XBox 360 TV and Sound Set-up

[Bromwich]

I'm thinking that I need to change my set-up from my 21" TV with no extra add-ons to something with a little more style.

I suppose I'm looking for a TV and surround sound, preferably with the best quality on both. (Or best within a budget.)

What size TV should I go for? and what type? It's so confusing with LCD's and Plasma HD Ready blah blah blah...

I guess lots of you have good set-ups for gaming so was just wondering what you all recommend.

[whygee02]

Hi there

My personal views are

TV - Get a reasonable size LCD, dont get greedy with the size, bigger isn't always better, 32" is suprisingly big once in the average room and would probably do, any bigger I'd think carefully. Richer sounds currently do a nice sony for under £450.

Sounds - get a separate 5.1 Amp/Receiver and speaker set. If you're running a ps3 or 360 then 5.1 surround is a must. Other consoles I'm not too sure of but you'd still get decent stereo sound. Should be able to get both for around £200 or so.

Try richer sounds or pixmania, prices have come down a lot in last couple of years.

Hope this helps.

[Silverbullet767]

I have a 40" Samsung LCD (R74 series) which is now replaced with a newer model, has a 'game mode' 8m/s response time, and is fantastic.

I also have a old(ish) sony surround system, with the loudest subwoofer you have ever heard...

When linked up together, nothing compares!

[GI Jnr]

Bromwich said:

I suppose I'm looking for a TV and surround sound, preferably with the best quality on both. (Or best within a budget.)

What size TV should I go for? and what type? It's so confusing with LCD's and Plasma HD Ready blah blah blah...

I guess lots of you have good set-ups for gaming so was just wondering what you all recommend.

What's your budget Simon? PM me if you like...

I might have some things that would interest you. Sat at home on my bedroom floor is a brand new B&W MT20 5.1 set as well as a Yamaha DSP amp and a Pioneer 43" PDP436XDE plasma with less than 20 hours use under it's belt. All best in class stuff.

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Here's a previous thread with my set up on it. The TV's identical to the ones in the shot.

Aside from that depending on budget, I'd echo the above:

- Plasma/LCD with HD capacity appropriate for the size of the room
- Separate amp and 5.1 set up
- 360 HD DVD drive. HD movies are great!

Tuan

Edited by GI Jnr on Wednesday 5th September 16:39

[:J:]

If you want the best sound a 360 can give, just make sure you get an amp with optical in

[Polarbert]

Tuan, I'll take that spare plasma off your hands for a pint? Free up some of the floor space in your bedroom.

Deal?


Go on then make it a whisky.

[Mr E]

:J: said:

If you want the best sound a 360 can give, just make sure you get an amp with optical in

You may need speakers with that also....

[Bromwich]

GI Jnr said:

B&W MT20 5.1 set as well as a Yamaha DSP amp and a Pioneer 43" PDP436XDE plasma.

Aside from that depending on budget, I'd echo the above:

- Plasma/LCD with HD capacity appropriate for the size of the room
- Separate amp and 5.1 set up

Holy mint cornetto, I've just looked at your stuff (don't start) and that's one impressive set up sitting around.

I think, as you might now know, that all of that's a bit out of my price range.

I've worked out that a 26" is probably the best suited TV for my room and was thinking of this little puppy.
http://www.empiredirect.co.uk/content/products/details/index~modelcode~PAN-TX26LMD70.htm 

As for the amp and 5.1 I think I'll just aim below the B&W MT20 5.1.

Does anyone recommend buying it from Ebay or would someone safe like Richersounds or John Lewis be better?

Edited by Bromwich on Thursday 6th September 08:49

[whygee02]

Personally I find richersounds a safe bet, they know their stuff and you know what you're getting.

I've also used pixmania.co.uk a few times with no problems.

[banjolucknicker]

I would recommend a 78" projection screen coupled with a high def projector. I got a panasonic projector outputting in 720p (native output of the 360) and the screen for less than £500 from Ebay (sreen is a proper cinema quality 16:9 ratio that rolls up into the ceiling)

The picture is superb and really shows off the HD quality of the games

The 5.1 surround and sub is a nice addition too, sound counts for a lot in new games (Medal of honour a nice example in my opinion)

[Asterix]

Here's the set up I have - managed to have a piccy too (to show my mum the new-ish set up)
40'' Sony Bravia V series with an Onkyo somethingorother.

Works great for me - both AV is excellent and you kick off a game of Gears with the sound up and it's trully immersing!

Edited by Asterix on Sunday 9th September 12:44

[_dobbo_]

Bromwich old chap do not spend money on that 26" TV till you've looked at one of these:

http://www.digitaldirect.co.uk/products_moreinfo3/...

That JVC is supposed to be a fantastic bit of kit, and with the added bonus it's bigger and cheaper than you are looking at. Oh and that's Derestrictor's website so you'd be buying from a fellow PistonHeader. He did me a great deal on my 32" plasma, I can't understand how he shifts TVs at those prices and makes any money.

[GI Jnr]

Bromwich said:

Does anyone recommend buying it from Ebay or would someone safe like Richersounds or John Lewis be better?

Sod john Lewis. Richer Sounds are very very good at price matching off the internet. Just as long as they have one in stock, they'll match it (including delivery). If you can't get a price match, they also have a program on their PCs that give them the trade cost of any product and how low they can go (to basically not lose any money) and so use that to drive down the cost. They don't really like you knowing about it, but I blatantly get them to bring it up and haggle like mad.

I spend over £2k there last year and they only made £100 profit! Took me three hours though mind.

Tuan

[Fidgits]

GI Jnr said:

Bromwich said:

I suppose I'm looking for a TV and surround sound, preferably with the best quality on both. (Or best within a budget.)

What size TV should I go for? and what type? It's so confusing with LCD's and Plasma HD Ready blah blah blah...

I guess lots of you have good set-ups for gaming so was just wondering what you all recommend.

What's your budget Simon? PM me if you like...

I might have some things that would interest you. Sat at home on my bedroom floor is a brand new B&W MT20 5.1 set as well as a Yamaha DSP amp and a Pioneer 43" PDP436XDE plasma with less than 20 hours use under it's belt. All best in class stuff.

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Here's a previous thread with my set up on it. The TV's identical to the ones in the shot.

Aside from that depending on budget, I'd echo the above:

- Plasma/LCD with HD capacity appropriate for the size of the room
- Separate amp and 5.1 set up
- 360 HD DVD drive. HD movies are great!

Tuan

Edited by GI Jnr on Wednesday 5th September 16:39

how much are you after for the B&W's?

[_dobbo_]

Don't listen to GI and his wierd love affair with Richer Sounds - who wants to drive to a shop and haggle for hours when you can order from the comfort of your armchair and get it delivered to your door?

[R1 GTR]

B&W seems to be popular on here then. I fancy a set but have about 50p to my name right now

[GI Jnr]

R1 GTR said:

B&W seems to be popular on here then.

I think B&W are a great mid market manufacturer. Not as in your face as the likes of Bose etc. I have a set of S2 601's that I bought 6 years ago and they're thunderous, and the current M1 speakers share the same drivers as the 601's. Just need a really decent sub with it.

[_dobbo_]

I can vouch for the quality of Tuan's B&Ws. However Adam I'm assuming your setup is for your bedroom - if so I'd say any B&Ws would be total overkill, your money is better spent elsewhere.

Best speakers on a budget have to be KEF eggs:



Yum.

[Thudd]

_dobbo_ said:

I can vouch for the quality of Tuan's B&Ws. However Adam I'm assuming your setup is for your bedroom - if so I'd say any B&Ws would be total overkill, your money is better spent elsewhere.

Best speakers on a budget have to be KEF eggs:



Yum.

Shame about the exploding subwoofers. Approach the secondhand market with extreme caution.
IIRC the new ones have a different sub which doesn't go "bang".

[GI Jnr]

_dobbo_ said:

Best speakers on a budget have to be KEF eggs...

I like dem too...