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View Full Version : Home cinema sound system - Any recomendations?

sokelly
14-10-2003, 13:32
My brother is looking a reasonably priced (£200 or under) Home cinema sound system.

With DTS, Dolby Digital and Dolby Prologic II

Any suggestions?


Most budget systems these days seem to come with built in DVD player. He already has 2 so doesnt really need another.

Thanks
SheepDip
14-10-2003, 17:31
You could do much worse than the LG one from Argos -

DD, DTS and DPL2 for £149.

I had a play with one about a month ago and it sounded great. (I say HAD a play because it wasn't mine - I just borrowed it for a couple of days)
madjo
14-10-2003, 18:22
I got this from unbeatable
http://www.unbeatable.co.uk/CatalogueItem_13494.html £79 less than comet!

Check the specs out for it here
http://www.yamaha-audio.co.uk/avpackage/htibs/av%20package%2025/

It sounds great and I am very pleased with it. I would recommend it to anyone who wants surround sound on a budget.
themaddoc
16-10-2003, 13:08
madjo is urs silver?
madjo
16-10-2003, 15:34
Originally posted by themaddoc
madjo is urs silver?

Yes it is silver :)
Sex Pest
17-10-2003, 14:49
Madjo - Does this come with all the cables ie speaker and sub leads?
madjo
17-10-2003, 16:09
Originally posted by Sex Pest
Madjo - Does this come with all the cables ie speaker and sub leads?

Yes it does, the only lead you need to buy seprately is either an optical or coaxial lead to connect your dvd player :)
Sex Pest
17-10-2003, 19:54
Originally posted by madjo
Yes it does, the only lead you need to buy seprately is either an optical or coaxial lead to connect your dvd player :)

Nice one - one more question

Do the rears come with any wall brackets or if not do they look easily wall mountable?

Thanks
SimonI
17-10-2003, 20:02
I have this too so can answer - the speakers have a neat pair of pear shaped holes at the back so they can be wall mounted with nothing more than a pair of screws each (and some plasplugs of course!)... neat (as Kev would say)!
Sex Pest
17-10-2003, 20:06
Cheers - pleased with it?
SimonI
17-10-2003, 20:28
Yes - although it does seem to have a warming up period and definitely sounds better after being on for a while.

The amp is very well built and easy to use; all the cables supplied are labelled to make it easy to wire up - the rears are 10m long which were enough to work round our bay window and along the back of the sofa - an important consideration.

The sub is very powerful - I have mine set to about 1/4 of the way up. An early demo was of the Lion King R1 and it was spectacular!
Sex Pest
17-10-2003, 20:41
Thanks for your help Simon.

I have a Yamaha a595a DD/DTS amp now in black and am pleased with it. However I would like Prologic2 and a silver box. I also have a set of Eltax Stargate X1's (sub/Sat system) but whilst I find then loud and clear they might be a touch 'bright' although the sub really kicks.

Are the speakers quite weighty both in sound and feel?
SheepDip
17-10-2003, 22:31
Can I ask something on this too - regarding the speakers, are they (I can't remember the "proper" term) two in one (Where if you look at them - if the fronts don't come off you can usually see through the "mesh2 at the front, they have what appears to be two cones - a tiny upper one for treble, and a larger circular one below for normal), or do they just have the one circular cone.
I hope this makes sense.
madjo
18-10-2003, 07:14
In answer to the last two posts

The dimensions of the speakers are

surrounds: (wxhxd) 72mm x 164mm x 111mm. weight 2lbs

centre: 300mm x 72mmx 110mm. weight 2lbs 7oz

sub: 200mm xs 365mm x 375mm. weight 18lbs 11oz


The mesh doesn't seem to come off the speakers and you can't see through it.
This is what it says in the manual
"Driver 5cm (2") full range cone speaker x2"

Hope that helps




:) :)
SimonI
18-10-2003, 13:05
Yes, the speakers each have two 2" drivers. I wouldn't quite describe them as weighty in sound (they weigh 2 lb each I think) although the overall effect is very good, especially with the sub blending in. I'd describe the system as a good introduction to 5.1 but I think long term I'd like to upgrade to something more substantial (like KEF Eggs - dream on!)... ;)
themaddoc
20-10-2003, 10:33
looks like thatunbeatable are out of stock. no idea when new stock arrives.

hope its soon.

anywhere else that has this package at this price...
madjo
20-10-2003, 18:42
Originally posted by themaddoc
looks like thatunbeatable are out of stock. no idea when new stock arrives.

hope its soon.

anywhere else that has this package at this price...

I got mine from unbeatable and had to wait about six weeks, but it was worth it :)
I haven't found it as cheap anywhere else.
Empire direct is the next cheapest at £265.09.
SheepDip
20-10-2003, 21:50
They are in stock at unbeatable now:)
themaddoc
22-10-2003, 08:11
just got mine.

good spot.

thanks madjo