Can anyone recommend a home cinema system for virgin please?

glyn · 06-01-2010, 19:49

Hi I'm on the lookout for a home cinema system but I know little about them!

I want to be able to have it so that anything I'm watching on the TV comes through the cinema system - at the moment I've got a V+ box and a DVD player connected individually via HDMI to my TV - can I connect a DVD player and V+ box to a home cinema system so both will come through it? If so, any recommendations from anyone please? And do I have to buy a new DVD player because I notice that all the systems seem to come with a DVD player? Thanks for any help.

ilovehd · 06-01-2010, 20:28

Depends how much you want to spend mate really!

glyn · 06-01-2010, 20:51

True! I guess about 2 or 3 hundred? I think that's about the going rate isn't it?

ilovehd · 06-01-2010, 21:23

That much mate you have the pick of the bunch u will get a blu ray player with that to! Do a bit of google in and you will find hundreds of reviews for home cinemas in that price range!

royaltiger · 06-01-2010, 21:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by glyn

True! I guess about 2 or 3 hundred? I think that's about the going rate isn't it?

Oh, I think i might have over spent then, I bought the pioneer SC-LX90 Susano for Â£5000 thats just the amp http://www.pioneer.co.uk/uk/products...X90/index.html

Spend as much as you can on the amp and speakers they are your main components, what you dont want to do is spend your money then after 6 months to a year you wished you had bought something better, and then spend out again trying to improve on what you had just bought. So save as much as you can and just as your about to purchase just make sure there is not a newer version about to hit the streets and then go for it .

glyn · 06-01-2010, 22:01

Thanks but can i hook up my v+ box and dvd player so that whatever i'm watching on the tv comes through the speakers?

Brisbane14 · 06-01-2010, 23:40

Got a standard box but run everything through my Sony RDR-HXD 790 HDD DVD recorder which upscales everything to HD through HDMI cable. The sound goes through my Panny which is connected to the TV through RCA sockets.

Digital Fanatic · 06-01-2010, 23:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by glyn

Thanks but can i hook up my v+ box and dvd player so that whatever i'm watching on the tv comes through the speakers?

Yeah, pay particular attention to what connections the amp has for your needs.... My amp is connecting V+ and blu-ray with HDMI. then connecting to the tv with HDMI, so everything runs through the amp.

jonbxx · 07-01-2010, 09:20

I've got an earlier model of this one - http://www.sony.co.uk/product/hcs-ci...-kit/ht-sf1300 This is just the amplifier and speakers and no DVD player. I have an upscaling DVD and V+ going in via HDMI with one output to the TV. Sound is via optical for the V+ and co-ax for the DVD and works great. The system takes the Pro Logic II or Dolby Digital from the V+ and Dolby or DTS from the DVD completely automatically.

We use it all the time, never using the TV speakers at all, using a Logitech Hamrony remote to cut down the remote control clutter.

On a quick look, this system is around Â£300

TheDon · 07-01-2010, 12:35

I wouldn't bother with a one box dvd/blu-ray home cinema system, they have limited connectivity options, and often don't support things like trueHD, you're better off getting a dedicated AV reciever which will have multiple HDMI and other inputs, and a speaker set.

Â£300 is probably on the low side for that, but the quality will be so much better than any one box system. If you can stretch a bit further for Â£220 you can pick up a Yamaha RXV465 which is pretty damn good, and then a decent 5.1 speaker set will set you back anything from Â£150 upwards.

Joedm45 · 07-01-2010, 12:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by Digital Fanatic

Yeah, pay particular attention to what connections the amp has for your needs.... My amp is connecting V+ and blu-ray with HDMI. then connecting to the tv with HDMI, so everything runs through the amp.

Bit of a novice with home cinema systems and this thread got me thinking about getting one.

How does the amp know which output you want the sound for? I assume there is a selection button on the remote?

Also can a Wii and PC be connected to an amp? Or does it depend how much you spend? Having said that I can't remember what sound outputs the Wii has if any.

zantarous · 07-01-2010, 13:01

There will be detailed settings in the amps menu to set which video output goes with which sound output. Most will be quite flexible in this regard.

Yes a Wii can be connected up, I have mine connected via component for picture and then left and right phono for sound. if you a re investing in a home cinema a separate amp and speakers is certainly the way to go, far more flexibility and future proofing.

You don't have to break the bank nowdays either as as Sony, Denon, Yamaha and Onkyo all offer decent entry level units, this is a selection of the most popular http://www.richersounds.com/products...s/av-receivers

you certainly want to make sure you have HDMI switching and HD audio, most in the Â£200-Â£300 bracket should offer that. I replaced my 10 year old amp a fem months ago with the Denon 1910 which is a beast.

Joedm45 · 07-01-2010, 13:32

Many Thanks zantarous.

I will have a good look around and hopefully i'll be upsetting my neighbours in the near future!

glyn · 07-01-2010, 16:24

Thanks everyone for responses - lots of stuff to look for now!