New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Surround Sound

post #1 of 9
9/2/08 at 8:51pm
Thread Starter 
Hi, well with this being my only about 2nd post I want to thank everyone that is in here helping out. I am part of other forums and love helping people out.

I have been doing some research about what kind of home theater system to buy... I have an 80GB PS3 and it really sucks not having a surround sound. I had a phillips and it was pretty loud but kinda cheap. Only lasted me for about a year so now here I am. Just bought me a 40" sony bravia LCD and have been giving some thought on getting the Sony BRAVIA DAV-HDX279W.

I have heard that maybe a sound bar will do me better than getting a whole surround sound. It might be true because I've seen a few soundbars with several HDMI Inputs. So this is where I am stuck now, I know the sony 279W will do a GREAT job, but the only thing is that I don't know IF or HOW to make everything work with this surround (cable TV, PS3, and its own DVD Player). I like this model because it has the upscaler thing to get regular DVDs to look like 1080P I don't know if this is true but it looks like a good deal.

Please help out in any way you can, all answers are more than welcome and will for sure help me out in making the best decision. Thanks in advance.... have a good one
Reply
post #2 of 9
9/3/08 at 11:02am

Re: Surround Sound

What is the room like where this setup would go? Is it quite open to other rooms, or more closed off? Could it support a surround sound system with speakers on the walls to the side or behind where you sit?

The Sony Bravia home theater system you listed would probably sound the same as the Phillips surround system - it will play sound but it won't sound very good. I would stay away from it and anything else like it if you care about good sound. Those tiny little cheap speakers just cannot produce the full range of sound that is needed for music and movies to sound good and feel like a home theater.

Let us know your budget and we can give you some suggestions for sound systems to buy. A soundbar might be okay, but you need a room that is pretty closed off with walls all around for the sound to bounce off if you really want them to work like they are intended. You will also want a receiver that can handle a number of components connected to it as you build your system in the future. The limited number of inputs in HTIBs and other simple systems are one of their main shortcomings and something that buyers soon come to regret as they use their system.

You don't need to spend a ton of money to get a good system. I have a $350 Denon receiver with speakers that cost no more than $175 per pair, and a cheap sub and surrounds from a previous system I had. With my setup, music and movies sound awesome and can very easily fill the room. I can always upgrade individual pieces as my budget allows, and my receiver can incorporate additional components as I get them. This would be the type of system you would want for your first HT. You could start off small with a good receiver and a few speakers and build from there with a good sub and surrounds.

Here's a great starting 5.1 setup with good speakers and a fantastic sub for $1000 to give you an idea of what is out there:
SVS SBS-01 System
Reply
post #3 of 9
9/3/08 at 5:18pm
Thread Starter 

Re: Surround Sound

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ennsio
What is the room like where this setup would go?

I have my LCD in the living room. It's kinda cornered in... IDK if you know what I mean but I move outta here in May so I guess I'm just looking for a good surround for my PS3 games and BD and DVD movies. I really hate watching movies with no surround. Even if it has to be at a low volume I just like hearing all I can and the thump from the sub too. Especially on Action movies....

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ennsio
Is it quite open to other rooms, or more closed off?

The only door that is close to it is the patio door, but thats about it. There is just another wall facing the TV area (which is about 12 ft. from it) and everything else is pretty much open.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ennsio
Could it support a surround sound system with speakers on the walls to the side or behind where you sit?

I'm pretty sure the walls will hold the speakers. I don't care, it's an apartment anyways lol

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ennsio
The Sony Bravia home theater system you listed would probably sound the same as the Phillips surround system - it will play sound but it won't sound very good. I would stay away from it and anything else like it if you care about good sound. Those tiny little cheap speakers just cannot produce the full range of sound that is needed for music and movies to sound good and feel like a home theater.

Wow, you just turned everything upside down for me lol... I thought the Sony was going to be my best option. I also thought the bravia theater sync would work perfect but oh well. I just want the best bang for the buck.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ennsio
Let us know your budget and we can give you some suggestions for sound systems to buy. A soundbar might be okay, but you need a room that is pretty closed off with walls all around for the sound to bounce off if you really want them to work like they are intended. You will also want a receiver that can handle a number of components connected to it as you build your system in the future. The limited number of inputs in HTIBs and other simple systems are one of their main shortcomings and something that buyers soon come to regret as they use their system.

My budget is in the $200 - 320 range. If a few dollars will get me something better than I can save up for it...

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ennsio
You don't need to spend a ton of money to get a good system. I have a $350 Denon receiver with speakers that cost no more than $175 per pair, and a cheap sub and surrounds from a previous system I had. With my setup, music and movies sound awesome and can very easily fill the room. I can always upgrade individual pieces as my budget allows, and my receiver can incorporate additional components as I get them. This would be the type of system you would want for your first HT. You could start off small with a good receiver and a few speakers and build from there with a good sub and surrounds.


I still have the Phillips system, I'm guessing something inside the sub isn't working. As soon as I plug all the speakers together the system will start making a static noise or better yet a popping noise. Tried getting it fixed but they told me they couldn't find what was wrong with it!!! I still have all of the speakers and the receiver. Everything works except for the sub.


P.S. I also have a brand new surround system that I never used, because I got scammed with it lol. I was looking for a surround and I just thought it was my lucky day. Guys showed up with magazines and the same exact unit for about $4000. I couldn't believe the deal I was getting for $150, to later on that same day find out that it was all a scam! speakers and everything are untouched lol. I was just too pi#$*d off to even wanna put it on. I just tested it and it seems like everything works...

What can I do? Thanx for the response bro!
Reply
post #4 of 9
9/4/08 at 9:08am

Re: Surround Sound

Well, if you are already out the buck-and-a-half, why not try using it?

At least you'll always remeber to do your own checking first!

My own experience is that any complete system for less than $500 is not worth buying, so use what you've got and save your change for a couple years down the road....
Reply
post #5 of 9
9/5/08 at 1:56am

Re: Surround Sound

Quote:
Those tiny little cheap speakers just cannot produce the full range of sound that is needed for music and movies to sound good and feel like a home theater.

I think we need to qualify this a little. Yes, speakers the size of tombstones do on the whole sound better. But not everyone likes the looks of these or has a room size or (more importantly) room acoustics to do them justice. And not all small speakers are quite as bad as you paint them (though I grant you, a lot of them can sound pretty weedy). FWIW, because of room size and aesthetics, I have a set of KEF 'egg' speakers powered by a Yamaha amp and they do a very good job, and I seriously doubt if in the space available a large set of speakers (which in the size of room I'm talking about would be obtrusive and, frankly, ugly) would do a better job. However, in a larger room, it probably would be a different kettle of fish.
Reply
post #6 of 9
9/5/08 at 8:21am

Re: Surround Sound

Just to add my bit, and echo some comments already made, you can get a decent system with small speakers, though good subs will always be large. I agree to just save your money. I would say the BARE minimum for a pretty good surround system is $1,000. So, save up instead of wasting $300 on a marginally less bad system than you already have.
Reply
post #7 of 9
9/5/08 at 10:51am

Re: Surround Sound

Quote:
Originally Posted by andrew markworthy
I think we need to qualify this a little. Yes, speakers the size of tombstones do on the whole sound better. But not everyone likes the looks of these or has a room size or (more importantly) room acoustics to do them justice. And not all small speakers are quite as bad as you paint them (though I grant you, a lot of them can sound pretty weedy). FWIW, because of room size and aesthetics, I have a set of KEF 'egg' speakers powered by a Yamaha amp and they do a very good job, and I seriously doubt if in the space available a large set of speakers (which in the size of room I'm talking about would be obtrusive and, frankly, ugly) would do a better job. However, in a larger room, it probably would be a different kettle of fish.

Thanks for qualifying my comments, Andrew. You're right - small speakers can provide decent sound. What I meant was small HTIB speakers like the ones in the Sony Bravia system that Bano mentioned or similar systems like Panasonic's "home theater" speakers that I see at Best Buy for under $300 for the whole set will not produce an upgrade in the sound that Bano is looking for. As John said, he's better off saving his money until he can get something that is an upgrade.

Your Kef Egg system is in a completely different price and quality league than the Sony Bravia system would be. Good to know that those do a good job - I can recommend them to my friends that want unobtrusive speakers like you mentioned. Another small speaker setup I've heard good things about is the Anthony Gallo Nucleus Micros, but I have not personally listened to them yet.
Reply
post #8 of 9
9/5/08 at 1:32pm

Re: Surround Sound

Quote:
You're right - small speakers can provide decent sound. What I meant was small HTIB speakers like the ones in the Sony Bravia system that Bano mentioned or similar systems like Panasonic's "home theater" speakers that I see at Best Buy for under $300 for the whole set will not produce an upgrade in the sound that Bano is looking for.
At the risk of turning this into a mutual admiration society, I agree (I -honestly! - meant to state this in my post).

I had one of the all in one systems when I started, largely because I figured that if I didn't like surround sound or if the speaker arrangement was too cumbersome, it wasn't all that expensive an outlay. In fairness, it wasn't that awful, but when I ditched it after a few months and went for separates, there was a *very* noticeable improvement. I think the best description is that as you go up the price scale, things are clearer and more controlled. One of the great myths of home theatre is that it 'must' be cranked up to Death Star volume levels to be any good. Well yes, it's fun once in a while to watch a sci-fi movie or similar at loud volume, but if like me most of the time you want to watch something at an everyday sort of volume, the better the system, the better and clearer the sound is. And you don't suffer from 'listener fatigue'. With an indifferent system, after a while the sound begins to get a bit tiring, simply because it's too strident or boomy. With even a moderately good system, that shouldn't happen.

Quote:
I would say the BARE minimum for a pretty good surround system is $1,000.
I think we can qualify this by saying if you're buying this year's models at a realistic street price (the official price is likely to be way higher). However, if you want to save some pennies, you might want to consider last year's top models that are now likely to be heavily discounted at appropriate retailers. The one snag with this at the moment is that you are likely to miss out on some of the latest high def sound processing, so perhaps this may not be a wise idea for amp or DVD player. However, it might still be a good idea for the speakers.
Reply
post #9 of 9
9/10/08 at 10:12am
Thread Starter 

Re: Surround Sound

WOW!!! I am a bit overwhelmed lol... Well, I guess I'll have to save some money up and do with what I have now. I still have all of the speakers from my philips surround sound.

I also have a THEATER LOGIC L6 surround which I got scammed for a couple of years ago . Good thing it works tho, what I want to know now is how to arrange something with what I have...

I put the L6 together this past weekend, and I really don't understand the layout of how the speakers are supposed to go.

This is what the L6 has:



I've never messed with anything like this before, but I'm guessing I will need some extra RCAs to get all the speakers to work. The only good think in this surround is that you can actually adjust each speaker to your liking...

This system will probably not give me what I am looking for, but hey it's better than not having a surround huh? lol... thanx for all of your posts guys, I really appreciate it.
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home