Question about Home cinema systems

Mason-

Mason-

Mason-

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Just a question about hooking the xbox to it so I can get 5.1 surround.

Okay so if I go the following.

XBOX -> Home theater via (HDMI out on xbox, HDMI in on home theater)
Home theater -> sound to speakers
Home theater -> TV (via home theater HDMI out)

Basically I'm asking if the HDMI in on the theater unit takes the video and then outputs it through the hdmi out. I know it obviously takes audio but wondering if it can take the video too.

Or will I have to do the following.

Xbox -> TV (HDMI cable)
Xbox -> Home theater via optical cable
Home theater -> sound to speakers.

Cheers.

EDIT:

The system in question is the Samsung HT-C5550w blu-ray home theater system.
 
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What system/receiver are you using?

The receiver will (or at least should) output any video it receives, the whole point is that you use the receiver for selecting your sources rather than the TV.
 
TheVoice said:
What system/receiver are you using?

The receiver will (or at least should) output any video it receives, the whole point is that you use the receiver for selecting your sources rather than the TV.
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Thanks a lot.

Haven't bought it yet but plan to, want to get my first home theater system.

I would send you a link to it but it's on amazon =/

Samsung HT-C5550w

google it.
 
Very pricey for what it is. You could get a decent Onkyo receiver+speakers kit for that, and still have money left over for a decent Blu-ray player. You'd be getting a far better set-up than the Samsung thing.

I bought a Samsung one similar to that (albeit DVD) as my first foray into home theatre stuff. Seemed great at first, but as time went on I started to realise its shortcomings. The speakers were light, plastic hollow things, the receiver had no weight to it, connectivity options were minimal at best, there were limited settings and configuration options and even lacked simple things like dimming the display on the main unit.

Fortunately it became more and more faulty so I returned it and was fully refunded. Spent the money on an Onkyo kit and haven't looked back, it's superior in every possible way. Honestly, let my experience be a lesson to you, don't waste £400 on a Samsung all-in-one, you simply aren't getting £400 worth of quality in them.

Incidentally, the C-5550 is being replaced by the D-5550 now. The C-550 (essentially the same, but with standard speakers rather than tall ones) is £170, so that gives you some indication of how overpriced it is. £170 is a fair price for one of these things with a built-in Blu-ray player, but much more than that and you're into Onkyo etc territory where they simply cannot compete.
 
TheVoice said:
Very pricey for what it is. You could get a decent Onkyo receiver+speakers kit for that, and still have money left over for a decent Blu-ray player. You'd be getting a far better set-up than the Samsung thing.

I bought a Samsung one similar to that (albeit DVD) as my first foray into home theatre stuff. Seemed great at first, but as time went on I started to realise its shortcomings. The speakers were light, plastic hollow things, the receiver had no weight to it, connectivity options were minimal at best, there were limited settings and configuration options and even lacked simple things like dimming the display on the main unit.

Fortunately it became more and more faulty so I returned it and was fully refunded. Spent the money on an Onkyo kit and haven't looked back, it's superior in every possible way. Honestly, let my experience be a lesson to you, don't waste £400 on a Samsung all-in-one, you simply aren't getting £400 worth of quality in them.

Incidentally, the C-5550 is being replaced by the D-5550 now. The C-550 (essentially the same, but with standard speakers rather than tall ones) is £170, so that gives you some indication of how overpriced it is. £170 is a fair price for one of these things with a built-in Blu-ray player, but much more than that and you're into Onkyo etc territory where they simply cannot compete.
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Hi, thanks.

Can you recommend me a onkyo (or any good brand) 5.1 set with receiver and a blu-ray player? Thanks.


This any good? Onkyo HT-S5305B
 
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Personally, I'd go for the Onkyo HTS-3405 (I have the previous version, it's superb), £300 from Richer Sounds but BestBuy have had it on offer a few times lately for £270 so keep an eye on HotUKDeals in case it appears again.

As for Blu-ray players, personally I use a PS3 but the Sony S370 has been really popular. It's end-of-life now so there are some deals to be had on it but it's becoming tricky to find anywhere that has stock. Nonetheless, worth keeping an eye out. Failing that, any of the equivalent LG or Samsung players for £100-ish are usually good too. I do know that the LGs can usually handle MKV playback via USB, which is a nice thing to have.
 
TheVoice said:
Personally, I'd go for the Onkyo HTS-3405 (I have the previous version, it's superb), £300 from Richer Sounds but BestBuy have had it on offer a few times lately for £270 so keep an eye on HotUKDeals in case it appears again.

As for Blu-ray players, personally I use a PS3 but the Sony S370 has been really popular. It's end-of-life now so there are some deals to be had on it but it's becoming tricky to find anywhere that has stock. Nonetheless, worth keeping an eye out. Failing that, any of the equivalent LG or Samsung players for £100-ish are usually good too. I do know that the LGs can usually handle MKV playback via USB, which is a nice thing to have.
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Love the look of that. Receiver has tonnes of inputs!

Will it come bundled with cables? Or will I have to buy some.

Seeming as its a speaker/receiver bundle I will assume it comes with cables for the speakers only?
 
It'll come with speaker cables (long ones too, if it's anything like mine), but you won't get any HDMI cables or anything. That'd be the same for Samsung, Sony etc too though. HDMI cables are cheap, no need to spend any extravagant amount of money on them as they all do the same thing.

I honestly have yet to find any downsides to my Onkyo set-up yet. It handles all sorts of inputs, formats etc very well, lets you customise the name for each input, and remembers your audio settings for each input so you can have things set up differently for say, your Xbox and your Blu-ray player.
 
TheVoice said:
It'll come with speaker cables (long ones too, if it's anything like mine), but you won't get any HDMI cables or anything. That'd be the same for Samsung, Sony etc too though. HDMI cables are cheap, no need to spend any extravagant amount of money on them as they all do the same thing.

I honestly have yet to find any downsides to my Onkyo set-up yet. It handles all sorts of inputs, formats etc very well, lets you customise the name for each input, and remembers your audio settings for each input so you can have things set up differently for say, your Xbox and your Blu-ray player.
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Sounds brilliant.

Also found this blu ray player
Samsung BD-C5900

For 98 quid on amazon.

I think those speakers at 300 from richer sounds and that blu ray player is a much better combo than that samsung combo.
I already have 1 HDMI cable so will only need 2 more which is fine.

xbox -> receiver
blu ray -> receiver
receiver -> TV.
 
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Mason, you would be best off just going to Richer and getting the lot all in one, they have a good selection of Bluray players and are usually cheapest, plus you get to take it home instantly and have the convenience of returning it to a shop should anything go wrong. - They might even do you a deal!
 
sHo0sH said:
Mason, you would be best off just going to Richer and getting the lot all in one, they have a good selection of Bluray players and are usually cheapest, plus you get to take it home instantly and have the convenience of returning it to a shop should anything go wrong. - They might even do you a deal!
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Putting in my post code I don't live near to any of them.. :(
 
Buy from their website? Then do a search on google for BDP- S380 - there is a certain website with free delivery and a free film on that item :)
 
Mason- said:
Found this on richer sounds
http://www.richersounds.com/information/home-cinemasystems
number 4.

Blu-ray Player
Sony BDPS570
Receiver
Sony STRDH810 TSP
6 Speaker Package
Boston Soundware XS

All of those items got 5* on what hi-fi, so is this a good combo for 600 quid?

The speakers on the boston soundware look so small but people are saying they produce good sound.
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Im looking at the Boston XS's too, atm I have a 10 year old STR-DB 940 and I cant decide whether to get a new amp (either onkyo SR608 or STRDH810).

Soooo frustrating.

I have been looking at loads of reviews etc on the boston XS's and apart from a few production niggles they look awesome and going to listen to them at RS soon :)
 
Mason- said:
Found this on richer sounds
http://www.richersounds.com/information/home-cinemasystems
number 4.

Blu-ray Player
Sony BDPS570
Receiver
Sony STRDH810 TSP
6 Speaker Package
Boston Soundware XS

All of those items got 5* on what hi-fi, so is this a good combo for 600 quid?

The speakers on the boston soundware look so small but people are saying they produce good sound.
Click to expand...
I don't think that is such a fantastic deal. That's a fairly low end amp and I really can't see those tiny satellite speakers being all that. At best the subwoofer with that kit will be a boom box and will grate on your nerves after a while just like the poor All-In-One systems. I don't see the point of going for higher end gear and then basically buying the same type of speakers. If you're going to do that then save your money and buy a 2nd hand All-In-One for under £100? ;)

Also don't get sucked in by the What Hi-Fi 5-Star ratings... they're dubious at best and not usually worth taking any note of.

Seriously for £600 or there abouts you could buy a much better set-up. Also does that kit include all the cables, etc? That could be another £50 and then there's delivery charges.

The best way to do it is build up gradually, buying end of line kit or 2nd hand, you will get a lot better quality for your money.

If not then here's a package that has the same 5.1 Boston speakers but with an Onkyo amp that is at least as good as the Sony. The price also includes a cable bundle worth about £50 and also includes delivery and cheaper than the above bundle Onkyo & Boston @ £539
 
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Chong Warrior said:
I don't think that is such a fantastic deal. That's a fairly low end amp and I really can't see those tiny satellite speakers being all that. At best the subwoofer with that kit will be a boom box and will grate on your nerves after a while just like the poor All-In-One systems. I don't see the point of going for higher end gear and then basically buying the same type of speakers. If you're going to do that then save your money and buy a 2nd hand All-In-One for under £100? ;)

Also don't get sucked in by the What Hi-Fi 5-Star ratings... they're dubious at best and not usually worth taking any note of.

Seriously for £600 or there abouts you could buy a much better set-up. Also does that kit include all the cables, etc? That could be another £50 and then there's delivery charges.

The best way to do it is build up gradually, buying end of line kit or 2nd hand, you will get a lot better quality for your money.

If not then here's a package that has the same 5.1 Boston speakers but with an Onkyo amp that is at least as good as the Sony. The price also includes a cable bundle worth about £50 and also includes delivery and cheaper than the above bundle Onkyo & Boston @ £539
Click to expand...

I understand what you are saying but I don't see how that is a better deal tbh, the cable package is unbranded so quality is most likely not amazing, the deal I posted does include cables as well and also includes a blu ray player (a good one). Delivery will only be around 6 pound on that website.
 
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