Looking for a new home theatre system :)

Biz.Kid09

Biz.Kid09

Biz.Kid09

Soldato
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Hi guys,
I currently play all my movies via a external hard drive plugged into my ps3 which is then HDMI to tv.
I am looking for a surround sound system that i can join to this.

Now my ps3 isn't always used on the main tv (where movies are played)
So what would be the best way to be able to when needed plug my ps3 in and have movies in surround system and then plug into my tv so normal tv as well.

Would it be as simple as unplug ???? cable from ps3 and then plug into tv and vice versa.

Not looking to spend a lot so £100? or is more needed to be any good or ?
Thanks guys for your help.
 
Guys,
I think i am now going to get a Viewsonic VMP74 Digital Media Streamer which has Optical out. So i guess i am just looking for a home theatre system which will plug into this streamer and give me surround sound.
 
for £100 :S i would say u r going to struggle to get anything.

and y r u getting the viewsonic if u have a ps3 ?
 
Well i dont know mate.
What do you recommend? I dont want to spend mad amounts.

Because it will be easier, i wont have to keep bringing my ps3 from my room to the main room every time my parents want to watch a tv show or movie.
 
ahhh so they r buying the viewsonic not u ? ( tbh i love my fokes but if they wanted media streming in the sitting room, i would send them off to buy something)

so is the 5.1 system for your room or the sitting room ?

and u want to plug just the ps3 into the 5.1 or do u need the tv running off it too ?

if so r u using sky or virgin or the likes, how many inputs r u going to be needing?
 
Haze said:
ahhh so they r buying the viewsonic not u ? ( tbh i love my fokes but if they wanted media streming in the sitting room, i would send them off to buy something)

so is the 5.1 system for your room or the sitting room ?

and u want to plug just the ps3 into the 5.1 or do u need the tv running off it too ?

if so r u using sky or virgin or the likes, how many inputs r u going to be needing?
Click to expand...
5.1 for the sitting room. I just want to be able to have the viewsonic plugged in and transmitting 1080p to tv and 5.1 surround. PS3 doesn't matter now. I have virgin mate. That is going via hdmi to tv. So from the speakers to the tv i can just unplug optical from media streamer and plug into tv? Then i will get surround from tv?

I would like it to so i can just swap the cable from speakers--streamer to speakers--tv when streamer is not being used.

Thanks for that link mate but that is using AV cable. I would like something like a optical input. I can spend up to like 200. I just chose £100 as a starting point.
 
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on the tv i have u can output the sound too an amp, so i could plug everything into the tv then have all the sound just going thro the 5.1 system, which is ok

but the only draw back from that is u can suffer from lypsync problems

if u can squeeze a bit more ££ i would really recomend getting something like ONKYO HTX22HDX 2.1 £240 ish, yes its only 2.1 but u can add more speakers too it, with the AV amp i have im still running some old hifi speakers as rears, so if u have other speakers around the house not being used u could make it a 5.1 system on a budget
 
Ok,
So if i got the Onyx.
How would i set it up.
Remember i want surround sound from Virgin box and media streamer. Which cables go where etc
Thanks
 
well its got 3 Digital Inputs (2 Optical and 1 Coaxial), 2 Audio Inputs, so u should be able to plug your virgin box and media streamer into the amp its self
 
Grimley said:
If you stretch your budget a bit further you be able to get this.

http://www.eu.onkyo.com/products/HT-S3305.html
Click to expand...

I would second this, my best mate has one and for the money its fantastic.

Honestly it is pretty much the cheapest 'decent' 5.1 set you can get unless you are willing to search around second hand. You need to make sure that what you get has the receiver and not just the speakers which I believe is the problem with the Logitech set listed above.

Of course you could pop to Argos and buy a cheap £130 system but it will be a waste of money if you actually want to experience it in anything resembling decent sound.
 
Ok,
That Onyx set looks perfect.
Now i need to plug in my Viewsonic Media Player (HDMI), Virgin +HD box and I also have a Blu-Ray player.
Now at the moment they all go via HDMI to the tv. So whats the best way to get them all connected to the surround?
 
So
Streamer---HDMI---Onkyo
Blu-Ray----HDMI---Onkyo
Virgin HD----HDMI---Onkyo
Onkyo----HDMI---TV
Now for sound would i used HDMI or Optical?
 
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Exactly, I believe you can rename the sources as well, PS3, Virgin etc and it will pop up with nice Dolby digital or DTS logo. Thinking about it that Onkyo system also does TrueHD and DTS MA so you can play all the HD audio tracks from your blu-ray as well, not a HUGE difference to most people but the difference is there and you can get the most out of your setup.

The Onkyo set is currently £203 on Pixmania but out of stock, it might be worth dropping them an email about stock as its almost £50-60 cheaper than most places once you take into account deliver. They are based in france but I ordered my surround set off them and service was perfect.
 
The Virgin box will need to be connected via optical though to get Dolby Digital on the HD channels. Its HDMI connection doesn't carry the signal, just stereo.
 
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