Replacing a rather good but old Sony str db930 amp. Help pls
Discussion
As per the title really.
First of all I must say , I don't want to replace . New technology boooo.
I have posted recently regarding needing a new tv and now have a Samsung 4K uhd 55" TV coupled with a new Xbox S which is also Uhd .
Well pic is marvellous going through my firestick and I have this coupled to a TiVo box .
My lovely Sony amp, mega reliable , built like a tank. Has buttons and dials that my 4 year old can't pull off and also sounds fantastic when playing music through it.
I will add that I'm using large Eltax symphony 6.2 speakers and a morduant short centre channel and it does not need a separate sub as this set will easily rattle the house apart and sound rich and full when required.
As you can tell I need a new amp as currently my old DVD player was connected via scart and an optical cable to the amp. Newer amps are all connected via hdmi and hence I can't watch any dvd combo at the moment if wanting to use the surround feature.
I have tried connecting my TiVo box to the amp using a lead that richer sounds supplied me , however it appear ps to only work in stereo . Usually if the amp can decode anything. It lights up blue and tells you what format it's processing the sound.
For the time being I reckon the Xbox will take care of my dvd requirements although I'm not sure about the firestick .
So a couple of questions pls to those that are more upto date than me .
Will a new amp act as the central hub, Ie to connect Xbox to the amp and amp to tv as opposed to Xbox to tv direct . I hope this makes sense.
Do I need a 4K up scaling amp especially if I have a 4K ready Xbox S.
Just to add I called into audition a newer setup in richer sounds and was somewhat disappointed in a much more expensive setup. There amp was a 1k pioneer with smaller speakers and I thought it lacked depth. I suppose my setup is naturally bassier and would want to keep 5.1 as I already own the speakers.
So first of all is ther anyway to keep my current amp setup as it's got plenty of life left, or am I best off simply buying a new amp and selling my amp for peanuts .
I have had a look and this amp seems to be a nice spec.
http://www.richersounds.com/product/av-receivers/p...
It's also wireless and will stream Apple Music which is a bonus for me. I also use a chrome cast for music.
Now I had a look at this in the flesh and to be honest build quality is not great. Feels very cheap compared to my old Sony but specs appear good.
Can anyone offer any advice pls. Or has anyone done similar recently . If like to know your thoughts .
Many thanks
Col.
First of all I must say , I don't want to replace . New technology boooo.
I have posted recently regarding needing a new tv and now have a Samsung 4K uhd 55" TV coupled with a new Xbox S which is also Uhd .
Well pic is marvellous going through my firestick and I have this coupled to a TiVo box .
My lovely Sony amp, mega reliable , built like a tank. Has buttons and dials that my 4 year old can't pull off and also sounds fantastic when playing music through it.
I will add that I'm using large Eltax symphony 6.2 speakers and a morduant short centre channel and it does not need a separate sub as this set will easily rattle the house apart and sound rich and full when required.
As you can tell I need a new amp as currently my old DVD player was connected via scart and an optical cable to the amp. Newer amps are all connected via hdmi and hence I can't watch any dvd combo at the moment if wanting to use the surround feature.
I have tried connecting my TiVo box to the amp using a lead that richer sounds supplied me , however it appear ps to only work in stereo . Usually if the amp can decode anything. It lights up blue and tells you what format it's processing the sound.
For the time being I reckon the Xbox will take care of my dvd requirements although I'm not sure about the firestick .
So a couple of questions pls to those that are more upto date than me .
Will a new amp act as the central hub, Ie to connect Xbox to the amp and amp to tv as opposed to Xbox to tv direct . I hope this makes sense.
Do I need a 4K up scaling amp especially if I have a 4K ready Xbox S.
Just to add I called into audition a newer setup in richer sounds and was somewhat disappointed in a much more expensive setup. There amp was a 1k pioneer with smaller speakers and I thought it lacked depth. I suppose my setup is naturally bassier and would want to keep 5.1 as I already own the speakers.
So first of all is ther anyway to keep my current amp setup as it's got plenty of life left, or am I best off simply buying a new amp and selling my amp for peanuts .
I have had a look and this amp seems to be a nice spec.
http://www.richersounds.com/product/av-receivers/p...
It's also wireless and will stream Apple Music which is a bonus for me. I also use a chrome cast for music.
Now I had a look at this in the flesh and to be honest build quality is not great. Feels very cheap compared to my old Sony but specs appear good.
Can anyone offer any advice pls. Or has anyone done similar recently . If like to know your thoughts .
Many thanks
Col.
Just an update and many thanks for all the replies.
I did manage to find an optical connection from the rear of the tv and linked that direct to the amp. I initially did hippy his via the TiVo box but had stereo sound only.
Trying the settings on the TiVo didn't result in the blue light coming on meaning it was receiving or decoding the signal.
When I connected to the tv and amp direct and specifically on the tv settings there is an option to choose where the sound comes from.
It showed, the following.
Tv speakers which will also produce sound in stereo from the amp simultaneously .
A Bluetooth sound bar , no thanks not yet .
And also optical out with no tv sound .
The last option brought on Dolby dts and appears to work fine, so I'm a happy chappy.
It is a pain having to go to the to menu though to physically select the option everytime I want to put the amp on though. But hey ho i can't complain.
My next experiment is to see if I need another optical from the Xbox s to the amp . In theory the tv does this now but it might mean no switching ie as above .
Just need a new optical cable and take it from there. Shame there expensive , on a side note is the optical cable same fundamentals as an hdmi cable .ie I mean as in its irrelevant of the cost , it either works or it doesn't . A £100 expensive branded cable offers no advantage over a £3 Chinese eBay special.
Richer sounds sold me one reduced down to £20 from £30 but it's 1m in length , I need a slightly longer one for the Xbox and would prefer not to be spending £30 .
Ps I'm not that tight lol.
Thanks again.
Colin.
I did manage to find an optical connection from the rear of the tv and linked that direct to the amp. I initially did hippy his via the TiVo box but had stereo sound only.
Trying the settings on the TiVo didn't result in the blue light coming on meaning it was receiving or decoding the signal.
When I connected to the tv and amp direct and specifically on the tv settings there is an option to choose where the sound comes from.
It showed, the following.
Tv speakers which will also produce sound in stereo from the amp simultaneously .
A Bluetooth sound bar , no thanks not yet .
And also optical out with no tv sound .
The last option brought on Dolby dts and appears to work fine, so I'm a happy chappy.
It is a pain having to go to the to menu though to physically select the option everytime I want to put the amp on though. But hey ho i can't complain.
My next experiment is to see if I need another optical from the Xbox s to the amp . In theory the tv does this now but it might mean no switching ie as above .
Just need a new optical cable and take it from there. Shame there expensive , on a side note is the optical cable same fundamentals as an hdmi cable .ie I mean as in its irrelevant of the cost , it either works or it doesn't . A £100 expensive branded cable offers no advantage over a £3 Chinese eBay special.
Richer sounds sold me one reduced down to £20 from £30 but it's 1m in length , I need a slightly longer one for the Xbox and would prefer not to be spending £30 .
Ps I'm not that tight lol.
Thanks again.
Colin.
Just an update and many thanks for all the replies.
I did manage to find an optical connection from the rear of the tv and linked that direct to the amp. I initially did hippy his via the TiVo box but had stereo sound only.
Trying the settings on the TiVo didn't result in the blue light coming on meaning it was receiving or decoding the signal.
When I connected to the tv and amp direct and specifically on the tv settings there is an option to choose where the sound comes from.
It showed, the following.
Tv speakers which will also produce sound in stereo from the amp simultaneously .
A Bluetooth sound bar , no thanks not yet .
And also optical out with no tv sound .
The last option brought on Dolby dts and appears to work fine, so I'm a happy chappy.
It is a pain having to go to the to menu though to physically select the option everytime I want to put the amp on though. But hey ho i can't complain.
My next experiment is to see if I need another optical from the Xbox s to the amp . In theory the tv does this now but it might mean no switching ie as above .
Just need a new optical cable and take it from there. Shame there expensive , on a side note is the optical cable same fundamentals as an hdmi cable .ie I mean as in its irrelevant of the cost , it either works or it doesn't . A £100 expensive branded cable offers no advantage over a £3 Chinese eBay special.
Richer sounds sold me one reduced down to £20 from £30 but it's 1m in length , I need a slightly longer one for the Xbox and would prefer not to be spending £30 .
Ps I'm not that tight lol.
Thanks again.
Colin.
I did manage to find an optical connection from the rear of the tv and linked that direct to the amp. I initially did hippy his via the TiVo box but had stereo sound only.
Trying the settings on the TiVo didn't result in the blue light coming on meaning it was receiving or decoding the signal.
When I connected to the tv and amp direct and specifically on the tv settings there is an option to choose where the sound comes from.
It showed, the following.
Tv speakers which will also produce sound in stereo from the amp simultaneously .
A Bluetooth sound bar , no thanks not yet .
And also optical out with no tv sound .
The last option brought on Dolby dts and appears to work fine, so I'm a happy chappy.
It is a pain having to go to the to menu though to physically select the option everytime I want to put the amp on though. But hey ho i can't complain.
My next experiment is to see if I need another optical from the Xbox s to the amp . In theory the tv does this now but it might mean no switching ie as above .
Just need a new optical cable and take it from there. Shame there expensive , on a side note is the optical cable same fundamentals as an hdmi cable .ie I mean as in its irrelevant of the cost , it either works or it doesn't . A £100 expensive branded cable offers no advantage over a £3 Chinese eBay special.
Richer sounds sold me one reduced down to £20 from £30 but it's 1m in length , I need a slightly longer one for the Xbox and would prefer not to be spending £30 .
Ps I'm not that tight lol.
Thanks again.
Colin.
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