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Speaker connection help needed (multiple inputs but what do I need?!)

Phantom

Phantom

Phantom

Soldato
Joined
18 Oct 2002
Posts
9,804
Location
Southampton, Hampshire
Being a complete n00b and not knowing if its even possible at all what I would like to do is buy a 5.1 speaker set but then plug my computer (with a 5.1 audigy soundcard), tv(le40a656), ps3 and maybe an ipod but not that important into it such that I can then play high quality sound instead of the various other speakers I have...

...reading about the subject it looks like I need some sort of amplifier but is there an all in one solution?

the ps3 is a bluray player so not too bothered about having a dvd player unless it upscales dvds to 1080p well.

what exactly do I need and what is there out there? I've looked at samsung and sony and reading reviews sony seem to have flaws and the best samsung unit is too bulky/big :-(

Price <£400 ... obviously the lower the better

Any help much appreciated as I've like to buy something over the weekend!
 
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You'll need an amp.

If you really want to get Z5500's, you'd need some sort of seperate pre-amp with an input switcher in as well.

I'd just get a proper 5.1 amp, £400 should get you a good one. :)
 
MikeHunt79 said:
I'd just get a proper 5.1 amp, £400 should get you a good one. :)
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And no speakers ;)

I realise the Z's only have one optical input, but optical switchers are cheap as chips.


OK:

Q Acoustics 1010 5.1 = £300

Denon 1708 or Sony 1200ES = £200

Over budget, but it'll sound good and has all the inputs you'll need.
 
cheers!

been doing a lot of reading this evening.. the Sony STR-DA1200ES doesn't do hi-def audio processing does it? I'm getting confused as to how its all supposed to plug together. This amp will deal with just audio only? will i have problems with audio being out of sync with video?

how would i plug the pc; ps3; tv into the amp and everything worth without worrying about problems? :(

How do people rate the Sony STR-DG910 Channel Receiver? from the sony website... "Video Up-conversion to HDMI. You will need only one HDMI cable to your TV and just switch the video sources on your receiver."


is it better to buy separate speakers and amp or are there integrated packages out there? I'm willig to up the budget as long as it gives noticable improvement in quality otherwise it doesnt make much sense (?)

speakerwise... are there any that look as good as they sound in the price range of Q Acoustics 1010 5.1? They look very bland. small/compact or stylish would be good! When it comes to speakers is it a case of as long as theyre 5.1 they will be compatible with the amp or is there something else I need to be looking out for?

How about the Kef KHT1005.2? would this be compatible with the Sony STR-DA1200ES?

excuse my n00b questions!
 
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just a quick note. you'll be looking to spend £400+ on a receiver to do HD audio like Dolby True HD etc.

seperate speakers and amp will give the best results but if on a budget there are some good deals out there with speakers included

you wouldnt really go wrong with the Q Acoustics in your price range.

ive recently started building up a HT setup and wanted small speakers that would blend in with the gear i have. went for the small compact sat/sub combo.

StevenG
 
On Sunday I did the deed:

Onkyo TX-SR606 (£400)
KEF 1005.2 (£400)
Cables....(£200! :eek:)


Spent way over my budget, doesn't sound perfect but I'll put that down to the fact that I've not tuned it properly. Give me a couple of days and I'll report back whether its any good or not. Does anyone else have a similar set up? I never realised how expensive cabling can be!
 
Phantom said:
On Sunday I did the deed:

Onkyo TX-SR606 (£400)
KEF 1005.2 (£400)
Cables....(£200! :eek:)


Spent way over my budget, doesn't sound perfect but I'll put that down to the fact that I've not tuned it properly. Give me a couple of days and I'll report back whether its any good or not. Does anyone else have a similar set up? I never realised how expensive cabling can be!
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i'm dying to know what you spend the £200 on... i didnt think at this price range the cable would make much/any difference?

StevenG
 
StevenG said:
i'm dying to know what you spend the £200 on... i didnt think at this price range the cable would make much/any difference?

StevenG
Click to expand...

Dont have the receipt and actual listing with me but off the top of my head...
  • 2 x digital optical cable
  • 1 x S-Video cable
  • 1 x 7.5m sub woofer cable
  • 28m flat twin speaker cable
  • 1 x HDMI cable
  • 1 x digital to thingy cable (1 3.5mm jack from computer to 2 connectors to amp)
  • 1 x "amp to ipod dock" cable

Popped into another shop on way home and I could have saved £10 on average on each one :o
One of the optical cables are too short and the sub woofer one is far too long so they're going back for a start.
 
StevenG said:
i'm dying to know what you spend the £200 on... i didnt think at this price range the cable would make much/any difference?

StevenG
Click to expand...

Buying all the cables does cost quite a bit.

Speaker runs for 5 speakers, sides/rears longer so cost more
Terminations on both ends
Video cables
Audio cables, RCA coaxial & optical
HDMI cables
5.1-7.1 RCA cables (if using av pre-amp)
5.1-7.1 RCA for DVD-AV amp (if using off board processing)
Subwooer cable

tbh I would not have bought those Kef's. Don't bother with HD audio your speakers aren't worth it. You won't notice the difference.
 
yeah i suppose for the length of cable you could have easily spent £100 or more on the speaker cable alone.

damn those "far away" rear speakers eh?

StevenG
 
badbob said:
tbh I would not have bought those Kef's. Don't bother with HD audio your speakers aren't worth it. You won't notice the difference.
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KEF 1005.2 arent good speakers? what is that based on? I couldnt find negative reviews on them :(:o
 
Tiny sats. I would have gone for Q1010. You said bland but design wise and sound quality they're superior. I also wouldn't touch Kef subwoofers with a bargepole.

I have owned Kef speakers.
 
Congrats on actually going out and buying something :p

I've spent weeks thinking about the new kit I haven't bought yet ;)
 
Well done on getting the kit, should be sweet when you've got it all setup how you want :)

Cable wise I think you were charged over the odds. For the optical cables I would have got the cheapest I could since they won't make a difference to the audio (digital signal only, and not very demanding ones at that). So, they are about £4 each or you may have had 1 or more included. 28m of speaker cable is quite a bit but I would not pay over £20 for it, that will get you plenty good enough cable for this application. HDMI cables can cost a bit if they are long but a short one shouldn't cost over £10, again digital signals so with short lengths they shouldn't make a difference to the quality. You might have been waiting a while doing this though as it will require orders to multiple venders :)

The comment about HD audio is true, but only because HD audio is right at the top with the standard DVD audio still being excellent. For a discernable difference to be heard between the two requires a different level of equiptment altogether.
 
I returned the 2m S-video; 0.75m optical; 7m sub link cables with the reason "I already had my own" and was refunded a whopping £70!

The replacement cables "I already had" came from another shop at a cost of £38 and all either mid to premium rated. Richer Sounds aren't the place to go for cabling!
 
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