Theatre System / HDMI Set up gone wrong

[hedgie]

Originally Posted by homealone

The only possibility that I can see is the 'digital media adapter' interface - but how you convert the Blu-ray surround output to be compatible with that is beyond my knowledge, even if it possible.

Hi I have had a quick look at the manual and the other posters seem correct as there are no "standard" coax or optical audio inputs, the official Sony media adapter seems the only input other than SCART. The only media adapters I can find are IPod docks or WiFi adaptesr for streaming solutions. Sorry I really dont think you will be able to get surround sound from external sources on this piece of kit

[Barewolf]

Ok, So if the Blu-Ray has the optical output and I get a Theatre System with Optical input, How does the rest work? as in how does it connect to the TV to have surround sound from normal channels like BBC1, Sky1 etc, Provided the STB can do that (Which it will be able to when I get the HD Box)

Does anyone have any reccommendations on 5.1 Theatre Systems for the set up I want?

Basically I want to watch normal TV channels with Surround sound, and play a DVD or Blu-Ray via the Blue Ray player and have 5.1 surround sound when I watch it.

[royaltiger]

Your best bet is to actually buy an amplifier, thats how my homecinema works, all cables input to the amp and output to plasma, blue-ray and V+, I can also stream music from my pc via ethernet, you can get some good deals out there but you do have to pay for high spec

[Bulky]

Originally Posted by Barewolf

Ok, So if the Blu-Ray has the optical output and I get a Theatre System with Optical input, How does the rest work? as in how does it connect to the TV to have surround sound from normal channels like BBC1, Sky1 etc, Provided the STB can do that (Which it will be able to when I get the HD Box)

Does anyone have any reccommendations on 5.1 Theatre Systems for the set up I want?

Basically I want to watch normal TV channels with Surround sound, and play a DVD or Blu-Ray via the Blue Ray player and have 5.1 surround sound when I watch it.

head over to the richer sounds website , or pop in if you have a local store , they are very helpful , i have lost touch with recent amps (so wouldn't want to recommend one) but you don't need to spend a fortune to get a half decent setup , a proper AV amp will do all of the above. make sure you buy the best speakers you can afford.

Originally Posted by Barewolf

Ok, So if the Blu-Ray has the optical output and I get a Theatre System with Optical input, How does the rest work? as in how does it connect to the TV to have surround sound from normal channels like BBC1, Sky1 etc, Provided the STB can do that (Which it will be able to when I get the HD Box)

Does anyone have any reccommendations on 5.1 Theatre Systems for the set up I want?

Basically I want to watch normal TV channels with Surround sound, and play a DVD or Blu-Ray via the Blue Ray player and have 5.1 surround sound when I watch it.

Have a look at http://www.amazon.co.uk/Logitech-Dig.../dp/B0006HBCL8

- however you will only get 'true' surround sound from the TV on a channel which is compatible - at present on the V+ box only the BBC HD channel & some VOD programs are compatible.

The speakers linked above do a fair job of simulating a surround sound from a normal stereo TV sound feed, though.

[hedgie]

Originally Posted by Barewolf

Ok, So if the Blu-Ray has the optical output and I get a Theatre System with Optical input, How does the rest work? as in how does it connect to the TV to have surround sound from normal channels like BBC1, Sky1 etc, Provided the STB can do that (Which it will be able to when I get the HD Box)

Does anyone have any reccommendations on 5.1 Theatre Systems for the set up I want?

Basically I want to watch normal TV channels with Surround sound, and play a DVD or Blu-Ray via the Blue Ray player and have 5.1 surround sound when I watch it.

OK its more complicated than it needs to be and can result in you buying the wrong kit. Before HDMI became widespread video was analogue and surround sound audio was digital.

The Video could be sent over composite, RGB, or Component. using either dedicated cables or SCART depending on your system.

Audio used the SPDIF standard, this can be either a copper phono style lead or optical TOSLink cable.

http://www.audioholics.com/education...-interconnects

Until very recently AV Amplifiers could only switch analogue video signals. I have a Yamaha AV Amp which I use for surround sound but each piece of kit is linked to the TV using HDMI to get the best picture quality.

[IMG][/IMG]

Using this configuration means that you have to change the TV channel and the amplifier channel at the same time, not such a hard ship though.You get full surround sound when available and the option of using the AV amp to give you pseudo surround with stereo sources.

However the latest generation of AV Amplifiers have full HDMI capability with multiple inputs, some even feature upscaling so that you can mix and match video sources. This does give a simpler installation which is easier to use.

You need to be careful though because there are different flavours of HDMI.



As previous posters have said Richer Sounds is a good starting point.

You can get a decent AV Amp from about £150, although HDMI capable Amps may be £200+, motto is check how many inputs you need, check again and then add at least one ! You may be able to use your existing speakers, if not Richers do a good Yamaha set fro about £80.


Note Other AV retailers and systems are available !!!

[lowei]

Sky movies HD is great in surround sound.I have ps3 xbox 360 and my Sony home theatre system all connected with hdmi and optical/toshlink for sound

[Barewolf]

I've just bought the Panasonic 1000W DVD Home Cinema System SC-PT460 in place of the exsisting one, this Panasonic is Viera, same as the TV and Blu-ray, making them all Viera and all panasonic. And it has the optical input people have been talking about.

[peanut]

Originally Posted by Barewolf

I've just bought the Panasonic 1000W DVD Home Cinema System SC-PT460 in place of the exsisting one, this Panasonic is Viera, same as the TV and Blu-ray, making them all Viera and all panasonic. And it has the optical input people have been talking about.

I'd have gone for an AV, much more scope to do things with.

[Stephen]

Originally Posted by peanutkp

I'd have gone for an AV, much more scope to do things with.

I agree I have a Philips Amplifier and my STB, Xbox, PS3 and others connect to that so all my sound is through the various outputs.

I wouldn't go near the so called DVD surround systems.

[royaltiger]

Just to give you an idea on connections from an amp, this is the back of mine

[Barewolf]

Far too much messing for what I want, bare in mind theres only......

TV
Blu-ray
Speakers
Sky HD+

Theres no need for an Amp with that kind of connectivity for what I will be using it for, there wont be an X-box, PS3 etc

there will only be 3 HDMI cables from the TV to each appliance, and with my new Surround sound it will be an optical connection for true 5.1 digital sound, to me that box wont change anything except set me back another £200 and take up yet more room.

So i think i will skip any AMP's for this

[hedgie]

Originally Posted by Barewolf

Far too much messing for what I want, bare in mind theres only......

TV
Blu-ray
Speakers
Sky HD+

Theres no need for an Amp with that kind of connectivity for what I will be using it for, there wont be an X-box, PS3 etc

there will only be 3 HDMI cables from the TV to each appliance, and with my new Surround sound it will be an optical connection for true 5.1 digital sound, to me that box wont change anything except set me back another £200 and take up yet more room.

So i think i will skip any AMP's for this

Good for you, at least you worked out your own requirements and stuck to your guns

Hope it works out for you.....

[royaltiger]

Anyone who is serious about home cinema will run their system on an amp, my amp was just an example that shows it will cater for any scenario, of course you can buy cheaper systems with less connections, but some enthusiasts prefer one set of connections to another so its basically designed to cater for all connections.

[xpod]

it was £210 and i destroyed the box now so it can't go back

Why not?
If you still have the receipt then theres nothing stopping you taking it back surely.Unless you bought it over a year ago,or outside whatever time policy the retailer in question has in place.
A lack of box shouldn`t be an issue in itself.
It`s certainly never been an issue with my better half and she`s probably changed her mind and returned more stuff over the years than i could even remember.