All in one DVD/5.1 kit

willd58 · 9 Feb 2006 at 19:36

My parents would like to buy an all in one DVD/5.1 kit, budget around £100-150, no more than that though, hell, recoment something and ill show them it but i doubt it, try and stay in budget. Needs a DVD player, sub, and 5.1 speakers. you guys know what im on about. Id love them to get the denon one as i think its superb but its way out of budget.

Sound quality is probably a priority, not a huge booming sub, just one that compliments the kit, there old and dont like the loud booming.

playing american DVD's isnt a must but would be good. thanks for your help guys

pinkaardvark · 10 Feb 2006 at 06:21

tbh a cheap 5.1 system is a waste of money if you don't have it up loud. As it'll be too course for you to hear the subtleties of the soundtrack down low. They'd be better off getting a 2 speaker system or a new stereo that had a DD+DTS decoder built in.

Matblack · 10 Feb 2006 at 09:40

For £100 a 5.1 DVD system is going to consist of tin cans connected with wet string, I wouldn't touch anything in that price bracket which I expected to read DVDs, provide amplification AND provide speakers.

If they REALLY REALLY want to go 5.1 then pick up a check out RS, they have the Panasonic SCHT330 for £100 (£110 with multiregion) but it won't sound much better then a relatively cheap TV. Bear in mind a decent MR DVD player will normally set you back £80-£150 minimum and you can see that your not going to get quality kit.

MB

Tesla · 10 Feb 2006 at 10:38

I disagree, for the budget I think the Panasonic SCHT330 would offer a noticable improvement over TV speakers, infact it would be a huge improvement.

I have listened to most of the current 1-box solutions available and this along with the Panasonic SCHT530 and Pioneer 333 (forgot the exact model number of the pioneer but has 333 in it) are the best you will find for under £200, the two Panasonics are under £150 each.

The majority of people can not tell the difference between a cheapo £30 supermarket DVD player and a decent prog. scan component £250 DVD player. Sounds very suprising I know, but it is true.

Matblack · 10 Feb 2006 at 10:49

As in all things the experience is comparative, if they have never heard 5.1 before they may be AMAZED! by a £100 system. Personaly having heard better systems I wouldn't be please with the freq range, the pic quality, the speaker integration or the volume such a system could offer but what the hey these systems are out there for a reason so they must be pushing someone's buttons.

MB

Tesla · 10 Feb 2006 at 10:59

Matblack said:
As in all things the experience is comparative, if they have never heard 5.1 before they may be AMAZED! by a £100 system. Personaly having heard better systems I wouldn't be please with the freq range, the pic quality, the speaker integration or the volume such a system could offer but what the hey these systems are out there for a reason so they must be pushing someone's buttons.

MB

I completely agree with this.

Most people move from mono or stereo TV speakers to some cheapo 5.1 think it's great.

I don't even have a sub and am still yet to hear a 1-box which sounds better than my kit. Yet the average person thinks Sub = Win!

If I have set up a few 5.1 systems during the day then come and listen to my own kit it does make me appreciate my own kit even more. My setup cost around £500-£550 which is a heck of a lot more than most of my customers spend but it just sounds so so so much better! On the flip side for a well spec'd seperates setup £550 is damn cheap!

(MB: I have considered upgrading my SR4200, what did you upgrade your's too, I use mine for music and movies)

Matblack · 10 Feb 2006 at 11:07

Tesla said:
(MB: I have considered upgrading my SR4200, what did you upgrade your's too, I use mine for music and movies)

I have a SR5400 powering my Canton CD1 and CD50 centre upstairs

and a

Denon 2805 powering my Kef 103/4, Q30s and REF 200C (well actually the 103/4s are powered by an Audiolab 8000A via the Denon's pre outs)

Depends what you are powering, both are excellent, the SR5400 is a massive upgrade from the SR4200, the internals are completely different and it weighs twice as much.

MB

Tesla · 10 Feb 2006 at 12:18

Yes, I have been looking at the SR5400. I am VERY pleased with my SR4200.

I have a pair of Mission M74, a Mission M7C2 and also a pair of Denon SCM51 (Basically M71's I think, they are the speakers from a Denon DM31)

The other thing I was considering was getting a Stereo amp for powering the front speakers.

Would £100 get me a decent stereo amp? I don't mind getting 2nd hand gear.

I was going to have a go at making up my own interconnects so the cost of those is negligable.

(Sorry to take this thread O/T. Maybe you could add me to MSN MB?)

Matblack · 10 Feb 2006 at 12:50

Tesla said:
Yes, I have been looking at the SR5400. I am VERY pleased with my SR4200.

I have a pair of Mission M74, a Mission M7C2 and also a pair of Denon SCM51 (Basically M71's I think, they are the speakers from a Denon DM31)

The other thing I was considering was getting a Stereo amp for powering the front speakers.

Would £100 get me a decent stereo amp? I don't mind getting 2nd hand gear.

I was going to have a go at making up my own interconnects so the cost of those is negligable.

(Sorry to take this thread O/T. Maybe you could add me to MSN MB?)

£100 would get you a nice stereo amp and if you are listening to a lot of stereo music I would recomend this (your speakers are good and sholud respond well you can also route any stereo source direct which will give you a a better sound), if you are looking to reinforce your whole install then the SR5400 is a good way to good.

MB

willd58 · 10 Feb 2006 at 14:21

Some good advice there, ill check out richer sounds. My parents are in no way experianced with 5.1 kit, theyve had a previouse all in one box that was ok, its died though so they just wanted one to replace it. I was surprised they still wanted 5.1 and didnt just go for a supermarket DVD player, but obviously they apreciate the technology more than they let on.

They would be able to tell the difference between a £100 all in one kit and a £500 seperates system, but the idea of spending another £400 on something they are perfectly happy with anyway would seem retarded to them, and i agree with them in this instance. When it comes to me on the other hand when i buy my own for my flat, well, thats a different story alltogether and ill be sure to come to you guys.

Trixter · 10 Feb 2006 at 16:23

I have the Wharfedale 400HT it was around £100 and for the money you cant go wrong, it has DAB radio built in thats the main reason i bought it, i wasnt expecting much but im really impresed.

The only problem ive got with it is that it dosnt play DIVX but no biggie really.