I'm looking at getting some speakers to improve my DVD experience at home. Currently I run the DVD into the hi-fi through the analogue audio outputs which sounds great but offers no real surround effect.

I'm looking at the various packages that offer a woofer, 2x front, 2x rear and 1x central speaker.

However, how do I connect these systems to my DVD player? I see some have a DVD player with the package but I am not going to change my player.

My player has stereo aux optputs, optical digital output and electrical digital output.

Something like these is what I'm looking at:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=72406&item=5789543611&rd=1

http://www.pricerunner.co.uk/sound-and-vision/sound/speakers/151836/details

There is a coaxial digital input on the sony which connects to the electrical digital output on your DVD player.

The sony then decodes the signal for the 5 normal speakers and the subwoofer.

It'll be a nice introduction into surround sound and looks pretty decent value for money.

Next step up is a decent multichannel amp and set of speakers but that's going to be closer to 500 quid for something good.

If you connect your DVD to the Amp using the Coaxial input (electrical) or Optical input you must remember to tell the DVD that you are doing this. Look for Digital output (or similar) in the menu and switch it on. If you don't you will not get the true Dolby Digital.

Have heard the Panasonic and was impressed but the Sony sound can be amazing from such little speakers.

Proper sound makes a big difference to a film

Good look

John

Home Cinema is my big weakness. I've had a number of different setups from the early Dolby Surround, then Pro-Logic and onto Dolby Digital using NTSC Laser Discs. When DVD came out I moved upto a dts setup and more recently upgraded to Dolby Digital EX and DTS 6.1.

I have not heard an all in one system that does multi channel surround justice. Most are not much better than a decent Surround TV.

I would go for an AV Amplifier and seperate speaker system. Have a look at www.richersounds.com You will get an AV amp with decent speakers for well under

I'm looking at getting some speakers to improve my DVD experience at home. Currently I run the DVD into the hi-fi through the analogue audio outputs which sounds great but offers no real surround effect.

I'm looking at the various packages that offer a woofer' date=' 2x front, 2x rear and 1x central speaker.

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I'm quite lucky in that the Hi-fi I use to play DVD's etc through (using TV output in same way) is a surround sound system (Aiwa make), so has two speakers that sit about 1m from the TV each side providing most of the bass, there's a central speaker that sits ON the telly (its kind of short and wide) and then there's two satellite speakers that sit above the sofas. It seems to provide enough for me, and at

What Lee said - the speaker packages just don't do a film justice! I also found with my setup that using decent hifi front speakers provides ample bass so you can save money on a sub

Chris

Depends how much of an audiophile you are, and how well you're going to notice progressively more expensive upgrades to amp and speakers...

But a half-decent amp and cheapish speakers are going to be a hell of a lot better than TV speakers (for example)...

As long as the front speakers you buy can produce full range and you have a decent amount of power from your AV amp then you dont need a sub to start of your system.

The bass from the LFE channel will be directed to the main speakers when you don't have a sub.

It's a lot better than the cheap all in one subsat sytems. In these system the cheap low powered sub not only has to deal with the bass from the LFE channel but also the bass from the other five channels.

They are not upto the job of producing anything like the sound that the director intended.

Cheers

Lee

i would definitly say buy a decent seperate AV amp and some cheaper speakers for now then upgrade at a later date.

I got into surround sound setups by reading 'What Hi Fi?' but beware, you will be sucked into spending a wedge.

Separate amp with surround capabilities and good speakers and sub are essential.

If you're on a budget, I suggest checking out last years top rated models and buying up the end of line stock from T'internet.

I did this and saved about

This is my current system which owes me around

Thanks for the advice. I had sort of decided on getting a separate amp during the course of today anyway. I have a sub from a hi-fi i could use for now along with 2 small speakers for the front/back then upgrade at a later date.

How about this for starters?

http://www.superfi.co.uk/index.cfm/page/moreinfo.cfm/Product_ID/1440

Spec looks good but I can't see how much it is??

Today's dilema........... cables.

What do i need to look for? I'm happy to spend a reasonable ammount on the cables for the front set but the long cables required for the rears may mean SWMBO reduces my budget.

Incidentally, that Yamaha AMP is circa

I wouldn't go mad with cable for the rears to start with as long as you don't use cheap bell wire type cable you should be OK. Spend the money on better amp and speakers to start with.

Look at these Yamaha amps which are more powerfull later versions.

http://ws4.richersounds.com/showproduct.php?cda=showproduct&pid=YAMA-RXV357

http://ws4.richersounds.com/showproduct.php?cda=showproduct&pid=YAMA-RXV350-TIT

Cheers

Lee