money to spend its something for
the other half to keep her happy.Got about £250 to spend it can be 5.1 .2.1 or 2 speakers
and a ok amp so i can add to it.

Music of my pc and the music channel is the main reason she likes to listen when doing house work
and of cause the odd film of my pc.As i have took our separates amp etc need to replace it.

Been looking at the SONY HT-DDWG700.Not looking for something that will shack the house
or give me true HD sound etc (well if it did bonus) just along the lines of a good 5.1 pc setup
but with a amp and ment for home cinema.

Reality Bites · 25 Nov 2008 at 09:31

if you can stretch the budget a little, the sony DAV IS10 is a great all in one system.

whitecrook · 25 Nov 2008 at 10:57

I would suggest the yamaha either 361 or 363 (if you want hdmi switch) The former is a bargain at £120, just add some speakers, probably just stereo to start unless you can find a nice sub sat set for 130. It's a 5.1 with 3 digital inputs, 3 component inputs switching, 6 discrete channel line in, plus loads of stero line ins, and has 'presets' buttons which you can program to make it easy to use for the wife. You can easily hook everything you list up to it.

skunksta · 25 Nov 2008 at 13:17

Thanks guys i was thinking the amp and 2 speakers would end up being better as i could add to it.You guys are confirming it.How about a pair of stereo speakers to go with it.BTW looking at the yamaha 361 and Yamaha NXE300 Hifi Speakers but i could do with a hdmi on the amp which the 361 does not seem to have the 363 is a great amp but abit out of my price range.

Sone · 25 Nov 2008 at 13:22

whitecrook said:
I would suggest the yamaha either 361 or 363 (if you want hdmi switch) The former is a bargain at £120, just add some speakers, probably just stereo to start unless you can find a nice sub sat set for 130. It's a 5.1 with 3 digital inputs, 3 component inputs switching, 6 discrete channel line in, plus loads of stero line ins, and has 'presets' buttons which you can program to make it easy to use for the wife. You can easily hook everything you list up to it.

sorry to hijack thread but interested in this but what speakers would you recommend, had a lookin sticky but it seems a bit out of date

skunksta · 25 Nov 2008 at 13:49

Ok i found a 363 for £170 i think thats a good price and as sone said looking for a pair of speakers now that i can add to for 2.1/5.1 at a later date got no more than £100 now i ordered the amp.

whitecrook · 25 Nov 2008 at 14:01

Sone said:
sorry to hijack thread but interested in this but what speakers would you recommend, had a lookin sticky but it seems a bit out of date

I think it's pretty happy with just about any speakers you care to throw at it.

I run it with rogers ls33 /ab 33 floorstanders at the front, and gale gold monitors at the rear and a FE168sigma for the centre. I find the amp to be quite bright, not overly. But i've had various other speakers attached to it, including full range foste xdrivers. The stereo sound is perfectly acceptable, but a proper stereo hifi is much better for music.

It has 5 channel stereo and a/b speakers, so if the op missus wants sound on when she does the house work, something could be hooked up to suit I reckon.

I have my PC, a Wii, xbox 360, dvd, cable box, and TV all going through the amp.

It has a bunch of settings, you can have large/small speakers, and alter where the bass goes and adjust the crossover. It really is enough for a quick and easy setup.

Sone · 26 Nov 2008 at 14:19

thanks whitecrook, got the amp and a set of gold monitors.

Needed something quick so i thought this would be a good start then get some decent floorstanders and move the gales to the back when funds permit.

whitecrook · 26 Nov 2008 at 14:52

Sone said:
thanks whitecrook, got the amp and a set of gold monitors.

Needed something quick so i thought this would be a good start then get some decent floorstanders and move the gales to the back when funds permit.

Sweet. You could always just get a second set of the monitors, it might work quite well to have each speaker identical. Ive had my gale gold for 5-6 years now. They were pretty cheap at the time and they do a alright job. Pretty inoffesive, can be listened to without fatigue and have a good amount of bass for their size.

Something I noticed the other day is that after you've configured each input for the processing you want it remembers, so when I switch to DVD it knows I want a straight through, but when I switch to TV I knows I want it on prologic etc.

If you need any help hooking it up let me know. I put the TV on the MD/CDR tape loop, so I can always have what ever is on the TV going thourgh the amp, and what ever is playing through the amp, on the TV (if I want the sound to be only on the TV for example, although this is only possible as my TV has both audio in and out.)