simple inexpensive all in one surround sound

David,
Assuming this is not being integrated with your main system, then you really need to take care that a cheap surround pakage will be listenable.
Electronics aside, the surround packages offered here in NZ have in general really cheap crappy speakers. Unlistenable to in my ears anyway.
YMMV, but serious auditioning is advised.
Spending a bit more was necessary for myself, however I am still unhappy with the sound quality of music dvd's. A proper standalode player is required, so am waiting for a blu-ray player, no a 3d blu-ray.....

thanks for that. Any advice for a 5:1 surround sound system used 100% for watching tv and movies. If I wanted to keep the cost under $3000 US dollars. IOW, come up with a system for me. david

are you sure you want 5.1? i've had a couple of surround system that i could never integrate properly. fell back on my 2 channel system added a dac and sub and it destroys any ''cheap'' 5.1 system. the back sound is less than 10% the whole effect.

uniti, I am not sure that I want/need surround system. Unfortunately I cannot use my main hi fi in the room where I use my flatscreen (hi level nain olive system). Not having to mount speakers on a wall would be nice. If I were to use a basic system without rear speakers what would you recommend? I assume I would need a center speaker, 2 side speakers, a sub and some kind of amplifier. Any reccomendations? david

We recently bought a 37" Panasonic plasma. The picture is great but the sound is rubbish. Because the telly is to the left of both hifi speakers, it is not possible to connect to the Naim. So for £130 we bought a cheapo Panasonic 5.1 system. We set it for 2.1, so only use the two little left and right front speakers, which live on the shelf below the telly, and the subwoofer, which hides behind an armchair. It's just good enough to be enjoyable, and being Panasonic it turns on when you turn the telly on, and works throught the telly remote. So I don't think you need to spend a lot of cash if it's just to make TV watching more enjoyable rather than anything more.

Nigel

Here's what I use for AV listening: For various reasons I did not want to go 5.1 so its a 2.1 system accompanying a 50" panasonic TV and should deffo be within budget or thereabouts. Onkyo all in one DVD receiver (model drs 501). I ditched the speakers it came with but retained the sub, then added a pair of Tannoy Mercury F1 Customs on decent stands with chord carnival silver screen cabling. I'd consider the Denons too if the price is right - I was planning on the s301 but the onkyo was on offer at stupid money. All in all its pretty good sound and not too shabby for occasional music listening use either.

Trust me to be different. I have full surround sound in the house but I don't enjoy normal Tv on surround sound in particular the news and such can become annoying so I tend to use my surround sound for films and music. So I bought a Loewe Tv to replace a sony that feel from the stand. The sound through just normal Tv from the Loewe is excellent and the best sound I have heard from a Tv. I am tempted to pay £250 and add Loewe own surround module . I have wondered though If I could connect this in place with a uniti.

How about looking at this new Denon:

New Denon BluRay 5.1 System

Roy.

damn that's a bit spenny! especially here in the UK

I have a 40" Sony XBR3 LCD. I use my Uniti and Harbeth 7es3's. It's only 2 channel but works great. Someday I will buy a REL sub. I think adding a sub will be awesome for movies!

Try a Sony (Hsf 1300?) or something similar. Tallboy slim speakers with 3 HDMI inputs, very decent sound at a very modest price. Great for TV and DVD/Bluray.

quote:

Originally posted by uniti:
are you sure you want 5.1? i've had a couple of surround system that i could never integrate properly. fell back on my 2 channel system added a dac and sub and it destroys any ''cheap'' 5.1 system. the back sound is less than 10% the whole effect.

So what am I doing wrong?

I take the digital out (optical) from the TV or Blu-Ray player into a DAC Magic then balanced interconnects to my 2 channel hi-fi with sub.
I seem to be missing the main speech channel as the side sound effects or music are far louder than the dialogue. Usually unlistenable.
Do you have a way of controling the 5.1 to stereo conversion?

I've been very happy using a Cambridge 650bd bluray with coaxial out into my Supernait (for both movies and music). The analog out of the Cambridge seems pretty good also, I would suggest perhaps a 650bd into a Nait 5i with some standmount speakers. That can come in under $3000.

quote:

Originally posted by Rockingdoc:

quote:

Originally posted by uniti:
are you sure you want 5.1? i've had a couple of surround system that i could never integrate properly. fell back on my 2 channel system added a dac and sub and it destroys any ''cheap'' 5.1 system. the back sound is less than 10% the whole effect.

So what am I doing wrong?

I take the digital out (optical) from the TV or Blu-Ray player into a DAC Magic then balanced interconnects to my 2 channel hi-fi with sub.
I seem to be missing the main speech channel as the side sound effects or music are far louder than the dialogue. Usually unlistenable.
Do you have a way of controling the 5.1 to stereo conversion?

Try the settings in the disc menu, your Bluray Player audio menu and in your TV's audio menu. Look for two-channel PCM options, rather than one of the six-trillion "surround sound" quasi-standards. It is definitely hit and miss, though. Sometimes using the two-channel analogue out from the player or TV straight to a line-level stereo input on your amp might be the best option if you can't get a proper stereo PCM output.

On my two-channel system, I only use digital out from my Bluray (via HDMI and TV then via SPDIF to SuperNait DAC). The rest, (cable and multi-region DVD) I use analogue straight to the SuperNait as the digital output doesn't work on these in any meaningful sense.

How about pairing a used Linn Classic Movie with a Totem Dreamcatcher setup - should run approx. $3000 US.

quote:

Originally posted by winkyincanada:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Rockingdoc:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by uniti:
Sometimes using the two-channel analogue out from the player or TV straight to a line-level stereo input on your amp might be the best option if you can't get a proper stereo PCM output.
.

Hard to believe, but my Samsung 40inch has no analogue sound output. Optical and HDMI only!

Prouddaddy, the Totems on their own would be your $3000...!

davidf, it rather depends on what you want. If all you want is a better sound than tyou're getting off your TV, then consider an underslung soundbar from the likes of Yamaha or the very impressive Boston which has a wireless powered sub you can put pretty much anywhere for just $200 - $1000 depending on unit. Just add a half-decent BD player like a Pioneer BDP-320 (about to be retired so deals are AMAZING) or go with the multi-tasking ability of the Playstation 3, or hold on for the newer 3D versions so you have some future proofing.

Alternatively, consider an entry level bona fide surround system such as the Pioneer BDP-320, Pioneer VSX-919 and suitable sub/sat solution such as KEF's 2005.3, B&W's MT20, Monitor Audio Radius, Mission M-Cube or Focal's Sib/Cub system. Such a system should cost around £1500 or around $2000.