What should I buy/upgrade first?
What should I buy/upgrade first?
Author
Discussion

Rob P

Original Poster:

5,803 posts

286 months

Friday 17th June 2011
quotequote all
I'm currently using a 3 year old Toshiba TV, 720p with built in Freeview. This is hooked up to an Xbox. Probably split the time equally between watching live TV, playing games and watching DVD's.

I've got £300-500 to spend on something shiny.

Do I upgrade the TV, potentially to 42" (as big as I can go really) with a built in HD freeview (the main advantage being I get to watch the F1 in HD)

or

Put up with the TV and spend the cash on a nice AV amp (http://www.whathifi.com/review/sony-str-dh810 for example) and surround sound speakers.

or

Get something more budget/2nd hand (say £300) for AV amp plus speakers and get a HD freeview box to go with it?

The point is that I will probably be able to splash £500 or so at this next year too so I want to look at the best option to build my system up. Will a proper surround sound add more to my experience or should I sort the TV/HD freeview first and let the surround sound wait?

Answers on a postcard please smile

WhoseGeneration

4,090 posts

229 months

Saturday 18th June 2011
quotequote all
Rob P said:
I'm currently using a 3 year old Toshiba TV, 720p with built in Freeview. This is hooked up to an Xbox. Probably split the time equally between watching live TV, playing games and watching DVD's.

I've got £300-500 to spend on something shiny.

Do I upgrade the TV, potentially to 42" (as big as I can go really) with a built in HD freeview (the main advantage being I get to watch the F1 in HD)

or

Put up with the TV and spend the cash on a nice AV amp (http://www.whathifi.com/review/sony-str-dh810 for example) and surround sound speakers.

or

Get something more budget/2nd hand (say £300) for AV amp plus speakers and get a HD freeview box to go with it?

The point is that I will probably be able to splash £500 or so at this next year too so I want to look at the best option to build my system up. Will a proper surround sound add more to my experience or should I sort the TV/HD freeview first and let the surround sound wait?

Answers on a postcard please smile
Which is more important to you, video or audio?

Rob P

Original Poster:

5,803 posts

286 months

Saturday 18th June 2011
quotequote all
Both! Having never had a surround sound set up of my own I don't really know what I'm missing so I would be inclined to say visual.

moles

1,846 posts

266 months

Saturday 18th June 2011
quotequote all
I'd go with Freeview HD and new TV tbh if I had to choose one.