Cinema Surround Sound
Discussion
I wonder if I can get some advice please from someone who knows better than me. I have a Smasung 7000 series LED TV and would like surround sound. My first question is can I get surround all the time or will it only be when I what films? EG can I plug them straight into the tv or do I need a reciever? My second question is what shall I buy? I don't want a soundbar and would like genuine surround sound for realistic effect whist watching movies (to scare the misses mainly) I am a fan of Bose but do not really know enough about cinema surround to make an informed decision. I don't really have a budget but don't want to venture over 2K max. Also I'd like the speakers to be small and desecrate. 3rd question Can anyone recommend a company to fit them and hide the wires etc?
Thanks in advance
Thanks in advance
If you are spending up to 2k, head on over to av forums and make the time to do some proper reading, perhaps ask there. 2k on sound is a fair investment. Room size will play a part, in choosing the right setup, irrespective of budget. Plus a plethora of other factors that may not be raised here.
You could possibly hire a performing dwarf for a dozen evenings over the year on the same budget, to act out the sound and drama and scare your mrs with aplomb. Start him out hidden under the couch and give him permission to smash things up a bit, your mrs will never forget the experience.
Edit: didnt know we had a sound and hifi forum here, thought this was the lounge/p&p, so ignore my first comment...
You could possibly hire a performing dwarf for a dozen evenings over the year on the same budget, to act out the sound and drama and scare your mrs with aplomb. Start him out hidden under the couch and give him permission to smash things up a bit, your mrs will never forget the experience.
Edit: didnt know we had a sound and hifi forum here, thought this was the lounge/p&p, so ignore my first comment...
Cheers Mobsta, Interesting idea with the dwarf but dwarfs aren't very scary so in my opinion would not be suited to horror movie type evenings. Maybe hiring crows & wolves would be better but I would worry about the mess in the living room so I'd better stick to discrete speakers. I have looked on some AV forums but its far too "geeky" and in-depth for me. I just need some basic recommendations and a good installation service near south wales. Cheers for the reply though
I can get you a box of 30 bags of space raiders crisps from Bookers for about a fiver, which you can stomp on during climactic moments. Plus £1995.00 delivery (and 30 free bags if you wire me the monies today).
Post your room size and distance from TV before the clever people come along and someone should be able to determine / pick out an ideal setup for you.
Post your room size and distance from TV before the clever people come along and someone should be able to determine / pick out an ideal setup for you.
Cheers Mobsta but I fear that if I stomped on your typical low end crisps like Raiders I may damage the skin on the soles of my feet because of brittle nature. However, the upside of it is that the crumbs will fill the gaps in my floor boards and with the floor being maple it will be a similar colour. Everyones a winner. I would also be concerned with spilling my drinks during stomping.
The room is a small room of 3.5m x 3.5m so that is why it is quite important that the system is small and neat.
The room is a small room of 3.5m x 3.5m so that is why it is quite important that the system is small and neat.
long story short - LISTEN to various options in the hifi shops. Have it at a volume you're likely to listen at as well as somewhat louder (take your favourite film in with you and remember the scenes you want to try out). Bose have a rep for looking good but being somewhat overpriced for what they offer - again though go to a Bose store and get listening at a volume that you are happy with rather than what the salesman wants to put it at.
There are loads of options and the sky's your limit budget wise but for a combination of 'wife-friendly' speakers and sound I'm edging towards the KEF eggs (2005?) or something of that size from people like B&W amoung others. The other thing to mention here is that the amp can also affect the type of sound you get so try a few until you're happy with the combo - at the end of the day you're dropping a reasonable amount so you need to be happy
There are loads of options and the sky's your limit budget wise but for a combination of 'wife-friendly' speakers and sound I'm edging towards the KEF eggs (2005?) or something of that size from people like B&W amoung others. The other thing to mention here is that the amp can also affect the type of sound you get so try a few until you're happy with the combo - at the end of the day you're dropping a reasonable amount so you need to be happy
I had a similar budget and similar room.
Went with a Denon as I found it slightly more musical than the Onkyo (and I wanted to play music through it) paired with some B&W speakers like these.
I also got a Harmony to control everything with.
Mine supports a PS3, ATV, Squeezebox, XBMC and Freesat receiver.
What are your sources (Blu-ray/sky etc?)
Go and find a good local supplier and get a demo of the kit you want to try. They will advise you and give you a good price.
Went with a Denon as I found it slightly more musical than the Onkyo (and I wanted to play music through it) paired with some B&W speakers like these.
I also got a Harmony to control everything with.
Mine supports a PS3, ATV, Squeezebox, XBMC and Freesat receiver.
What are your sources (Blu-ray/sky etc?)
Go and find a good local supplier and get a demo of the kit you want to try. They will advise you and give you a good price.
Just to answer one of the questions in the OP, regarding surround sound for all programs:
Pretty much any broadcast will be in stereo these days (barring some very old films and possibly some of the low bitrate channels). An AV amp can be set to use Dolby Pro Logic (with various suffixes on the end which depends on how many speakers you are using, 5.1, 6.1, 7.1 or more). The amp will 'create' a surround sound effect from the stereo audio signal which depending on the content can be very good, or in the case of mostly dialogue the sound can appear to only come from the centre speaker. So it does vary from program to program, but generally I think it's a positive addition. I bought my first surround sound set up in 1997 so I've been watching TV using various surround sound systems over the years, so I've become rather attached to hearing TV this way (the speakers are never used on my TVs apart from in the kitchen).
While it's very tempting to turn up the surround speakers (and subwoofer if you have one) if they are correctly set then much of the time you won't really notice them...unless you turn them off, so the effect should be subtle most of the time. If you add a BluRay/DVD player then you will get 'discrete' 5.1 rather than the 'synthesised' effect of Dolby Pro Logic so you can get some really creepy effects on some films with sound coming from just one surround speaker which might make your wife jump. Sometimes we hear sounds out in the hall and go out to find that it was just part of the film.
Pretty much any broadcast will be in stereo these days (barring some very old films and possibly some of the low bitrate channels). An AV amp can be set to use Dolby Pro Logic (with various suffixes on the end which depends on how many speakers you are using, 5.1, 6.1, 7.1 or more). The amp will 'create' a surround sound effect from the stereo audio signal which depending on the content can be very good, or in the case of mostly dialogue the sound can appear to only come from the centre speaker. So it does vary from program to program, but generally I think it's a positive addition. I bought my first surround sound set up in 1997 so I've been watching TV using various surround sound systems over the years, so I've become rather attached to hearing TV this way (the speakers are never used on my TVs apart from in the kitchen).
While it's very tempting to turn up the surround speakers (and subwoofer if you have one) if they are correctly set then much of the time you won't really notice them...unless you turn them off, so the effect should be subtle most of the time. If you add a BluRay/DVD player then you will get 'discrete' 5.1 rather than the 'synthesised' effect of Dolby Pro Logic so you can get some really creepy effects on some films with sound coming from just one surround speaker which might make your wife jump. Sometimes we hear sounds out in the hall and go out to find that it was just part of the film.
You can combine them in one box, but it then becomes more of a compromise and if the player packs up then you have to replace the whole thing. With all in one units you don't usually have the flexibility of speaker choice as they usually come with them (not very good quality in many cases). It makes it harder to upgrade later if you wish (though I did once add some better speakers to a Sony AIO I had in my conservatory, so it can be done).
Just to add that if you get a decent amp it may well have a feature called something like (it varies between makes I think this is what Denon call their version) 'CinemaEQ'. This takes a little bit of the edge off the top end if you find that the speakers are a bit shrill. I heard a demo recently of some M&K speakers driven by an Onkyo amp and it was really too shrill for my taste, but then I'm used to PMC speakers which are the opposite end and some might consider too smooth or even dull. It brings out the bullets and whizzing sounds, etc, but I found it too jarring after 10-15 minutes.
Just goes to show that it's best to demo and make the decision based on what you like best.
Just goes to show that it's best to demo and make the decision based on what you like best.
Digger said:
anonymous said:
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True, but they are great. I have a trio at the front and due to size constraints a couple of their slightly lesser Radius 90 siblings for rear-effects. Worth investigating OP.
Onkyo 809 with them, also sounds very rich, warm and detailed.
Maybe some of the earlier, cheaper Onkyo's sound metalic, but they have come along way recently.
anonymous said:
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anonymous said:
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Hey Toxic, I listened to the M1s with the 809 when I was buying, and they are great speakers, loads of detail. However once I heard the Apex with th 809s, it had the same clarity but with added smoothness, warmth and realism.
OP you are doing the right thing by going to have a listen. Only your ears can decide.
To add another option is you want an aesthetically pleasing set-up, have a look at Gallos. They look superb with a sound to match too. Mine - Micro Ti - were bought following recommendations on here. They're driving by a Yamaha amp which I can also recommend - again based on recommendations from PH.
anonymous said:
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Not what I wanted to hear: I'm doing a complete refit in our main bedroom and was considering adding a pair of the Gallo speakers (just the small version) for background music and for (stereo only) TV sound. I think PMC Wafer 1s might be overkill in a bedroom system (much as I'd like some). Maybe I'll just make it a non AV room as the OH will only disturb me in the morning putting the TV on while she gets ready. Gassing Station | Home Cinema & Hi-Fi | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff