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Several Questions Regarding Sony Bravia

post #1 of 5
7/19/09 at 5:41pm
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I recently purchased a Sony Bravia KDL-32ML130 TV and am considering buying some sort of speaker system. Problem is that my TV is fairly close to the couch (so I don't want a system that provides overwhelmingly powerful sound). I'm just interested in an upgrade over what the Bravia provides. Anyone have any recommendations for a smaller, less powerful single unit? Here's the type of unit I'm looking for:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B001LM9AUM//ref=nosim/connorswebguidec

I'd have no problem buying something used or refurbished. Either way I would really prefer spending under $200 (and ideally under $150).

Also can someone recommend a cheap HDMI cable for my Playstation 3 (I bought a fairly expensive cable for my Time Warner connection). And should I bother buying an HDMI cable for my Sony DVD player that mainly plays burned Netflix movies (on DVD5 Taiyo Yuden's)? Would the upgrade be worthwhile? I've heard unless you play blu-rays the upgrade isn't worth the HDMI cable cost.  And can someone recommend to me the ideal video/audio settings?
 
Edited by StylesClash02 - 7/20/2009 at 01:21 am GMT
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post #2 of 5
7/19/09 at 6:30pm
Can't give you any advice on the single speaker sound system you're looking at, as I've never heard it or anything like it.  Do post something on it if you end up buying one, because I have some friends who might be interested in something like that.

Re: HDMI cables - this I can comment on.  1) If it isn't too late, return the HDMI cable you already own, because there's a 99% chance you paid way too much for it. 

2) Check out www.bluejeanscable.com and www.monoprice.com for reasonably priced HDMI cables.  There is simply no reason that a three foot HDMI cable should cost more than $20 or so.  People who charge $60, $70 or $100 for them are reaping huge profits because they aren't paying any more for their materials or R&D than anyone else.  A $100 HDMI cable is a triumph of marketing over reality.  

Regards,

Joe

Edited by Joseph DeMartino - 7/20/2009 at 01:46 am GMT
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post #3 of 5
7/19/09 at 7:46pm
Quote:
There is simply no reason that a three foot HDMI cable should cost more than $20  $7 or so

Definitely go monoprice.

For a new "single unit" system, that's truly a worthwhile upgrade over TV speakers, I think the cheapest I'd go is ~$250 for the Sony CT100 soundbar unit.  Anything new cheaper than that is probably only going to be marginally better, waste of money IMO.

Otherwise, hunt around for a used Dolby Digital/DTS receiver (the more digital inputs, the better), maybe in the $50-80 range, and get a pair of bookshelf speakers, like Energy C-100s from audioadvisor at $100 for the pair.  Then you can expand to full surround later if you want.
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post #4 of 5
7/23/09 at 11:28am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Stephen Tu View Post



Definitely go monoprice.
 

Meritline is also a good source. I just bought a six-foot HDMI cable, v1.3, from Meritline for $4.

Rich
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post #5 of 5
7/23/09 at 11:47am
I'd recommend something like this Yamaha soundbar. I have an equivalent model and find the quality to be quite good - light years ahead of most internal tv speakers.
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