What am I missing, why do you need an AV Amp?

NeilF · 21 May 2007 at 20:24

I know I'm going to regret this...

I can understand why people obviously get an amp etc. Numerous inputs being processed for good sound etc. By why the need to also include visuals in this?

Why not simply plug these directly to the TV? Why not keep the 'plumbing' simple?

What am I missing?

squiffy · 21 May 2007 at 20:27

Because it saves switching inputs on the TV.
You can have macro to switch inputs on the av amp, so audio and video switch at the same time.
TV doesn't have enough inputs, if you have DVD player, VCR, Sat, DVB, LD, camcorder you won't be able to plug all of them into your TV. So the amp is the hub, and will switch as you need it.

OSD setup from the av amp is useful too, as you can configure the av amp from the couch, rather than right next to it (you will need to be in your listening position to calibrate sound levels)

I'm using S-Video switching on my av-pre amp, although once I go digital it'll go direct, HDMI-HDMI and DVI-HDMI.

sid · 21 May 2007 at 20:28

NeilFawcett said:
I know I'm going to regret this...

I can understand why people obviously get an amp etc. Numerous inputs being processed for good sound etc. By why the need to also include visuals in this?

Why not simply plug these directly to the TV? Why not keep the 'plumbing' simple?

What am I missing?

Reasons include

More inputs ( most tvs have 2 hdmi while amps have 3-4)
Convenience (i.e single hdmi cable to tv from amp and all input to amp)
Better quality pic ( HDMI upscaling)

Most of the above is only really avaliable on something cost around 600+ so for most cases, keep cabling to minimum as I do (only a sony 1200es)

sid

NeilF · 21 May 2007 at 21:11

But surely that mean you have to have the amp on to use any of the devices plugged in. ie: If you want to watch Sky, you have to turn the amp on?

So items would surely split into two different groups, general and exceptional. General you want to be used easily,and exception you don't mind turning an amp on.

So general = video and Sky.

Exeptional = DVD and games consoles.

Does upscaling really help that much on SD stuff?

Shimmyhill · 21 May 2007 at 22:26

NeilFawcett said:
But surely that mean you have to have the amp on to use any of the devices plugged in. ie: If you want to watch Sky, you have to turn the amp on?

So items would surely split into two different groups, general and exceptional. General you want to be used easily,and exception you don't mind turning an amp on.

So general = video and Sky.

Exeptional = DVD and games consoles.

Does upscaling really help that much on SD stuff?

Why would you not want the amp on, tis where the sound comes from. You dont suggest people listen to the TVs with built in speakers

(not that mine has any)

Jaap74 · 21 May 2007 at 22:31

surely pics and sound go through to the TV even when the recevier is on standby ?

squiffy · 21 May 2007 at 22:49

Jaap74 said:
surely pics and sound go through to the TV even when the recevier is on standby ?

Nope, unless the amp has relay tape loop (my 8000S tape loop functioned even if the amp has off)

Why wouldn't you want to use the proper speakers for all sources? You've spent money on them, might as well use them.

Does upscaling really help that much on SD stuff?

Yes it does, using HTPC and difference is startling. Can also apply post processing much makes low bitrate videos less blocky.

Jaap74 · 21 May 2007 at 23:07

squiffy said:
Why wouldn't you want to use the proper speakers for all sources? You've spent money on them, might as well use them.

Everyone else is in bed and instead of using a 5.1 system I just want sound output from the TV......

squiffy · 21 May 2007 at 23:08

Nothing stopping you taking audio out from av amp into the TV. Just reduce volume on the av amp to minimum.

tom_nieto · 21 May 2007 at 23:33

Or turn down the amp...

james.miller · 21 May 2007 at 23:37

squiffy said:
Nothing stopping you taking audio out from av amp into the TV. Just reduce volume on the av amp to minimum.

^^ thats what i do for a bit of late night tv watching. or gaming, or whatever.

Ugley_Matt · 21 May 2007 at 23:38

First thing i did when i got my tv was disconnect all the tv sound and route it straight through the amp.

NeilF · 22 May 2007 at 08:52

Shimmyhill said:
Why would you not want the amp on, tis where the sound comes from. You dont suggest people listen to the TVs with built in speakers (not that mine has any)

I only bother turning my current sound system on when I watch a DVD, or something where I actually care about the audio (eg: a downloaded episode of something). 95+% of the time the TV speakers are used.

The only way I can see I'd get any use out of the 'visual' part of an AV system is if I had more than 2 HDMI connections (eg: if I ended up with a console + a DVD player + something else), but then I'd probably get a manual switch to enable the console when I wanted it.

squiffy · 22 May 2007 at 09:05

but then I'd probably get a manual switch to enable the console when I wanted it.

Blooming annoying!
On my system I have learning remote with macros, so a hardware switch means manually changing (when I had Sharp LCD) the activity/macro sends automatically

Switches on the TV
Switches on the Av pre-amp
Switches TV to input HDMI
Switches av pre-amp to whatever input, either DVD, Squeezebox or HTPC
Powers up the source (DVD, Squeezebox)

NeilF · 22 May 2007 at 09:12

squiffy said:
Blooming annoying!
On my system I have learning remote with macros, so a hardware switch means manually changing (when I had Sharp LCD) the activity/macro sends automatically

Switches on the TV
Switches on the Av pre-amp
Switches TV to input HDMI
Switches av pre-amp to whatever input, either DVD, Squeezebox or HTPC
Powers up the source (DVD, Squeezebox)

"I have learning remote with macros" - Now why doesn't that surprise me

Shimmyhill · 22 May 2007 at 09:25

NeilFawcett said:
I only bother turning my current sound system on when I watch a DVD, or something where I actually care about the audio (eg: a downloaded episode of something). 95+% of the time the TV speakers are used.

Even Dora the explorer sounds better thru the amp and speakers tho

Also remember night mode and lowers the dynamic range so is not gonna wake the neighbours etc.

But i dont have a choice, i have to use the amp for sound. I do find that normal tvs sound rubbish even on 'normal' shows.

squiffy · 22 May 2007 at 09:25

NeilFawcett said:
"I have learning remote with macros" - Now why doesn't that surprise me

Makes the system far easier to use

for example in

"Watch DVD"
Switches TV on (discrete power on)
Switches DVD on (discrete power on)
Switches amp on (discrete power on)
DVD input on av amp
Opens up combination DVD/TV page (DVD transport controls, TV ratio, amp volume)

Watch TV, Use Hi-Fi, Use Squeezbox, Use HTPC are like the above but with variations. Then have a "all power off" macro which sends discrete "power off" IR codes in a single button press. Pretty simple and inexpensive (£150 for the remote) you should see some Creston installs, looking at thousands of pounds, but highly complex.

NeilF · 22 May 2007 at 09:32

squiffy said:
Makes the system far easier to use for example in

"Watch DVD"
Switches TV on (discrete power on)
Switches DVD on (discrete power on)
Switches amp on (discrete power on)
DVD input on av amp
Opens up combination DVD/TV page (DVD transport controls, TV ratio, amp volume)

Watch TV, Use Hi-Fi, Use Squeezbox, Use HTPC are like the above but with variations. Then have a "all power off" macro which sends discrete "power off" IR codes in a single button press. Pretty simple and inexpensive (£150 for the remote) you should see some Creston installs, looking at thousands of pounds, but highly complex.

Suppose it simply comes down to how many devices you have going into the TV and how often you use the sound system with them...

Having kids in the family I guess simplicity is important to me. If my little one want to watch Tom and Jerry, the last thing I want to worry about is messing around with an amp

This also goes for when we watch Sky etc. I'm quite happy just listening thru the TV speakers. I wouldn't want to have to turn the amp on as well just to watch the news.

The reason I've asked this question is because I'm still looking to update my audio system, and am looking at either an all in one, or an amp with speakers. I'm just ensuring I'm not overlooking something in the AV scheme of things.

I suspect I'l be happy with basically everything going into the TV, and then when I want to listen over the sound system just turning the audio system on and selecting the appropriate channel.

Cheers for bouncing the topic around with me

squiffy · 22 May 2007 at 09:38

Then just send audio and video from the source into the TV as well, most sources should have two types of video outputs. If the outputs are active at the same time no configuration required. ie my old DVD player had two S-Video and stereo RCAoutputs, so one could be sent to av amp, other into TV. So didn't have to have the amp on to watch/listen to DVD ie a doco

NeilF · 22 May 2007 at 09:45

squiffy said:
Then just send audio and video from the source into the TV as well, most sources should have two types of video outputs. If the outputs are active at the same time no configuration required. ie my old DVD player had two S-Video and stereo RCAoutputs, so one could be sent to av amp, other into TV. So didn't have to have the amp on to watch/listen to DVD ie a doco

This is basically what I do now, and will try to do with any new system

Only real issue I believe I have is I currently have three scarts going into my TV, but when I get a new one, I'll most likely only have two (most new TVs only have two scarts at best). So I'll either have to:-
1) Get an amp & speakeras and change my (DivX) DVD player to an HDMI one.
2) Maybe get one of the Samsung Surround Sound Systems - which has (1) including via USB

Is there any merit it trying to upscale scart material to HDMI - As an AV amp would offer?