Well, due to me moving house next week, i bit the bullet and bought a Sony 32V5500 fullHD screen... tiz very very nice! - have been watching thru my HD-DVD set of "planet earth" and its absolutely staggering!

Currently the only HD source i have for it is my 360elite (hdmi) and HD-DVD drive.

The question is what to get next

When i eventually move, ill setup my hi-fi, which is only stereo as the standard speakers in the telly are crap as expected.

So, thinking either a BD player, or a decent AV amp next to slowly build up to a full surround system.. alternatavely, can you get BD players that have analog outs? as i also have a old 7.1 yamaha amp in the loft with no decoding functionality.. so could be used for surround before i can get a proper AV amp.. i am also considering a PS3 for the job, as that will make it easier to play the 720p stuff from the internets

any reccomendations/costs either way?

My Sony BD350 has analogue stereo outs which could be an option.

The 550 has 6.1 analogue outs which you could use with your old amp I guess.

Just done a bit of Googling into an all in one BD surround sound system, but there aren't that many about just now so the prices are high, plus they aren't great if you need an HD switching device, such as an Amp with HDMI inputs and putputs as well.

I would obviously recommend the PS3 because it's so versatile, even if you don't do that much gaming on it. The prices of Amps are always going down, so there are bargains to be had. A decent Onkyo or Yamaha with multi HDMI ports can be had for a lot less than you think. Just make sure it has enough connections for what you ned now, and also what you might need in the next few years.

The speakers will cost you, there's no realistic cheap option in this department, unless you're happy to go for used ones. Failing that if you want new, then just buy a couple at a time to spread the cost.

One last thing about BD players, the (original) PS3 (not sure about the newer cheaper ones) is one of very few BD sources that can be upgraded to future BD profiles, as it has supporting hardware installed. If you go for a BD player that only supports Profile 1.0, or 1.1, try and get a good deal, as you'll probably have to replace it in coming years.

And the next thing you need is a subscription to Lovefillum.com. Cheaper than buying the discs!

Cheers for the posts so far...

PS3 - is an option although i fear itll be a bit of a waste of cash, as i have no desire to game on it (eggbox will always be superior ) plus it munches electricity like no tomorrow!.. 200w even when just playing BD compared to 30-40w for a normal player.. gotta start thinking about this now ill be paying my own bills

I understand that theres no cheap way to do it properly, thankfully i also know that speakers are investments, so i expect to spend a large amount of money on them over time.

i have been having brief looks at the amps availabe and the onkyo's look tempting indeed... although i can get sony gear at very reasonable prices

having thought about this a bit more, i think my first purchase may be a BD550 player, then when i buy some speakers ill bring in the yamaha amp to replace the ka3020se, which sounds great, but is only 2ch.

its a vicious circle really, i know that its all about sound.. but not going to be much use without a decent source first!. getting this TV has made me realise just how much surround can add.. even if it is cheap-o surround (its replacing a toshiba wide-CRT that had proper digital surround)

its keeping me occupied though.. AV and HD is alot more complex then IT!

I think you better have your flat warming party before you install all this gear.

Assume my invite is in the post

I think you better have your flat warming party before you install all this gear.

Assume my invite is in the post

If you know a good pub in prestwich let me know... otherwise i still live in rammy

PS3 - is an option although i fear itll be a bit of a waste of cash, as i have no desire to game on it (eggbox will always be superior ) plus it munches electricity like no tomorrow!.. 200w even when just playing BD compared to 30-40w for a normal player.. gotta start thinking about this now ill be paying my own bills

its keeping me occupied though.. AV and HD is alot more complex then IT!

Are you for real? You are complaining about the power usage of a PS3 :confused: you n00b! :P

Yes i would agree with you 100% AV and HD is f00kin complicated! It mainly goes right over my head! Stick with Hi-Fi.. its alot easier :P

Congratss on the telly mate, my eggbox is an old one with no hd output to speak off, some hd telly switch, but it does not look that good..

Went looking for a Blueray player a few months back. My original dvd player was multi-region out of the box (scan special but still 300 quid 10+ years ago) is going strong and copes with our needs.

Thanks for the info on ps3 and updates, that's my big worry, I like to buy kit that will be ok and last. Sure my dvd player does not hav1 6.1 but it had dts and powers the cambridge soudworks 5.1 thing I robbed from my computer setup. The pint here is it works for us in our lounge, it might not be the best but it's served for 10 years or so without upsetting us too much; the neighbours might disgree.

So I'd like to get a blueray player, but really do not fancy upgrading or even finding that half our dvd's do not play on it as they are multiregion (swords and shizam).

So yes I'd agree with Alex and Neo, even meta programming seems like simple abc's when compared to this lot.

Is the BD550 multi regionable - before I sink an afternoon into google.

'Re: Neo_VR has gone HD..what to get next?'

My humble opinion, having walked that well trodden path for a few years.

Get yourself a good AV receiver/amp, with a minimum 3x hdmi inputs, this

will provide a good 'hub' for future HD purchases, be it Blu Ray players, free-sat,

Sky HD and whatever else comes around the corner. You can then take your time

with speaker selection and build your system from the amp up.

I myself distrust the build quality offered by the current 'budget' Onkyo line up, others

will argue otherwise.

http://www.marantz.com/new/index.cfm?fuseaction=Products.Product&cont=eu&bus=hf&prod_id=3793

Can vouch from experience the above model is excellent.

Edited 28 March, 200917 yr by leeland

there are not many BD multi region players. I optedfor a Pioneer lx70A at a cool £999 and had a logic chip soldered into it so that it is multi region SD and BD.

AV can be very expensive and is replaced by new models frequently. One bit of advice for anyone who is going to change to HD read some of the posts on AVforums the guys on there have a wealth of knowledge second to none.

I read review after review and spent plenty of time in AV shops listening to different setups before i decided on the setup i wanted. Cost me £13k all in all so be warned!

Not sure about the Sony S550 but the S350 can be made multi region for DVD via a remote hack.... Pretty sure the S550 can also but you'd need to confirm.

I have the S350 and it is great.... No probs with it at all so far and great picture and sound quality. It's also version 2.0 and updatable via LAN connection. I've updated mine twice since i got it last year. Once when i first connected it up then again a few weeks ago when another firmware update was released. It does it all itself and takes about 10mins from start to finish.

I've also been looking at the Onkyo amps but my trusty Yamaha is still going strong so i'll stick with it for a while yet till the need for more HDMI inputs forces an upgrade. (Currently only need two for the bluray & SkyHD).

I'm also very happy with our new speakers which are the MS Alumni series and again sound absolutely spot on and crystal clear.

Cheers

Dave.

I read review after review and spent plenty of time in AV shops listening to different setups before i decided on the setup i wanted. Cost me £13k all in all so be warned!

£13k:eek: I'm guessing you don't live in Whitley Wood:rotz:

.............Cost me £13k all in all so be warned!

:orb_faint

Cheers

Dave.

£13k:eek: I'm guessing you don't live in Whitley Wood:rotz:

youd be correct i live in an even worse area

its not as crazy as it sounds. Once youve added it all up ( tv. amps, sky hd, BD, HD, Xbox, Speakers, Remote, Calibration) and then there's the cables. Man the cables:rotz:

I'm defo a cheap skate then...... Just had a quick tot up and mine comes to just under 3k-ish.

Cheers

Dave.

I'm defo a cheap skate then...... Just had a quick tot up and mine comes to just under 3k-ish.

Cheers

Dave.

Mine weighs in under 2 and a half grand........

.......Time to start the cycle all over again, with a new telly:thumbup:

damm my tv was more than that........

RD weekend?? :D:D

Well after no sleep and not much deliberation apart from a scan over AVF, ive now got a Samsung BDP1600 player and Quantum of Solace

my decision for that particular model was mainly based on the two sony ones are pretty much EOL now the successors have been announced, though wont be available until june, and there was no point paying the extra for component outputs as ill be going "clean slate" for the audio setup

Nothing wrong with EOL stuff. The 350 and 550 are blu-ray 1.2 afaicr.

Other potential gripe with BD is the loading times, particularly for java-heavy stuff. For that, a PS3 is much better, but I guess the new gen stuff is getting faster.

I would have offered you a 550, but you beat me to it

Nothing wrong with EOL stuff. The 350 and 550 are blu-ray 1.2 afaicr.

Other potential gripe with BD is the loading times, particularly for java-heavy stuff. For that, a PS3 is much better, but I guess the new gen stuff is getting faster.

I would have offered you a 550, but you beat me to it

Yes.. ive been meaning to speak to you!!

The big draw of the P1600 over the 350 was it does have fast loading times as fast as a ps3 apparently and DTS-HD.. would have bought a 550 but they are starting to be difficult to find easily.

When are you back in the UK again Xav?

Edited 29 March, 200917 yr by Neo_VR

Well after no sleep and not much deliberation apart from a scan over AVF, ive now got a Samsung BDP1600 player and Quantum of Solace

my decision for that particular model was mainly based on the two sony ones are pretty much EOL now the successors have been announced, though wont be available until june, and there was no point paying the extra for component outputs as ill be going "clean slate" for the audio setup

And your excuse for buying QoS? :P:D

Get Transformers on BD.. well worth it.

I've now got 3 copies of QoS First one bought as Region A US import because at the time, I only had a Jap PS3 (Region A). Then got a second copy free with registering my second European PS3 (I think) and then went out and bought the collector's edition (but only because I got it very cheap!).

Back in the UK on the 4th April, but just for one week, then deserting to the desert again / :( depending on how you see things

550 is profile 2.0. Just checked and I can get them but they seem more expensive than I remember :thumbdwn: Not that it matters now anyway

I've now got 3 copies of QoS First one bought as Region A US import because at the time, I only had a Jap PS3 (Region A). Then got a second copy free with registering my second European PS3 (I think) and then went out and bought the collector's edition (but only because I got it very cheap!).

I think I'll wait until it hits the £5 bargain bins... :eek:

Back in the UK on the 4th April, but just for one week, then deserting to the desert again / :( depending on how you see things

Anything for the airmiles eh? :P

The 350 & 550 are both v2. Transformers has to be the best BD i have so far..... Ironman is a close second though.

I joined at the local Blockbusters as they do the 3 films for 3 nights for £10 deal so have been going through numerous BD's like this.

Cheers

Dave.